Policies for the COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated 6.9.21)
Aleph Bet will be open from 7:30-5:30, Monday-Friday. Our daily schedule will include a morning snack at 9, lunch around 11:30, quiet time from 12:30-2:30, and afternoon snack at 3:30.
Our utmost priority is the health and safety of every child and adult at Aleph Bet. To this end, we’ll be observing and asking everyone to agree to the following CDC recommended procedures:
General:
In order to limit the number of people in the building, a staff member will meet each family outside for drop-off.
As a licensed program of TN-DHS, and an organization operating in Chattanooga city limits, Aleph Bet is subject to their guidelines. Additionally, we will do our best to follow all guidelines and recommendations given by the CDC, and the Hamilton County Health Department. We will do our best to keep our families notified of any required changes in dates or schedules as soon as we are made aware. The quarantine guidelines listed are directly informed by the recommendations or requirements of the Hamilton County Health Department.
Our utmost priority is the health and safety of every child and adult at Aleph Bet. To this end, we’ll be observing and asking everyone to agree to the following CDC recommended procedures:
General:
- Staff members and all adults will wear masks when indoors. While not required, we highly encourage all children to wear masks as well. Fully vaccinated staff may unmask while on the playground.
- While we will not do temperature screening upon entry each morning, we encourage all families and staff to self-monitor. We will check temperatures as needed. No person with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be admitted to the building; entry may also be refused to any person who is visibly short of breath or presenting other breathing difficulties. We encourage you to closely monitor your child for other signs of illness and keep them home as needed. All other health policies outlined in the Aleph Bet handbook will be upheld.
- Aleph Bet must be notified if a member of the household of any staff or child contracts COVID-19.
- All children, even those who receive a negative COVID test, must quarantine for 14 days before returning to Aleph Bet.
- Unvaccinated staff must quarantine for 10 days before returning to Aleph Bet.
- Fully vaccinated staff need not quarantine, unless COVID symptoms develop.
- Aleph Bet must be notified if a member of staff or child in attendance at Aleph Bet tests positive for COVID-19. If that person was in the building 48 hours before testing positive or becoming symptomatic, Aleph Bet will be closed for quarantine. Hamilton County Health Department currently requests a 14-day quarantine.
- All positive cases connected to Aleph Bet will be reported to our licensing agencies: the TN Department of Human Services, and the Hamilton County Health Department. Contact information for all who’ve been in the building may be shared with the Hamilton County Health Department to aid their contact tracing study.
In order to limit the number of people in the building, a staff member will meet each family outside for drop-off.
- (DROP-OFF) Drop-off will happen in the rear parking lot of the building. Vehicles will be addressed as soon as possible, with staff making every effort to greet families in the order in which they arrived.
- Adults should stay in their vehicle, but roll down their window and unlock their child's door.
- Adults should have their mobile device ready with the Procare app pulled up to sign their child in for the day.
- Staff will help children exit their car, and assist them to their class.
- Adults should stay in their vehicle, but roll down their window and unlock their child's door.
- After 8:45, staff may not immediately be able to assist you. If you don’t see a staff member, please message us using the Procare app and we will be with you as soon as possible.
- (PICK-UP) Families may enter the building for afternoon pick-up. Please follow these guidelines:
- Only one person should enter the building to retrieve your child. If you notice many adults already in the hallway, we recommend waiting for a family to exit before entering.
- All adults should wear a mask when in-doors. We have extra disposables available at the hospitality table just inside the door.
- Please be prepared to sign your child out, either by having the Procare app ready and open on your mobile device, or by memorizing the unique, 4-digit code assigned to you through the Procare app so you may input it on our tablets.
- All adults and children will wash their hands upon entering any new space, and as needed throughout the day. Child hand washing will be strictly supervised to ensure correct procedure.
- We will frequently and regularly use a bleach based sanitizer on all shared surfaces and toys.
- Groups will be kept separate while indoors. Exception: groups may overlap indoors during the first and last hour of operation (7:30am-8:30am, 4:30pm-5:30pm) if weather requires us to stay off the playground during these hours.
- After the children have left for the day, all classrooms, hallways, common touch surfaces, and naptime cots will be disinfected with a CDC approved disinfectant.
As a licensed program of TN-DHS, and an organization operating in Chattanooga city limits, Aleph Bet is subject to their guidelines. Additionally, we will do our best to follow all guidelines and recommendations given by the CDC, and the Hamilton County Health Department. We will do our best to keep our families notified of any required changes in dates or schedules as soon as we are made aware. The quarantine guidelines listed are directly informed by the recommendations or requirements of the Hamilton County Health Department.