COVID-19

ECDC’s COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

revised 8.23.22

The ECDC Administrative Team has been diligently researching and developing the COVID-19 policies and procedures. We have consulted with Saint Mary’s College, the University of Notre Dame, the local health department, our accreditation body, NAEYC, our licensing body, OECSEL, and early childhood campus programs across the country. We have also incorporated information from the CDC. These practices focus on the safety of children and employees first and foremost. ECDC’s plan is subject to change based on our evolving understanding of COVID-19 and its impact, as well as licensing requirements/recommendations and ND/SMC requirements/recommendations. Check this website often for the latest information.  The content found below overrides the ECDC Family Handbook until further notice.

At ECDC, all employees and college students are required to be vaccinated unless they are granted a medical or religious exemption. 

ECDC Program Hours – 7:00-5:30

Beginning on August 23, 2021, ECDC’s hours of operation will be adjusted to 7:00am – 5:30pm.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30am – 8:30am in preschool classrooms and 7:30am-8:15am in kindergarten.

Masks

Masks are optional for all ECDC children and staff members.  Masks are also now optional for family members and visitors to ECDC. We do ask that anyone who is not feeling well, has any COVID symptoms, or has tested positive in the past 5 days to not come into ECDC. You are welcome to call us and we will come get your child from the car. If you have tested positive from COVID and have finished your 5 day quarantine, please be sure to wear a mask for an additional five days when you come to ECDC.

If you would like your child to wear a mask, please provide 3 clean masks labeled with your child’s first and last name each day. The teachers will gently encourage children to wear the masks throughout the day with the exception of outside time, meals, and rest time.

Some resources on masks:
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/Wearing-Masks_Story.pdf
https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/Wearing-Masks_Tipsheet.pdf

Arrival and Departure Routines for Children

1. Parents are encouraged to do a daily health check prior to bringing their child to school (take your child’s temperature and monitor for symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, congestion, vomiting/diarrhea, or stomachache)
2. Parents and children will use hand sanitizer when they enter the building.
3. Parents never enter the classroom/play space – drop off/pick up at the classroom/playground/GMR door only.
4. Parents will be asked to make the drop off/pick up as quick as possible to limit congestion in the hallways and parking lot.

ECDC-ND Arrival

1. Parents will walk their child to their classroom door, but not enter the room.
2. Teacher will do a quick visual health check of the child.
3. Teacher will sign the child in on the classroom sign in/out sheet.
4. Parent will take their child’s belongings to their locker and then quickly exit the building.
   

ECDC-ND Departure

1. Parent goes to the classroom door but does not enter the room.
   a. If picking up during outside time, parents will check the end of the day schedule to see which outdoor space the class is using and go to the corresponding door.
   b. A teacher will be stationed near the door to greet parents and call children over; parent does not enter play space.
2. Teacher will sign the child out on the classroom sign in/out sheet.
3. Parent will get child’s items from locker and quickly then exit the building.

ECDC-SMC Arrival

1. Parents with children in the 3’s and 4/5’s (3/4’s & 4/5’s during summer) will park in the playground parking lot.  Parents with children in the 3/4‘s and 4’s (5/6’s & 7/8/9’s during summer) will park in the science lot.
2. Parents will walk their child to their classroom door, but not enter the room.
3. Teacher will do a quick visual health check of the child.
4. Teacher will sign the child in on the classroom sign in/out sheet.
5. Parent will take their child’s belongings to their locker and then quickly exit the building.

ECDC-SMC Departure

1. Parent goes to the classroom door but does not enter the room.
2.    a. If picking up during outside time, parents will go to the playground door/gate.
      b. A teacher will be stationed near the door to greet parents and call children over; parent does not enter play space.
3. Teacher will sign the child out on the classroom sign in/out sheet.
4. Parent will get child’s items from locker and quickly exit the building.

Ill Child Policy

The health and well-being of our families and staff are our highest priorities. In the interest of limiting the opportunity for transmission, we are taking the following precautionary measures based on St. Joseph County Health Department, CDC, Indiana Licensing, and ND/SMC guidance:

If your child has any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 your child must be excluded from ECDC.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include: new onset cough or shortness of breath, fever of 100.4 or higher, fatigue, muscle or body aches/chills, headache, congestion or runny nose, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, stomachache or vomiting, diarrhea, or other unusual symptoms.

* If a person has a new symptom (for example, new loss of smell only) with no other diagnosis to explain it, they should stay home and take a home COVID-19 test or see their health care provider, even if it is the only symptom they are experiencing.

• For an individual who receives a positive COVID-19 test result – stay home at least 7 days since symptoms first appeared AND until fever free without medication for 24 hours AND symptoms have improved. The individual will then wear a mask for 3 days when they return to ECDC (10 days total).
• For an individual with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 without a lab test or medical evaluation – stay home at least 7 days since symptoms first appeared AND until fever free without medication for 24 hours AND symptoms have improved. The individual will then wear a mask for 3 days when they return to ECDC (10 days total).
• For an individual with other diagnoses (e.g., strep throat) that explain the symptoms, or when the healthcare provider says symptoms are connected to a pre-existing condition – stay home until symptoms have improved, follow specific return guidance from the health care provider and ECDC’s regular ill child policy, and submit a doctor’s note upon return to ECDC.
• If an individual is a direct contact outside of ECDC/with a family member they will no longer need to quarantine. Anyone who is considered a direct contact to someone who has tested positive to COVID should wear a mask for 10 days and test on day 5. Please continue to let the ECDC office know (by phone or email) if your child has been exposed so that we can ensure they wear a mask at ECDC for the appropriate length of time.

* If your child has symptoms during their daily health check, they will not be able to attend ECDC that day.

* If your child becomes sick at school, he/she will be isolated from the group and kept comfortable until picked up. The ill child and one ECDC staff member caring for her/him will wear a disposable facemask until the child is picked up. An ill child must be picked up within 30 minutes of notification. If you are unable to pick up your child within 30 minutes, please be sure there is an alternative person available who is listed on your child’s emergency form who can pick up your child in the 30 minute period.

* If your child cannot attend school due to COVID-19 symptoms/diagnosis, parents are still responsible for ECDC tuition.

* If we have a case at ECDC, we let the classroom families know. We are no longer identifying close contacts or closing a room. If we have more than one case in a room within a few days, we do ask families to test their children before returning to ECDC.

Parent Provided Supplies

• Parents provide the following for their child: 
  1. For children enrolled in the afternoon – SMALL crib size blanket (30″x40″), SMALL crib size pillow (12″x16″) if child uses one, and TWO crib size sheets – resting items will be sent home weekly to be laundered.
  2. 4 x 6 family photo that ECDC will laminate for easy cleaning
  3. Art supplies – 1 box of crayons (no larger than 24-count), 1 8-count box of washable markers, and 1 bottle of washable school glue (preferably Elmers)
  4. 1 small lovey (optional) – a small stuffed animal to be used at rest time or for comfort. 
  5. At least 2 sets of extra clothing so a child’s clothes can be changed easily if body secretions get on clothing. 
  6. 3 clean masks labeled with your child’s first and last name each day (if you want your child to wear a mask throughout the day with the exception of outside time, meals, and rest time).
  7. Reusable, filled water bottle that has a flip down straw labeled with the child’s name.
             a. Parents are responsible for daily cleaning of the water bottle and sending it filled with water (milk, juice, etc. is not permitted) to ECDC daily with their child.

If there is exposure or a confirmed case of COVID-19

• If there is a positive COVID case reported at ECDC, we will no longer need to contact trace/quarantine anyone. We will continue to let the families in the classroom know if there is a positive case so they can be watchful for symptoms.

Other

• Masks are optional for all family members and visitors
• Hand Sanitizer will be used by all when entering the ECDC programs – It is located near front door
• Increased handwashing for children and adults
• Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces regularly
• Toys are washed/disinfected regularly
• Deep cleaning at night
• All staff will be vaccinated and boosted unless they have a medical or religious exemption.