Dear Early Learning Families,

Thank you all for participating in Mead's Needs Assessment Survey earlier this week. We had nearly 100% participation, and appreciate your accompanying comments and support of our efforts.

After very careful consideration, and in keeping with Governor Lamont's and The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood's directives that Childcare Programs remain open to support the needs of essential personnel, Mead has made the decision to re-open the Early Learning Centers for ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL only. If your workplace considers you to be in this category, please know that we are here to support you.

Be advised that this is a very soft and cautious opening. If you have the ability to keep your child home, we request for this coming week, that you do so. Over the course of next week as we monitor the coronavirus risk and spread, we will make a decision on whether to open ELC more extensively.

Programming:

On Monday, March 23rd, we will operate three separate classrooms, each with their own playground, from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Based on survey results, we are expecting a total of 10 students. Children in Infants/Toddler I will be grouped together, as will children from Toddler II/Toddler III and Preschool/Pre-K. Each group will be staffed with two teachers from each of the centers so that our students have someone they know and love taking care of them. This is not a drop in service. Even if you have responded to the survey, please email confirmation of your child's attendance to Robyn by 12 pm on Sunday, March 22.

Precautionary Guidelines:

Transparency and vigilance among all of us at this time is critical. With this in mind, the following guidelines are still in effect for all children of essential personnel and staff:

If any member of your household has been exposed (or believes s/he may have been exposed to COVID-19), your child may not attend the program until s/he has observed a 14-day quarantine.
Children and staff who are immuno-compromised, or fall into the "high risk" category, are to remain at home. If you have any doubt about whether your child falls into one of these categories, please check with your child's physician. (Signs of immunodeficiency can include frequent upper respiratory, pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus, ear, or skin infections.)
If you or anyone in your household is sick or has any cold, flu or intestinal symptoms, we ask that you keep your child at home until that person is symptom-free. Children and staff MUST be SYMPTOM-FREE for 48 hours to be in attendance.
Students presenting with cold, flu or intestinal symptoms during program hours will be removed from their center and must be picked up within 60 minutes of the family being notified.
ELC families and staff must ONLY use the ELC entrance when entering and exiting the building.
Children and staff MUST have their temperatures taken BEFORE entering the building by a Mead staff member. Anyone presenting with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher may not enter into the building nor be in attendance and will be asked to go back home. We will continue to monitor students and staff throughout the day.
Parents/guardians are expected to wash their hands and their child's hands BEFORE entering their classrooms. Please use the sinks located in the ELC hallway or the appropriate lavatory located in the Pre-K hallway.
All previous travel policies we have communicated to you remain in effect. Click HERE to review the COVID-19 travel letter sent to you on 3/10/20.

It is important to note that even after undertaking appropriate precautions, it is impossible to guarantee that a child will not fall ill while in our care, or transmit anything back to the home environment.

We appreciate your adherence to these stringent guidelines, as we support those who are required to be out and about helping our communities through this journey.

With our sincere regards,

Robyn and Stephanie

Robyn Santagata Stephanie Whitney

Director of Early Learning Head of School