July 29, 2020

Diocese of St. Petersburg

Back to School 2020-2021: A Plan for

Safety and Success

A faith-filled community committed to the safety of your

family.

~ 2 ~

Table of Contents

Letter to Parents………………..……………………..…………………………3

St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood Center Plan Overview……..……...4

Comprehensive Safety Plan…………………………………………………...5

Illness and Symptom Guidelines…………………………………….…5

Facemask Guidelines………………………………………………....….6

Hygiene Guidelines………………………………………………………7

Social Distancing………………………………………………………….8

Sanitation…………………………………………………………….……..9

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures……………………………….…….10

Lunch Bunch Procedures………………………………………………..10

Distance Learning Procedures………………………………………………..11

Frequently Asked Questions…………………………………………….…….12

COVID-19 Student Decision Tree……………………………………………..13

~ 3 ~

Letter to Parents

July 2020

Dear St. Thomas Aquinas E.C.C. Families,

Welcome to St. Thomas Aquinas ECC! This will be a year like no other. We will be facing many challenges and

ask that you support us as we address each one. We have created this plan to guide our transition back to school.

This will be a living document that may change throughout the year. We hope that through open communication

and ongoing dialogue between our school, classroom teachers, and families, we can provide experiences that will

nurture each child and foster his/her growth and love of learning, while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

St. Thomas Aquinas ECC is a Catholic Early Childhood Center and is part of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. As

we return to school, we will continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Office of Early Learning (OEL), after consultation

with the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

This “Back to School 2020-2021 Plan,” along with additional communications from our school, will give families

an insight to our policies and procedures that we put in place for the safety and well-being of all. Families are

asked to carefully read, review, and refer to the information enclosed, along with our “2020-2021 Family

Handbook” during your time with us. We are here to support decisions related to your child and to assist families

with transitions from home to school and from program to program.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policies and/or your child’s transition into our ECC

program, please feel free to set up a time to meet with me.

We look forward to working with your family.

God Bless You,

Alicia Mumma, Director

St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood Center

License Number C06PA0101

St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood Center Mission Statement

St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood Center is a Catholic school where two, three, four and five-year olds are

given opportunities to develop spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. We are dedicated to the

goal of providing developmentally appropriate programs aimed at the whole child.

~ 4 ~

St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood

Center Plan Overview

The Administration, Faculty and Staff of St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood Center are

committed to welcoming students and families back to a faith-filled and safe school community.

Below you will find guidelines that will be implemented to ensure a successful 2020-2021 school

year. These guidelines were taken directly from the CDC website (www.cdc.gov). Please note

that this is a living document which will be revised according to current CDC, Health Department,

and Diocesan Guidelines.

~ 5 ~

Comprehensive Safety Plan

➢ Illness and Symptom Guidelines

What you need to know:

Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical

conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious

complications from COVID-19 illness.

Watch for symptoms:

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to

severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these

symptoms may have COVID-19:

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms, it was taken from the CDC website on July 8, 2020.

Please continue to check the CDC website as they will continue to update the list as they learn more

about COVID-19.

What is the difference between Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19?

Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different

viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused

by infection with influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it

may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to

help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key

differences between the two.

While more is learned every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that

causes it. To learn more about COVID-19 and the flu, visit www.cdc.gov.

~ 6 ~

➢ Face Mask Guidelines

Face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every

day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings.

• Who should NOT use cloth face coverings: children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble

breathing, is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without

assistance.

• Cloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or N95 respirators. Currently, surgical masks

and N95 respirators are critical supplies that should be reserved for healthcare workers and other

first responders.

Wear your Face Covering Correctly

• Wash your hands before putting on your face covering

• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin

• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face

• Make sure you can breathe easily

Use the Face Covering to Protect Others

• Wear a face covering to help protect others in case you are infected but don’t have symptoms

• Wear the covering in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household,

especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain

• Don’t put the covering around your neck or up on your forehead

• Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands

Follow Everyday Health Habits

• Stay at least 6 feet away from others

• Avoid contact with people who are sick

• Wash your hands often, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds each time

• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

Take Off Your Cloth Face Covering Carefully, When You’re Home

• Untie the strings behind your head or stretch the ear loops

• Handle only by the ear loops or ties

• Fold outside corners together

• Place covering in the washing machine

• Be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth when removing and wash hands immediately

after removing.

~ 7 ~

➢ Hygiene Guidelines

We have planned ahead and ordered adequate supplies to support hand hygiene behaviors and routine

cleaning of objects and surfaces.

We encourage staff to practice every day preventative action to prevent the spread of respiratory illness.

• Staff will be required to wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily

available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

• Staff will always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

• If the children need to use hand sanitizer, we will supervise young children to prevent swallowing

alcohol.

• Staff will clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

• Staff and children will be taught/asked to cover cough and sneezes.

• Staff will be asked to cover their mouth and nose with a face covering while at work.

• Cloth face coverings will NOT be put on babies and children under age two because of the danger

of suffocation.

• As always, children will be required to wash hands when they enter the school, before snack, after

they play outside, before they transition to lunch bunch, and any other time deemed necessary.

Healthy Hand Hygiene Behavior

• All children, staff, and volunteers will engage in hand hygiene at the following times:

o Arrival to the facility and after breaks

o Before and after eating or handling food, or feeding children

o Before and after diapering

o After using the toilet or helping a child use the bathroom

o After coming in to contact with bodily fluid

o After playing outdoors or in sand

o After handling garbage

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol-

based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can be used if soap and water are not readily

available.

• Supervise children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion.

• Assist children with handwashing, including infants who cannot wash hands alone.

o After assisting children with handwashing, staff should also wash their hands.

• Posters will be posted describing handwashing steps near sinks.

~ 8 ~

➢ Social Distancing

Social Distancing Strategies

• When possible, childcare classes will include the same group each day, and the same childcare

providers should remain with the same group each day.

• Special events such as festivals, holiday events, and special performances will take place if

social distancing is possible, and if approved by the local health department, parish, and Diocese

of St. Petersburg.

• St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood Center plans to limit the mixing of children, such as

staggering playground times and keeping groups separate for special activities.

Screening

Persons who have a fever of 99.6 or above or other signs of illness will not be admitted to the facility.

We encourage parents to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and to keep them home

when they are sick. Children will be screened upon arrival and before transition to the after-care

program.

• Parents/guardians will need to confirm that the child does not have fever, shortness of breath or

cough.

• Staff will make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness which could include flushed

cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or

extreme fussiness.

• Staff will take the child’s temperature with a non-contact thermometer before they get out of the

car and before they transition to the lunch bunch classroom.

• Staff will screen any person coming on to the campus.

~ 9 ~

➢ Sanitation

Clean and Disinfect

Caring for Our Children (CFOC) provides national standards for cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection

of educational facilities for children. Toys that can be put in the mouth should be cleaned and sanitized

(see below). Other hard surfaces, including diaper changing stations, doorknobs, and floors can be

disinfected.

Intensify cleaning and disinfection efforts:

• St. Thomas Aquinas Early Childhood center has an already developed schedule for cleaning and

disinfecting.

• We routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched,

especially toys and games. Our cleaning routine will now include cleaning objects/surfaces not

ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, light switches, desks, and playground structures.

• All cleaning materials will be kept secure and out of reach of children.

• Cleaning products will not be used near children, and staff will ensure that there is adequate

ventilation when using these products to prevent children from inhaling toxic fumes.

Clean and Sanitize Toys

• Toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized will not be used.

• Toys that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body

secretions or excretions should be set aside until they are cleaned by hand by a person wearing

gloves. They will be cleaned with water and detergent, rinsed, sanitized with an EPA-registered

disinfectant, rinse again, and air-dry.

• Toys will not be shared with other groups of children, unless they are washed and sanitized

before being moved from one group to the other.

• Children’s books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered

a high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures.

Water Bottles

• Children should bring a water bottle to school with their first and last name written in permanent

marker. Water fountains will not be used at this time.

~ 10 ~

➢ Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up

o A morning and afternoon car line will be in place for drop off and pick up. This will limit

direct contact between parents and staff members and adhere to social distancing

recommendations.

o Teachers will sign each child in as they arrive.

o Teachers will sign each child out as they leave for the day, or transition to the lunch

bunch program.

o Please see the Family Handbook for more detailed drop off and pick up procedures.

➢ Lunch Bunch Procedures

o Children will transition from their classroom to classroom 9 for lunch bunch.

o Temperatures will be taken before children enter the room, and they will not be permitted

to stay for lunch bunch if they have a temperature above 99.6 degrees.

o Teachers will sign each child in to the lunch bunch program and have them wash hands

when they enter the room.

o Children will be seated at tables for lunch according to which classroom they are in

during the day.

o Parents must provide all food and drinks and provide items that the children can easily

open.

~ 11 ~

Distance Learning Details

If there is a state, local, or Diocesan mandate regarding the closures of schools, in conjunction with the

Office of Catholic Schools and Centers, we will transition to a distance learning platform. We will use

private Facebook groups for each classroom and continue to implement our lesson plans. If tuition is

being paid, it will be reduced by half during the distance learning period of time.

~ 12 ~

Frequently Asked Questions **All procedures may be adapted based upon current health department

and CDC guidelines**

What if there is a confirmed COVID19 infection on campus?

• The family/staff member must report the diagnosis to the school as quickly as possible for

the safety of the school community (at maximum within 4 hours)

• The school will follow directions given by the Pasco County Health Department and the

Office of Catholic Schools and Centers to determine the next steps.

• School community members with a coronavirus diagnosis are permitted to re-enter school

when they no longer have any fever without the use of fever reducing medications, no

respiratory symptoms, or other COVID-19 symptoms.

Will parent volunteers be allowed on campus?

At this time, no parent volunteers will be allowed on campus for the safety of the children and

the staff. We will revisit this decision frequently.

~ 13 ~