What does Preschool look like for 2 and 3 year olds?

Lots of things! All students grow in many areas all at once.

We have the stuff like potty training, table manners, eating with silverware, and washing hands that are daily skills we work to learn and do not really fit into a "cognitive domain" as they are called in the early childhood realm. These skills may not quite fit in the early learning goals or the domains but they are key to later learning. Eating with silverware and fine motor skills involved in those actions change how our students learn to write later. With our 2 and 3 year old students we work on developing the great foundations for future academic success.

Other than the academic there are many social parts to being in a classroom and learning to work with other students. Those verbal skills about my toys or our toys and sharing or " I want that" must be practiced, over and over again to ensure learning can happen. When students are focused on handling the big emotions that come from sharing and socializing they cannot devote the same amount of energy to learning their letters or how to count. Our work with our 2 and 3 year olds prepares them to handle the big emotions and transitions as well as learn.

COVID-19 Update

March 27th, 2020

Please note that if your student has a temperature higher than 99.4 Fahrenheit you will be asked to pick up your student as soon as possible. The Department of Health and Senior Services has updated their response and has asked that we send home any and all students with temperatures greater than 99.4.

March 20th, 2020

Following precautions and orders outlined by the city below, we are requesting all parents reach out to us to confirm whether your student will be present Monday so we can make the best planning and resource allocation to ensure the health and safety of all.

If you are a parent and your line of work is not outlined as an essential function, please keep your students home so we can maintain safe places and ensure social distancing.

Please text 505-800-2264 or email us at stjoebrightbeginnings@gmail.com so we can ensure fewer teachers are exposed if necessary and all students have care.

https://www.newspressnow.com/coronavirus/city-issues-shelter-in-place-directive/article_fb506792-6bd5-11ea-bd4b-c39f46a72558.html

March 17th, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Out of an abundance of caution, Bright Beginnings is implementing an action plan to address evolving circumstances involving the spread of the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19). We believe this action plan aligns with our commitment to ensure the health and safety of our staff, children and their families. Bright Beginnings administration will communicate any updates to this plan as well as concerns about the spread of the virus to staff and children on an ongoing basis.

Preventative Actions

Our team is actively cleaning and sanitizing high touch places such as doorknobs, tables, faucets, tablets, and children’s toys frequently throughout the day. We will keep our slides open for now and clean them daily. If there are increased incidents in our community, these spaces will be temporarily off-limits.

Handwashing instructions are posted in all bathrooms along with fun incentives to increase frequency of staff handwashing. Children will be encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival, before eating snacks, before leaving for the day and after sneezing or coughing in them. Children who have sensory challenges with handwashing will have modified handwashing routines which are individualized to them. If you have concerns about specific products used for handwashing, please reach out to Stephanie or Meredith.

Children’s learning areas will be supplied with hand sanitizer. In addition, their tables and learning materials will be wiped down before and after each day with antibacterial wipes. If your child has an allergy or sensitivity to antibacterial gel or cleaning products, please let the Meredith or Stephanie know. For our little learners who like to mouth items, bins will be placed around the center for any item that has come in contact with their mouth, to ensure that it is sanitized before another child is able to access it.

Community spaces such as kitchens, parent meeting rooms and break rooms will be cleaned and wiped down after each use. To ensure they are clean and disinfected, all kitchen and eating utensils will be washed in the hottest possible water, in either the dishwasher or by handwashing, whichever is first available.

As fundamental as this information is, it bears repeating that to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, staff and children should remember to:

• Cover your cough or sneeze
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• See your doctor if you have a fever, cough, body aches and fatigue
• Stay home and limit contact with others if you are sick

Notification of Travel

We are asking that families and team members notify our main office if you have plans to travel to overseas over spring break. In addition, children or staff who have family members who reside with them who have traveled to or had stopovers in countries that are considered Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or higher, should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Information for travelers can be found on the CDC website:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Closings

Bright Beginnings will remain vigilant in staying up to date with all local and national recommendations regarding business closures. Bright Beginnings intends to stay open, even if schools close, unless DHSS requires. In the event that a child or staff member contracts COVID-19, all parents and staff members will be contacted immediately, and the center will close for a minimum of 2 days to ensure that the space can be professionally cleaned and disinfected. Any child or staff member who reports a diagnosis of COVID-19 will be suspended for a minimum of 14 days or until notice that there is no risk of contracting the virus is provided by a medical official.

We understand this is a stressful time for our families and want to ensure you that your child’s health is our first priority. We will continue to keep you informed of any updates. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or additional concerns.

Sincerely,

Bright Beginnings