Essential workers
Is there a likelihood that we would have to find new child care if the essential worker preference goes away?
For summer enrollment, we plan to offer care first to those returning parents who identified as essential workers. Because we re-enroll each fall, those essential workers that are no longer affiliated with the UO will not be prioritized for fall care above students, staff or faculty.
If any other capacity exists, we intend to follow our current enrollment priorities of serving returning student families first. If we have additional capacity this fall, we will serve new students.
Will you offer child care for those other than essential workers this summer?
Maybe. The state’s child care guidelines require us to reduce our capacity until further notice, which affects this summer and likely this fall.
Structure
What is the pre-fall structure?
The “pre-fall session” (August 3 through September 18) will be offered to a small group of fall families. A maximum of 12 children will be enrolled in two different classrooms: ages 2–3 years old and 3–5 years old. The teachers in the middles group will be Kathy and Danijela, and the preschool teachers will be Krystal and Yumiko. Pre-fall will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
What is the fall term structure?
Fall care will begin September 21. The full-time hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. There will be four classrooms:
- One Littles classroom, ages 3–24 months, maximum eight children
- One Middles classroom, ages 2–3 years, maximum 10 children
- Two preschool classrooms, ages 3–5 years, each with a maximum of 10 children
Will you be required to accept fewer children in fall term and operate for fewer hours per day, the way that summer term care is currently being structured?
Because of the state’s child care requirements, which are aimed at keeping our program safe and sustainable, our capacity will be reduced this summer and likely this fall. For example, we are limited to a stable cohort of a maximum of 10 children per classroom (eight for those under age two); and we are limited in our ability to offer flexibility in our scheduling as the stable cohort rules do not allow us to offer shorter sessions.
While we are committed to the importance of keeping everyone safe, we are also very sad that we may not be able to serve all the families that need care. Last year, we served 111 children building-wide each term. Our maximum capacity this summer and probably this coming fall is likely to be about 50% less, closer to 50 children. Currently, we have over 100 applications for fall care (66 from returning student families). We know that some parents who have completed applications will choose not to have care during these uncertain times. We are working hard to plan for as many children as we can safely enroll.
Why are you reducing the number of children you serve?
We plan to start out during the summer with fewer children than the state maximums. This will allow us the ability to practice the new protocols and procedures, while experiencing limited staffing, and to ensure we maximize safety. Our plan is to work up to the state-allowed maximum group sizes by fall term.
Groups by Age, Classroom, and Group/Cohort Size
| Age Group | Classroom names | New State-required Group Size Max |
|---|---|---|
| 3mo-24mo | Chickadee & Finch | 8 |
| 24mo-36mo | Robin & Swallow | 10 |
| 3-5 years | Quail & Redwing | 10 |
| Soon-to-be Kinder-3rd | Jay | 10 |
Are the Chickadee and Finch considered one cohort collectively?
Yes. Currently we are planning to have the Finch and Chickadee classrooms considered one cohort of eight children.
NEW: How do you handle siblings that are in different classrooms?
Where possible we place siblings in the same classrooms. However, we do maintain the age ranges in each classroom to make sure that we are meeting the developmental needs of each child and the state child care regulations for center care. For example, siblings will be placed in separate classrooms if one child is 9 months old and the other is 3 years old.
NEW: What are the classroom maximum enrollment numbers?
At Moss Street, the infant/toddler classroom has a maximum of eight children. The preschool program has two classrooms that are currently limited to 10 children each. If we decide to increase our preschool classroom group size, we will inform parents.
Who are the teachers in each classroom this fall?
We will let each family know prior to the start of fall session who their child’s teacher will be. Teachers will reach out to individual families and the classrooms to introduce themselves and answer questions closer to the beginning of fall term.
Are there any student teachers during the pre-fall care and fall care?
Student staff, volunteers, and practicum students will not be working in classrooms at Moss Street until further notice. Utilizing consistent professional staff supports expectations that each child be a member of a stable cohort or group.
What will meals look like during this time?
Parents will be expected to bring a lunch for their child that is “ready to eat,” that meets the child care division’s nutrition requirements (for infants and older children) and that does not require refrigeration or reheating. Food items must be cut and/or cooked to avoid choking risks for children under age 4. Moss Street will provide milk.
Starting September 21, Moss Street will also be preparing and offering a breakfast option for children. Breakfast will be portioned and served to individual children by teachers and will not be served “family style” for safety reasons. Moss Street will provide milk. Breakfast menus are provided in email updates and on request. Parents may not send food for group consumption.
Will children take naps?
The pre-fall group will not have scheduled naps, as our hours are limited. However, if a child needs a nap during their hours of care, we will set up a cot with the required physical distancing and staffing.
As our hours increase for fall term, the preschool and middles classrooms will have scheduled naps and the littles teachers will follow the cues of the infants and help them to nap as needed.
Why can’t I sign up for week-to-week, or shorter sessions of services this summer?
The state requirements are focused on creating group stability to minimize the number of people each child spends time with. This will help minimize exposure to COVID-19. A stable cohort is a group with unchanging membership, consistent from day to day, of children and staff who occupy their own designated classroom/space. Because we must ensure consistent stable groups, offering week-by-week enrollment or shorter sessions of service are not an option.
Are there any age groups you won’t serve this summer?
It is unlikely that we will serve children under the age of 2, our “Littles,” this summer. This may change depending on need, capacity and staffing.
Hours
Why were the proposed schedules limited to four hours each day when we need full day care?
We are beginning with a limited number of hours for our first stage of reopening because we are not sure what to expect, and we want to be successful. We want our small start to inform us on how to build towards fall term, so that we have a working knowledge and a sustainable structure in place when we do increase capacity.
Offering a reduced schedule at first also gives us the best chance of ensuring adequate staffing. As we prepare to reopen, we need to be mindful of those who may be medically at-risk or have other challenges that impact their return to work. Lastly, there are additional cleaning protocols and requirements that are new to us, and we will need time to assess how long these procedures will take staff each day. We have heard that some programs require as long as 2 hours to sanitize each classroom daily.
We plan to add hours to our daily schedule as we learn more and feel prepared to do so safely and sustainably.
Will Moss Street continue to follow 4J closures?
Moss Street will follow some of the 4J closures. If 4J has children on site and they close campuses for weather-related issues, we will also close. However, our breaks, no-school days, and holidays may not follow the 4J calendar.
Exclusion protocols
What if my child, classmates, or teachers get sick?
A child who has recently had an illness with fever, cough, or shortness of breath must stay home 10 days after onset of symptoms, unless tested negative for COVID-19, and (tested or not) for 72 hours after resolution of these symptoms without the aid of fever-reducing medication or cough suppressants.
If a child develops a cough, fever, or shortness of breath while at Moss Street, they will be isolated from others and the parent(s) notified. A parent must pick them up within 20 minutes. Staff will monitor the child for other symptoms of COVID-19 including: loss of smell and/or taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, runny nose, sore throat, cough, chills, and muscle aches. These symptoms will be taken seriously and may result in exclusion as well. All observed symptoms will be reported to the parent at pick-up.
A child should not come to Moss Street if they have had contact with a person who (a) is currently exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or (b) has a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19. Anyone with a known exposure to a person with a presumptive or confirmed case of COVID-19 is expected to quarantine at home for 14 days or as advised by the local health authority.
Parents are expected to understand the health risks and dangers associated with the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and other communicable diseases, and recognize that exposure to the COVID-19 virus, or other communicable diseases, could occur while children are at Moss Street.
How likely is a child to be required to stay home for 14 days for a teething-related fever?
We are hoping that through our shared effort toward reducing the exposure to illness we can keep children healthy. If a medical professional clears a child to go back in care, i.e. diagnosis for fever is for an ear infection or teething, the child may return to care, per the medical professional’s directions.
Also, 14 days quarantine due to exposure to a positive or presumptive COVID case is a hard and fast rule. There are no exceptions, such as a doctor’s note or negative COVID test.
Will children be physically distanced?
The center facility will be altered to support staff and children’s ability to maintain appropriate physical distance in line with university and state child care regulations. Members of the Moss Street community are expected to observe physical distancing expectations. However, young children are not able to practice physical distancing from one another and they require caregiving from adults that require close proximity. Each classroom’s environment and materials have been arranged to allow for more physical distancing and frequent sanitizing. For example, if a child has a large feeling, a teacher will be by their side to help them regulate and comfort them. Each classroom at Moss Street is well above the minimum square footage required per child.
I think I need to know more about how this would work, and whether K-3 kids would be kept separate from the other kids.
We are currently reviewing our school-age program and we will communicate when we know more.
Agreements
Would we be "locked in" if offered a spot in August or will we be able to say we'd like to wait a bit longer?
When we are able to make offers of care to families, we will give as much time for parents to consider the offer as we are operationally able, while still getting started in a timely manner.
It is likely that parents will be asked to review and agree to the changes that are necessary during COVID-19 regulations. These include: restrictions on items from home, drop-off and pick-up protocols, building access, exclusion protocols, daily health screenings and face covering.
What are my financial obligations as a parent during COVID-19 agreements?
During individual child quarantine, parents will receive up to five days illness credit on their account. After two weeks is complete, parents will be able to decide, at that time, if they want to: 1) forgo further care at Moss Street, and relinquish their spot to another family, without further charges; or 2) continue with care at Moss Street, paying the full, regular cost of care. All other withdrawals from the program will require a 30-day notice.
If an entire classroom, or the entire center, must close for two weeks (under the direction by Lane County Health Authorities) all families will be charged the full, regular cost of care. Withdrawals from the program will still require a 30-day notice.
When enrollment paperwork is turned in, parents are then obligated for care from their child’s start date. If a family withdraws prior to starting care, their 30-day notice will begin on the first day that care was scheduled to begin.
If Moss Street for some reason does not open in the fall, will parents be reimbursed for what we’ve been contracted for?
Yes. If we never open, parents will not be charged.
Transitions
When Moss Street fully reopens can my child's cohort have a preschool graduation party like previous years did?
This is unlikely due to restrictions of group size for gatherings and expectations around stable cohorts and limiting the children’s exposure to others while in the center.
What will the drop-off and pick-up be like?
Staff will be conducting health checks, and there will be more formal sign-in and sign-out procedures. This will support any contact tracing that may become necessary, and to help ensure that safety measures, like face covering use and physical distancing, are observed.
At drop-off, center staff will perform a daily health check that includes assessing illness in the household, taking each child’s temperature, and asking parents to confirm contact phone numbers each day. Parents may only drop off children if everyone in their home is healthy and symptom free within the last 72 hours/three days, with no known exposure to COVID-19 within the previous two weeks. Family members are to remain outside the building unless arrangements have been made with the director or an assistant director.
Drop-off and pick-up will occur only in designated locations. Only one adult per family may assist in getting the child in/out of the vehicle and—while Moss Street staff are signing the child in/out—is responsible for ensuring that they and the child maintain appropriate (6 feet or more) distance from other families. Parents must wait for the sign-in/sign-out process to be completed before leaving the site. A staff member will escort each child to/from the classroom from/to the designated location.
Staff and parents must wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth throughout the drop-off/pick-up process.
Parents must make arrangements ahead of time if an early pick-up is needed. The parent may need to call Moss Street (541-346-4384) upon arrival and allow adequate time for the sign-out process.
One of the three directors—Becky, Lori and Amber—will be doing the morning health checks. They will ask parents the daily health check questions for each family. They will be wearing a mask and will take each child’s temperature. After the health checks are complete the director will help children wash hands, change shoes and take them to classroom or playground. Adults participating in the drop of and pick-up procedure are required to wear masks. Pre-fall drop-offs will be on the south side of the building on 17th street, at the Mallard room. Physical distancing will be observed. We recommend that parents talk with their children about how the drop-off procedure will look different from previous years.
What if we drop off our child at a time other than 8:30 a.m.?
Parents can simply call one of the directors’ cell phone numbers or the front desk at any time to let us know that you have arrived, and that you are ready to do the daily health check and drop off your child.
What is the late pick-up policy?
All children must be picked up no later than 1:30 or 3:30 p.m., respectively. Moss Street understands that unforeseen circumstances may occasionally prevent a parent from picking their child up on time; however habitual late pickups pose challenges for center staff, the program and the child. Consequently, parents will be charged a fee for any time outside their designated pick-up time. Reaching a third late fee within one year may result in termination of service. This is not a new policy.
Since parents do not have the opportunity to talk with teachers at drop off, how will parents be able to communicate important daily information (nap times, lengths, diaper changes, food consumption, etc.) to teachers? What other ways will be available for parent-teacher communication?
Parents are not allowed in the building without making prior arrangements with a director. During drop-off, parents will be asked if they would like to communicate anything with the teachers about their child; the daily health check staff will forward the information to the child’s teachers.
Communication between parents and teachers is especially important with new limitations to in-person contact. We will need to learn to communicate differently during this time. Parents may contact their child’s teacher via email to relay questions and concerns, and each teacher will have regularly scheduled time to respond to emails and schedule conversations with parents as needed. Parents will receive general information about the child’s classroom experience through photos and newsletters or during pick-up.
Parents will also receive weekly emails from the director, and are invited to contact the director or assistant director with questions, concerns, and suggestions.
Face coverings
Will teachers be wearing masks?
The University of Oregon's COVID-related face covering regulation is to be observed by all UO employees and visitors to Moss Street. State child care guidance allows children and staff who are members of the same stable cohort or group to not wear face coverings while isolated in their stable group. Allowing for health-related exceptions, center staff and parents will be required to wear a cloth face covering under certain circumstances such as during drop-off and pick-up (as outlined above). Face coverings must be properly worn, covering both the mouth and nose.
Will my child be required to wear a mask?
Parents may elect for their child (ages 2–kinder) to wear a face mask, in which case they must instruct Moss Street’s staff in writing of this request and provide their child with a clean, dry face covering each day. Children of any age should not wear a face covering if they have a medical condition that makes it difficult for them to breathe with a face covering, if they have a disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering, if they are unable to remove the face covering independently, or while sleeping.
Meals
What meals will Moss Street provide?
Moss Street will not be providing meals during the pre-fall session (August 3—September 18). We will provide milk with lunches sent from home. Starting September 21, we plan to provide breakfast and parents will send lunches from home. We will not have time for an afternoon snack in either session.
Will my child need a water bottle?
No. Your child does not need a water bottle. We have plenty of water, cups, and pitchers, and we are trying to limit the items that children bring from home.
What suggestions do you have for foods that do not need to be to be refrigerated or heated, but conform to USDA nutritional guidelines?
Packing a lunch for your child each day is going to be a new experience for many of you. We wanted to share some lunch ideas and the basic meal component requirements for you to refer to when preparing your child’s lunch. Remember, you know your child best and what they enjoy eating.
Please use lunch containers that are disposable or that can be cleaned every day. Please put your child’s name on their lunch box. Food should be ready to eat without prep. Please make sure food is cut to a safe size that is appropriate for your child’s age. We will not be heating meals, and lunch boxes will be stored at room temperature. Consider including an ice pack if you prefer keeping their lunch cool.
The Oregon Department of Education defines the USDA required food components and food portion size by age group. Components required: Whole grain, protein, fruit, and vegetable. Moss Street will provide the milk. Refer to the chart below for some ideas.
Food Component Examples
| Whole Grains (WG) | Proteins | Vegetables | Fruits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
WG tortilla |
Cheese sticks |
Avocado |
Watermelon |
Are there any restrictions on allergens in the food children bring for lunch?
If a child in your child’s classroom requires classroom restrictions, we will let you know. We don’t serve peanuts at Moss Street, but you are welcome to have nut butter in your child’s lunch if there are not allergen restrictions in their classroom.
Sanitation
What will the cleaning and sanitation procedures be?
We will follow the Oregon Health Authority, Early Learning Division and State Child Care Division's extensive requirements for cleaning and sanitation.
What will hand washing look like?
As hand hygiene is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19, teachers and staff will ensure that they and the children’s hands are washed properly and regularly throughout the day.
How will breast milk be handled?
Breast milk will be handled in the same way as before. We will follow all of the sanitation requirements including clean hands, gloves, and proper refrigeration and heating. In addition, we will also be following the new COVID-19 food service guidelines with breast milk, with people handling breast milk wearing a mask.
Can I bring cloth diapers for my child during the emergency provider guidelines?
Yes.