ONGOING UPDATES
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!! --PLEASE READ
Updated as of March 19, 2020
Dear JUNIOR EXPLORER CLUB Families,
We appreciate your patience as we are taking this day by day. Thank you to everyone who has reached out. There is great comfort in knowing we are all in this together. We hope your family is safe and well.
When we are faced with something as unprecedented as this, it is in these moments when we must continue to remain calm not only for our children but especially for ourselves. That's why we feel it is important for you to know what lies ahead and that we are doing everything in our power to support you during this public health crisis. We want to make sure that all families needing care feel confident that we are working hard at keeping you informed and committed to keeping you covered.
As we intently watch all communications from Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), we are facing the possibility of an order to close all childcare facilities. At this time, however, we remain open & have adjusted to new operating hours of 8 am - 5 pm. We are continuing to follow all the health precautions as recommended by ODJFS and the CDC.
OUR STAFF and OPERATIONS:
In our continued effort to remain transparent, we will continue to pay our enrolled employees
as shifts are needed
,
this includes their healthcare benefits as well. For many families, we understand the inability to pay full tuition at this time, therefore, we are making adjustments to support our families. For the families who have opted to stay home, we are working diligently to find ways to support them. Additionally, we will be adding to our YouTube page that will include daily updates and lessons. Please be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to stay informed.
TUITION, CREDITS & REFUNDS:
Many of you have had questions about tuition. We are working diligently to answer
every call, every email
and
evaluate every situation
. We have created a survey for our families that addresses the following care alternatives discussed below. Please make sure you click on the survey.
At this time, we are offering a few alternatives to helping you manage your childcare costs.
In the event that we remain open starting April 3
, here are the choices we are able to accommodate for our families at this time:
- My Family will be remaining enrolled at this time and wish to pay full tuition
- My Family will remain home for the month of April and wishes to pay 50% of the tuition for April in order to hold my spot
- My Family will not be returning to JEC this school year, please take this as our 30 day notice for May (Summer Camp is a different entity)
In the event that Governor DeWine orders a longer stay after April 3
If you are currently enrolled with our After-School Care, Kindergarten Wrap or Preschool program and will be in need of care starting on March 24th, we will be open from 8am - 5pm and will be reducing our pricing to cover the 8am - 2:50pm gap similar to our Calamity Days.
- After School Care Calamity Day $35 (value $65)
- Kindergarten Wrap Calamity Day $30 (value $55)
In the event that Governor DeWine orders a complete closure of daycare facilities
We are currently working on a plan for if this happens in order to support our families, our staff and the JUNIOR EXPLORER CLUB as a whole. To help us plan the best possible way to serve you, we ask that you fill out this brief survey about the need for coverage.
We are preparing back-up plans just in case and we will keep you informed on next steps as news is changing by the minute.
Again, thank your patience and understanding at this challenging time as we adjust to the daily changes & news. If you need to reach us, please call 614-516-3325.
As always we remain committed to supporting our families and staff as best as possible. Together we will get through this.
Yours in Adventure,
Michele Rapp & The JUNIOR EXPLORER CLUB Team
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO TAKE A SIP OF WATER
FROM A FIRE HOSE
March 15, 2020
The daily news updates are traveling like a tsunami & we understand some of you are experiencing news overload. With reports rapidly changing from one hour to the next, we at the JUNIOR EXPLORER CLUB strive to be transparent in keeping our families informed. We consider all of you a part of our family. We have said from the start your health and safety, as well as that of our staff, is of paramount importance to us, our number one priority.
As of right now, there has been no official call for Preschools or Day Cares to close. Therefore, we are doing our best to keep you informed of our practices that are designed to ensure the safety of your children and our staff.
Unless we hear otherwise from the State or Federal agencies, we will remain open at a very limited capacity.
The following changes within our program will take place:
- We will no longer be accepting any new children
- Our current roster of enrolled children will be divided up into small groups
- Each small group (5-7 kids per group) will be with the same staff member all day
- The groups will be set up with programming allowing them to stay together and apart from the other groups
- Temperatures will be taken daily 3 times on each child & staff member
- If a fever is presented, a parent will be called to pick up their child
- The fevered child will wait in a designated area away from the others with staff supervision
- We will continue to review daily the proper ways to hand-washing/coughing/sneezing
- NO LUNCHES will be made on site as each family is instructed to send their child with a packed lunch and their own water bottle
- ALL adventures will be canceled until further notice
- Cleaning and sanitizing has been increased in accordance with the standards set by The Ohio Job and Family Services
- Additionally, our ratio of children to staff has been adjusted to meet the new standards set by The Ohio Job and Family Services
SPRING BREAK IS OPEN
(Original message below was sent on March 13, 2020)
Spring Break runs Friday, March 13 through Monday, March 23. We will NOT be accepting any children outside the JUNIOR EXPLORER CLUB family. We have limited spots available.
Our focus is to maintain support for our families and normalcy for our EXPLORERS. As it is the JUNIOR EXPLORER way to adapt and overcome, the teachable moment we are faced with allows us to work through changes together. Thus, empowering our EXPLORERS.
Although we will NOT be going on any of the planned local adventures, we have added to our creative programming.
PLEASE NOTE the location changes and check your texts! Locations are subject to change.
Monday, March 16 - 8am - 6pm will be at Saint Marks Church.
March 17 - 23 TBA via text
ATTENTION FAMILIES
(Original message below was sent on March 12, 2020)
As news about Governor DeWine's announcement ordering all K-12 schools in Ohio close until at least April 3, we wanted to reiterate what the JUNIOR EXPLORER CLUB is doing to help support our families during this difficult time as of March 14, 2020.
First, do not panic. One of the featured benefits of being a JEC member, we take care of our current members first. We see ourselves as an extension of your family.
Second, safety is our number one priority. We are taking all precautions necessary when it comes to the cleanliness and health of your children, our staff and facilities.
Third, we will not be accepting any new members at this time.
Lastly, starting on March 24th, we will be open from 8am - 5pm and will be reducing our pricing to cover the 8am - 2:50pm gap similar to our Calamity Days.
- After School Care Calamity Day $35 (value $65)
- Kindergarten Wrap Calamity Day $30 (value $55)
We will do this in accordance with Governor DeWine's direction should it extend beyond April 3.
We ask for patience as we adjust to managing any changes should we have to limit our number of kids/staff.
As a parent, I too, am taking this day by day. We are here for you and together, we will get through this. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns at
(p) 614- 516-3325
