Parents,

Many of you have been asking if the children will need to continue wearing face masks, based on the positive news that vaccinated adults may now choose whether to wear them or not, although they still may be required in certain places.

Unfortunately, South Hills is one of those “certain places” still requiring masks for children, staff and all entering the school. The PA state government makes the decision for schools and child care centers. My license is linked to compliance, so I must ‘follow the rules’. Today’s daily message from the state follows:

Face Covering Guidance

Child care programs must continue use of face coverings both indoors and outdoors. Programs are instructed to follow announcement C-20-12 Guidance for Child Care Facilities updated and reissued April 14, 2021. The Updated Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health remains in effect. These policies apply to child care and other early learning settings regardless of staff vaccination status.

I promise to let you know the MINUTE a change is made and the mandate is lifted for young children, but it does not seem it will be soon. In the meantime, please know that my staff and I are diligent all day long, but especially during our time outdoors as we watch continually for heat related illness, especially following active times. The heat index is posted, and we follow the guidelines regarding the amount of time spent in sun vs shade, and have many hydration periods and ‘mask breaks’. As always, “keeping your children safe and healthy” is my number one priority here at South Hills. It is a major responsibility and one I take most seriously.

Please contact me with any questions.

Kind regards,

♥ Ms Connie

Parents,

I’m happy to confirm that in-person classes will resume on Monday, December 21 prior to our scheduled Christmas/ New Year closure.

The final Covid tests for all South Hills teachers and staff (including Mr. Jerry, who is only here after close) have arrived and ALL are NEGATIVE. Contrary to rumors that have unfortunately circulated among parents, NO South Hills student has tested positive for Covid due to the one staff member who was positive. That teacher is now cleared to be out of quarantine/isolation after experiencing only a minor symptom.

Thank you for participating in the Zoom Academy classes this past week. We were happy to see our students daily online, but now we are even happier to know we can return to our students on Monday to celebrate the holiday!

We hope that you will join us on Monday! We have heard from many of you that you will not be returning next week, or even for a few weeks after the holiday break, and we wish we could still offer Zoom, but all teachers will be in their classrooms full time as of Monday.

Thank you to those of you who offered such amazing support to us at this stressful time! Many have asked what we might need, and I can only say that we used an extraordinary number of disinfecting wipes to deep clean the school (still not done but by Monday we will be in great shape!), so any donations would be appreciated to replenish our supply.  Other than that, seeing your smiling faces will be our best holiday gift!  

Blessings and Gratitude,

♥ Ms Connie

Connie Kerr Vogt
Owner/Administrator
South Hills Child Development Center Inc.

Parents,

I am writing to share official details of this week's South Hills Zoom Academy (virtual learning). If you were with us for virtual learning in the spring, this is just a refresher.

As a reminder, we are closed as of today, Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18. Zoom Academy will begin tomorrow (Tuesday, December 15) and continue through Friday, December 18. We will re-open for in-person classes on Monday, December 21. Please read on for a full update!

Zoom Academy consists of TWO components: (1) LIVE classes and (2) DAILY pre-recorded lessons.
 
In order to access our virtual learning, you’ll need to do the following:

• Download the Zoom app to your cell phone, iPad, laptop, or desktop computer.
• Navigate to your child’s Classroom Handout folder on Dropbox for your full class schedule for the coming week.

WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULES & DROPBOX
 
Within your child’s Dropbox Handout folder, please select the Zoom folder, which will contain a sub-folder for the week (Dec 15 - Dec 18). Within this folder, select the PDF containing your Class Schedule for the week. This schedule contains a complete schedule of your LIVE classes for the week, as well as links to your child’s pre-recorded lessons (7-10 minutes each).
 
If you are having difficult in accessing your Zoom folder on Dropbox, please contact Beth HERE to ensure that you receive a copy of your weekly class schedule.
 
ACCESSING YOUR LIVE CLASSROOM ON ZOOM
 
Our objective is to connect your child with his/her teachers as well as classmates in a few LIVE sessions each day this week. Daily sessions with your child's class will be offered beginning at 9:00am each day. Music classes with me, Ms Connie, and Spanish/ Sign Language classes with Ms Pam will also be available in the mornings and afternoons. All LIVE sessions are available for you to “pick and choose” times that fit best into your family’s schedule.
 
In order to access any of the LIVE sessions, simply open the Zoom app on your device, select “Join a Meeting”, and type in the applicable Meeting/ Classroom ID and password listed at the top of your class schedule. Be sure to write in your child’s name before selecting “Join”. NOTE: A Zoom account is not necessary to join a LIVE session.
 
I recommend joining your first LIVE class 5-10 minutes early in order to test your audio and video. You can also access a test meeting on the Zoom website HERE in order to test your audio previous to joining your first meeting. If you’re having any issues with Zoom, be sure to review Zoom’s support page HERE for assistance.  
 
PRE-RECORDED ZOOM CLASSES
 
Links to all pre-recorded Zoom sessions are included in your weekly class schedule. Pre-recorded sessions are available for your child to view at your convenience. These lessons are 7-10 minutes long and cover critical subjects such as Literacy, Math, and Handwriting. Please watch ALL applicable lessons linked for a given day in order to meet required State Standards and South Hills’ Curriculum.
 
SUPPLIES
 
If applicable, your weekly class schedule will list any specific materials that will be needed for the week’s lessons (LIVE and PRE-RECORDED). Materials will only include items that we are certain you already have in your home.
 
In addition to materials around your home, please print any activities located in the week’s “Supplies” folder on Dropbox (Located within your child’s weekly Zoom folder, if applicable).

Please ensure your child has a bell available for music class (or anything that might sound like a bell, like a spoon and pan lid perhaps!). I welcome your entire family to share in my music presentations as we sing and dance to traditional Christmas and Hanukkah songs!
 
KINDERGARTEN - INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS
 
For Kindergarten students ONLY: LIVE INDIVIDUAL sessions with BOTH Ms Robin and Ms Pam will take place DAILY. Your child will attend one 20 minute session with either Ms Robin or one 20 minute session with Ms Pam EACH day during the week! You’ll be receiving an email shortly with simple instructions on how to sign your child up for these individual sessions.

We look forward to seeing your children on Zoom Academy soon!
 
Kind regards,

♥ Ms Connie

Connie Kerr Vogt
Owner/Administrator
South Hills Child Development Center Inc.

Parents,

This is a follow up to the email you received yesterday (Saturday, December 12 - see below) regarding our closure this week. As an important update to that notice, we will be CLOSED effective Monday, December 14 through Friday, December 18. Zoom Academy (virtual learning) will begin on Tuesday, December 15 through Friday, December 18. We will re-open on Monday, December 21. Please read on for a full update!

I’ve received numerous questions and comments via email since yesterday’s notice and I am working diligently to respond to everyone. If you emailed me and I have not yet responded, I appreciate your patience.

In the meantime, here are responses to common questions I am receiving:

1. What classes were affected?

Yellow, Green, Purple and Blue classrooms (full day, year round classes) could have potentially been affected, as I included in yesterday’s email. As an additional precaution, I chose to close the entire school.

2. Will all teachers and administrative staff be tested?

Yes, all teachers and staff are signed up to receive Covid tests this week. This was not required by the Department of Health (as these individuals did not make direct contact with the teacher who tested positive), but we want to ensure the safety of all of our students and staff.

3. Will we really be re-opening on Friday?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear likely that all teachers will have their Covid test results by Thursday, so we will need to remain on Zoom Academy from Tuesday until Friday, reopening on Monday, December 21.

4. How does Zoom Academy work?

A mix of live and pre-recorded lessons will be available for your child via Zoom this week. Please look for an additional email from me sometime tomorrow (Monday, December 13) afternoon containing all details related to Zoom Academy.

5. To address other concerns related to our Covid policy:

• Since our re-opening in May, staff members definitely do not interact as they typically would pre-Covid. We all stay in our own space/classrooms as much as possible and social distancing is a priority.
• Teachers do not eat together or have breaks together.
• Tours and all IEP meetings and conferences were moved to Zoom.
• Staff meetings moved to Zoom in March.
• Our staff holiday party was a Zoom gathering.
• Teachers are keenly aware that the choice they are outside of school can affect all of us at South Hills.  We are all about making good choices, as we teach your children!  
• The teacher who tested positive has only a minor symptom—thank you for your concern about her!

Going forward, I have made the decision to require all teachers to be tested at the beginning of each month as an additional safeguard, even though this is not part of PDE, DHS or even Department of Health policy.  

Although we are not permitting parents to remain in the building beyond 15 minutes (and continue to request a quick entrance/exit) and prioritize social distancing rules with parents/ guardians, I strongly encourage parents to be proactive in regards to Covid testing, as testing would be additional protection for all of the staff and children.

Thank you for the kind emails of support; they are MUCH appreciated!  This is obviously an extremely stressful time for me and the South Hills’ staff, especially with our holidays arriving, and the festive plans we have for the children!  My staff and I continue to work hard behind the scenes to keep your child moving forward in his/her skills and still enjoy the season.

Please watch your email for further details related to Zoom Academy tomorrow!

Kind regards,

♥ Connie

Parents,

In order to ensure the health and safety of our staff and children, I am writing to report that South Hills will be CLOSED effective Monday, December 14 through Thursday, December 17. Zoom Academy (virtual learning) will begin on Tuesday, December 15 through Thursday, December 17. We will re-open on Friday, December 18. Please read on for a full update!

One of the South Hills’ teachers of a full day classroom has tested positive for Covid-19.  Fortunately she was ONLY in the classroom one day while contagious, which was Monday, December 7. She developed a mild symptom on Monday evening, she did not return to South Hills, and will remain in quarantine for the required period. She was tested on Wednesday and her positive result was just returned.  Due to confidentiality orders, I cannot say who the teacher is, nor give any details.  But all children attending full day could have potentially been exposed.  That would include the Yellow, Green, Blue or Purple rooms.

The Erie County Department of Health has strongly suggested we close the entire school and not reopen until Friday, December 18.  All children attending full day classes (Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue classrooms) should quarantine immediately until that date as well. The staff who have had close contact are also quarantined.  I know this will create panic and hardship for many of you, but please know I place your child’s, family’s and my staff’s health and safety as a priority!  The Department did say they feel our plan is extremely well done, and that our practices are excellent, but we all know that this illness is lurking everywhere, and even with the best plan, it is possible to contract it.
 
PLEASE watch carefully for any symptoms/signs of Covid-19 in your children.  These signs might include any combination of the following:

    Fever or chills
    Cough
    Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    Fatigue
    Muscle or body aches
    Headache
    New loss of taste or smell
    Sore throat
    Congestion or runny nose
    Nausea or vomiting
    Diarrhea

We begin Zoom Academy on Tuesday, December 15 through Thursday, December 17 so your children, regardless of full or half day class, will continue their work online with their teacher.  We will be offering a mixture of live and recorded lessons to align with your own schedule. There is a Zoom folder in your Parent Handout Dropbox folder and by Monday afternoon you will receive all the pertinent information and the schedule for your child’s attendance.

Kindergarten students will have required live sessions to work individually with Ms Robin and Ms Pam. Details to follow in your Parent Handout/Zoom folder on Dropbox .
 
Our cleaning protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Erie County Health Department; Jerry and I will be devoting ourselves to disinfecting throughout our closure to ensure the healthiest environment possible, as we have always done.  

I am working diligently to organize this and promise I will be sending communication via Dropbox and email so please keep checking for notifications of postings!   

Be safe!

♥ Connie