|
Welcome to Titan Tots!
|
PRESCHOOL DURING A PANDEMIC-HOW WILLWE DO IT SAFELY?
Hello again parents,
I never thought I'd be writing this sort of update, but here we are. I have spent many hours, and quite frankly sleepless nights wondering and worrying about if and how we could operate preschool in a safe way. I myself will have a preschooler this year (can't believe my baby is almost 3) and I am also pregnant and Due in December with my second baby girl so as you can imagine this has been at the forefront of my mind and my highest priority. I have vulnerable parents, and so many students to protect. I know that many of you are in the same situation and it is tough to navigate. It's a surreal time, and has been filled with uncertainty for all of us.
As you can imagine this will pose some challenges for the schools, but your dedicated preschool teachers and I have met and discussed a plan that we think will enable us to still make preschool a magical space for your children, while also keeping them safe and healthy. I have looked to guidelines for preschools put out by the CDC, and will be following Granite District Guidelines, which are following the COVID school manual from the local health department to drive this plan. I know that many of you are in the healthcare fields as well and would be open to helpful insight as we navigate these challenges. are some of the main protocols we will be following.
I never thought I'd be writing this sort of update, but here we are. I have spent many hours, and quite frankly sleepless nights wondering and worrying about if and how we could operate preschool in a safe way. I myself will have a preschooler this year (can't believe my baby is almost 3) and I am also pregnant and Due in December with my second baby girl so as you can imagine this has been at the forefront of my mind and my highest priority. I have vulnerable parents, and so many students to protect. I know that many of you are in the same situation and it is tough to navigate. It's a surreal time, and has been filled with uncertainty for all of us.
As you can imagine this will pose some challenges for the schools, but your dedicated preschool teachers and I have met and discussed a plan that we think will enable us to still make preschool a magical space for your children, while also keeping them safe and healthy. I have looked to guidelines for preschools put out by the CDC, and will be following Granite District Guidelines, which are following the COVID school manual from the local health department to drive this plan. I know that many of you are in the healthcare fields as well and would be open to helpful insight as we navigate these challenges. are some of the main protocols we will be following.
- As per Governor Herbert's mask mandate in schools, masks will be required for both teachers and students. We strongly suggest you begin talking about this with your children now so they know it is a requirement for preschool. Preschool students will get a break from masks during our outdoor and snack times. High School Students who are assigned to the preschool will be required to wear their masks at all times while in the room. We ask that you send a clean mask with your child each day of preschool. Yes, that even means our three year olds.
- Hand-washing has always been a priority at Titan Tots for both teachers and students, but we will be more supervised and more frequent. This is another thing parents can help us with at home! Encourage hand-washing often and teach your children how to do it properly.
- We will not be having a 1:1 buddy system with our high schoolers this year because it is not compliant with social distancing. Instead, high schoolers will be stationed around the room to assist with discovery (free choice) activities, and the preschool students will be rotating through the stations they choose. This may change throughout the year, but right now this is the best way to ensure less people in the room, and less movement from adults and high school students. Only half of the high school students will be allowed in the room at one time to allow for social distancing. There will only be allowed 2 preschool students at each station (14 stations to choose from for discovery) and we will be using our popsicle stick system to enforce this in a Developmentally Appropriate way.
- High School Students will have their temperature checked out in the hallway before entering the preschool. If they show a temp, or any other symptoms...they will be sent to the nurse or a holding room and sent home. They will not be allowed to enter the preschool.
- Should we suspect a preschool student is sick, we will also take their temperature with a digital thermometer. If they are showing signs of illness, parents will be called for pick up. This doesn't just mean COVID related symptoms, we would rather not catch the other "bugs" either. We need your help on this. Please do not send your child to school if they are showing symptoms such as fever, severe cough, vomiting, chills, etc.
- High traffic areas, furniture, toys will be sanitized frequently. We will not be using toys or manipulatives that cannot be washed on a frequent (at least daily) basis until conditions improve.
- To allow for social distancing, preschool students will remain in small groups for the majority of class time. These groups are broken up according to birthdate. Students will not be in close proximity with the entire class until conditions improve. This also helps us to know which kids the students have generally been around throughout the majority of the preschool day.
- Children will be learning new songs about masks and washing hands at preschool. We hope that this makes these challenging times a little more entertaining and reinforces why these procedures are important to keep us all safe. We've made masks for our puppets to help soften the tone. (smile). Parents can also help preschoolers prepare for the new normal. Here is an article with some ideas about how to talk to kids heading into preschool in the middle of a pandemic.
- Throughout the week and on Fridays when we are without students in the classrooms, teachers and custodians will be taking extra precautions in each classroom.
- We are still developing this plan over the next and will continue to improve and adjust as needed. The safety of your children, our teachers, and the high school students is our highest priority this year. That being said, we are excited for what is to come and especially excited to have you all be a part of Titan Tots!
ANNOUNCEMENT: CHANGES TO THE COMING 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR!!
August 6th, 2020
Dear Titan Tots Parents,
We appreciate your patience as we have navigated all of the changes to policies, schedules, and procedures for this coming school year during this historical time. We have received your e-mails and are hoping to answer your questions as best we can as we continue to plan and prepare. We will continue to update our site in the coming months with news and any changes.
First off, I just want to mention that as of now our plans for reopening the preschool this fall are still in place. We of course have to comply with any outbreaks or shut downs Olympus School/Granite District might have, but right now we are moving ahead and are confident that the distancing and sanitizing procedures we have in place will be effective and safe for our preschool. That being said, on Tuesday August 4th, the Granite District Board voted for a Digital Learning Day for High Schoolers to give teachers more time to work with online students and prepare digital lesson plans. That does force us to change our preschool class schedule because there will be no students in the building on Fridays, and our classroom is a lab classroom for students. Here is the Change.
Tuesday-Friday Preschool will now be moved to Monday-Thursday Preschool. Same times (9am-12pm each day).
We hope this doesn't cause snags in your schedule and that we are still able to welcome each of our preschoolers this fall. This changes the preschool start date to Monday September 14th.
Orientation will be held the week before preschool begins. We are still working on plans for this, and we will send an invite to you and your preschooler with more information at the end of this month. Please look for that in the mail by the beginning of September.
If you have questions or concerns regarding these changes, please don't hesitate to contact us at olyhightitantot@gmail.com
Again, we appreciate your patience and concern during this unprecedented time.
.
Sincerely,
Holly Murray-Director
Titan Tots Preschool
Dear Titan Tots Parents,
We appreciate your patience as we have navigated all of the changes to policies, schedules, and procedures for this coming school year during this historical time. We have received your e-mails and are hoping to answer your questions as best we can as we continue to plan and prepare. We will continue to update our site in the coming months with news and any changes.
First off, I just want to mention that as of now our plans for reopening the preschool this fall are still in place. We of course have to comply with any outbreaks or shut downs Olympus School/Granite District might have, but right now we are moving ahead and are confident that the distancing and sanitizing procedures we have in place will be effective and safe for our preschool. That being said, on Tuesday August 4th, the Granite District Board voted for a Digital Learning Day for High Schoolers to give teachers more time to work with online students and prepare digital lesson plans. That does force us to change our preschool class schedule because there will be no students in the building on Fridays, and our classroom is a lab classroom for students. Here is the Change.
Tuesday-Friday Preschool will now be moved to Monday-Thursday Preschool. Same times (9am-12pm each day).
We hope this doesn't cause snags in your schedule and that we are still able to welcome each of our preschoolers this fall. This changes the preschool start date to Monday September 14th.
Orientation will be held the week before preschool begins. We are still working on plans for this, and we will send an invite to you and your preschooler with more information at the end of this month. Please look for that in the mail by the beginning of September.
If you have questions or concerns regarding these changes, please don't hesitate to contact us at olyhightitantot@gmail.com
Again, we appreciate your patience and concern during this unprecedented time.
.
Sincerely,
Holly Murray-Director
Titan Tots Preschool
Our Philosophy:
We Believe it is important for children to learn through their own creative expression and through play. We believe in offering children positive guidance as they practice making choices and decisions. We encourage hands on activities and real life experiences to help children learn and develop. Our focus is to facilitate physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development in every child.
Utah Core Standards for Early Childhood
Tips for Parents from Pre-School Teachers
Announcement: Changes coming for the 2020-2021 School Year!
For the 2020-2021 School Year we are making some changes that we feel will benefit your children and also our high school program. We will be enrolling children from the ages 3-5 in a four day program, instead of 3 days. We will no longer have a 3 year old only class. Changes reflect past enrollment and interest.
Our preschool class will run on the following schedule.
Monday: 9-12
Tuesday: 9-12
Wednesday: 9-12
Thursday: 9-12
Friday: closed
We will also be running a parent co-op from 10:30-12 on Mondays and Tuesdays. This enables parents to come in and work with their child and others and to see all of the exciting things that are happening in our preschool.
With changes and more hours, tuition for the 2020-2021 School year will be $185 per month.
Additionally, we will be offering a 2 day option to 3 year olds. This option will be either on Mon/Wed or Tu/Thu or from 9-12. Cost for this option is $100 per month.
Our preschool class will run on the following schedule.
Monday: 9-12
Tuesday: 9-12
Wednesday: 9-12
Thursday: 9-12
Friday: closed
We will also be running a parent co-op from 10:30-12 on Mondays and Tuesdays. This enables parents to come in and work with their child and others and to see all of the exciting things that are happening in our preschool.
With changes and more hours, tuition for the 2020-2021 School year will be $185 per month.
Additionally, we will be offering a 2 day option to 3 year olds. This option will be either on Mon/Wed or Tu/Thu or from 9-12. Cost for this option is $100 per month.