COVID-19 UPDATE
June 26, 2020
Dear Families, We are happy to report we have had three successful weeks of care at Beary Cherry Tree serving over 75 children each week. Our success is due to the diligence on behalf of both our team as well as our families. Our team has been adhering to the robust set of guidelines put forth by the Department of Education. The families we are serving have been extremely helpful in ensuring our success by keeping sick children home and adhering to protocols outside of Beary Cherry Tree.
Please note the following reminders as we move forward:
- Beary Cherry Tree will be closed on Friday, July 3rd and Monday, July 6th. As we have all done the past three weeks, we ask our teachers and families to stay diligent about following guidelines set forth by our local officials (wearing masks and social distancing).
- As we move through the summer and into the school year, we must stay mindful that Beary Cherry Tree will pivot when necessary as COVID presents itself. Our goal is to move forward with no interruptions in care and no cases of COVID, the reality is that as the economy opens up, cases will be more evident. If we are required to close a classroom because of a confirmed case of COVID, weekly fees will be due.
- We are navigating unchartered waters and doing this with best practices in place and continued guidance from our DHH Director.
We appreciate your understanding as we move through the next few months.
BCT Management
June 15, 2020
Dear Parents, One of our BCT families reached out to us about a great opportunity to help increase racial awareness in our communities, especially for our youngest members. The family stated that they are “so appreciative of the diverse and welcoming community at BCT and wanted to help support that.”
The family with the help of a local librarian, our Early Childhood Director and Administrative team will be administering a book drive for BCT, focusing on books that highlight experiences and histories of black and brown children. We have compiled a list of books on Amazon appropriate for the various ages of children served at BCT.
Anyone interested in supporting the effort can click the link and purchase a book for the school, the books would be sent directly to the school. For every book purchased by a supporter, BCT will purchase a book.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/26DG3KEVVQ6R6?ref_=wl_share
We look forward to partnering with you on this great opportunity!
BCT Management
June 3rd, 2020
Dear Parents, As we welcome families back to BCT, we want to communicate a few reminders:
- Temporary Hours: 8a.m. – 5p.m (Drop off 8-9:30 a.m.) (Pick up 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.)
- All families returning on 6/8, must fill out the COVID disclosure that can be found on both our website as well as FB page.
- Remain in your vehicle (Temperature checkers will approach vehicle to ask a series of questions and take your child’s temperature)
- Meal schedule will be posted (please feed your child breakfast if they will not be at the center for their scheduled mealtime)
- Please send several changes of clothes in a Ziploc bag. The bag will remain at the center. When dirty clothes need to be sent home, they will be sent home in a Ziploc or plastic bag. Do not send backpacks with toys or any extra belongings to school.
- We will need all children to arrive with a nap mat. These mats will be sent home each Friday to be washed and returned the following Monday.
- The center will be closed Friday, July 3rd and Monday July 6th in observance of Independence Day.
***For those families who are not returning June 8th, but interested in returning in July/ August, please email: colleenbct1@gmail.com or paulampolito@gmail.com so we can add you to our list.
***Once we successfully deliver services with the new protocols in place, we will begin to open up additional seats for existing families.
***We are monitoring Tropical Storm Cristobal and will provide updates via FB page and our website as they come available. According to the National Hurricane Center, as of 4 p.m. on 6/3 Cristobal is forecast to be a strong tropical storm, making landfall along the Louisiana coast sometime between 1 p.m. Sunday and 1 p.m. Monday as a 65 -mph tropical storm. If the storm is determined to be a threat, we may postpone our opening date. Updates will be provided over the weekend. BCT Management
June 1st, 2020
All Families returning June 8th must fill out the Covid Disclosure Form. Click Here and Fill out the Covid Disclosure Form.
May 22, 2020
Opinion: Child Care Centers Face Many Challenges
Check out the article on Biz New Orleans by Paula Polito
May 15, 2020
Dear Families, The past nine weeks, we have consistently kept a pulse on the COVID pandemic, obtaining best practices from child care centers all over the nation and of course closely monitoring the decisions of our local department of health, the Governor as well as the President of Jefferson Parish. The uncertainty of the situation is still evident and will continue to be for months to come. Since 1972, Beary Cherry Tree has always delivered the highest caliber of early care and education, practicing research based interactions. The LDOE (Louisiana Department of Education) in partnership with the OPH (Office of Public Health) has released guidance for childcare centers that represent a host of new protocols which hope to minimize the exposure and risk for teachers and children.
Our administration team will be reaching out to each family over the next few days. During these conversations we will be sharing specific COVID related policies (safety protocols, hours, fees, etc.). We are truly trying to get a sense of what families have no other choices and truly need child care. While getting a sense of demand, it is also critical for us to have the staff to accommodate the demand. We will be assessing our staff’s personal situations to identify who is in a position to return to work, as we do not want any of our vulnerable teachers safety put at risk. Please keep in mind this requires a lot of communication and education from all individuals. We continue to work diligently in order to move forward with everyone’s health and safety in mind. If you DO NOT get a phone call from our team by Wednesday, May 20th, please send us a message here and we will get back to you.
As always thank you for your support in navigating this situation. Please continue to monitor our website and Facebook page, which is where we will post updates. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy and safe. Take care of yourself and take care of the people around you. All of us at BCT are here to help. BCT Management
May 7, 2020
Dear Families, The LDOE (Louisiana Department of Education) is releasing additional guidance for childcare centers on Thursday, May 7th. Once we receive this information along with the continued guidance from the medical director from our regional DHH (Department of Health & Hospitals) we will make decisions on offering a modified summer camp.
Please note that when we open we will be putting many new safety protocols in place which we will share in detail prior to opening. Part of the new protocol drastically reduces group sizes. Based on the need, we will offer spots for our existing children first and if there is availability, we will open spots for siblings.
Please continue to monitor our website and Facebook page, which is where we will post updates. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy and safe. Take care of yourself and take care of the people around you. All of us at BCT are here to help. BCT Management
April 29, 2020
Attention BCT Families!!! Join @sunsetslushnola This Weekend at Bear-y Cherry Tree Of Jeff, Inc. From 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm This Saturday And Sunday For Your Favorite Frozen Treat! BCT Kids Show Your School Pride By Wearing Your BCT T-Shirt or A Red T-Shirt For A Free Scoop (Saturday Only). Curbside Service and Pints Will Be Available.
April 27, 2020
Please click the link below to take the survey:
https://bit.ly/2YbeJhs
April 24, 2020
Dear Families,
Please be on the lookout for a Google Survey on both our website and FB page. This survey will help us gauge the need of our existing families. Please know that once we are in a position to reopen our protocols will look very different based on best practices which will help keep teachers, children and families safe. We will provide specific information as we get closer to that time as guidance is updated daily and roadmaps for the child care industry are still being developed.
Please continue to monitor our website and Facebook page, which is where we will post updates. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy and safe. Take care of yourself and take care of the people around you.
BCT Management
April 21, 2020
DEPARTMENT EXPANDS AT-HOME CARE AND LEARNING SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
New Supports Include Free, Three-Month Subscription to Nickelodeon’s Early Learning Service
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Education today announced it has expanded its at-home care and learning supports for families who are home with young children as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
New supports include:
Guidance for Early Learning at Home: A guidance document that walks families step-by-step through the process of creating a productive daily schedule, including tips and sample schedules, along with age-appropriate, play-based learning activities to enhance that schedule. The guidance document also includes lists of academic resources for all students, including students with disabilities and English learners.
Noggin Cares: The Department has partnered with Noggin, Nickelodeon’s learning service for children age 2 and above, to offer a free, three-month subscription to families. The app is loaded with read-aloud e-books, learning games, songs, and other engaging content. It also provides ideas for off-screen family activities, and it provides special content to help young children cope during this time.
“During this extraordinary time, Louisiana must support the hearts and minds of our youngest learners,” said Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian. “Today, the Department is thrilled to further expand families’ access to books, games, and play-based activities.”
The new supports announced today mark the latest efforts by the Department to support the state’s youngest learners and their families.
Last month, for example, the Department released a Continuous Education Toolkit for School Systems that contains academic resources to support learning for all grade levels, including early childhood. The early childhood resources include information on child development and lists of high-quality instructional materials and services that can be accessed online and through text messaging.
The same Continuous Education Toolkit also includes new early literacy support for families with children in grades Kindergarten through 2. The information is designed to provide families a better understanding of how children learn to read and provides practical activities families can use each day at home.
In addition, the Department partnered with Louisiana Public Broadcasting to launch an online hub of at-home learning supports for all ages, as well as to broadcast high-quality educational programming.
Finally, the Department opened the Child Care Assistance Program to essential personnel who need reliable child care amid the public health crisis. At the same time, nonprofit advocacy organization Agenda for Children partnered with Care.com to provide three months of free service to those same workers to help them identify potential caregivers.
For more information and to access all resources, visit the Department’s COVID-19 web page.
April 13, 2020
March 27, 2020
Dear Families,
We hope that you are well and adjusting to our current temporary situation and taking care of yourselves. We miss seeing everyone, we get our energy and joy from seeing the children every day. We will get through this together! We have a lot of resources on our FB page as well as our website to support you.
It is a good time to practice compassion to yourself and others, gratefulness, exercise, and mindfulness. All these things will assist us in taking care of ourselves and our children. Remember that we can still have fun at home and being outside playing while practicing social distancing.
- Remember, we will NOTbe charging families until we are able to begin operations.
- Our 2020-2021 School Year/ 2020 Summer Camp enrollment form can be accessed on our FB or you can click here to download it. If you are in a position to fill out and return it, please email it to: colleenbct1@gmail.com
We continue to offer our thoughts for the safety and health of our children, your families, and our teachers during these uncertain and unsettled times.
BCT Management
March 23, 2020
| LOUISIANA OPENS CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO CRITICAL PERSONNEL AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK Program Allows Eligible Families to Access Subsidized Care for Children Age 12 and Under |
| BATON ROUGE, La. — In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) today opened the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to support essential critical infrastructure personnel. By simply completing an application, these families can access subsidized care for children age 12 and under at licensed childcare centers participating in the program, or through registered and certified family childcare and in-home providers. The Governor’s emergency proclamation to close all school facilities to students through at least April 13, 2020, did not include childcare and early learning centers. Early learning centers make individual decisions about whether to close their businesses. However, updated directives from the Governor’s Office and health officials have advised limiting group sizes to 10 or fewer children and adults. “If you can keep your children at home, please do so,” said Acting State Superintendent Beth Scioneaux, echoing guidance from the Louisiana Department of Health. “But we must ensure affordable access to childcare for those who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response effort. Opening CCAP to critical personnel is necessary and important as we fight the spread of COVID-19.” Effective today, families of essential critical infrastructure workers are eligible for CCAP, and their applications will be expedited. Essential critical infrastructure workers belong to the following industries: HealthCare/Public Health Law Enforcement, Public Safety, First Responders Food and Agriculture Energy (electrical industry, petroleum, natural and propane gas workers) Waste and Wastewater Transportation and Logistics Public Works Communications and Information Technology Other Community-Based Government Critical Manufacturing Hazardous Materials Interested families must complete the CCAP Pandemic Protective Services Crisis Application. Upon approval, initial certification will be valid for 30 days. If the public health crisis continues beyond 30 days, the LDOE will reassess applications. Access the CCAP Pandemic Protective Services Crisis Application. View subsidy rates. |
| Louisiana Department of Education Website >>> Contact the Louisiana Department of Education >>> |
March 20, 2020
Dear Families,
We are hoping everyone is doing well despite these unsettling times. We deeply missed our kiddos and look forward to welcoming everyone back in the near future!
- As a reminder, we will NOTbe charging families until we are able to begin operations.
- Any parent who may be working because they are emergency personnel and need childcare can contact Agenda For Children:
General Questions: info@agendaforchildren.org
Agenda for Children’s COVID-19 Email: covid19@agendaforchildren.org
New Orleans Office: (504) 586-8509
- In a society used to schedules, numerous sports and activities, we often search for time to be together. With our busy lives stopped in their tracks these next few weeks, we are experiencing a lot of time to be together. This new togetherness will require new habits, structure, and maybe skills. It is normal to be unsettled or overwhelmed with uncharted territory. Know this is normal for you and your child. If you need some help explaining how to talk to your child about the COVID-19 outbreak,our Mental Health Consultant, Kendyl Tipton is offering assistance for our families and teachers. If you would like her to reach out, please contact Colleen or Paula via email and we would be happy to connect you.
- We’d love for you to share your pictures of you and your kiddos on our FB page.
- Clancy Dubois posted a beautiful article that speaks to resilience and says: “Today, as we confront COVID-19, plenty of folks who aren’t getting sick are still suffering. Many are out of work, while others, especially health care workers, are pushed beyond human limits. So let’s remember the most important lesson of Katrina by doing all we can for one another — friends, family and strangers alike. That’s what instills the priceless gift of hope. And that, ultimately, is how we all survive.”
We continue to offer our thoughts for the safety and health of our children, your families, and our teachers during these uncertain and unsettled times.
BCT Management
March 14, 2020
Dear Families,
In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, Beary Cherry Tree will adhere to the guidance from both the regional Office of Public Health as well as Governor Edwards and close our center beginning Monday, March 16th. We will communicate a reopening date as soon as our regional officials inform us it is safe to do so. The safety of our children, families and teachers is our priority. We understand this is an inconvenience for everyone involved but will continue to prioritize the safety of our school community.
All tuition paid will be allocated for the week we return. We will post links to various resources on our website proving guidance on preparedness, how to talk with your children about coronavirus and even suggestions on what to do with your children while at home.
Due to the fluid nature of these events, please continue to monitor our website with updates. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy and safe. Take care of yourself and take care of the people around you. All of us at BCT are here to help.
BCT Management
Fore More Information and up to date news please visit the following link
https://www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/covid-19
