————————-COVID update August 2020————————–

Friends and Families,

A note from our Director and Lead Teacher, Ms. Jessica:

Following the Howard County Public School System Board of Education meeting, our own board met to discuss how we would like to move forward.  There was a lot to consider in our decision, and nothing was taken lightly.  Among our concerns are the health and safety of our children and staff, the educational and socialization needs of the children, the schedules of HCPSS, increased cleaning protocols, and materials necessary to make school a reality.

Ultimately, we have decided that it is in our best interest to move forward following the HPCSS schedule, beginning our school year virtually on September 8th.  Unlike HCPSS, we will be working in a somewhat hybrid model.  Each of our classes will offer an optional outdoor session once a week (weather dependent) in addition to virtual content and resources provided by myself, Ms. Tammie, and Ms. Wendy.  The outdoor play will incorporate enhanced cleaning protocols, social distancing, require parents/caregivers to stay for the duration, and all adults will be required to wear masks.  For our virtual content, the 2s class will have a monthly box that will include activities to do at home as well as links to videos from me that relate to the box’s theme.  The 3s class will have three pre-recorded educational content videos (two aimed at the 3s and 4s, and one specifically aimed at the standards for 3-year-olds) and three pre-recorded activity videos.  The 4s class will have four pre-recorded educational content videos (two of these videos will be shared with the 3s and focus on both age levels, and two will be content specific for the 4s) and four pre-recorded activity videos.

We will continue to follow guidelines set by the county and state and monitor how things progress.  This particular learning model will keep things flexible should the situation around us change.  As mentioned above, we plan on following the schedule of HCPSS, so intend on participating in this model through January 28th.  We will revisit our choices as the year progresses in the hopes that we will be able to be in person in the second semester of the school year.

We want to work with your children.  We want to keep everyone safe.  We want to promote the education of each individual in our WLCN community.  At this time, this looks much different than in years past.  We are striving to provide as much content as we can to make this learning experience as close to the real classroom as possible.  We look forward to the day we are all able to meet together without restrictions and laugh and play at circle time again.  Those giggles combined with all of the a-ha moments make my heart full.

We miss you all tremendously and look forward to working with you to make this a spectacular year!

Please visit us @wildelakechildrensnursery on Facebook

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