Dear Parents and Staff Members

We recently received this update from TPH. Also, we would like to remind everyone that daycare is for healthy children. Please stay home if you are sick. If your child is exhibiting any of the symptoms on the screening tool please make sure that they stay home and follow proper protocol. The only thing that changes is the duration that you need to stay off.

If you choose to stay off for the 5 days, the child must still be free of any symptoms.

Please note that we have distributed an antigen test for your use. If you need more please let us know and we can provide you with them. Please remember that we are still asking parents to wear a mask when you come into the daycare.

Hello Everyone.

We wanted to reach out and share with you some new information shared by Toronto Public Health.

Below you will see information regarding:

1. Update from TPH on their new reporting tool and attached a letter on Omicron updates.
2. Information on COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

Update from TPH

Please read a letter from Toronto Public Health regarding COVID-19 Omicron updates, which is to be distributed to child care parents and guardians.

Toronto Public Health has developed a new reporting tool for child care operators when there are gastrointestinal outbreaks. Information on these types of outbreaks and the reporting tool is available here:

If you have any questions about the letter or new reporting tool, please contact Toronto Public Health at ChildCareIPAC@toronto.ca

COVID-19 vaccination appointments

Please share the following information with your agency staff and families.

Given the emergence of the new Omicron variant and ongoing community transmission of the Delta variant, TPH urges all adults and eligible children to book their first, second or third-dose (if eligible) appointment.

This morning, Toronto Public Health opened 8000 additional COVID-19 vaccination appointments for adults and eligible children for this Sunday, January 16 and Monday, January 17.

The five City-run immunization clinics continue to add new appointments for first, second and third doses of COVID-19 vaccine. These locations include:

• Metro Toronto Convention Centre: 255 Front St. W., Lower Level
• Cloverdale Mall: 250 The East Mall
• Scarborough Town Centre: 300 Borough Dr.
• Mitchell Field Community Centre: 89 Church Ave.
• Woodbine Mall: 500 Rexdale Blvd.

To book an appointment, click the blue “Book a Vaccine” button on www.toronto.ca/covid-19 or call 1-833-943-3900. City-run clinics are easily accessible by transit and offer free parking on site. Other Toronto health providers and local pharmacies continue to provide vaccination appointments in addition to the five City-run clinics. To easily connect to resources including vaccine appointment bookings and information on vaccines, text “VACCINE” to 1-833-750-0888 or 1-833-943-3900 for more information through the City’s VaxTO program.

We will continue to share updates from TPH and vaccination opportunities as they arise.

Sincerely,

Toronto Children’s Services

Dear Parents

Here is the most updated screening tool for children that we have received.

Please note the changes on the tool before sending your child to daycare.

We do understand that this is a difficult time but we are doing our best to keep our community safe.

Please note that Toronto Public Health (TPH) has updated the COVID-19 Children/Students Screening Tools to align with recent Ministry of Health revisions:

The French version will be posted shortly.

For additional TPH information please visit the website at www.toronto.ca/COVID19.

For questions please contact TPH at childcareIPAC@toronto.ca or 416-338-7600.

Dear Parents:

We want to thank everyone with all the thoughtful wishes and  acknowledgements that staff are receiving. We appreciate all the good wishes.

Due to the ever growing case number we proceeded with our Christmas party yesterday with caution. Santa came in the morning and brought the children their gifts as he greeted them through their classroom doors. They were all very excited to see him and some of the groups performed their special songs and poems.

Hopefully you all enjoyed the special gifts that the children made for you in their classrooms. The staff have been doing a lot of holiday activities with the children as you can imagine. .

From all the staff at Arpi Nursery School we want to wish you a Merry Christmas  and Happy Holiday Season with your loved ones. Stay safe and enjoy the snow.

Have a safe Holiday Season.

Dear Parents.

We would like to remind you that we are closed on Thursday July 1st. for Canada Day. If you are taking Friday off as well please let us know ahead of time so that we can also schedule some staff time off.

Reminders.

1. As we move into stage 2 of reopening it is very important to remember all our safety protocols are still in place. We still need to do our due diligence with our screening every morning for the safety of all our community.
2. As the summer time approaches please inform us of any holidays that you may have scheduled. Again this will help us with our staffing requirements.
3. We will try and do some special activities during the summer. Please make sure that your children always have sunscreen, a hat, and a change of clothes at school. We cannot do pool activities but we will try and get creative with some water spraying during these hot days.(please send light top or jacket as there is air conditioning in the school).
4. Our pick up time is still 5:30, I do understand there may be more traffic on the streets but please account for the delays when coming to pick your child up. When you are delayed our staff is delayed in all that they need to do.

Again if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call the daycare.

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Thank you for continuing to follow the public health and safety measures that have kept early years and child care programs open and safe. It is our collective effort that continues to ensure your children can learn with their friends in our program.

On April 7, 2021, the government announced a province-wide Stay-at-Home order starting April 8 th for at least four weeks until May 6 th in response to worsening trends in key community health indicators across the province.

During this period, child care and before and after school programs will remain open to support families. EarlyON Child and Family Centres may not offer in-person programming during this period, but may continue offering virtual programming during this time. Day camps will also be closed for this period.

As we head into this time-limited government action, we want to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of continuing to follow public health and safety protocols in child care settings and in your day-to-day activities. With spring break and the nicer weather around the corner, it is more important than ever that we continue to follow public health advice and do our part to keep COVID-19 from spreading in our communities.

At this critical point in the pandemic, here are some public health measures, intended to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, that we ask you to continue to follow if your children are attending early years and child care programs:

• Screening every day, including during spring break, for COVID-19 symptoms before attending child care. (The COVID-19 School and Child Care Screening Tool is available to assist families with symptom screening);
• Practicing good hand hygiene habits throughout the day;
• Practicing physical distancing;
• Providing a non-medical mask or face covering for your child to wear each day (masking is mandatory for all children in grades 1 and above, and recommended for children age 2 to senior kindergarten); and
• Avoiding sharing objects, toys, food, water bottles or other personal items.

Strictly following these public health measures is of the utmost importance in ensuring schools and child care settings stay open and safe during the province-wide Stay-at- Home order.

Outside of child care settings, we encourage families to continue to:

• Socialize with your own household.
• Activities or playdates with those outside your household should be held outdoors and limited to no more than five people, with physical distancing and masking where distancing is not possible.
• Stay home and get tested if you feel ill.
• Refrain from travelling.
• Refer to Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in our community based on the COVID-19 response framework. We also suggest checking out Toronto Public Health website as it may also have helpful resources and supports.

For the week of April 12-18, pharmacies that currently offer testing and assessment centres across the province will accept appointments for children attending child care and child care staff for asymptomatic testing. The Ministry of Education will be working with school boards to offer school-based clinics. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of this testing capacity to have their children tested to support a safe return to school on April 19 and continued safe operation of child care.

Please stay at home as much as possible and continue following the direction of public health officials so that we can keep schools and early years and child care programs open.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Thank you for your efforts in these unprecedented times.