September 2, 2022
While the pandemic continues, the incidence of in-school transmission at FCP has been limited. We applaud the dedication of our families and staff in helping to keep our community safe. We look forward to working together again this year to ensure our community remains as healthy as possible.
The following Covid policies were created in consultation with our advisors and based upon guidance from many sources including the CDC, American Academy of Pediatricians, state and local Departments of Health, and the CT Office of Early Childhood (our licensing agency). FCP reserves the right to update these policies at any time. These policies trump our Family Handbook Illness policies and any prior FCP Covid policies.
Masking
Masking will continue to be optional for unexposed individuals pending our community remains in the low or moderate positivity rate as per the CDC. Should the community be identified by the CDC as being in the high positivity range or should we have an impactful outbreak in our school, FCP reserves the right to require masking for all individuals.
Any individual, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure or if they are showing any symptoms. Please refer to our Family Handbook Illness Policy for specific
Quarantine and Classroom Closures (regardless of vaccination status)
FCP will discontinue classroom closures when a person tests positive. Families will have the option to send their child to school if exposed. If you choose to send your child to school after an exposure, your child will be required to wear a mask for 10 days after exposure, regardless of vaccination status. If your child develops symptoms within 5 days of exposure, a negative test will need to be provided before returning to school.
If a child is exposed at home and can isolate from the positive individual, the child will quarantine for 5 days, returning on day 6 (day of positive test is day 0) with a negative test result (emailed to jend@fccog.org). The child will wear a mask through Day 10 and will be monitored for symptoms. If at any time through day 10 the child develops symptoms, the child must get tested to be able to return. If unable to wear a mask, the child may return on day 11.
If a child is exposed at home and cannot isolate from the positive individual, the child will begin quarantine time when the positive individual’s quarantine time ends on day 6. The child must quarantine for 5 days and may return on day 6 with a negative test. If a child tests positive during their quarantine time, the child’s quarantine time resets as a positive.
Covid Positive (regardless of vaccination status)
If a child, household member or teacher tests positive, proof of the positive test (PCR lab report or photo of rapid with individual’s name, date and time written in the photo) is to be emailed to the director, jend@fccog.org within 12 hours of testing positive.
If an individual tests positive and exposes others at FCP, FCP administration will notify classroom families of the exposure via Brightwheel.
Any individual who tests positive must stay home for 5 days after the date of the positive test (day 0) and may return on day 6 pending they are symptom free and able to take part in all school activities.
Any individual who tests positive must wear a mask through day 10 after testing positive.
Please Note: Children may attend school only when healthy, regardless of vaccination status. Please refer to our Family Handbook Illness Policy for specific illnesses that require your child to stay home. If your child shows any symptoms after exposure, please do not send your child to school. As a reminder:
- Any child/teacher with a temperature 100° or over needs to be cleared by a doctor, and COVID needs to be ruled out before they return after 24 hours of being fever-free without the assistance of medication.
- If a child has a runny nose accompanied by any other symptom, they must stay home until they no longer have symptoms or receive a doctor’s note that states they are negative for COVID and they are allowed to attend school and are deemed not contagious.
- If a child’s nose discharge is green and/or they seem to be “out-of-sorts”, teachers and administration will make a case-by-case determination if the child needs to go home. Please note that “out-of-sorts” is defined by FCP as a change from normal behavior that may limit a teacher’s ability to attend to the class as a whole. Symptoms may include behaviors such as obvious discomfort, lethargy, and/or long-term crying. Children should feel well enough to participate in all classroom activities including outdoor play.
- Any child with a cough cannot attend school until the cough is gone, and/or will require a doctor’s note to return clearing them to attend childcare and stating they have tested negative for COVID. If the cough increases in severity after a doctor’s note, the child will be sent home and may return when the cough dissipates or with another doctor’s note.
- If a child complains of a sore throat, they can return to school with a doctor’s note that states they are not contagious, are negative for COVID and are allowed to attend childcare.
- If a child throws up, they must be symptom free for 24 hours before they return.
- Diarrhea – Children must be cleared by a doctor to return. Additionally, the child must also be excluded until they are symptom free for 24 hours.
- If a child has a rash on their body, they cannot return without a doctor’s note stating that the rash is not contagious and they are allowed to attend childcare.