Spring brings change…time change; weather change; and this year so many unexpected changes to Park’s Edge Preschool!  

Park’s Edge Preschool is ‘open for business,’ even during these changing times with concern about COVID-19 virus.  Child-care is an integral part of society’s infrastructure. Child-care centers across the state and nation have been asked to do their part in staying open in support of working families by continuing to offer stable child-care during these shaky times.  Many PEP families are dependent on our child-care services to play an active role in supporting families.  Families, I want to thank you for your care and support in these challenging times.

PEP has been fortunate to recruit talented people to the board in helping us make decisions in riding out this health epidemic.  I truly appreciate PEP’s board members level of commitment and expertise.  Thank you to PEP Board members: Jennifer Hastings-Meinholdt, President; Marcia Goecks, Vice President, Matt Egan, Treasurer, Rhonda Perry, Secretary; Members at Large-Adam Johnson, Kim Kozlik, Brianna Schroeder, Pastor Dale Stohre and Christine Van Hulle.  We are truly blessed to have such talented leadership guiding Park’s Edge Preschool during all times of the year. 

PEP is blessed to have the dedicated staff that we have.  The team has decided to keep families connected by sending out a weekly lesson plan to our toddlers and 2-year-old groups and our preschoolers.  We have also included a sample of our daily schedules to help regulate and support your busy child at home.  I know from my own experience of home schooling right now, that families with school age children have plenty to keep them busy at this time!  

Of course, we are taking every precaution in meeting the call in staying healthy and keeping our center open.  We have limited all group sizes to 10 children or less and cancelled all gatherings such as our annual ‘Spring Fling’ at the end of the month.  Ironically, we started with Coverall, a new, commercialized cleaning company, at the beginning of the month. Coverall uses the CORE 4 cleaning method: 1. Hospital Grade Disinfectants, 2. Color Coded Microfiber, 3. No Dip Flat Mop, 4. HEPA Backpack Vacuum Cleaning.  We are pleased with their services in keeping PEP healthy and safe.

Park’s Edge staff has continued sanitizing and disinfecting as required in meeting YoungStar’s, 5-star, quality rated requirements.  We are mandating families to keep their children home when they are sick and quarantining staff and/or children from the program for 14 days if they have traveled out of state.  Most important is hand washing!  Hands are washed before entering the classroom(s), staff and child’s hands are washed before and after toileting/diapering and the child’s too.  Hands are washed whenever the child or caregiver is in contact with bodily fluids; before/after eating; after outdoor play; before/after sensory and cooking projects.  We are putting cots 6 feet apart at naptime and have discontinued family-style serving…these are a few of the many changes to the new normal at PEP.   

Mark your calendars now!  April 13-17 is the Week of the Young Child.  “Early Years are Learning Years” is the overall annual theme.  All those who are involved with young children are to be celebrated.  We will be keeping you informed at how you can celebrate at home the WOYC…watch for details in an upcoming communication.  

 I hope each one of ‘our’ Park’s Edge Preschool Families are healthy and happy during this turbulent time.  We look forward to reuniting with all of you as soon as possible.  We miss you!

Sincerely, 

Ellen M. Kvalheim, Director