TAUXEMONT'S FALL 2021 SEMESTER BEGINS SEPTEMBER 14TH AND WILL OPERATE UNDER THE FOLLOWING COVID-19 POLICY:
Tauxemont’s response and policies follow the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) COVID-19 Guidelines and Information for Child Care Operations.
Tauxemont-specific policies are summarized below:
- Vaccination. Vaccination is important to the teachers, and they are currently all fully vaccinated.
- Class Outside. Classes will be mostly outdoors. Children should come to school prepared for the day’s weather. This includes waterproof outer clothing. Please check descriptions before acquiring new clothes--there is a very big difference between water resistant and waterproof.
- Last year, we did not have to change school hours or cancel school until winter hit (for new families-- last year school hours were shortened when the weather got cold since the children could not go inside because of Covid distancing restrictions). This year, we are not yet required to provide space to keep people six feet apart indoors. As a result, Tauxemont can cycle children in and out of the building so we don’t foresee having many closures. Wind is our biggest concern. If this hurricane season is bad, we may have to cancel or postpone class on certain days. This is no different from pre-Covid times. Families do have to be prepared to be flexible. Families should not send their child to school if being out in the weather for an extended time would cause them to be too uncomfortable to benefit from being at school (this can usually be prevented with the right clothes, recognizing that not all children are cooperative about clothing!).
- Masks. Masks will be required both inside and outside while on campus except while eating/drinking.
- Family Classroom (helpers). Due to recent Covid changes, the teachers are still in the process of planning how family classroom helping (co-oping) will work at the start of school, but it likely will not be in its traditional form--at least in the beginning. All adults who plan to participate in this aspect of the school will still need the TB screening, background checks/finger printing and will also need to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. 4 hours of Early Childhood Education/Classroom Training are required by the Commonwealth of Virginia. These education hours are met through attending class meetings. See School Agreement for more information on family classroom helping requirements.
- School Events. School events will likely still be in person--outdoors with masks and distancing. Attendance is required by at least one family member or guardian at All-School Orientation and All-School Meetings.
- Drop-Off/Pick-Up. Drop-off/pick-up procedure is still being determined. The teachers anticipate that caretakers will park and sign in and out children in the parking lot. Children will be walked to the lower or upper playground entrance, as applicable, and into the school. Staggered drop off/pick-up times by class may be implimented to help with distancing. At this time, temperature checks and health questions will no longer be required, but if a teacher notices a child is sick, a caregiver will be contacted and must pick up their child without delay.
- Sick Children. No one may attend school with symptoms of contagious disease, this includes, without limitation, common cold symptoms, rashes, diarrhea, throwing up and fevers (100.4 and above). Children must be symptom free, without symptom reducing medication, for 48 hours before attending school. Quarantine requirements apply if a child is sick with Covid.
- Screening. Screening for contagious illness will not take place in the parking lot this year. As in past pre-Covid years, Mandatory Daily Health Observation, which the teaching staff is trained in, will take place on the grounds. If a child presents with symptoms of a contagious disease they will be immediately isolated, their contact numbers will be called and they will have to leave as soon as possible. If a member of a household is exhibiting symptoms of Covid, the child should not attend school until it is clear that the member of the household and the child do not have Covid.
- Notification. Families must keep their lead teacher or Barbara Bradley, Director (BMBradley@tauxemont.org) informed of any and all illness symptoms and exposure in their household. Tauxemont strives to protect privacy.