Pre Kindergarten

Dear Families,

There are, understandably, many questions that have come up about transportation for preschool students for the fall of 2020-21. Below we are providing additional information to help provide some clarity around the decision not to transport prekindergarten students at this time.

Public schools will be starting the school year under Phase II of the Governor's Reopening Plan. This will mean that school in general will look very different than any of us are used to. Public school prekindergarten programs are required to follow guidance form both the Agency of Education and Child Development Division. While most often this guidance is aligned, there are times that the Child Development Division outlines more stringent guidelines due to the unique developmental needs of preschool aged children.

The BUUSD Covid planning and administrative teams reviewed the guidance for prekindergarten programs. Guidelines related to group sizes of 25 or less, in addition to health and safety measures, including, the inability to remove and fully sanitize car seats, the need to assure social distancing, and the guidance to restrict mixing of prekindergarten aged students with other cohorts of children, resulted in the decision to ask families to transport their own children at the Prek level. We believe that, while there is no way to participate in preschool that is free of risk, adhering to guidance from the State and asking families to transport their children is the best way to minimize exposure for our youngest population.

We understand that the lack of transportation creates challenges for families. We are working on a schedule that might allow us to offer a longer preschool day, for less days per week, opposed to the 5 day, 2.5 hour schedule, with the hope that this might make it easier for some families to make transportation arrangements. We’ll get that information out as soon as we have it.

It is possible that restrictions could be lifted over time, potentially allowing us to offer transportation later this school year. If families cannot bring their child to school we will keep children on our waitlist, reaching out if/when our transportation options change.

Thank you for your support as we navigate these challenging times.

Lauren May, Director of Early Education

Dear Prekindergarten Families,

As we learn more about what the fall will look like for our preschool students, I want to be sure to keep you as informed as possible.  Last week, you received a mailing outlining the following information:

• We are planning for in person instruction in the fall, with a back-up plan for periods of remote instruction as needed.
• Staff will be expected to wear facial coverings. 
• Staff and students will be expected to maintain social distancing (6 ft apart) as much as possible throughout the school day. 
• There will be strict sanitizing and handwashing practices in place following guidelines set forth by the Agency of Education (AOE) and the Child Development Division (CDD).  

New information:

• Due to guidelines and group size restrictions outlined by the Child Development Division specific to the prekindergarten age-level, the BUUSD will not be providing transportation for preschool children at this time.  Parents will need to arrange for their child to be dropped off and picked up from preschool.  
• All students entering the building will be required to participate in a daily health check which includes a temperature check and answering the following questions: 
• Have they/you been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19? 
• Do they/you feel unwell with any symptoms consistent with COVID-19? For example, have they/you had a cough, temperature, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell? 
• **Note: Children who are ill or become ill while at school will need to return home until symptom free for a minimum of 24 hours.  
• Facial coverings are required for children in all programs in public schools, including preschool students, as medically appropriate.  Medical considerations may be approved in consultation with a child’s physician in collaboration with the school nurse.   

The BUUSD Covid planning team continues to meet and will soon determine what prekindergarten sessions will look like in the fall, including potential changes to session days/times.  See the following link for the most up to date Health and Safety Guidance for Prekindergarten programs from the CDD, AOE, and Department of Health: https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/COVID19-Health-Guidance-Childcare-Summer-Programs.pdf

Sincerely, 
Lauren May, Director of Early Education
 

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You can find a list of private providers by clicking on the following link: Pre-qualified Providers

The Barre Unified Union School District has transitioned to an online registration system for Prekindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year.  For more information on registering your child for public Pre-K or to access Act 166 funds, please contact Andra Holbrook (aholbbce@buusd.org) at 476-6541 ext. 4318 for BCEMS. Please contact Betsy Pearce (bpearbte@buusd.org) at 476-6617 ext. 6306 for BTMES.

Children whose parents or legal guardians are residents of Barre Town or Barre City are eligible to enter Prekindergarten at the beginning of the school year provided they have reached the age of three (3) on or before September 1 of that year. There is often a wait list and we will work to invite your child to attend as quickly as we are able.

The Barre Unified Union School District has transitioned to an online registration system for Prekindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year.  For more information on registering your child for public Pre-K or to access Act 166 funds, please contact Andra Holbrook (aholbbce@buusd.org) at 476-6541 ext. 4318 for BCEMS. Please contact Betsy Pearce (bpearbte@buusd.org) at 476-6617 ext. 6306 for BTMES.