COVID-19

Updated: 6/29/22

Covid Vaccine: 

If you are choosing to vaccinate your child, please upload a copy of their vaccine card to the app once they have completed it and then send us a message to let us know to look for it. Fully vaccinated quarantine rules are different than unvaccinated and this will help us if there is an exposure.  If you have any questions, please let us know.  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/planning/children/6-things-to-know.html 

Quarantine Update:

We are required to follow CDC guidelines for exposures, there is a quarantine calculator on the CDC website that we use to determine when a child and or staff member may return to care. It will also tell you when to test and how long a mask is required. If your child is unable to mask for any reason they will be required to remain out for the full quarantine. A negative test result is required to return please unload the results to the PROCARE app. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html#

4/19/22 Update: 

Hello Parents and Caregivers, The day that we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Effective 04/19/22, Imagination Station will no longer require staff, children or parents to wear masks. We are also doing away with morning temperature checks.  Of course, this comes with some restrictions. 1. We may, depending on the number of cases citywide, ask for masks to be worn in certain areas. 2. We will be absolutely welcoming and understanding for those who continue to wear masks. Mask “bullying” will not be tolerated.  We will be keeping an area for the kids’ mask storage and will have masks on hand for those that request one.  3. We may be doing random temperature checks during the day, especially for infants, just to make sure that everyone is healthy and fever free. 4. Parents will still be required to stay in the entrance areas during pickup and dropoff.  We will be maintaining social distancing as best we can for a little while longer.  5. If your child is not feeling well, please know we will be extremely cautious about keeping them in care. Any sign of unexplained illness may be cause to deny care and require a doctor’s note before they can return to our facility.  It has been very difficult to balance masking requirements versus the safety of the kids. Healthy adults with the ability to “bounce back” from illness, sometimes forget that infants and toddlers have lungs that are still developing.  Children with asthma have enough difficulties without getting Covid.  Until you’ve actually seen an infant or toddler who has Covid and is struggling to breathe and feeling miserable, with no way to communicate just how awful they feel, you cannot fully appreciate how over protective we felt we needed to be.  We thank you for your patience during this masking period.  We know it was inconvenient at times and certainly uncomfortable. We are hoping the worst of this pandemic is over and we look forward to returning to normal operations and welcoming all parents fully into our building and eventually the classrooms.  Do your part, stay healthy and remember to wash your hands often!

The above policies may return to the below policies at any time without notice due to case counts and muni requirements.

Pre-Screening:

If your child has been absent from care a week or longer due to hunker down or you are a new client we will have a pre-screening form as well as a temperature check prior to care. Please stop by the main IMS office before you enter any other parts of the facility.

Please adhere to the following steps to keep us all as safe as possible!

• All parents, pre-k and school-age children (3-12 years old) must be wearing a mask prior to entry to the facility. 
• Parents and older siblings (even those in care here) will no longer be allowed to enter any classroom! Parents, please be patient with teachers, as they will be greeting you at the main doors and taking your child and bringing them to you at pick up. Parents with babies, they will hand you your infant! If you need anything from their cubbies inside the classroom, just ask and the teachers will retrieve the items! Parents are encouraged to wear masks when in both facilities.
• If you would like tour options, please call the facility. We will not be allowing full center walkthroughs at this time.

Please do not bring the following items in to the centers:

• Car seats (if you absolutely need to leave one you must make arrangements with the office).
• Extra toys of any kind (this includes show and share)
• Backpacks
• All belongings must fit in their cubby in a plastic or vinyl bag (easy to wipe down).

Other center precautions and policy

• Children will not be brushing their teeth after lunch during this time! All new tooth brushes will be given when it is safe to do so!
• We will be discontinuing family style meals at this time. Kids will not be serving themselves, food will be available for all kids to decide what they want to eat (as always), but the teachers will be serving their group the whole meal. This will cut down on 10 kids touching every utensil, bowl and pitcher!
  
• We have removed all dress up, stuffed animals and are rotating toys which makes cleaning easier!
• Nap time is still and always will be cleaning opportunities for staff to wipe down toys, shelves, doors and walls as well as the end of the day.​
  
• Temporary hours of operation 6:30am-5:30pm
  
• Hand sanitizer at both check in computers for parents and staff.

Direct contact and quarantine:

•  Please remember if you or your child  have been in direct contact with  anyone that has tested positive you must quarantine for 14 days before returning to IMS.  Direct contact is considered within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer. This is subject to change we follow both Muni and CDC guidelines.
• If any children or teacher in your child's class tests positive we will notify all the parents of the children that have been in contact. Everyone in contact will then have to quarantine for up to 14 days before returning to care. We follow both Muni and CDC guidelines for quarantine. The amount of time will depend on vaccination, the child's ability to mask, negative test results, symptoms and current guidelines. If your child is unable to mask the entire day they will be required to quarantine the full 10-14 days returning with a negative result. If you can not test your child a full 14 day quarantine will be required. These policies are subject to change without notice based on the current guidelines from the MUNI and CDC.
• Refunds and prorating for closures and or quarantine will not be permitted. 

Covid-19 symptoms of exclusion

• Fever of 100 or higher- Please do not medicate your child if they have a fever and then bring them in. It will be grounds for immediate termination. If your child is running a fever of any kind, for any reason, please contact the office prior to coming to the facility.
• Cough
• Wheezing or difficulty breathing

THESE POLICIES, PRECAUTIONS & PROCEDURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE DUE TO MUNICIPAL AND STATE GUIDELINES & SUGGESTIONS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT OUR MAIN OFFICE AT 563-8290.