Health Related Information
READ:
New York State Guidelines for Childcare Programs
New York State Guidelines for PreK-12 Schools
AT ST. PHILIP'S - 2021/2022 Procedures
These are the protocols and guidelines we are following at St. Philip’s.
- When parents arrive at Nursery School, on checking in, they complete an online health questionnaire on the Brightwheel app.
- Drop-off will be 9:05am and pick-up 12pm for all Groups.
- Ducks and Blue Rabbits are dropped off and picked up at the front, red door. Red Rabbits are dropped off and picked up at the rear staircase door.
- On arrival, parents sign in electronically using Brightwheel.
- Children say goodbye at the door. Ducks and Blue Rabbits are be taken to wash their hands upstairs and Red Rabbits wash their hands downstairs.
- The three groups stay separate throughout the morning. Ducks and Blue Rabbits learn and play using the upstairs space in different areas; Red Rabbits learn and play using the downstairs space.
- The Ducks and Blue Rabbits will have snack upstairs in their respected spaces (All surfaces are disinfected in-between). The Red Rabbits will have snack downstairs. Whenever possible, children have snack outside.
- Both groups use our outdoor spaces as much as possible, but are in different locations.
- The downstairs art room will be used in rotation with all groups.
- Children must wash hands before dismissal. Ducks and Blue Rabbits are picked up at the front door, and Red Rabbits at the rear stairwell door. Parents and caregivers will use Brightwheel to sign out.
Toys, equipment and surfaces will be washed as needed and disinfected with spray at the end of every day. Our custodian, Marcelo Alarcon, also cleans and vacuums and disinfects every morning before school begins.
Note: We are a private not-for-profit morning preschool not associated with a larger school; we follow the New York State guidelines for Child Care Programs. See the link above.
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As parents ourselves, we understand that families have various positions regarding what they consider normal when it comes to wellness for school. At St. Philip's, we must be concerned about the health of all the children here, as well as the health of the teachers.
In these COVID-19 times, the best thing you can do for your family and your community is keep your sick children at home.
Children often need rest to recover from a bad cold. We will ask you to take them home if they show signs of a serious/communicable illness or condition (including conjunctivitis and head lice). If your child has a fever over 100 on arrival at school, you will be asked to take him/her home. If a child shows symptoms of COVID-19 (fever over 100 or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea), you will be called and asked to take her/him home and be tested for COVID-19. (We will keep her/him separated from other children while we wait for your arrival). Children may return when they have a negative test result. In general, physicians recommend that a child stay home for 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics as well as remain home for 24 hours after a return to normal temperature after a fever.
Thank you very much for understanding and complying with these policies.