"Hi there! My name is Panda and I am 4 years old.  This year I get to start school at a Montessori school here in Columbus, Ohio!

Before I start though I need to learn about some of the safety protocols they have here at my new school! I asked my teacher, Ms. Ali, to share with us what we need to do to stay safe. Are you ready to see how I can stay safe at school?"

Well Hi, there Panda! My name is Ms. Ali and I am going to be your teacher for the year! I have some very important facts that you need to know before you can start at our school.  Are you ready to learn how to stay safe at school this year?

I can't wait, Ms. Ali! I really want to meet all my friends but I know being safe is MOST important.  What do I need to know?

"Right now in Ohio, we are going through something called the Coronavirus.  Our school is lucky to even be opening right now because a lot of schools in our area can't.  One of the new rules at the school though, is we all have to wear masks.

A face mask helps us from spreading germs when we talk, sing, or laugh.  It also helps to prevent spreading germs when we cough and sneeze!"

Got it! So I need to have a face mask to keep others safe as well as myself. What else do I need to know?

Well, on top of wearing masks Panda, we have to get our temperature checked every day we come to school.  So a teacher will come up to you with a thermometer and take your temperature to make sure you don't have a fever of 100 or higher.  Your parents will also get an email every morning with a checklist of questions on it. The list helps determine if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19.  If you have a fever or show symptoms, you have to stay home for 24 hours once the fever breaks, without medicine helping you.

But Ms. Ali, that is a really long time to be away from my friends.  I am going to miss them!! 

I know Panda, but according to the CDC "students are to remain home for a minimum of 24 hours before coming back to school without medicine."*  Don't worry Panda, your friends and I will miss you if you're ever sick! But we want to keep everyone in our room as safe as possible!

*(Guidance for School Administrators to Help Reduce the Spread of Seasonal Influenza in K-12 Schools 2018)

"In addition to masks and temperature screenings, Panda, we also need to make sure we wash our hands.  You will wash your hands when you enter the classroom, anytime you use the bathroom, before and after you eat, when you come in from recess, and anytime you blow your nose or wipe your face. "

Washing hands is the most critical and thorough way of stopping the spread of germs. 

(Groark & Song, 2012)

Ok, Ms. Ali! I will make sure I wash my hands.  I really enjoy playing in the water so that will be fun!" 

"Playing in the water is fun but it isn't appropriate when washing your hands.  You need to make sure you are scrubbing them for 20 seconds.  That means you can either sing 'Happy Birthday' to yourself two times or count to 20 slow. You need to scrub the fingers, palms, backhands, wrists, in between fingers and all over to make sure the germs are scrubbed away as best as possible.  We do a lot of things with our hands so making sure that we have clean hands helps lessen the chance of spreading yucky things in our classroom. " (Groark & Song, 2012)

Ok. Happy birthday two times got it! What else do I need to know to make sure I keep my self safe at school?

Well Panda, have you ever heard of the term Social Distancing where we have to stay a certain amount of distance apart in order to keep others safe?