Policies for the COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated 8.1.20)

Aleph Bet will be open from 7:30-5:00, 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:
  1. Staff members and all adults will wear masks. While not required, we highly encourage all children to wear masks as well.
  2. 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.
  3. Aleph Bet will close at 5:00 pm each day, so staff may thoroughly disinfect the entire space.
  4. Aleph Bet staff pledge to continue observing social distancing practices when not at work, and we highly encourage all families to do the same.
  5. Aleph Bet must be notified if a member of the household of any staff or child contracts COVID-19. The staff or child must stay home until they’ve been cleared by medical professionals to return to normal activities.
  6. Aleph Bet must be notified if a member of staff or child in attendance at Aleph Bet tests positive for COVID-19. Aleph Bet will be closed as recommended by the Department of Human Services and the Hamilton County Health Department. This may be as long as the time it takes for all relevant staff to be tested and receive negative test results, or as long as a 14-day quarantine.
  7. 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.

 DROP-OFF & PICK-UP: 
In order to limit the number of people in the building, a staff member will meet each family outside for drop-off and pick-up. Every family will be given 2 vehicle placards to help staff more easily identify them, and offer faster assistance.
  1. (DROP-OFF) From 7:30-8:45, drop-off will happen in the circle drive at the front of the building. We will be using the car line format, where each car will be addressed as they reach the point in front of the doors.Adults should stay in their vehicle, but if possible role down their child’s window or unlock doors.                                                                                                                               -Staff will give adults the sign-in clipboard and ask about the child's general health/mood.                                                                 -Before children exit the car, the staff member will perform a visual assessment of their health and take their temperature using a contactless thermometer.                                                                                                                                                                         -Staff will help children exit their car, and assist them to their class.
  2. (DROP-OFF) After 8:45, drop-off will be in the Aleph Bet parking lot. All above steps will be followed. Please be informed that depending on arrival time, staff may not immediately be able to assist you, and we highly recommend arriving by 8:30.
  3. Staff will sanitize pens on attendance clipboards after each use.
  4. (PICK-UP) Before 4:20, pick-up will be in the Aleph Bet parking lot.                                                                                                                -Parent/guardian should stay in their vehicle until staff bring their child and belongings to the parking-lot.                                      -For speediest attention, we ask that all vehicles park in one of the spots closest to the door, and make sure your placard is visible.
  5. (PICK-UP) From 4:20-5:00, pick-up will be in the circle drive at the front of the building.                                                                            -Cars should pull as far forward to the stop sign, and adults are asked to stay in their car until their child is brought to them.

CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT:
  1. 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.
  2. All soft/plush, or fabric playthings and furniture, including dress up clothes and rugs, as well as sand and water stations, will be temporarily removed from the classroom.
  3. We will frequently and regularly use a bleach based sanitizer on all shared surfaces and toys.  Additionally, playground equipment will be sanitized between groups, and quiet time cots after any use.
  4. As much as possible, all groups will be kept separate, with minimal movement of the adults from group to group. However, groups may have passing contact on playground or common areas. 
  5. After the children have left for the day, all classrooms, hallways, and common touch surfaces 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 during this time. 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.