Parent Handbook Homeroom 131: 2020-2021 School Year Program

Parent Handbook

       Homeroom 131:
2020-2021 School Year Program

Homeroom 131: General Information

Address & Contact Information:
131 Arlington Street, Taunton MA 02780
Phone: 508.824.9511
Website: www.girlsinctaunton.org
Emails: Danielle Driscoll, Program Director – ddgirlsinctaunton@comcast.net
        Jessica Johnstone Darling, Executive Director – jjdgirlsinctaunton@comcast.net
Social Media: girlsinctaunton (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram)

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday, 7:30 – 5:30

Drop-off and Release:
We ask all families to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms and exposure PRIOR to coming to Girls Inc.
using the provided self-screening tool.

The following drop-off and pick-up procedures have been developed to enforce social distancing
guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and family members will not be permitted
to enter the facility including the program space and play area. In order to limit points of exposure we
encourage the same family member to pick-up and drop off person for each child.

Drop - Off: All members must be walked to the red canopy outside the building by an adult for verbal
screening prior to entering. All persons entering the tent MUST be wearing a mask or face covering. To
also ensure privacy, one family and up to two Girls Inc. staff members will be allowed in the tent at a
time. Remaining families must wait in line at the designated spaces located 6ft apart.

Once inside the tent parents and members will be verbally screened to identify potential COVID-19
symptoms and potential exposure. Any member or parent who does not pass the verbal screening will
not be permitted to enter the facility and must return home with their parent or family member. Once a
member passes the screening they will be permitted to enter and join their group and staff member in
their designated space. All members will be asked to use hand sanitizer before leaving the tent and
entering the program space.

Release from Program: Please report to the screening tent to request pick-up of the member. Members
will be released by the program director or coordinator where they will meet their family member at the
tent. Members will only be released to those who are listed on the membership application and
registration form with a valid photo I.D.. If someone who is not on the list is picking up, parents we
must notify the program director or program coordinator through verbal or written permission. The
program director or coordination releasing members will confirm the identity of the person picking up
by reviewing a photo ID.

In the event of a potential exposure or positive case of a parent or family member to COVID-19 has been
identified Parents should call us at 508.824.9511 and request a no-contact release. The parent will be
asked to identify their vehicle and show their I.D. at the window. The member will be released from the
tent to the vehicle.

Late Pick Up Fee – If members are not picked up by 5:30 p.m. a late fee of $15 will be charged
                     for pick up between 5:30 and 5:45 and an additional $2/minute will be
                     charged after 5:45.

Fees: (All fees are non-refundable)
Full Remote Weekly Rate: $125.00
Full Remote Sibling Weekly Rate: $100
Hybrid Weekly Rate: $75
Hybrid Sibling Weekly Rate: $50
Full Return Rate: TBD
The first month of membership is due at the time of registration. Members will be billed monthly and
are due at the end of the month. If a member will miss week due to illness, we ask to be notified and the
member will not be billed. Two weeks notification will be required to withdraw from the program.

Required Forms:
All members must have submitted a completed Registration Packet and current immunization history
prior to the beginning of the Homeroom 131 Program. This packet includes member application, health
history form and immunization history. Incomplete registration packets (including those missing
signatures) will be returned and delay registration. No member will be allowed to attend the school year
program if the registration packet is incomplete.

What to Bring:
Required Technology: TPS issued chrome book and hotspot and personal headphones. We ask that all
members use TPS technology in order to easily troubleshoot problems and allow for remote access for
IT issues. Headphones are needed to ensure that each student remains focused and the environment
stays quiet for all.
Masks – A clean mask is required to be brought daily, along with a second clean mask in a
           plastic bag labeled with first and last name. Extra masks will be provided if needed.
Water Bottle – Each member is required to bring at least one filled water bottle each day.
School Supplies- Whatever members need to complete their virtual learning throughout the
                     day. (i.e. a charged chrome book, pencils, notebooks, headphones, etc.)
Lunch/Snack- if preferred
Change of clothes and underwear- for members under the age of 7

What Not to Bring:
Please limit a member’s personal belongings at Homeroom 131. All items from home must be stored in
separate drawers. Space for belongings is extremely limited. Personal items such as tablets, electronics,
games, dolls and other toys are not permitted.

Meals and Snacks: Lunch: 12-1, AM snack, PM snack
Members are encouraged to bring snacks and lunch items from home. Home lunches must be ready to
eat. Peanut and tree nut products are not permitted. Due to social distancing requirements, we will not
be able to provide a safe place to consume these products. Additionally, we do not have the ability to
heat or refrigerate lunches.

A prepackaged “Girls Inc. Lunch” (sandwich and snack) will be available for purchase for $3 and served
by Girls Inc. daily. Members are encouraged to bring lunches from home as choices will often be limited.

Common options will include previously frozen sunflower butter and jelly crustless sandwiches, ham and
cheese crustless sandwiches or roll-ups, and pepperoni and cheese crustless sandwiches.

Snacks are available for purchase twice daily at the cost of $0.50. Daily snacks include fruits, veggies,
whole grain & lean proteins with the exception of Fridays when we offer chips and other snacks. All
snacks will be prepackaged. We encourage our members to use our snack account system which allows
for parents to pay for snacks in advance. Girls are encouraged to manage their own accounts and
inform parents when their account is low. Members are allowed to “go negative” by up to $10 and at
which time a payment slip will be sent home. No member requesting a snack will be denied food.

Our directors are Food Allergen Awareness trained. All food allergies must be listed on the member
health history form.

We are a peanut/tree nut free facility throughout the school year program.

Daily Schedules: (Virtual Learning 7:30am – 2:00pm, Girls Inc. activities 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
Members will follow their individual TPS schedule for attendance and virtual learning activities. Girls Inc.
staff will support members with internet connections, logging into classroom activities and
troubleshooting common issues. Staff will also help to redirect members attention, encourage their
school participation and help maintain a safe and productive learning environment. Staff members are
not able to provide academic instruction or support. A “breakroom” classroom will be available for
members who finish an assignment early or who are given a movement break from a teacher.

Girls Inc. activities will be offered each afternoon. These activities are designed to help girls lead healthy
and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; develop leadership skills and
discover and interest in science, technology, engineering and math. The foundation for all activities are
the Girls Inc. National Identity curricula.

        COVID: Specific Activity Details: During both virtual learning and Girls Inc. activities, girls will
practice strict social distancing, safety and personal hygiene protocols to help reduce the spread of the
coronavirus. We will adhere to regulations issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
and recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). These regulations are updated
frequently and therefore our rules are subject to change. We will remain open in communicating any
changes to parents as changes impact our programs, staff and members.

        Members will be in groups of ten girls to one virtual learning support staff member or direct
care staff member for virtual learning and Girls Inc. activities respectively. Mixing between groups will
be limited under current regulations and will remain so as long as recommended by the TPS, DPH and
CDC.
        Both members and staff will be required to wear masks when an appropriate distance cannot be
maintained such as while moving through the building, while at their workspaces, in the breakroom or
bathroom. Mask breaks will be scheduled and taken when socially distant as a group or a space will be
provided for individuals. Masks will not be required during snack and mealtimes.

       Workspaces will be distanced according to DPH recommendations and will be cleaned along
with common touch surfaces as part of increased cleaning and sanitization schedules.

Snow Days/Vacations:
Homeroom 131 will follow the Taunton Public School calendar. If TPS classes are not in session,
Homeroom 131 will not be offered. However, in the event of planned closures such as Vacations and
Professional Development days Girls Inc. MAY run full-day workshops or events. These programs are
offered at an additional cost and are not included in the Homeroom 131 membership fee.

In the event of inclement weather (including snow) that makes travel unsafe, Homeroom 131 will be
closed. If a decision to close is made, then parents will be notified by email and the decision will be
posted on our social media.

Enrichment Programs:
If offered enrichment courses will cost $40 per 8-week session. These classes will be taught by a
volunteer or special instructor and will likely include cooking, yoga, art, music or physical fitness topics.
These programs will be offered during the “after-school” hours and will change throughout the year.
Space is limited and participation is based on a first come first serve basis.
*Our ability to offer these activities will depend on DPH regulations.

Parent Communication: We will communicate with our parents in person when possible but also
through telephone, email and social media. Parent contact information including email, home, work and
cell phone numbers are required on registration forms so they can be contacted at any time. All families
are encouraged to follow our accounts for general information and details in the case of emergency.

Parents will receive an email prior to the start of the program through our email service. This service will
confirm that the email has been sent and will notify the sender if any messages are “bounced”. The
director will use this service to test communication and ensure that parents are receiving emails.

COVID-19 Specific Policies:
Designated COVID-19 Staff Member: The executive director, Jessica Johnstone Darling
(jjdgirlsinctaunton@comcast.net) will be responsible for handling all COVID-19 concerns.

Specific Discipline: If a member is having difficulty following social distancing requests by touching
others or their belongings or is unable to wear a mask while not 6 ft apart the member will be given a
verbal warning. If the member remains unable to follow the request a family member will be called for
pick-up and the member will be released from the program for the day. If the issue continues the
member may not be allowed to return to the program.

Recognizing COVID-19 Symptoms: We need your help in being aware of COVID-19 symptoms. The
following are known symptoms of COVID-19 frequent cough, sneezing, fever, difficulty breathing, chills,
muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or recent loss of taste or smell. If these symptoms are observed you
must report them to our designated staff member.

COVID-19 Transmission: Specific information on virus transmission is provide by the CDC. This
information is available on our website and is emailed to parents.

If a member or staff contracts COVID-19
Sick members or employees who are COVID-19 positive or symptomatic and presumed to have COVID-
19 must not return to the program until they have met the criteria for discontinuing home isolation and
have consulted with a health care provider. We will determine the date of symptom onset for the

child/staff in order to determine if the child/staff attended/worked at the program while symptomatic
or during the two days before symptoms began. We will then identify what days the child/staff
attended/worked during that time and then determine who had close contact with the child/staff at the
program during those days (staff and other children). If the individual tests positive for COVID-19 but is
asymptomatic, isolation may be discontinued when at least 10 days have passed from the date of the
positive test, as long as the individual remains asymptomatic. In the event that a member or staff
contracts COVID-19, employees and families will be notified of a positive case. The member of staff
member’s identity will remain confidential. The board of health will be notified.

Self-Isolating Following Exposure or Potential Exposure: If a member or staff has been exposed to
COVID-19, regardless of whether the individual has symptoms or not, the child or staff will not be
permitted to enter the program space and if present must be sent home. Exposed individuals must stay
home for at least 14 days after the last day of contact with the person who is sick. The the program
director will consult the local board of health for guidance on quarantine for other children and staff and
what additional precautions will be needed to ensure the program space is safe for continued child-care
services.

If an exposed child or staff subsequently tests positive or their doctor says they have confirmed or
probable COVID-19, they must stay home for a minimum of 10 days from the 1st day of symptoms
appearing AND be fever-free for 72 hours without fever reducing medications AND experience
significant improvements in symptoms in order to return. Release from isolation is under the jurisdiction
of the local board of health where the individual resides.

If a member’s household member tests positive for COVID-19, the member must self-quarantine for 14
days after the last time they could have been exposed. If an Exposed Child or remains asymptomatic
and/or tests negative for COVID-19 they must remain in quarantine and continue to monitor for the full
14 days.

COVID-19 Closures: In the event of a closure due to COVID-19, parents will be notified by email.

Personal Hygiene: Both members and staff will be instructed to wash their hands, making sure to wash
all surfaces of their hands (e.g., front and back, wrists, between fingers) at increased frequencies
throughout the day. Members and staff will be participate in training on proper hand washing
techniques at the start of the program and age-appropriate signage will be located throughout the
program space. Members and staff will be instructed to wash their hands with soap and water for a
minimum of 20 seconds or use the provided hand sanitizer at increased frequencies. Beginning in 2020,
hand sanitizer dispensers are located throughout the program spaces and are regularly re-filled with
hand sanitizer (consisting of at least 60% alcohol). Additionally, each all staff members will carry hand
sanitizer for regular use during activities when soap and water is not readily available.

Important Policies and Procedures:
Emergency Response Plan:
Our complete Emergency Response Plan approved by the Taunton Police Department, is available for
review by request. This plan is comprehensive therefore, key components necessary for review and
timely emergency response are summarized below:

        Emergency Communication: If an emergency occurs during program hours please check the
        following sources for information and status reports:

Social Media: girlsinctaunton (Facebook and Twitter)
        Local Medial: TCAM
        Telephone: wait for contact from Girls Inc. or the Taunton Police Department.

        PLEASE DO NOT:
           • Call Girls Inc. telephone. It is important to keep the phone lines free for emergency
               communications.
           • Drive to the facility to pick up your child unless it is both safe to do so and you have
               been directed to do so.

        Off – Site Evacuation Location:
        In the event of a natural disaster, facility hazard, bomb threat in which program facility is
        damaged or considered unsafe the members will relocate (walk) to the Taunton Police
        Department. We will remain at the Taunton Police Department until the “All Clear” is declared
        or until parent reunification has been organized and parents have been notified when and
        where to pick up their children.

        In the event of a complete area evacuation, our local government agency will determine the
        mass shelter location. All staff members will accompany their assigned members to the shelter
        and remain with them until parent reunification is organized. The safety of our members and
        staff is our first priority. Our second priority is reunification of parents with their children.

        Parent Reunification:
        This protocol is used to ensure a safe and secure means of accounting for members and
        reuniting parents/guardians with their children whenever the program facility or grounds is
        rendered unsafe and members are evacuated to a remote site location.

        When contacted by Girls Inc. Staff or Taunton Police parents/guardians or individuals authorized
        for release will be asked to drive to the Taunton Police Department or other evacuation site and
        ask for the Adult Report Area. In the Adult Report Area parents/guardians will be asked to sign-
        in and provide identification for an ID check. Members will be released from the member
        release area only to individuals authorized for release with proper photo identification.

Anti-Bullying Policy: Once a bullying situation is identified and verified by staff, there will be a verbal
warning. Girls will be notified at that time there will be a zero-tolerance for bullying at Girls Inc, and
parents will also be informed of this warning. Further situations after this will be subject to review by
executive director and membership will be subject to termination.

Discipline: Members are encouraged to be strong, smart and bold at all times. If they are determined to
be behaving contrary to the mission, they will be sent to the program director. Members will be given a
verbal warning followed by a written warning for disrespectful behavior or violation of rules. Parents will
be notified of warning issued to their daughter. Upon a third warning membership privilege will be
reviewed by the executive director and is subject to termination. If a member is behaving in a way that
is, potentially harmful to one’s self, or intimidating, potentially harmful to others or is disrupting the
positive development of others that member will be sent home and may be removed from the program
permanently. Violence against staff members (including hitting, kicking, pushing or biting) will not be
permitted and will result in immediate removal from the program. If a member requires an early
release due to a behavioral violation parents must arrange for pick-up within 30 minutes of being

contacted. Members requiring 1-to-1 aids for assistance are required to provide one at their own
expense.

Head Lice: If your child has head lice, you MUST inform us at Girls Inc. Your child will not be able to
return to Girls Inc. until they have been cleared by a doctor.

Sick Policy: If your child stays home sick, please call and let us know that she will not be attending our
program BEFORE 10 am. Any child who reports or shows signs of illness persisting more than 4 hours
will have their parent/guardian notified. Any ill child will be separated from the general the program
population and evaluated by the health care supervisor. The living room or an air-conditioned office will
serve as a quiet resting place where members will be held. If deemed necessary by the healthcare
supervisor, emergency evaluation/treatment will be sought. We ask that girls do not return to Girls Inc.
until they have been fever free, without the use of medication or a fever reducer, for a period of 24
hours.

COVID-19 Sick Policy: If a member is showing signs of COVID-19, the individual will need to wear a mask
and will be lead to am isolated room in the building with a window (Miss Danielle’s office). A
parent/guardian will be immediately contacted and will need to pick up their member. If the individual
tests positive for COVID-19, they will not be permitted to return to the program for 14 days. All parents
and guardians will be informed of any cases of positive COVID-19 at Girls Inc. and may be contacted by
the Taunton Board of Health.

Administration of Medication: If your child needs to take medication during the program hours you
must complete the dispensing medication section of the application and separate dispensing medication
form and have it signed by a physician. Medication that needs to be dispensed will be dispensed only by
the Healthcare Supervisor. All medication prescribed for members must be in their original containers
bearing the pharmacy label, which shows the dated filled, the pharmacy name and address, the filling
pharmacist's initials, the serial number of the prescription, the name of the patient, the name of the
prescribing practitioner, the name of the prescribed medication, directions for use and cautionary
statements, if any, contained in such prescription or required by law, and if tablets or capsules, and the
number in the container. These medications are to be kept under lock and key. The doctor's instructions
for dispense of medication must be signed and the dosage must agree with that of the container itself.
Medications that need refrigeration shall be stored at temperatures of 38 degrees to 42 degrees in a
locked box and used exclusively for medications. When medications are no longer needed, the
remainder of the medication will be returned to the parent immediately.

Emergency Care: Girls Inc. staff members are CPR and First Aid Trained. If a child has physical or mental
disabilities the parent must notify in writing on the application their individual special needs. Children
that require total care must provide their own aides. No child will be turned away due to their disability.

Parent Volunteers: Volunteers will not be permitted at this time.

Policy Reviews: Parents and guardians have the right to review our policies on background checks,
health care and discipline as well as procedures for filing grievances.

Social Media- We will update our social media regularly with photos of our daily activities. Follow us on
Facebook & Instagram. (Girlsinctaunton)