School Year
& COVID-19

Since the founding of Maplewood in 1965, nothing has ever been more important to us than the health, safety, and well-being of our families and staff.

We understand that this transition back to school may come with concerns and complexities, and we are committed to reorienting children, families, and staff to the new school year in the safest and most supportive way possible.  

It is impossible to eliminate potential health risks associated with COVID-19 entirely, but we believe our plan will allow us to bring children to Maplewood each day for important face-to-face instruction and social interaction while providing multiple layers of protection to best mitigate risk.  Our plan also provides the nimbleness for us to make adjustments if/when conditions related to COVID-19 change.  

In preparation for a healthy school year, we are implementing a wide array of additional procedures to minimize any possible effects of COVID-19.
Please find our step-by-step plan below:

Gather The Best Information

Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our Maplewood community.  We believe that a healthy environment is ultimately a secure environment, one in which children and staff are able to thrive.  At all times, we will seek to align our measures with guidance from the CDC, MDPH, EEC, and Governor Baker’s office.  As best practice recommendations and timelines are released, we are making informed decisions about the school year and communicating with our families about what to expect.  In addition, we are planning and re-imagining our program to operate the school year in a healthy manner.  

Dedication to Sanitation
We have raised our already thorough sanitation standards to match and exceed recommendations from health care professionals. Our maintenance team is already working hard to keep Maplewood clean.  We will increase the frequency with which we perform deep cleanings of shared surfaces and indoor facilities and deploy extra maintenance teams throughout the day and a professional cleaning crew at night.  

Personal Hygiene
While personal hygiene has always been an important part of our programs, it will be a point of special emphasis this year. Maplewood will utilize a comprehensive daily health check for all children and staff. There will also be additional hand sanitizing stations throughout our facility, and staff will be prepared to model best hygiene practices. 

Physical Distancing Measures/ & Masks
This school year we will modify certain elements of our program to achieve physical distancing standards.  Children and staff will stay with their assigned class (pod) throughout the day and will not interact with other classrooms. 

Staff will wear a face mask or cloth covering during indoor activities and outdoors, whenever 6 feet physical distancing is not possible.  When 6 feet of physical distance is not possible, face mask use requirements for children are as follows:

• Children age 7 and older must wear a face mask
• Children age 2.9-6 who can safely and appropriately wear, remove, and handle face masks must be encouraged to wear face masks and must be supervised at all times while wearing a face mask.

Children will have frequent mask breaks and face coverings must not be worn while children are eating/drinking.

Closed Community
There will be no visitors during the school year, and we will limit entrance into the property to essential business only. We will adjust the way we do drop-off and pick-up each day to minimize interaction between groups.

Quick Response Protocol
Maplewood is prepared to react swiftly if the need arises. In the event that someone does fall ill at Maplewood, we have established procedures that will allow us the time to determine the best response
.  
Thorough Communication
As always, Maplewood strives to communicate with parents in a thorough, accurate, and transparent manner. We recognize the importance of sharing the best information available as quickly as possible. This school year, we aspire to be better than ever; thoughtful, detailed communication is more important than ever in keeping our community well-informed and highly prepared.

If you have any questions about our approach to COVID-19 and preschool, please give us a call (508-238-2387) or send us an email leepinstein@maplewoodyearround.co

The outdoors in winter is enjoyed most when you are dressed properly. It is also safer. Remember: there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. In winter, the best idea is to stay warm and dry. Being too hot makes you sweat, creating moisture. When it is cold outside, being damp is uncomfortable and can be a danger as you will lose body heat more quickly.

Here are a few things to think about when going outside in cold weather here at Maplewood.

Be aware of the weather and pack accordingly.

When the temperature is just above or just below freezing, the chance that you will get wet from snow or freezing rain increases. This is because the air holds more moisture at the freezing point than when the temperature is very cold. When it is very cold it is easier to stay dry. Take a minute to check the weather forecast. Is there precipitation expected? Snow, freezing rain? What is the humidity and temperature? Will the weather be changing while you are out? The weather often changes during the day and we want your child to be able to enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

Dress in three layers!

Layers allow you to be more flexible in changing weather conditions. Layers create an air space between the skin and the cold and this space is what insulates best. Layers are also looser, allowing for better blood circulation which helps to maintain body temperature.

• Inner (Base) layer: The skin should be covered in a thin layer that helps to move moisture away from the body. Keeping your skin dry helps keep you warm and comfortable. Your inner layer should cover almost your whole body: arms, legs, and torso. Polyester and silk, and related modern materials are best. Cotton is a poor choice.
• Middle layer: This is the insulating layer. Wool and fleece work best. The middle layer can be made up of several thin layers.
• Outer layer: This is the water and wind protection layer. Gore-Tex and nylon are the best. Get a long coat so that you can sit comfortably. Coats should have high collars and a hood. You should be able to easily ventilate the coat by loosening sleeve ends, opening zippers under the arms, and opening a front zipper. This will help get rid of the moisture inside the coat. For very cold temperatures or for kids rolling around in the snow, bib-type snow pants are a good choice.

It is also a good idea to attach tabs to zippers so they can be opened and closed without exposing the hand.

Layering also applies to hands and feet. 

• Wear two pairs of socks - a thin polyester sock against the skin and a thicker sock over that.
• Boots should be comfortable and not too tight. Tightness will constrict blood flow and make your feet colder. Boots should also have a good sole for grip and stability on slippery or uneven surfaces and should be waterproof.
• Adjust the legwear and boots, or use a covering such as a gaiter, so that snow cannot enter through the top of the boot.
• You can also wear a thin pair of gloves with thicker and waterproof mitts over them. Adjust the sleeves and cuffs so that snow cannot enter.

Scarf, hat, and sunglasses

Your head and neck are major sources of heat loss. A hat and a scarf are a must in cold weather. If you are worried about your child wearing a scarf, try a tube scarf. Sunglasses can protect your eyes from light reflecting off the snow.

Pack an extra set!

It is always a good idea to pack an extra set of clothes, socks, and shoes. If these items get wet your child would be more comfortable enjoying the rest of their day in dry clothing and shoes.

We understand that this is a lot to pack and a lot to keep track of. We will do our best to keep your child's belongings organized but please label everything with your child's first and last name.

• 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday
• $85/day, $80/day sibling
• $40/ ½ day. Please note that we are still awaiting guidance related to offering ½ day programs. Transportation from the Easton schools to Maplewood will not be provided at this time. 

• Teachers and students will be separated by grade and will remain with their assigned group (or “pod”) during the day. As an example: one pod may consist of 1^st and 2^nd graders from Parkview School.
• Children will be separated into pods in line with current safety guidelines. Multiple pods will share the larger classrooms and the gymnasium, while also remaining separated by a barrier/partition to keep children both physically separated and avoid the sharing of supplies and equipment between pods.
• We will maintain the physical distancing of cohorts as they are established by the schools (i.e Easton cohort A and B).
• There will be at least one staff member per pod.
• Our spacious facility has large classrooms and expansive natural spaces around our campus for outdoor classrooms and play. 
• In addition to our newly installed HVAC system, we recently installed air purifying devices called iWave-C to further enhance air quality.
• Staff will wear a face mask or cloth covering during indoor activities and outdoors, whenever 6 feet physical distancing is not possible. When 6 feet of physical distance is not possible, face mask use requirements for children are as follows:
  * Children age 7 and older must wear a face mask
  * Children age 2.9-6 who can safely and appropriately wear, remove, and handle face
     masks must be encouraged to wear face masks and must be supervised at all times
     while wearing a face mask.
  * Children will have frequent mask breaks and face coverings must not be worn while
     children are eating/drinking.

Our administrative staff and teachers worked hard to prepare the early childhood curriculum for the school year.  First, we want our community to know that unless mandated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our preschool will be full-time, in-person classes for the upcoming school year.  If a virtual teaching model is required by the State, our teachers are fully prepared to go online.  Below you will find details of what the preschool experience will look like for your child and your family.  As we have mentioned in past correspondence, the Governor and his advisory committee could alter dates and/or guidelines if deemed necessary.

3-Day Program - 2.9 to 3 years (turning 3 on or before 12/1/2020)
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Preschool Pricing:  September 2020 - June 2021 $4,295 with a $200 deposit
9 payments: $455 ( the deposit of $200 is applied)

Classroom Structure, Physical Distancing, and Masks

Teachers and preschoolers will remain with their assigned class (“pod”) throughout the day for the duration of the school year.
   
In the interest of ensuring the highest level of safety for our teachers and students, we will only be offering a 3-day program (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays) for children aged 2.9 years and older.  We needed to make this adjustment to put our best practices in place during this phase of the Governor’s reopening plan.  We invite families who have signed up for the 2-day program to enroll in our 3-day preschool.  

We can’t predict the trajectory of in-person learning for the school year due to COVID-19. However, by starting our school year with a robust, in person, curriculum, we believe we are maximizing the play-based learning environment for children of early childhood age.  

OPEN ENROLLMENT CLASS OF 2021/2022
Maplewood will be accepting applications for the upcoming school year on
Sunday, November 29th at 9 am.  A direct link to the application will be provided that morning.
If you would like more detailed information or set up a tour email us or call 508-238-2387

• 9:00-2:00 PM - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. 

• 5 years on or before August 31, 2020

In addition to our new HVAC system we just installed an air purifying device called iWave-C on each of the HVAC units in the main building to create a healthier environment without producing any harmful byproducts.   This advanced technology significantly reduces a wide variety of pathogens in the breathing zone and on hard non-porous surfaces.  Independent lab testing has shown that this device is also effective against COVID-19. 

Please see links below:

• iWave Advantage
• In the News

• Revised Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety
• Frequently asked questions about the Minimum Requirements
• Interim Regulations

Massachusetts Child and Youth Reopen Approach
Minimum Requirements for Health and Safety