Answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

To better understand our health, safety and licensing requirements it is important to know that SLC is licensed as a Child Care Facility.  

Dear SLC Families,

By now you have heard about the extended school closure through April 30th, and each day that we are apart feels like a tremendous loss.  And it is.  Humans are social beings and Early Childhood Education rests on the foundation of relationships and socialization.  It’s no wonder this feels hard.

We are currently going through a collective traumatic experience.  All of a sudden we are burdened with tremendous worry, new responsibilities, less productivity, and coping with uncertainty.  We were NOT prepared to become our children’s teachers (says this mom of two teens), work-from-home employees, or even more difficult unemployed.  All while being isolated from our human flock.  It’s no wonder this feels hard.

After reading this article, and in an effort to make this situation feel a little less hard, I started to wonder:  what if we lowered our expectations for ourselves, and for those around us?  What if we practiced more self-care and forgiveness? Allowed our parenting & work efforts to be good enough whatever they may be on a given day?  I don’t know about you, but life and work do not feel like business as usual to me.  Perhaps this is a mindset we should consider, when applicable.

One of the most frequently asked questions the SLC staff has received during school closure has been, “how can I structure my child’s day?”  It is true younger kids thrive with schedules and routine, and ideally it would be balanced with fun and free play.  The above article suggests to make a list of your families’ values, and to pick 2 activities each day.  The list might include:

• Mind Activities (i.e. for a 3-year-old, doing a new puzzle)
• Body Activities (building something with twigs outside, kicking around a ball)
• Soul Activities (art, creativity, music)
• Good Citizen of the House (chores like setting the dinner table)
• Acts of Compassion (write a letter to a loved one, a community helper or someone who is isolated

What I love about this suggested framework is it actually feels feasible, and good for the soul.Before I sign off I want to remind our families that SLC is here for you!  Are you in need of a meal?  More face time with your teachers?  Looking to be connected to a resource?  Please reach out to us through the link below.  We miss you and want to remain as connected.

Until we are together again, sending all of you a BIG virtual hug.

Warmly,
Chrissy

P.S.  Wondering how to talk to kids about the Coronavirus? Discussing the coronavirus with children in age-appropriate ways, helps our kids learn to deal with adversity but very few of us feel equipped to do this. Here are a few tips from Child Psychologist, Dr. Colleen Cicchetti of Lurie’s Children’s Hospital.

Getting Creative

SLC is committed to keeping our children and families engaged in learning. We have been working on compiling a resource list that we hope you will find useful in the coming weeks. This list is a living document so if you have any resources you would like to share let us know and we can add to it.

Dear SLC Families,

As we continue to navigate these uncertain times, SLC remains committed to do everything we can to
help our families, our teachers, and the entire SLC community. Naturally, we have fielded a variety of
questions and wanted to collect our responses below for your convenience. As always, please feel free
to reach out if you have questions or concerns. The best way to reach us is to email:
questions@slcevanston.org Be safe, be smart, and be well

1. When will SLC reopen?

SLC will continue our practice of following the District 65 school calendar and therefore our
building will remain closed until District 65 reopens. The current school closure is scheduled
from March 16 through April 12. Our team is continuously monitoring developments from both
District 65 and public health administrators and will keep you posted as the situation evolves.

2. Is SLC still operating?

YES! Our administrative and teaching staff are still fully focused on the day to day operations of
SLC and have developed a variety of ways to remain engaged with our families. Our
administrative staff and teaching staff are now working remotely but remain available by email
during normal school hours, and our governing board has formed a COVID-19 Team that is
meeting regularly to evaluate the ongoing situation.

3. How is SLC taking care of its families?

Our families are of the utmost importance, and we plan to stay connected during school closure.
Your teachers will touch base regularly via an online community platform with videos, and
activity suggestions. Each classroom has a unique format, please reach out to your teacher if
you have any questions or difficulty accessing the information.
The school will continue with regular communication via Thursday Thoughts, daily Facebook
posts, and updates to our website; all of which will contain community resources, educational
weblinks and activity suggestions.

4. How is SLC taking care of its teachers?

We know that our wonderful teaching staff is what makes SLC great and why you entrust us
with your children’s early education. SLC teachers will be paid in full during the current school
closure and will remain as dedicated as ever to supporting your child’s development. We will
increase communication with staff, provide technology support, and offer mental health
consultation in collaboration with the First Presbyterian Church’s Parish Nurse.

5. How will SLC handle tuition for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year?

SLC will continue to operate, albeit in a different manner, during the current school closure and
we will maintain our current tuition schedule.
Please know that we will be working individually with families that are on financial assistance to
help them navigate these challenging times. We hope to resume our normal operations on April
13th after the current school closure. If that changes, we will evaluate the operating model and
tuition plan for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year at that time.

6. How will SLC handle registration and tuition payment for the 2020 Fun In The Sun summer camp?

SLC will continue registering and invoicing for the 2020 Fun In The Sun summer program but
acknowledges that the current situation may require a cancelation at a future date. In that case,
parents can expect a full refund of any tuition paid.

7. How will SLC handle registration and tuition payment for the 2020-2021 school year?

Registration will proceed as scheduled for the 2020-2021 school year. Tuition for the 2020-2021
school year, which would normally be invoiced April and due May, will be delayed one month.
We will communicate updates as soon as there is further clarity on the District 65 calendar for
the 2020-2021 school year.

8. How can I help the SLC community?

We have all been humbled and impressed by how communities band together in difficult times
and this era is no different. SLC Staff and parents have identified several ways to help those in
need…

• Email questions@slcevanton.org to reach an administrator about a service you can offer other families, or with a request to fill a need you may have. We will do our best to connect available resources.
• Join SLCs Facebook group, called School for Little Children Family Forum, to request support & resources from other SLC parents:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/slcparent/
• Join Evanston Aid Facebook group, a community hub designed to help connect people to resources during COVID-19. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EvanstonAid/

A message from our staff

This morning the SLC staff conducted our first-ever remote meeting via video/phone call.  During the conversation we talked about what our work will look like over the next month, and discussed some of the ways we can stay connected to, and share resources with, colleagues and our SLC families.

As we all try to navigate new emotions, stress and uncertainty I continue to be impressed with the staff’s leadership, creativity and compassion.  We have remarkable teachers and they have generated a wealth of suggested activities and resources that they look forward to sharing with you soon.

That said, the message the staff wants our families to receive is this:  during this heightened time of stress and anxiety, it is important to focus on routines that meet your family’s basic needs for rest, nourishment and exercise (preferably outdoors). 

Once these needs are met, and based on what research shows, PLAY is the next best thing you can do for yourself and your children.  Read stories, bake, play games, act, sing, or build a fort.  We want it to be clear that any suggestions or resources you receive from SLC in the coming weeks are by no means an expectation, and are to be utilized (or not) in a manner that best suits your family.

So, what can you expect in the coming weeks from SLC?

• The office will continue to send weekly communication via Thursday Thoughts.
• Your teaching team will reach out to you regularly; they miss you and are looking forward to ongoing communication during school closure.
• We will host parent/teacher conferences remotely, and they will consist of two parts:
  • You will receive your child’s Reporting Document via email by Friday.
  • Your teachers will follow up to schedule a time to have an OPTIONAL phone conference.

Good Afternoon,

It has been a busy 48 hours and I want to start by thanking all of our families for their patience and understanding during this dynamic circumstance.  I also want to thank the leadership, guidance and support of the SLC Governing Board of Directors & Administrators who have made informed and thoughtful recommendations over the past two days.  

In accordance with District 65s decision to close, SLC will be closed starting Monday, March 16th and will re-open on Monday, April 13th.  

This decision was made with the health and safety of our families and staff in mind, and based on information and research put forth by agencies including the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  

During school closure the SLC staff will be working to remain engaged with our families through the sharing of resources and regular communication.  We also plan to hold Parent-Teacher conferences (remotely) in the coming weeks.  Please look for our first communication on Monday afternoon, after we hold a staff meeting.

This is likely a stressful time for many of our families, and discussing the Coronavirus with our children can be challenging.  Here is an article written by SLCs STEM teacher, Ann Gadzikowski, that you may find helpful in the coming days:

How to Talk to Children about Coronavirus

If you have questions, needs or concerns during the next few weeks please do not hesitate to reach out by sending an email to questions@slcevanston.org.  We are here to support each other and we will do our best to connect you to the information and support you need.

Be Well,

Chrissy Cornell
Director

Good Morning SLC Families,

Per our notification yesterday, SLC will be in session today (with the exception of our Little Explorers class).  There is plenty of staff on hand to welcome your children this morning.

SLCs COVID-19 sub-committee of our Governing Board of Directors will meet this morning to discuss school closure.  Now that District 65 has made the determination to close starting Monday, March 16th, SLC will do the same.  This decision is being made with the heath and safety of our staff and families in mind.  Please begin to prepare for this disruption to your everyday lives.

We will send more details later this afternoon.  Thank you for your patience during this dynamic situation.  

Best,
Chrissy Cornell
Director

Dear SLC Families,

School for Little Children continues to monitor the quickly evolving situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus).  The safety and well-being of our students, parents and staff is always our top priority.  While we remain fortunate that there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in our school community, we do know that there is at least one confirmed case in the local community.

Outlined below are the steps we are taking, as well as helpful precautions for individuals from the CDC and IDPH (IL Department of Public Health):

School Environment:  In addition to our regular cleaning protocol, we are using CDC approved disinfectant.  Frequently touched surfaces are being wiped down, and teachers continue to wash hands and wipe down the classrooms throughout the day.  In addition, reminders for hand washing instructions and sneezing/coughing protocol have been posted throughout the building.
Visitors in the Building:  We are asking that all visitors to the building wash their hands after checking-in at the front office.  This will include parents/guardians during next week’s scheduled conferences.
Travel:   SLC recommends that families use the guidelines put forth by CDC, to evaluate their travel plans.  In accordance with District 65 protocols, individuals who return to the US from China, Iran, Italy or South Korea (CDC level 3 travel health notices) will be asked to remain home for a period of 14 days from the time they left the country.  Family members who live in the same household may also be asked to self-quarantine based on advise from a medical professional.
Recommended Precautions for Families:  Families can take basic precautions to help slow the spread of this virus. The following recommendations follow the guidelines of the CDC and the IDPH.

• Wash your hands often for 20 seconds with warm water and soap

• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (60% alcohol)

• Wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant spray. 

• Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw it away immediately

• Do not send your child/ren to school if they are sick. Children who have had a fever cannot return to school until they are fever-free without medication for 24 hours.  

SLC does not currently have any large group gatherings planned.  At the time of this writing, we will continue with all classes and parent-teacher conferences as scheduled. We will notify you immediately of any changes based on this dynamic situation.  In the meantime, SLC has a dedicated team to monitor and respond to this rapidly changing situation.  If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

In Partnership,
Chrissy Cornell & SLC Governing Board of Directors