2020/2021 Academic Year
Our preschool and kindergarten programs are highly accredited through Colorado Shines, AdvancEd, and ACSI. We strive for high standards in all areas regardless of the recent outbreak. The health and safety of our young children continue to be our primary concern and focus, and we commit to maintaining licensing requirements and following standards that are best practice in early childhood education (ECE), regardless of COVID-19. Parents, please help us by following these guidelines.
Health Assessment
Personal assessment of children must always be done by parents before bringing them to school, and this has always been true. More specifically, each child must have his/her temperature taken at home and will have it taken again before entering the school. Children with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be permitted to attend school that day. Please refer to the CDC guidelines for specific COVID-19 symptoms.
Hand Washing
Students and staff wash their hands each day before school begins, frequently throughout the day, and again when leaving for the day. This occurs whether there is a current pandemic or not.
Sanitizing and Disinfecting
FRCS ECE staff sanitize and disinfect toys, equipment, surfaces, and other areas that might be contaminated. They do this frequently according to Health, Licensing, and CDC guidelines, regardless of outbreaks.
Curbside Drop-off and Pick-up
Parents are discouraged from entering the building. Therefore, curbside drop-off and pick-up are in effect until further notice. Alternatively, parents may park in the parking lot and walk their child to the front entrance area. Children will be allowed to enter their specific classroom with their teacher’s help and after their initial health screen. Please be patient and allow extra time for distancing and prevention of crowding.
Door Entry/Exit
All classes will enter and exit only as follows:
- Preschool I (Mrs. Turay) through their specific door
- Preschool II (Mrs. Cameron) through their specific door
- PreK I (Mrs. Naslund) through the Falcon Fit door
- PreK II (Mrs. Puleo) through the main entrance door
- Full time kindergarten (Mrs. Sturm) through their specific door
- Part time kindergarten (Mrs. Fast) through the Library door
NOTE: Scheduled tours and essential teaching personnel will only be allowed during business hours, through the main entrance. We adhere to this regardless of COVID-19.
Hours are staggered to prevent crowding and allow time for daily health assessment
- Kindergarten: 7:45am – 2:50pm
- PreK: 8am – 2:40pm
- Preschool: 8:15am – 2:30pm
Masks
Teachers will wear masks when speaking to children within 6 feet of themselves. Children are not required to wear a mask, but they may wear one if their parent chooses and provides one (FRCS does not offer child masks). Staff will also wear masks when entering other parts of the campus and during staff meetings. Masks are required for staff anytime they are in a crowded area where they are within 6 feet of other people, whether children, other students, parents, or colleagues.
Group Size
Smaller groups are better groups for young children and will be adhered to based on State licensing requirements and guidelines. One teacher per 10 children, maintaining the best distancing possible, within reason. Utilizing the ECE building is essential, including STEMlings, Library, Snooze Room Naptime, Creation Art Studio, and Falcon Fit classrooms for small group rotations. Outdoor classrooms are essential in the late summer and early fall. Fresh air and exposure to sunshine is healthy for children. Our teachers utilize this strategy regardless of a pandemic.
Outdoor Classrooms
We have three outdoor areas of interest: Falcon Forest Nature Area, ECE Playground, and Alley Cats Garden and Picnic Area. These provide fresh air, space, and shade when needed. Parents, please apply sunscreen each morning before school. Children may bring hats, as well.
Airflow
It is proven that air flow is critical with the recent novel coronavirus. Our ECE building is equipped with 8 units that provide heat, air conditioning, and fresh air intake. Our classrooms’ square footage are advantageous during the current situation and prove beneficial even when there isn’t a pandemic in place.
Children’s Items
- We do not provide hot lunch and require children to bring in disposable food items and a sack lunch.
- Backpacks are not allowed until further notice.
- A water bottle with your child’s name is helpful and will go home each day; please clean and sanitize it each evening or morning before returning to school. Drinking fountains are discouraged during this time.
We are trying to minimize the items that can be contaminated during the day, so please adhere to this new request.
Nap Time
Children who stay all day will remain in their own classroom during rest time. Licensing requires that children not mix and remain with their original group the entire day. All nap time blankets will go home each week for cleaning, or more frequently when cleaning and disinfecting is needed.
Nobody Wants to Close Again!
If we work together and partner with each other, we should be able to keep our school open. We MUST all commit to quarantine when sick, wash hands frequently, and keep distancing in mind during the school year.
If Colorado or Jefferson County experience another outbreak of COVID-19, we will likely need to close again, but if we do our part, we can help prevent that from happening.