Frequently Asked Questions

Dear JCC Brooklyn Families,

We appreciate your questions and thoughts as we navigate through this trying time. These questions have been on our minds as well and we hope to share the answers we have now. While the situation is evolving, we will do our best to provide you with the most up-to-date information as it becomes available.

When will school start?

Please visit our Admission page to view the current year’s calendar.

Will you follow the Department of Education’s hybrid schedule?

We are licensed by the NYC Department of Health and intend to offer in-person programming to all of our students.

Will COVID 19 affect the school’s schedule or hours of operation?

We are planning to offer our regular schedule for this school year. We will still offer our half-day programming which ends at noon, our full-day program which ends at 3 p.m, as well as our early drop-off from 8 a.m. and our after-care/late stay program which ends at 6 p.m. Please check out our school year calendar posted on our admission page.

What would a typical day be for my child?

The structure of the kids’ day will not look much different from what a typical preschool day would look like in terms of activities, such as circle time, arts and crafts, outdoor time, naps, etc. However, we will implement various modifications to adhere to the most current Department of Health guidelines.

How is the JCC going to keep kids and staff members safe?

We are working with local and state health officials and following the NYC Department of Health guidelines to ensure the safest possible environment for our students and staff.

What will the teacher-student ratio be?

Department of Health guidelines allow a maximum of 15 students per group. We will have 10 students in the 1’s class, 12 students in the 2’s class, and 15 students in the 3’s class. For a mixed class of 2- and 3-year-olds, there will be up to 15 kids in the class. There will always be two teachers in each class.

Can you please go into details about your plans for personal protection for students and staff, sanitizing procedures, and medical protocols?

Guidelines are constantly being updated and we will keep families up to date with any changes. As of today, this is how we see procedures running:

• All children are required to submit a current medical form with the age-appropriate vaccines.
• Students’ and staff’s temperatures will be checked DAILY before entering the facility.
• All staff will be required to wear protective face coverings while on shift.
• Sanitizing and hand-washing stations are located in all classrooms and bathrooms and used frequently throughout the day.
• Parents will be required to complete a daily health check of their children.
  We’re going to be working side by side with our community of families to ensure that our kids and staff stay safe during this time. We’re relying on families to self-report any symptoms and diagnoses to us as well.

My child has a pre-existing medical condition. Does this mean that he/she cannot attend school?

This is a question that is very difficult to answer. The Department of Health has noted that children with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, and breathing issues face a much greater risk of complications from COVID-19. While the decision of whether to send your child to school is, of course, a personal one, we must note the severity and the risk associated with the school for everyone.

What would drop off look like and what modifications will be made?

Parents or caregivers will wait outside in a socially-distanced manner.  Children will be dropped off at the front door. Parents and caregivers will not be allowed to enter the building; only staff members, cleaning staff and other central staff will be permitted to enter. Staff members will be taking each child’s temperatures using a non-touch thermometer and parents will be asked to complete a daily health questionnaire about the health and well-being of the child. Staff members will undergo daily temperature and health checks.  Each classroom will have its own drop-off/pick up time to observe social distancing. Upon arrival, staff and children will proceed to the bathroom to wash their hands before they go into the classrooms.

Are children required to wear face masks?

As per the Department of Health, children ages 2 and up, are required to wear masks.

What happens if a child puts a toy they are playing within their mouth?

We will be getting rid of cloth toys that are harder to clean and will instead put out more toys that are easy to sanitize throughout the day.

What will snack/lunch and nap time look like?

Children will still be bringing their lunch and having their snack. They will be taken to wash their hands with soap and water before and after snack time, and before and after nap time. Instead of having snacks as one large group, children will be socially distanced in smaller groups around the classroom. At nap time, we will ensure that there is appropriate space between cots. Linens will be sent home regularly for cleaning.

How do you think the kids are going to react to all these changes once they’re back?

Children are generally far more resilient than adults. They also thrive on structure and routine, and will adapt quickly to the daily routine at school.

How will outdoor playtime be handled?

We will focus on not mixing groups of children during outdoor play in our private playground. Our play equipment will be sanitized regularly.

When should I keep my child home?

Contagious illnesses are easily passed around from person to person. However, if easy sanitization guidelines are followed, we can keep those ailments to a minimum. We can all work together to ensure that our kids, families, and staff stay healthy. Please allow your child to rest at home if they have any of the following symptoms: fever, unusual lethargy, constant runny nose, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, persistent abdominal pain, newly-developed and undiagnosed rash, persistent diarrhea or vomiting. Please allow your child to rest at home until they are symptom-free for at least 24 hours.

What happens if a child, parent, caregiver, or a staff person tests positive for COVID 19?

We will fully follow the guidance of the Department of Health if any child, parent, caregiver, or staff person tests positive for the virus.

What will happen if you need to close school for an extended period of time?

We are well versed in all COVID safety guidelines and successfully operated our summer camp this season during this “new normal.” We will continue following any and all recommendations from the Department of Health and will update our families as new guidance becomes available.

How will the parents be kept in the loop about school happenings?

Teachers will keep families involved with daily photos and brief descriptions of their child’s day. Our relationship with families is key to our success and we look forward to sharing kids’ experiences with our families.

We thank you for your trust and look forward to spending this school year with you and your children.