Health and Safety

 MCPK ILLNESS POLICY

MCPK takes the health and safety of our students and staff very seriously. We will continue to take a strategic and proactive approach to our health and safety policies and have open communication with parents if the policies change.

We expect and encourage you to send your child to school on a daily basis. However, please remember it is very important for children who are ill to stay home. This helps them to regain their health and keeps other children and staff from becoming sick. The MCPK follows the regulations in the State Manual of the Standards for licensed childcare centers: Keep your child home if: they have had a fever (100.4 or higher) within the last 24 hours/they have symptoms of a possible communicable disease (e.g. redness of the eyes, cough, sore throat, headache, abdominal pains or diarrhea, rash, vomiting, etc...)/they require one-on-one care

Children must be totally symptom free for 24 hours (without fever reducing medications) before returning to school. If your child becomes ill while in our care, we will call and ask you to come and pick up your child within 1 hour. If you cannot pick your child up, you are responsible to have a reliable emergency person who is able to come in your place.

Rules and regulations for returning to school are as follows:

Please confer with the Nurse before your child returns to the school. 

 COVID-19 SPECIFIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AS OF 8/31/23

For all COVID-19 related policies MCPK will follow NJ Board of Health Recommendations as of 8/31/23. See details HERE.

Notifications and Communication with Families 

 MCPK's school nurse, Nurse Melissa, will communicate directly with a family about protocols upon notification of a positive case.  MCPK will notify families if there is an outbreak in the classroom or school. Notifications and COVID-19 related policies may change during times of elevated COVID-19 Activity Levels. 

 An outbreak of COVID-19 in a school/ECE setting is defined as five or more individuals (positive by RT- PCR or antigen) among students and/or staff with illness onsets within a 7-day period, who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household, and were not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting.

COVID-19 SPECIFIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AS OF 9/1/22

 To support and prioritize uninterrupted, full-time, in-person learning and care, MCPK has moved from an individual response strategy to a transmission mitigation strategy, where the risk of the whole school community, including the risk of interruptions to learning, is considered. MCPK will continue to monitor the situation as it continues to unfold and assess the effectiveness of our policies. We will proactively plan for a variety of scenarios and adapt our responses so that they are strategic and impactful. 

MCPK will implement the following COVID-19 prevention and control strategies:  

• Encourage staff and students  to stay up to date with vaccinations. 

• Implement a Test to Stay (TTS) program for asymptomatic staff and students as an alternative to exclusion from school.  

• Maintain school policies for reporting positive test results, illness, and household exposures.

• Enforce isolation and exclusion for those who are symptomatic or have tested positive for  COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses. 

• Provide information to parents, students, and staff on prevention strategies including testing and masking following illness and exposure.  

• Support mask use by students and staff who choose to mask. Require indoor masking for staff and students during times of high transmission locally or an outbreak at MCPK.

• Continue to report outbreaks and suspected outbreaks immediately to the Montclair Department of Health.

Large outbreaks in our school or larger community may necessitate more stringent disease control strategies including mandatory masking.  

If an MCPK student or staff member presents with COVID-19-like symptoms*:

• Children and staff will be placed away from others and must leave school as soon symptoms are discovered and reported.
• Any students or staff displaying these symptoms should be tested for COVID-19 and/or be evaluated by a doctor before returning to school.

*COVID-19 compatible symptoms:  At least TWO of the following:  fever, chills, shivers, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion, or runny nose OR  at least one of the following:  cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new smell or taste disorder.

A student or staff member who presents with COVID-19 symptoms may return to school when: 

• Symptoms have improved - fever must be absent for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications AND you test negative for COVID-19.
• A healthcare provider documents a specific alternative diagnosis (i.e., influenza, strep throat) AND that the person is cleared to return to school/work.

• OR The healthcare provider documents that symptoms are related to a pre-existing condition and no COVID-19 test is required.  

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status (even if you tested positive within the last 90 days): 

• You must quarantine for at least 5 full days from the day symptoms first appeared or from the day of the positive test AND until the individual is fever free for at least 24 hours without medication AND they show improvements in other symptoms.  MCPK may request a negative test to return if symptoms persist.

• If they have no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after 5 days and are fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours, they can leave their home and should;

• • Wear a mask when around others at home and at school  (indoor and outdoors) for an additional 5 days.  For these additional 5 days, MCPK will work to ensure adequate distance during those activities (i.e., eating, resting) when mask wearing is not possible.  Time without a mask being worn should be kept to the minimum possible.  

• • MCPK will provide virtual access to the classroom during the quarantine period.

If a staff member or student is identified as a close contact (i.e. at school or home):

• Staff and students may stay in school as long as they remain asymptomatic and agree to the testing protocol.
• Students and staff should be tested immediately following the notification of being a close contact (day 0) and again on day 5.
• Parents/staff should monitor for symptoms daily until 10 days after their last exposure to someone with COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine

We strongly encourage all vaccine-eligible members of our community to be up to date for their own health and the health of our community. 

COVID-19 SPECIFIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AS OF 8.04.22

To support and prioritize uninterrupted, full-time, in-person learning and care, MCPK has moved from an individual response strategy to a transmission mitigation strategy, where the risk of the whole school community, including the risk of interruptions to learning, is considered. MCPK will continue to monitor the situation as it continues to unfold and assess the effectiveness of our policies. We will proactively plan for a variety of scenarios and adapt our responses so that they are strategic and impactful. 

MCPK will implement the following COVID-19 prevention and control strategies:  

• Require staff to be vaccinated and stay up to date with boosters or test weekly. Comply with the vaccination and testing requirements for staff required by Executive Order Nos.253 and 264 (2021).
• Encourage students to stay up to date with vaccinations. 
• Implement a Test to Stay (TTS) program for unvaccinated asymptomatic students as an alternative to exclusion from school.  
• Maintain school policies for reporting positive test results, illness, and household exposures.
• Enforce isolation and exclusion for those who are symptomatic or have tested positive for  COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses. 
• Provide information to parents, students, and staff on prevention strategies including testing and masking following illness and exposure.  
• Support mask use by students and staff who choose to mask. Require indoor masking for staff and students during times of high transmission locally or an outbreak at MCPK.
• Continue to report outbreaks and suspected outbreaks immediately to the Montclair Department of Health.

Large outbreaks in our school or larger community may necessitate more stringent disease control strategies including mandatory masking.  

VACCINES

The COVID-19 vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the pandemic. MCPK faculty and staff are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19. For the 2022-2023 school year, faculty and staff are required to be up to date with vaccinations or provide weekly testing.  We also strongly encourage all vaccine-eligible members of our community to be up to date for their own health and the health of our community. 

If an MCPK student or staff member presents with COVID-19-like symptoms*:

• Children and staff will be placed away from others and must leave school as soon symptoms are discovered and reported.
• Any students or staff displaying these symptoms should be tested for COVID-19 and/or be evaluated by a doctor before returning to school.

*COVID-19 compatible symptoms:  At least TWO of the following:  fever, chills, shivers, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion, or runny nose OR  at least one of the following:  cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new smell or taste disorder.

A student or staff member who presented with COVID-19 symptoms may return to school when: 

• Symptoms have improved - fever must be absent for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications AND you test negative for COVID-19
• A healthcare provider documents a specific alternative diagnosis (i.e., influenza, strep throat) AND that the person is cleared to return to school/work.
• OR The healthcare provider documents that symptoms are related to a pre-existing condition and no COVID-19 test is required.  

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 (even if you tested positive within the last 90 days):

If you test positive for COVID -19, regardless of vaccination status:

You must quarantine for at least 5 full days from the day symptoms first appeared or from the day of the positive test AND until the individual is fever free for at least 24 hours without medication AND they show improvements in other symptoms.  

• If they have no symptoms or symptoms are resolving after 5 days and are fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours, they can leave their home and should;
  • Wear a mask when around others at home and at school  (indoor and outdoors) for an additional 5 days.  For these additional 5 days, MCPK will work to ensure adequate distance during those activities (i.e., eating, resting) when mask wearing is not possible.  Time without a mask being worn should be kept to the minimum possible.  
  • MCPK will provide virtual access to the classroom during the quarantine period.

Parents and staff members are required to notify MCPK as soon as possible if anyone in their household tests positive for COVID-19.

Exposed students and staff will be notified if they are a close contact to a positive case at MCPK. If the exposed student is up to date with COVID vaccinations they DO NOT need to quarantine but should watch for symptoms and test  5 days after last exposure to the positive case (rapid home tests are allowed).  If the exposed child is unvaccinated they may test to stay.   

If a staff member or student is identified as a close contact (i.e. at school)

• Anyone who is unvaccinated does not need to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic  and may participate in TTS.
• Anyone who is vaccinated (up-to-date) does not need to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic.  These individuals should test on Day 5 following exposure (Day 0 = last day of exposure)

If a household member of a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19:

• Parents and staff members are required to notify MCPK as soon as possible if anyone in their household tests positive for COVID-19.
• Anyone who is unvaccinated in the infected individuals household must also quarantine until the infected individuals quarantine is complete. Household contacts who can’t isolate away from a household member with COVID-19 should start their quarantine period on the day after the household member would have completed their 10-day isolation period UNLESS the household member is able to consistently wear a well-fitted mask in the household through day 10, in which case the quarantine period would start on the day after the household member completes their 5-day isolation.  
• Anyone who is vaccinated (up-to-date)  in the infected individual's household does not need to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic.  These individuals should test on Day 5 following exposure (Day 0 = last day of exposure).

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

If an unvaccinated child or staff member travels internationally they need to quarantine for 5 days  upon return (Day of return = Day 0), test on Day 5 and if negative may return on Day 6.   

HEALTH UPDATE 3.26.20

Dear MCPK Families,

Today both Governor Murphy and Dr. Nathan Parker announced that NJ/Montclair school buildings and childcare centers will continue to be closed until at least April 20th. Please see Montclair Public School's Official Announcement below:

Our initial plan for remote learning was for two weeks. At the time I also asked you to anticipate that we might not return until April 20. Presently we are extending remote learning until the beginning of spring break with the possibility of returning April 20. We will reassess prior to April 20 to determine whether or not remote learning will be further extended. We will maintain the spring break week (April 13-17) as scheduled on the 2019-2020 calendar. Our hope is that families and staff will have a chance to relax and rejuvenate that week free from classroom obligations.

In light of this announcement, MCPK will move into a structured distance learning format on Wednesday, April 1st. We will provide three hours of developmentally appropriate learning activities and experiences daily. Our distance learning program will be a combination of online and hands-on paper activities, guided and independent play and teacher-student interaction. It will reflect our belief in project-based, child emergent curriculum and the value of learning through play. We understand that some families may struggle to follow a three hour program, while working from home and managing other distance learning programs. All activities are optional, but very important in order to continue your child's development and progress.

I will provide more information tomorrow in the Insider and next week as we prepare with our teachers and continue to develop our program.

Be well,

Ms. Amy

HEALTH UPDATE 3.13.20

Dear MCPK Families,

Following the Montclair Public School District’s announcement this afternoon, Montclair Community Pre-K will be closed for two weeks beginning Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 27th.  After two weeks, the District will evaluate the need to open schools or remain closed. We will remain in constant communication with the District, our Board of Directors, our staff and our families as this situation develops.

For the next two weeks, our staff will work remotely to continue to support families and provide fun and educational experiences for our students. The Administrative Team will maintain school operations and be available during normal school hours to assist parents with enrollment for the upcoming school year and any other inquires.  Please contact us individually at our pre-k email addresses or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Your child’s teaching team will reach out to your family via classroom google groups with creative ideas for home learning through play, projects, games, activities and songs. Our teachers will do everything they can to keep the children connected and engaged in their school community. Feel free to reach out to your teaching team at their classroom pre-k email address during school hours. We will also continue to add online educational resources to our website under Families/Family Network Center/Online Resources.

We understand that closing the schools for an extended period will place a strain on all families to varying degrees. We believe strongly that this decision is in the best interest of our entire community.  We ask that you help to ensure that this time of “social distancing” serves its intended purpose: to stop the spread of COIV-19 in our community. Please consider staying at home and limiting social interactions whenever possible.  If you need assistance, resources, guidance on a family issue or social emotional support do not hesitate to reach out to our Family Network Center for help ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) .

During these two weeks, our custodial staff will clean and disinfect every surface of the building. Our hope is that we will all return on Monday, March 30th to a sparkling clean school full of healthy children and teachers. Please check your email regularly for updates and read the weekly Insider for important information.

Take care of each other and keep the lines of communication open. We will see each other soon.

Be well,

Ms. Amy

HEALTH UPDATE 3.10.20

HELPFUL LINKS:

New Jersey Department of Health

Center for Disease Control 

Montclair Public Schools

Nurse Dana literally “wrote the book” on handwashing! 

STEAM FAMILY DAY:

We have decided to postpone STEAM Family Day on Saturday, March 14th.  At the moment we do not have a new date for the event, but will update once we have decided on it.