All ELC students, faculty, and staff must be tested for COVID-19 no more than five days before returning to campus. The results must be shared with the School before your child may begin the ELC. Testing will be offered on campus prior to the opening of school as a convenience. Any employee or ELC student who tests positive for the COVID-19 virus will be required to stay at home until cleared by a physician.
Testing for ELC students will be available on campus for a fee on Wednesday, August 26. Pre-registration is required for these tests and availability is on a first come basis. The cost of the test is $130, and student Smart Tuition accounts will be billed.
Parents who are unable to schedule a testing time on campus on August 26 may schedule a test within five days of coming to campus with their family physician or at one of our testing provider’s alternate facilities in Natick and Marlborough. Please click the links below for more information.
ELC students who test positive will be required to stay at home until cleared by their physician. If an ELC student or other member of the community tests or is presumed positive, the School, in coordination with the Southborough Department of Health, will conduct contact tracing.
Parents will be asked to screen children daily before bringing them to the ELC. At-home screening guidelines will be specified by the School and will include basic health and wellness checks. Students who are sick or present with possible COVID-19 symptoms should remain at home, and parents should notify the ELC.
If a student, faculty, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, the School will notify the community per CDC regulations and will work with the Southborough Department of Health to conduct contact tracing. As a result, a student, faculty member, or staff member may be required to self-quarantine.
The ELC will expand its normal cleaning routines with daily disinfection and sanitization procedures that will include wiping down commonly touched surfaces, door handles and light switches, and increasing the frequency of bathroom cleaning. A CDC and EPA-approved cleaning and disinfecting solution will be used.
The ELC will follow the guidelines provided by the Massachusetts Department of Education, which currently state that face masks for children in grade one and lower are not required. Face masks will be strongly encouraged in the ELC when social distancing is not possible.
All children will be encouraged to wear a mask as they play a significant role in stopping the spread of the virus. We ask that parents work with their child at home prior to the start of the program to get them comfortable with wearing a mask. Parents should supply 2 or 3 clean masks clearly labeled with their child’s name each day. If wearing a mask becomes a problem for your child, a teacher or administrator will discuss this with you. Here are some tips from Boston Children’s Hospital about children wearing masks.
The classroom centers will be designed for fewer children than they used to be. Classroom spaces will be clearly delineated and assigned seating will be used for lunch and other activities. Props, such as hula hoops and rug spots, will be used to help children understand social distancing expectations. Some materials will only be available for one child to use until they are cleaned. Other materials will be shared (e.g. games, dramatic play props, etc.). Children will wash their hands before and after using shared materials. Children will play together outside with social distancing encouraged.
For the time being, the ELC will not hold community events on campus. Parent meetings may be scheduled virtually via Zoom, and further details will be provided in the coming weeks.
At this time, we plan to offer parents a choice of scheduling a virtual or outdoor in-person "Meet the Teacher" appointment with their child's teacher. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks.
At least initially, the number of visitors to campus will be restricted. Drop-off and pick-up procedures will be modified, and public admission events will be scheduled online to limit the number of people on campus. More details will be provided in the comings weeks.
At this time, ELC students may not bring lunches from home. Sage Dining Services will provide individually-packed lunches for all students, which will help us accommodate the students in our community with allergies and dietary restrictions.
Credits will be issued for days that the ELC is closed as a result of COVID-19. The credit will be applied to Smart accounts for use toward future services.
