Mothers’ Day Out Preschool

Addendum to the MDO Parent Handbook

(This is a tentative plan and working document subject to change)

There is an inherent risk of exposure to illnesses in preschools, public spaces, and wherever people gather. We take enhanced health and safety measures in our daily operating procedures.  

It is important for us to provide a safe and healthy environment for your children. We need your help to do this! Please take the time to review these new operational guidelines. We recognize that we can’t fully avoid sickness but we are managing and reducing risk wherever possible. As the Virginia Department of Health guidelines change, we will adjust accordingly.
 
The Commonwealth of Virginia and the Fairfax County Health Department require that health forms with current immunizations be submitted to us at the beginning of each school year.
 
If your child is sick, keep them home.
 

HEALTH & SAFETY 

Virginia law requires that children be screened for illness If, during the day, your child displays symptoms of illness he/she will be sent home. A student with signs of any condition that might adversely affect the child’s ability or the other students to participate in the activities planned will not be accepted into the classroom. In such cases, the child will be isolated from other children to prevent the spread of the illness, and you will be notified to pick up your child.  If we are unable to reach a parent, the authorized people on your emergency care form will be called to pick up your child.

Virginia Health Department Exclusions from Child Care. Keep your child at home if they have any of the following symptoms: 

  • Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher within the past 24 hours
  • Vomiting within the past 24 hours
  • Diarrhea or frequent, runny, watery stools within the past 24 hours
  • Uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, continuous crying, difficulty breathing, or a barking or high-pitched whooping sound
  • Eye discharge or Pink Eye (conjunctivitis)—thick mucus or draining pus, until drainage has stopped
  • Runny nose or congestion that would make it difficult to participate in the class activities
  • Unusual behavior or exhaustion that would make it difficult to participate in the class activities
  • Blood in stool not explained by dietary change or medication, or hard stool • Body rash with fever
  • Sore throat with fever or swollen glands, or mouth sores with drooling
  • Head lice or scabies – untreated
  • Persistent abdominal pain for more than 2 hours or intermittent pain with other symptoms
  • Tuberculosis, until cleared by health official
  • Impetigo, until 24 hours after treatment
Chickenpox, until sores are dried and crusted
  • Mumps, until 10 days after onset of gland swelling
  • Measles, until 5 days after onset of rash
  • Rubella, until 5 days after onset of rash
  • Ringworm 
HFMD is most common in infants and children younger than 5 years old.
If you are pregnant, contact your doctor if you think you may have been exposed to HFMD. Complications from HFMD are rare. However, your own medical history and how far along you are in your pregnancy can affect the situation.
 

RSV, is a common respiratory virus that infects the lungs, but can also affect the nose and throat. RSV spreads in the fall and winter along with other respiratory viruses, like flu and COVID-19. It usually peaks in December and January.

The Director will make the final judgment in assessing the health of your child. PLEASE notify the office immediately if your child is diagnosed with a communicable disease, such as chicken pox, smallpox, scarlet fever, strep throat, measles, Fifth disease, Hepatitis A, impetigo, head lice, pinworms, or conjunctivitis.

 

In the event of a positive COVID 19 case, a separate room will be designated for use as an infirmary, should there be any possible cases or any sicknesses.

Jerusalem Baptist Church has professional cleaners utilizing the CDC guidelines products and methods for cleaning the building.

 

Classrooms:

We will continue the practice of handwashing upon arrival to school, before/after snack, after toileting, after craftwork, before/after outdoor time, etc.

Hand washing between activities

Classroom and Bathroom Cleaning

Teachers will sanitize and clean classrooms, toys, and bathrooms before students arrive for the day and after they leave. Cleaning will happen frequently throughout the day.

Make Up Policy:

We do not make up days lost due to inclement weather or other Act of God emergencies. MDO does not provide monetary refunds or credit for days lost due to inclement weather or other emergencies considered an Act of God. Should FCPS add school days that fall within our established calendar, we will add the same school days, only if MDO has missed days, but will retain the right to determine which classes will attend those make up days based upon the number of class days missed.

MDO will retain a certain number of “COVID 19” built-in days.

In the event of a closure, these days would be funded by tuition. After the use of these days, tuition will be prorated.

At MDO, we rest in the Lord’s peace and trust in His perfect plan for us.

We thank you for your continued support and adherence to these changes, rest assured we will continue to be the loving, joy-filled preschool we have always been!