Parent and Community Members,
I am sure there is much wondering about how EOCF will be providing services this program year amid the current COVID-19 situation. Please know that the health and safety of children, families, and staff is our priority.
EOCF has had the opportunity to re-open our full-day full-year child care sites at 99th and Ellsworth on July 6th. We also operated 9 summer Head Start classes at 7 of our centers. Prior to staff and children returning, many staff from all the agency’s departments were involved in preparing for a safe re-opening. Children came back excited to see teachers and to be in a classroom again! Re-opening showed us we are able to operate a classroom safely and successfully.
Based on surveys from parents, we will be offering hybrid classes for our part-day and full-day school-year classrooms. We will also have a few alternative learning classes for families who are not yet ready to send their kiddos into a classroom.
The current plan is for half of the children to attend on Monday/Tuesday and the other half on Thursday/Friday. Children in the full-day school-year model (ie Duration or Expansion) will alternate attending on Wednesdays in addition to attending on either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday. Class sizes will be about 8-9 children. Children on this A/B schedule will have an additional educational contact each week either in a Zoom class, through an individualized Teacher-child contact, or in a small group experience with another child or children from their class.
We hope to have the children in the Blended program attend their regular schedule, due to the small group sizes. These blended classrooms will not be a hybrid model unless the situation changes.
Full-day full-year continues to operate 5 days each week for enrolled children.
We are continually monitoring COVID-19 information as we operate in-class services, and we are prepared to respond according to any changes in guidance from Washington State Department of Health and the CDC. We have protocols in place to provide guidance should a child or staff member show symptoms of the virus. Daily health checks are critical for screening children and staff prior to being in the classroom, and the Admin office. EOCF has a system in place for these health checks to occur.
EOCF is ready for you all to be back. We miss seeing you.