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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZoom notes 10.8.20Center Director Zoom Connect 10/8/20 Welcome and Introductions 10 attendees representing the following programs – CalPoly Preschool Learning Lab; SLO Classical Academy; Valley View Children’s Center; Child Development Resource Center; Bright Life Playschool; Happy Time Cooperative Preschool; Trust Children’s Center; and representatives from CAPSLO CCRC Resource and Referral Open Discussion Cultivating Friendship and Cooperation during COVID  Preventative measures help. Setting up environments with visual indicators of spacing and employing systems of cleaning between use and at the end of the day helps keep children safe. This means that as much as possible, we can let children be children  Smaller groups do feel more intimate  Gentle verbal reminders about spacing are helpful but so is having extra spacing and staffing due to smaller group-sizes  Relationships are important  Part of every circle time is spent reading letters that the children have mailed to each other in our mailbox outside. Letter writing materials and a teacher are always available to help write the language to accompany the picture a child draws. This way, the children are able to send hugs (there are hugs stickers provided as well) to friends and teachers. We do limit the time to about 5 minutes but the children have really responded well  Children serve as greeters touch elbows  Children build a shared story. One child starts the story then the next child continues the story  The Kindness tree is a shared creation that includes what children and their friends are working on. The teacher and children regularly refer to the tree and talk about what they and others are working on  Collaborative mural outside has helped children who are missing friends from other classes that they can no longer play with outside. Children like to see and comment on what their friends added to the mural Guidance on Daily Health Screening  Programs are working through policies related to quarantine for those who travel out of state, out of the country, and/or have family stay with them. Some are more concerned about domestic vs. international travel. Some are concerned with mode of travel (plane vs. car)  Some feel that if there is no known exposure and no symptoms, there is no reason to tell students or staff to stay home after traveling. Families traveling to hotspot areas should be more aware and careful  One program removed the travel question but does ask the family to confirm that they have been mindful of mask wearing and physical distancing in public  There is now asymptomatic, free testing  We trust that families want us to stay open but know that people get relaxed in their practices and may not be as diligent. Programs rely heavily upon trusting relationships with families, trusting that they are doing the things they need to do to stay safe and keep others safe. It is not our job to monitor family behavior and choices but we are vulnerable to them  Maintaining communication and relationships with families is important. Programs send regular notices to families reminding them that we are doing this together, to be aware, and to keep program informed  Programs are doing everything they can to mitigate exposure and transmission – if it comes down to it, we are doing our best Lead Testing  Lead testing must be completed by January 2023 for sites constructed before January 1, 2010. Written directives from Licensing will be forthcoming. See PIN 20-12-CCP and PIN 20-01 CCP Outdoor Spaces  Helping children maintain spacing outside is more challenging. Children tend to move into closer proximity to one another in sandboxes and around climbing equipment  Some programs are less concerned because the cohorts are already small and being outside provides an added level of protection  Some limit the number allowed in particular spaces. Children love to count and police each other  Verbal reminders are helpful. Changing the rules of a game (only one child per space in hide and go seek etc.) creates additional challenge and excitement to activities  Avoid the word “no” and shift the focus on figuring out how to make space for everyone  Exposure risks increase based on proximity and length of time. It is rare that children sit still or huddled together for more than a few minutes at a time Back to School and Family Connections  Programs that used to be screen-free are trying to find a good balance that encourages continued connection and engagement with families during this time  Programs miss having parents come in to share aspects of their culture or family traditions - parent visits aren’t appropriate at this time. Suggested using a projector for Zoom to make the experience special for kids who can see their families and for families to see their child with others. Having family members briefly share with a cohort outside in a large open space has worked  Sharing a pre-recorded video may help with family sharing, back to school night, and new parent orientations For Our Next Meeting…  What are programs doing to celebrate with staff and with families this year? Please bring ideas to next meeting Upcoming meetings  Afternoon - October 14, 2020 from 2-3  Morning – October 22, 2020 from 11-12