Newsletter: August 9
Dear Parents and Community Members,
It’s been a FUN and busy summer here at Common Ground, but our summer programming for our younger children has another FOUR weeks of FUN planned! While FCPS schools begin on Monday, August 22nd, our fall programming for preschoolers will begin on Tuesday, September 6th!
Upcoming CLOSED Days
Common Ground will be CLOSED the following days:
Friday, August 19th - Staff Development Day
Friday, September 2nd - Staff Development Day
Monday, September 5th - Labor Day Federal Holiday
We use our staff development days as a chance to meet, update required certifications, and prepare the classrooms for the FALL programs!
COVID Updates
We have made it through our very first outbreak since the pandemic began! The classroom that experienced the outbreak is now open with children returning as they are cleared from their isolation periods.
While we had to notify the center of the outbreak last week, the outbreak was contained to one classroom, despite having 3 other independent COVID exposures in the center at the same time. The health department credits layered mitigation approach in preventing the spread of COVID in the other three exposures. Our high vaccination rate, use of masks indoors, use of rapid tests as a screening tool, and how we incorporate fresh air, were all cited as excellent strategies when our application of each was reviewed.
Here’s a copy of the guidance issued by the Fairfax County Health department that we have been following.
Sign-Ups
Extended Hours Sign Ups:
Summer, through August 18th: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4faca723abff2-summer1
Fall, through the end of December: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4faca723abff2-fall
Laundry Sign Ups:
We rely on parent volunteers to do our classroom laundry each week. It is one to two loads of blankets and cot sheets per classroom. You may sign up for ANY classroom’s laundry, it does not have to be the laundry for your child’s classroom.
Laundry Sign Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4faca723abff2-laundry
We’re Hiring!
We are looking for a few new staff members for the upcoming school year!
Our school aged program has been growing, so we need to add some year round staff to have fun with our older kiddos! Both full and part time positions available!
Our infants and toddlers team needs some wonderful new team members to assist with closing down the classrooms
Our preschool program needs assistant teachers as that program is growing too!
Know of anyone interested in working with our wonderful team and children here at Common Ground? Send them our way! Have them email their resume to info@commongroundchildcare.org
Listening Session for Families with Infants and Toddlers
Today is the last day to register to participate in one of these listening sessions hosted by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. You can register here and see this post for more details. There is a $100 gift card being offered for participation!
