COVID-19 Health & Safety Information

3/4/2021 Update - Governor Abbott is lifting the state mask mandate effective Wednesday, March 10. As a licensed childcare provider in the state of Texas, we are regulated by the state Health and Human Services Childcare Licensing Division. At this time the Texas HHS has not issued any revisions to the mask policy or any other COVID protocols currently in place, therefore we have not made any changes to our policies at this time.

Once HHS has provided more information for childcare providers, we will review our Spanish Schoolhouse procedures and determine whether any changes will be made. We will also take into consideration any guidance offered by the local health authorities. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our number one priority.

Thank you for your patience and understanding through these ever-changing times.

Spanish Schoolhouse COVID-19 Protocols

Our goal is to prioritize SAFETY while continuing to provide your children with the excellent early childhood education that you expect from us, coupled with the Spanish language, in a warm and loving environment. We recognize how important it is to provide structure and a sense of normalcy for children during this time of so many changes.

We have been operating under the highest level of the state guidelines for screening, cleaning, and distancing protocols since April 1. We continue to monitor the decisions and regulations of our local and state governing bodies, adjusting our protocols as needed. We operate as a licensed childcare provider under the Childcare Regulation division of Texas Health and Human Services, therefore, we follow their guidelines and are not tied directly to any of the ISDs (though we do try to follow their schedule for major breaks for the convenience of our families).

Here are the procedures in place at all of our schools:

1. Modified Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
   • Children will be dropped off and picked up outside the building unless there is a legitimate reason for parents to enter.
   • Hand hygiene stations with sanitizer are located at the entrance of the school.
   • Staff members will walk children to their classes. Once they enter their classroom, students will wash their hands with soap and water.
   
   
2. Screening Procedures/Wellness Checks Upon Arrival
   • All staff and students will be screened upon arrival and will not be permitted to enter with any of the following criteria. Temperatures will be taken by staff. Parents will be asked to respond yes or no to criteria b and c.
     1. A temperature of 100.0° or higher
     2. Signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection
     3. Been in contact in the previous 14 days with someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or is ill with a respiratory illness.
   • Staff members taking temperatures will wear masks.
   • If the individual has a temperature of 99.0-99.9°, their temperature will be recorded and they will be watched during the day, including additional temperature checks.
   
   
3. Social Distancing Strategies
   • Class ratios will meet the state and local requirements.
   • Children will not rotate to different classrooms or mix with other groups.
   • We will add extra outdoor activities, as feasible, based on health recommendations.
   • We are increasing the distance between children at Circle Time, table activities, in line, and at other activities, where feasible. We realize that these are young children and they may not always comply, but we have also learned that they catch on to new rules quickly and are generally very adaptable!
   • For rest time, nap mats will be placed head to toe and as far apart as possible.
   
   
4. Intensified Cleaning and Disinfecting Procedures
   • We have intensified our cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting procedures using hospital-grade, EPA certified disinfectants throughout the day.
   • Classrooms are professionally deep-cleaned each night with a special focus on high-touch surfaces, door knobs, light switches, sink handles, etc.
   • Bathrooms are cleaned 3x/day.
   • Toys are cleaned and disinfected daily.
   • Children and staff will wash hands consistently throughout the day, including before and after eating, using the restroom, playing outside, handling trash, etc.
   
   
5. Additional Measures
   • All staff members are required to complete the new trainings required by the state of Texas: "Providing High Quality Experiences during COVID-19 for Emergency Childcare Settings" and "Special Considerations for Infection Control during COVID-19."
   • All staff members will wear masks covering their noses and mouths in the school when it is not possible to maintain 6 ft. distance.
   • We ask parents to please refrain from sending any toys from home.
   • Parents are also asked to send a change of clothes with the children.
   
   

Keeping our students and staff SAFE while still learning and having fun is our top priority. We are continuing to do what we do best - educating young children while immersing them in the Spanish language, giving them unique cultural learning experiences, and "letting kids be kids".

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions!