Little Buccaneers

The impact of the COVID-19 virus has led to necessary changes in how Little Bucs will operate. New policies and procedures will be implemented to ensure the maximum level of safety that can be afforded for the children, families, and staff of the program. All changes to program policies and procedures will be in place until the threat of COVID-19 is either eliminated or has been mitigated to an acceptable standard determined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), State and Local agencies, and ETSU guidelines. The following policies and procedures are subject to change based on new recommendations from the above agencies. Upon determination that the threat of COVID-19 has been eliminated or mitigated to an acceptable standard, the policies and procedures detailed in this document will be reviewed and revised to provide for new guidelines.

• Covid Procedures: What to Expect 

  • When Washington County community risk level is high, we strongly recommend all staff and visitors to wear masks inside the building. You can find the risk level by clicking here.
  • We are allowing visitors and a small cohort of field placements students during the Fall 2022 semester
  • Families are allowed inside classrooms and are asked to honor the drop-off and pick-up times, which are as follows: 7:45-9:45 and 2:00-4:00

  Families who do not follow their scheduled drop-off and pick-up times for their child(ren) will be charged accordingly unless discussed with the Director/lead teacher first

  • Our staff has been carefully scheduled based on the children’s schedules, so we are unable to accommodate early drop-offs and late pick-ups

  Our health and safety procedures are as follows:

  • Bleach bottles are located in all shared spaces as well as the classrooms
  • Shared spaces are thoroughly bleached after use in preparation for the next class
  • Each classroom is bleached after all children have left for the day
  • Staff AND CHILDREN/FAMILIES must wash hands before entering a classroom and upon leaving a classroom
• In the event of symptoms common to Covid-19

  • We will be implementing a Readmission Form that teachers will fill out and provide to parents if their child(ren) shows signs of illness while at Little Bucs. This form will provide guidance about whether the child needs a Covid-19 test to return to school, a doctor’s note, or just to be “symptom free.”
  • If a staff member or child shows the following symptoms, they are advised to stay home:

          o Fever, temperature 100.4 ºF or higher, or chills

         o Cough (if unrelated to allergies, cold, or known illness)

         o Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

         o Fatigue

         o Muscle or body aches

         o Headache

         o New loss of taste or smell

         o Sore throat

         o Diarrhea, vomiting, or stomachache

  • Because we serve a vulnerable population (children too young to be vaccinated), children or staff with a positive test must stay home for 10 days since symptoms first appeared
  • If your child shows one of these symptoms, they must have a negative Covid-19 test to return to Little Bucs OR they must stay home for 10 days since symptoms first appeared AND:

  • Be 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND
  • Other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving

  *Children who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms can be around others 10 days after their first positive COVID-19 test

The concept of play-based education means that children can learn any and all traditional, educational concepts through play. Children must be given opportunities to explore the world through play in order to develop.

 There are numerous benefits of providing daily periods of uninterrupted outdoor play for young children. Some of these benefits include supporting STEM skills, promoting gross motor development, connecting to the Earth, and giving children chances to take appropriate risks. It also allows children to connect with their peers and develop their social and emotional skills 

Outdoor Play Cite:

Inquiry-based learning starts with a question and involves children carrying out an investigation to answer that question. This is supported by providing children with the space to wonder, experiment, and fail

The RIE philosophy of infant/toddler care is based on deep respect and values the autonomy of each child. Infants and toddlers are given a secure, comfortable environment where they have the freedom to explore and interact with children of their own age. Inspired by the Resources for Infant Educarers or "RIE" philosophy, we view infants respectfully as initiators and self-learners rather than passive young beings