COVID-19 Safety Protocols

COVID-19 Policies and Practices

In order to create a healthy environment for your child, we have outlined a code of conduct based on recommendations by the State of New York. These policies and practices are designed to help protect our community from illness using screenings, increased hygiene methods, and employing social distancing measures. Reducing risk and spread of illness is a community-wide effort and we ask for your full cooperation, including the thorough review and signing of this policy before entering the program.  We will notify you if and when these policies are updated based on changing guidance from public health authorities.
 
PPE & Social Distancing

All students and staff must wear face-coverings at all times. A surgical grade mask, cloth covering, that completely covers the nose and mouth is acceptable. If a child wears a face shield, a mask or face covering is still required. All students are expected to bring their own mask and have a second mask sent as a back-up. Afterschool will provide back-up masks if students misplace theirs.

Staff and students will practice social distancing at all times during in-person Afterschool to the best of our ability.  Students who refuse to wear a mask or observe social distancing guidelines properly will be warned orally the first time, in writing the second time, and then sent home the third time and not allowed to return to in-person Afterschool for the remainder of the session.

When dropping off or picking up students, parents must wear a face mask at all times and remain socially distanced from any students or people who are not members of their household.

Hygiene & Cleaning

Each student should bring their own personal hand sanitizer.  Afterschool will provide cleaning stations for students and staff.  
Every student is required to bring their own water bottle and snack each afternoon. Snacks and water bottles will not be shared between students.
Students will not share equipment or supplies, or will only do so if thoroughly on a very limited basis and we will sanitize any equipment before and after each session/use. Children should have a backpack with writing and drawing materials, as well as toys/activities and water bottle and snack.  
Use of technology such as iPhones or iPads is not allowed.

Health Screening

Upon arrival, and before being admitted to Afterschool, staff and children undergo a Health Check which includes a questionnaire and a temperature check. Contactless thermometers are provided for administering temperature checks. Responses are treated as confidential information and no temperatures are recorded.  

In the event an individual exhibits signs of COVID exposure or symptoms during check-in or during the day, that individual will be immediately separated from others in Afterschool. The primary parent or caretaker will be notified and asked to immediately pick up the child. Students will be allowed to return with either (1) a negative COVID test (2) a doctor's note clearing them to return or (3) be fever and symptom-free for 72 hours without fever-reducing medication. Staff will follow the same screening protocols.

If someone in your household tests positive for COVID or if you have been notified that your child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID, you must notify us immediately. We require a negative COVID test or a 14 day symptom-free quarantine for a student to return to the program. 

Cohorts

Pods will consist of the same 9 students for that day’s activities and we will do our best to maintain cohorts from the school day. Under no circumstances will a student be switched to a different pod for any activity. Unfortunately, we can not accommodate requests.  On days with inclement weather, all activities will move to Zoom.  We will notify families via email by 12:00 pm, the day-of, when activities are moved to Zoom, and previous to that time if it is clear the weather will be bad earlier.

All communications about class changes will be sent via email to the primary email you list on your account.  

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What happens if a child tests positive for COVID-19?

CDC Guidelines: At a minimum, students and staff who test positive will be allowed to return to the program after 10 days of isolation, from the time of onset of symptoms or from the time of the positive test, if asymptomatic.
My child is immune compromised: Any family that has concerns due to their child being immune-compromised should contact their pediatrician before registering, or with any concerns during the session.
A child or staff in your pod test positive: Students and staff in the pod are considered primary contacts and will need to be tested and quarantine for 14 days.
Continual updating of guidelines: Afterschool will regularly update policies and notify parents to maintain changing CDC guidelines.