Early Childhood Covid-19 Playbook
For the school year of 2021-22.
Please note that program changes are subject to change to support the health and well being of all community members. We will continue to evaluate our plans throughout the year and make appropriate changes when needed.
Program Updates
New Hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Drop off procedures: Families will enter the building through the lower door (toddler playground) between 8:00-9:00 AM. A staff person will be present to verify your completed health questionnaire, once confirmed masked families are welcome to enter the building and head directly to your child's classroom. Your teacher will meet you at the classroom door and check your child into class.
Pick up procedures: A staff person will greet masked families and enter the building through the lower door (toddler playground) between 12:20-12:30 for half day preschool and 4:00-5:00 PM for full day program. Please head directly to your child's classroom for pick-up. Families will not be permitted to enter the classroom and must leave the building immediately after morning drop off and afternoon pick up. The MJCC will be open as a meeting place for families.
* We will continue to support families with late arrivals or early departures for PJA day school dismissal and appointments.
* To limit the amount of people coming into the building, we strongly encourage only one adult to drop off each child or children. We also ask you not to bring siblings to drop off/pick up if at all possible.
Remini: We will continue to use the Remini app for attendance, health questionnaire, classroom updates, educator communication, and documentation. We will send more information about the app before the start of school.
Cohorts: Best practice is to continue with stable cohorts for children and educators. To increase program hours, we need to combine two classroom cohorts to properly staff 9 hour days of care and programming. This means that your child will spend the majority of their day with their specific cohort, however in the beginning and end of the day they will most likely combine with one other specific class, creating the 2 cohort system. Please understand, if we have a positive covid-19 case, both classes will need to quarantine for 14 days.
Snacks: PJA will provide morning and afternoon snacks for toddlers - preschool. Families will provide a daily vegetarian lunch. Infant families will provide food until their child is ready for school snacks, typically after age 1.
Tuition: Attached is our updated tuition schedule with an increase for expanded hours.
Winter and Passover break: All EC programs will be closed for the first week of winter break. Preschool will offer a winter break camp from December 27 - 30, 2021. Passover camp will also be available April 18 - 21, 2022.
Family packets: will be emailed out during the first week of August. The family packets will include class lists, "getting to know your child form," updated school calendar, Open House information, information about the MJCC and PJA opportunities for support.
Parking: The lower parking area, by the toddler playground is reserved for EC families, specifically those with strollers and siblings.
Health and Wellbeing
Masks
The large majority of people (children) will not be vaccinated, therefore we require masks for anyone inside the building, regardless of vaccination status. PJA is requiring face coverings for all individuals 2 years and older in all indoor school settings. We understand children have various abilities in wearing a mask. We will support them through this transition. Masks are no longer required outdoors.
Health Questionnaire
We will continue the health questionnaires and it is imperative that they are completed 15-30 minutes before your child arrives at school. Incomplete forms will slow down the entry process for families. We may ask that you wait until we get families in the door with completed questionnaires. We will no longer perform temperature checks as children enter the building.
Exposure to Covid
If unvaccinated staff, children or family members are exposed to a positive Covid-19 or presumptive case they must quarantine for 14 days and consult the public health authority.
Hand Washing
Hand sanitizer is encouraged to be used by adults before entering the building. Children will not use hand sanitizer but will wash hands upon entering the classroom.