Covid 19 Information

Wesley United Methodist Preschool

Parent Handbook Covid Addendum 2021-2022

This addendum is a guide for parents of preschool children at Wesley United Methodist Church.

This addendum is subject to change based on updated changes made by Federal, State, Local,

Church, or Preschool authorities. We follow the direct guidelines from the Virginia Department of

Education, CDC, and Fairfax County.

Teachers and Staff

All staff, substitutes and parent volunteers must be up-to-date with Covid vaccinations and provide a copy of vaccination record. As of March 14, 2022 masks will be optional, unless community transmission level has changed, or a teacher or staff has had a positive covid test or may have been exposed to a person with covid. Teachers and staff will follow the Covid exposure or positive test result policy listed below.  Frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing is required throughout the day. Teachers will continue daily health checks and notify the office if a child is showing symptoms that are of concern: lethargy, fever, continuous coughing, congestion/runny nose. 

Students

As of March 14, 2022 students (under the direction of their parents) may opt to wear or not wear masks, unless community transmission level changes, or they have tested positive for covid or have been exposed to covid. Teachers will perform daily health checks on students. If a student is sent home, or is on antibiotics, please do not send them back to school unless cleared by a physician or a full 24 hours on antibiotics. Students will follow the covid exposure or positive test result policy listed below.

Drop-off/Dismissal

Please enter from Spring St. and park in the lot alongside the playground. (Parking in front of the school entrance is reserved for Church members and staff only). 

Drop-off: If your child is assigned to morning playground time, then drop-off will be held there.  For indoor classroom drop-off: Parents and students will enter main door. Students will be brought  to their classroom. Please try not to congregate in the hallway. Parents or caregivers will exit at rear door.

Dismissal: If your child is assigned afternoon playground time, pick-up will occur there. For inside classroom pick-up: Please enter building at main door, pick up your child at their classroom and proceed to exit at rear door. Again, we ask to try not to congregate in hallway. 

Please use extra caution while driving in the parking lot. 

Proper hand washing will occur upon arrival for staff and students. Hand washing will take place throughout the day as well; before/after snack, after toileting, after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing, before/after outdoor play time, before departure from school. We will also use hand sanitizer in the classroom when moving to another activity (adult initiated and supervised). 

Student Supplies

Each student will be provided with a Wesley UMC Preschool tote bag. Please have your child bring this every day to school. Students are permitted to bring only their labeled water bottle (filled at home) with them in their bag. Please do not bring in items from home such as toys, stuffed animals, etc. Please have weather appropriate change of clothing in their tote bag.

Tuition

In the event of an illness with a student or staff, tuition will not be refunded for any missed days of school. If a classroom is closed down for quarantine, tuition will not be refunded. If the school is shut down, all efforts will be made for the teachers to continue to offer instruction to the students either via email, Zoom, or other platform to be determined by the staff. 

Release of Liability

Wesley United Methodist Preschool will take all feasible precautions possible and the best of our ability to protect the staff and students. We CANNOT guarantee there will not be an unknown or unintentional exposure to illness during the school day. Therefore, families and employees who choose to come to Wesley United Methodist Preschool release liability and accept responsibility as well as medical expenses for treatment and transportation for yourself or your family should this need arise. Policies and procedures may be adjusted as needed to increase safety and provide stability to your child’s care and daily routines, along with the needs for the staff. 

This plan is subject to change in accordance with updated guidelines/protocols from the VDSS, CDC, Fairfax County, and the VDH. 

As per CDC Covid 19 Guidance we are continuing to implement these guidelines:

· Promote Vaccinations

As stated, all staff, substitutes and classroom volunteers must be vaccinated and provide a copy of the vaccination record.

· Ventilation

Each classroom has an air purifier that will be on at all times during the day while in school. Weather permitting, windows will be open to further enhance ventilation.

· Cleaning and disinfecting

All classrooms are cleaned professionally daily. Teachers will also spray disinfectant on heavily used surfaces and toys and manipulatives at the end of each day. 

· Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette

Teachers will promote and teach frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds. If handwashing is not available hand sanitizer will be used and is provided in each classroom.  A hygiene station is provided at the entrance of school.

· Stay at Home

Please stay home when sick, or exposed to a person with Covid, or  waiting for Covid test results.  Staff, students and families all must commit to this. 

· Daily screenings

Please use our Daily Health check form and document your child’s temperature. Our staff will also perform a daily screening and another temperature check upon arrival to school.  If any of the following symptoms occur, please keep your child home, monitor and seek physician’s care. If needed, please test for Covid.

     -Fever (temperature of 100.4 ºF (38.0 ºC) or higher

     -Sore throat

     -New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for a child with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, see if there is a change from their usual cough)

     -Diarrhea, vomiting, or stomachache

     -New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever

Covid exposure, positive test result or fully vaccinated Policy:

Students/Children:

If your child has a positive Covid test: 

• Please notify Wesley UM Preschool at: Directorwesley711@gmail.com 
• Please have your child stay home for 10 days and seek consultation with your physician. 
• Your child may return to school on day 11, if *asymptomatic or negative rapid test, unless directed differently by your physician.  

If your child is exposed to a person with a positive Covid test result: 

• Please notify Wesley Preschool at Directorwesley711@gmail.com 
• Please have them stay home for 5 days.
  • If your child is *asymptomatic, and has a negative rapid test on day 5, your child may return to school wearing a tight fitting mask from day 6 through day 10.
  • If you cannot obtain a rapid test please stay home for another 5 days and return to school on day 11 (if *asymptomatic), unless directed differently by your physician. 
• If your child develops symptoms post-exposure, please get tested, and contact your physician.

If your child is fully vaccinated and is exposed to a person with a positive Covid Test  “If you have been boosted OR received your second dose (and an additional dose if immunocompromised) of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months OR received your first dose of J&J vaccine within the last two months”

• Day 1 to 10
• May return to school on Day 1 if *asymptomatic and wears a *tight-fitting mask for the next 10 days
• Shows proof of vaccination
• Test on day 5, if possible.
• If your child develop symptoms, get a rapid test and stay home.
• If your child tests positive for COVID-19 during this 10-day period, follow the isolation guidance above.

In the event a student has symptoms during school hours and tests positive, the other students in that classroom will need to follow the protocol set above. 

Faculty/Staff:

If a staff member is exposed to a person with a positive Covid test and is fully vaccinated and exhibits no symptoms: 

• That staff member may return to work and must wear a *tight-fitting mask, preferably a N95, Kn95, Kn94 for days 1 through 10. No surgical or cloth masks for 10 days.

If a staff member has a positive Covid test:

• That staff member must stay home for 5 days. 
• If *asymptomatic, fully vaccinated, and has had a booster: may return to work on day 6 wearing a *tight-fitting mask as described below.
• If symptomatic, the staff member should have a rapid test again on day 5. If they test positive again on day 5, they need to stay home an additional 5 days. They may return to work on day 11 if *asymptomatic and wear a *tight-fitting mask for the next 10 days. 

*Asymptomatic: no fever within 24 hours of return date, no coughing, nasal or chest congestion, no sore throat, no headache, no achiness and no nausea or other “flu like symptoms”. 

*Tight-fitting mask: (no cloth or surgical), N95, Kn95, Kf94 are preferable, there are others that are comparable as well. Multilayered and tight fitting please. 

Fever over 100.4? 

Cough? 

Chills? 

Shortness of breath? 

Fatigue or muscle aches? 

Headache? 

New loss of taste and/or smell? 

Sore throat, congestion or runny nose? 

Nausea or vomiting? 

Family member or close to anyone (traveled) with a person having COVID-19, in quarantine, or awaiting test results?