IMPORTANT UPDATE
COVID- 19 Please Read Thoroughly-- ACTION REQUIRED
Dear Learning Cottage Families,
As we are sure you are all aware, Sarasota and Manatee County Schools have been currently mandated to close public schools through March 27th. As of today, The Learning Cottage is NOT closing and does not intend to close unless one of following three things occur:
1. We have a confirmed case of COVID-19 from one of our families, teachers, or providers.
2. We have a mandated closure by the government.
3. We are unable to provide care due to staffing issue of illness or forced quarantine due to outside contaminants.
Our Current Plan Remains:
1. We are sanitizing hourly and even more frequently as needed. Our evening cleaning crew has been provided with extensive cleaning supplies and has been allotted extra time to ensure we are sanitizing properly nightly. In addition, we have a special machine used each night to sanitize the learning environments and restrooms.
2. Our Management Team will be at the front desk and classroom entrances to ensure ALL peoples entering campus have properly washed their hands prior to entering the classrooms and activities.
3. Just like a doctors office, we kindly ask that you wash your hands as you enter ANY part of our school- even if you do not plan to stick around.
4. IF YOU HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOL KIDS AT HOME, we are kindly asking that you keep your smaller children out of school with them for the 2 week spring break period. We are asking that you kindly respond to this email to note your absence and confirmation of your understanding.
5. IF YOU HAVE TRAVELED DURING SPRING BREAK, we are mandating that you remain out of Learning Cottage care for the week following. We are asking that you kindly respond to this email to note your absence and confirmation of your understanding.
6. If you are beginning care in our Preschool or Jr. Preschool classrooms (New Families), we are asking that you follow the above standards in preparation for your start date.
Change to Wellness Policy Effective Immediately
All students who are sent home due to illness will not be readmitted to The Learning Cottage until they have been symptom-free without medication for 72 hours. Therefore, a child who has been sent home ill cannot return to school until the 4th day from the onset of symptoms. The only exception to this requirement is if a licensed physician/nurse practitioner has examined the child and indicated in writing that the child is able to participate in all School activities without risking his/her health or the health of others. The letter from the physician/nurse practitioner must contain the following to be accepted:
"medically cleared to participate in a childcare center with children 6 weeks and older"
This is the current recommendation from our pediatric consultant as well as several medical professionals who understand the necessity of doing our absolute best to remain open for our families who are unable to work from home during this crisis. Just to clarify, the standard "has been seen in our office" letter will NOT be accepted for early return
In addition to the typical illness policy, your child will be sent home if they have the following:
Green Runny Nose
Coughing
Sore Throat
Shortness of Breath.
If your child has any of these symptoms you MUST keep them out of school until symptom free. The same policy applies to staff members.
PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY
PLEASE make sure to inform us directly if
- you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
- are under quarantine or if your child is showing signs of illness at home
- you have public school children at home (again, we are asking that your preschooler stay home as well in this case)
- If you have traveled during spring break or over the 3/13- 3/15 weekend (In which case your child is mandated to stay home the following week of travel.
Follow the school's hand washing policy and routine (Seen below) upon entering the school or any classroom (Staff, Parents and Children)
IF YOU ARE SICK, DO NOT COME TO THE LEARNING COTTAGE. Quarantine extends to your immediate family and your child may be asymptomatic but yet still a carrier of the virus. We know that tests are not readily available, but if you are feeling flu-like symptoms, please self-quarantine your family until symptom free for 72 hours.
Friendly Reminder From Your Signed Parent Handbook:
" If The Learning Cottage is temporarily unable to provide child care services due to reasons beyond its reasonable control, The Learning Cottage will use its best efforts to provide the parent(s) with reasonable advance notice of the need for substitute care ."
"The Learning Cottage will follow emergency procedures, as it pertains to closures, with either Sarasota or Manatee County Schools. Final decision is that of The Learning Cottage"
"The Parent(s) is responsible for arranging alternate care for the dates above and for emergency closings."
We are working closely with leaders in our community
Reporting Your Absence
- You have a public school child at home and therefore are being asked by The Learning Cottage to keep your preschooler home per this email.
- Your child or a family member is ill
- You have traveled over the weekend or during next week's Spring Break period.
- You are simply choosing to keep your child out of school.
Please copy ALL managers (below) when reporting your absence. In doing so, you help us to make continued best decisions based on the health an wellness of our school as a whole.
With Safety and Health in Mind,
Aimee Muldoon & Ashley Hostetter
Owners
The Learning Cottage
Ms. Ashley- Ashley@SarasotaLearningCottage.com
Ms. Kerri- Kerri@SarasotaLearningCottage.com
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