05/21/2020
A TCG News/Update for everyone!
Dear Friends,
We sincerely hope this update finds you and your family well! It has certainly - to say the least - been a spring unlike any other for everyone. From the realities of canceling much of our regular life's activities to quarantining ourselves and loved ones, this has required such indescribable tenacity, creativity and strength of spirit to ride through the storm. We have missed all of you so much and know that this time apart has been as much a pull on the heart-strings as it has been stressful and trying. Today, we'd like to update you generally, speak to the going forward aspect of this situation and share our plans for summer.
GENERAL UPDATE
Our school remains healthy and our community (families & staff) remains vibrant, connected and clearly, eager to return to some normalcy of that which we cherish most and that puts us "back together". Sally and Lori have been at work throughout the weeks of closure (since March 16), overseeing school business, including procuring staff salary revenue and unemployment benefits (we are all furloughed now), applying for SBA loans set up via the funding of the Cares Act, negotiating with our landlord to work out rent payments under these circumstances and taking care of operations related to building maintenance, utilities and so on. Under Sally's direction, lead teachers provided as much program content as possible to use at home for each class. From stories to recipes, circles and class songs, class baking and live birthday celebrations, zoom time for sharing & group singing, educational resources or one-on-one support for parents - our goal was to uphold the important, heartfelt connection we have with our families.
Even with the complexity and uncertainty of the situation especially when we began, we feel our community largely felt this support very positively and the benefit of being able to stick together in an unusual way. We are so grateful to our families for their willingness to support that connection and be part of what we were doing - without all of you, it wouldn't have been possible! Thank you for your feedback and deeply special thanks to everyone who donated to the school during the past nine weeks! Your donations have helped make it possible to keep the school healthy and pay our expenses. We are so appreciative of your support. ALSO - we are extremely thankful of our teachers for their insights, creative ideas, time and energy to do their best to hold their classes together so lovingly through this time.
For classes whose personal items are still at the school - your child's teacher is developing plans to safely pack up and then arrange for your no-contact outdoor pickup of remaining items. Teachers will be in touch with each class group directly.
GOING FORWARD
As you would expect, we are paying very close attention to the current state of living in a pandemic, what it requires and how it changes the way we function. States are now "open", with some like ours, having reopened in recent weeks. We are investigating the measures, policies and procedures to consider implementing or changing (as we have known them) to make our school safe for reopening. We are studying the guidance from the CDC/WHO and other experts and we are examining the practical experience/advice of others who go before us. Their wisdom inherently gives us a window into what is working and what is not. We are in constant discussion as we continue to evaluate all the relevant information now and as it evolves.
We're sure it goes without saying - but just so it's 100% clear to all - our greatest desire is to reopen our building safely, and as soon as possible, with proper time to carefully consider and plan all aspects, concerns and precautions, program needs and protocols. That being said, we are not yet ready to formalize or publicize our plans. They are truly still developing with a certain percentage of unknowns at this time. What we can say that is certain - is that the school will reopen in the near future. When we get to that point, with it, there will be change. We anticipate and are looking to an August or September reopening, at the latest. Again - too much remains in question to give any details or commit to a date or even a specific month. We need to get through the next several weeks, as a community - locally in our city and state, even beyond - to observe and carefully examine what unfolds, as described above.
In those considerations, we shall place the safety of our community - school families and staff - at the top of that list. We will reopen the building when it's feasible and safe to be operational. We understand, too, that some families might feel the need to delay starting or perhaps to change their plans. We respect your decision and will evaluate those situations as they arise. Please know - for those who are new or returning next year (2020-2021 school year) - your child's enrollment fee continues to hold your child's placement for the coming year. The fee is non refundable but solidly holds your child's spot. The school building remains ready for us to re-occupy and staff are on board, ready at the helm, when we can start back.
If you're wondering what could happen in relation to reopening and then changes in virus cases in the community affecting operation after we reopen, there will be bridges to cross. We shall figure and calculate as much as humanly possible based on what is known, in that scenario. What we can say is that we are considering a number of "ideas on the table" to ensure the continuation of our program in at least one form, even if an uptick in cases causes us to shift again. Your patience and willingness to sit tight and wait until we can feel confident to move forward with a solid plan for August and onward - is more appreciated than you know! We are so very eager to return to the joyful work and amazing community that is our school - to be with the children and fill our days with wonder, growth and meaningful connection, in-person.
Please keep us up-to-speed on your end with any news you have to share and feel free to communicate via email over the summer with questions. We won't be checking email as frequently during summer - but one of us should be able to respond within a matter of days.
SUMMER
As most of you have heard, we put our summer camp for 3 to 7 year olds and summer parent-young child class on hold. We made this decision after carefully weighing the reality of how to open safely now. We just didn't feel ready to enter into the summer with as many unknowns given the safety we would absolutely adhere to and practicality. This was not an easy decision, but we feel, a necessary one. You will see below what we've decided to do at this point, for the summer. Things could change, as the summer progresses, and we find the opportunity to end summer plans earlier and reopen the school sooner for 2020-2021 becomes a clearer and safe prospect. On the other hand, we might change summer plans (below) up a bit if we feel we could hold a camp on site later in the summer. For now, we have the following to share:
Early in May and through the end of last week, we polled our current (2019-2020) families in each class to gauge interest in a monthly Summer-at-Home Program. The idea presented is to give parents full access (and "coaching") to our summer curriculum to implement at home. It's NOT intended to be a digital program to plop a child down in front of. Rather, we wish to impart the circles, stories, songs, recipes, crafts, purposeful work, daily rhythms, songs and verse for transitions or various parts of the day for parents to implement in a similar way to what we do at the school. The poll gave parents a general outline of what it would include (much of the content delivered via short audio or video files with accompanying pdfs, photo images for visual steps, etc) offering a basic plan and a support plan (which added to the basic aforementioned, would also provide a weekly live parent support session with topic, articles, discussion - similar to our parent nights, just done virtually). About 30% of our families expressed interest - certainly enough to move forward with presenting this program.
For those who expressed interest, Sally will be communicating with you in the next couple of days with more details and a simple registration form. Anyone else who's interested in the Summer-at-Home Program but didn't reply to the poll or if you're only just now hearing about this, please feel free to contact Sally at any point during the summer via school email address. Let her know of your interest and she will include you in the group wishing to learn more and/or register.
Program content for the months of June and July is already complete, and ready to go. August is also nearly set, if it is needed. There will not be tuition costs but a donation is requested. Each family will be asked to make a "suggested donation" paid monthly or what sum they are able to give. We anticipate the suggested donation rate working out to around $25/week for the basic plan or $40/week for the basic + support plan. Remember - we are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, so your donation can be used for tax deduction purposes.
We're excited about sharing all we can, via this program, to give parents a way to bring as much of school life into home life, as they would wish. In no way, do we think all this is easy or supposed to replace the class environment at school. We just offer it as a loving and enriching resource for those who would like to "bring home" further support of their child's growth, while keeping to the rhythms and the joyful aspects of what we do at school - all so familiar to children who have been with us. New families are welcome to this too!
2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
As we've already shared above, we are studiously working on when and how to get our new school year underway with safety, security and the warm, kind and certain atmosphere you are all accustomed to, in place. The original calendar date to commence the 2020-2021 year is set as Tuesday, September 8 that date and pre-year events such as Summer Community Workday on Saturday, August 22, Parent Orientation Evening on Tuesday, August 25 and the children's Mini-Morning on Thursday, September 3 are all tentative at this time. Lori has not sent invoices for 2020-2021 supply fees yet, intentionally waiting until we can work through our planning. Once we are ready to formalize and publicize dates, the 20/21 calendar, changes to program structure - if required, new procedures/policies - 2020-2021 families will be notified and Lori will send financial information and invoices as appropriate.
While the school is healthy and our beloved space is intact and secure, we do realize the possibility of an even more prolonged closure - one that we loathe the sound of and wish only to be a non-reality. If however, this situation develops in a way that places too-high a risk on having children and teachers all together everyday (with MANY new policies on drop-off/pick-up/building access/health, safety & hygiene, etc) - we will let you know if we decide to remain closed longer. Even with things changing quickly and new norms that the global public is adapting to taking hold, what unfolds with putting people together is still to be learned. We do have ideas about a fully or near-fully outdoor program and are considering a great many ways to bring this about too. Our goal is to focus on clear, reliable information, be ready to open with all considerations covered, and have back up plans thought out to the best of our ability.
Thank you for your patience and your confidence and for hanging with us through this unprecedented time. Seeing your children and you back in our vibrant community is in the forefront of our thoughts every day. Please stay well, safe and joyful in these warm months ahead. Call on us here at any time. We'll be back in touch, soon. Warmest good wishes to all!
Sincerely,
Sally (and on behalf of Lori & Melanie, Assistant Directors)
Executive Director
The Children's Garden Preschool
[email protected]
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