The health and safety of our students and their families is always our top concern and we are aggressively monitoring the COVID-19 situation. We consider it a great honor to be able to support children during this time and we know that the families we partner with are the most important sources of support for these young people. To do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus, we have taken these measures to keep our students physically and mentally healthy.
Drastically Increased Hygiene Efforts
Children are monitored so that they thoroughly wash their hands multiple times per day and don’t touch their eyes, nose, and mouth.
All of our learning spaces are well stocked on soap, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer
We are deep cleaning surfaces throughout the day
If any child shows cold or flu symptoms, we separate them from other children and call their parents to take them home immediately
Constantly enforce and reinforce the need for healthy practices like handwashing, covering your cough/sneeze, using good social distance, staying home or going home when sick, and other critical lessons
Enhanced Cleaning Protocols
Deep cleaning of school facilities by professional janitorial company five days per week.
Electrostatic disinfect treatment of entire school several times per week.
Truck mount carpet steam cleaning on a monthly basis.
Daily disinfect of classroom furniture and material, playground equipment, transportation vehicles, building entry access systems, and high traffic areas within school facilities using an EPA registered antimicrobial product with a 1-minute kill rate against coronavirus.
Tightened Security Measures
Only school personnel, students, and their parents are allowed in our buildings. Deliveries are dropped off outside and picked up by staff
Anyone who enters our buildings are encouraged to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer
All items from outside the building are wiped down with disinfectant
Educating Children About How Germs Spread and Ways They Can Prevent Infection
To understand what is happening around them, children are listening to age-appropriate podcasts (such as NPR’s ‘But Why?’ for ages 3 and up) and watching videos (available at brainson.org) that explain the coronavirus and how it spreads.
Children also engage in activities that teach them how germs spread, such as the Glitter Germ experiment. In this activity, children moisturize their hands in lotion, cover their hands in glitter and touch objects so they can have a visual component that shows them how germs spread. They then wash their hands thoroughly to see the “germs” disappear
Listening to Children and Working with Parents to Reduce Stress
Children are more aware of the situation than we might think, and we encourage parents to set aside at least 15 minutes per day for “important talk,” where they listen to their child’s thoughts and respond in a compassionate and respectful way
We help children feel empowered by helping to improve the situation in ways they can. Some examples include drawing pictures and writing thank you cards for healthcare workers and making videos for friends and family they can’t see in person right now
Going outside is safe and is a great way to reduce stress and improve one’s mood. At our schools with outdoor facilities, we are ensuring children get time in the sun, continue their gross motor skills development, and enjoy their day because these are stressful times and we need to do everything we can to help children remain positive