Happy Hearts Newsletter for May

NEWSLETTER

May 2020

“It's not what we have, but who we have.”

- Winnie the Pooh

Welcome

Hello everyone and welcome to Level 2

After the highs and lows of lockdown, it is great to feel a sense of freedom and start embracing the ‘new normal’.

As you know we opened in level 3 with a handful of teachers and children. This meant we have been able to fine-tune our stringent safety routine and are ready for the centre to open properly next Monday 18th May.

You can read more about our elevated Health and Safety procedures in this newsletter.

We have missed the kids immensely so Happy Hearts is determined to do its part to keep the graph travelling in the right direction – down.

Our teachers have been working hard throughout the lock-down, planning and developing to make sure our curriculum is not affected by the break . We have even launched our new website, so make sure you check that out when you get a chance.

It was wonderful to see the joy as the children who have already returned, re-connected with their teachers and friends.

We are looking forward to welcoming the rest you back next week and returning to our normal routine.

John & Alina Cook

FINAL MAT TIMES

We have loved seeing you on our online Zoom mat times over levels 4 and 3.

The children have enjoyed being able to communicate with their friends and teachers on this platform

As we move to level 2 next week, online mat times will cease after this Friday.

Join in to say hi – we’d love to see you.

ROOM 3 Session

with Tarryn

at 10.30am

ROOM 2 Session

with Alicia

at 11.30am

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO...

What a journey this has been.

Yet, we are hearing so many wonderful stories about family time spent together, and new activities children have experienced because lockdown made us all start thinking and living ‘outside the box’.

We were grateful for the technology to stay in touch with the children and keep progressing our class plans and learning goals.

If you joined in any of the mat times you will have seen us using the same books, songs and games which the children are used to at the Centre.

We followed our same Transition to School plans and continued with toddler activities who were learning colours and shapes. The more we could stay consistent and move forward, the better it is for our young learners .

Repetition is hugely important for youngsters, from helping with memory and recognition, right through to that lovely feeling of safety and security when they are within their familiar zone.

Our Room 1 teachers had to navigate the on-line connection in a different way , given the age of the infants in that room. But that is our specialty here at Happy Hearts – we cater to each child and each age group. Our teachers are specialists in understanding and implementing what is right for each child, at each developmental stage.

At Happy Hearts we strive to provide a home away from home.

So now, as the children begin to find their feet again , we will settle back into routines and programmes which continue to extend their knowledge both mentally and physically.

FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR

CHILD’S CLASSROOM

Each room at Happy Hearts is different.

Each age group has specific needs, so every room will focus on their own curriculum tailored to the children in that class.

ROOM 1

Click here to read more about what is the current focus in ROOM 1

ROOM 2

Click here to read more about what is the current focus in ROOM 2

ROOM 3

Click here to read more about what is the current focus in ROOM 3

HAPPY HEARTS AND STAYING HEALTHY

At Level 2 we are all about staying safe and staying healthy.

Here is an out line of our protocol to ensure that the centre operates as safely as possible during Alert Level 2.

These operating procedures are intended both to ensure that our centre is safe and to give everyone in our community confidence that we are as safe as we can be.

KEY PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES

The two key public health principles:

first to minimise the risk that someone gets infected in the first place, and
second to limit the number of possible contacts people have if they do get infected, to make it easier to rapidly stop further spread.

MOE AND MOH GUIDANCE

The overriding principle is still to stay at home if there are signs of sickness, and report any flu-like symptoms.

MOE has announced the following changes to normal ECE practice:

Indoor temperature which is currently a minimum of 16 degrees Celsius needs to be increased to 18 degrees Celsius.
We will ensure that children have sufficient space when eating and do not give and take food from each other.
A need to regularly disinfect surfaces.
Wash and dry hands on a regular basis, prior and after eating, using the bathroom, etc. We will continue to encourage children to cough into their elbow, not to touch faces, etc.
Stay home if you're sick, report flu-like symptoms.

HOW WILL WE KEEP YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN SAFE?

Drop Off and Pick Up

Only one parent may be in the foyer area at any one time to drop off or pick up.

To avoid congestion and delay in the foyer area we ask that parents wait outside until the area is clear.

Parents and whānau dropping off and picking up children shall not be allowed past the front entrance foyer under level 2.

For signing in and out we will still have our sign in sheets at the same location. Please take and use a sanitised pen. Once you have completed signing in please place the pen in the box provided so we can re-sanitise prior to next use.

For contact tracing it is essential that we keep a record of the individual who dropped off / picked up each child. Please print your name on the form rather than using just a signature

Health Monitoring

We will continue to monitor children's health and temperatures throughout the day.

Parents and staff are responsible for monitoring their own health and not coming to the centre if they feel at all unwell. Children who display any symptoms must be kept at home.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Anyone wearing gloves for their own protection must remember that the outside of the gloves may become contaminated, so gloves being worn must be sanitised in the same way as bare hands. In centre we will continue to wear gloves when required by our normal procedures.

Hand Sanitiser

Hand sanitiser is provided at the front entrance and around the centre. Hand sanitiser shall be kept out of children's reach.

Properly washing hands with soap and water is recommended, but when this is not possible hand sanitiser shall be used:

before touching the gate and front door,
before eating,
after touching any potentially contaminated surface,
if contamination is suspected.

Other Hygiene Practices

Please wash your hands and your children's hands before you leave home for the centre.

Staff shall ensure that children wash their hands when they arrive and just before they leave.

The centre shall be cleaned daily - at the end of each day. During the day door handles, commonly touched surfaces and in-use resources shall be sanitized regularly.

Children shall be well spread out at meal times. If necessary meal times will be staggered. No food or drink may be shared.

All normal hygiene practices shall be followed.

Supporting Contact Tracing

To support contact tracing, we must keep records of who was at our service when. Remember that it is important that people record their names and don't just use a signature. We already keep records of staff attendance.

Please feel free to contact John or Alina to discuss any of the above or answer any further questions.

WE HAVE A FAVOUR TO ASK

Whilst in lockdown we were busy (amongst other things) refreshing our website and getting our social media in order.

We would absolutely love and appreciate if you could take 5 minutes of your time to head over to our Google page and write a short review (if you haven't already) 😊

Links below:

Happy Hearts - Riverhead Early Learning Centre would love your feedback.

Post a review to our profile on Google.

FOLLOW THE LINK

https://g.page/happyheartsrelc/review?rc

We've been told these things are very important for our small business so it would be fabulous if you could write a line or two.

Many thanks

NB: You are not required to use either your name or your child's name in full.

HAPPY HEARTS & HOME

WORKING TOGETHER

We survived Level 4, and then moved to Level 3.

Now with level 2 just around the corner it is time to focus on the process of re-settling the children back into their Centre routine, and getting them back to normal as smoothly as possible.

The on-line mat times have done a great job maintaining our connection with the children, and their connection with each other . The Transition to School programme was able to continue momentum, and programmes in the younger children rooms also continued in a strong and successful manner.

So, building on that consistency, it would be great if parents can have some input over the next few weeks with helping the children through those final steps of re-settling.

First, it would be really helpful if you could share with us what has been happening for your child over this time.

What did they enjoy about lockdown – and were there any aspects they found particularly challenging?

Did they become immersed in a new interest - perhaps due to some usual past-times not being available?

Did they reach any milestones – toileting, sleep changes, embracing new foods or accomplishing a difficult activity?

Moving forward we are going to use that information to support the children back into their routine. We will extend that knowledge into our planning – each child is special and has their own personality and idiosyncrasies. We love to work with the unique aspects of each child and help them to show continuous growth.

So maybe talk with your child between now and next week when things start to return to normal.

Ask them what they would like to explore first when they get back to the Centre. Ask them which of their friends they are excited to see, and who they want to interact with first.

Take a look at your latest snippets on Storypark . Show your child the photos and talk about whose faces they recognise, or activities they might remember.

Below are some questions which might help you to start that conversation:

‘What are you going to play with first?’

‘Which of your friends do want to play with as soon as you get back?’

‘Who are you excited to see when you get back to Happy Hearts?’

‘Is your favourite play area inside or outside?’

‘Are you going to show your teacher that you have now learnt to (… said accomplishment …)?’

Together we can make the transition back to normal, a fun and exciting time.

Enjoy May!

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T: 09 412 7745 M: 021 352 140

office@happyheartselc.co.nz