Wellness
Your child's safety is our top priority. We go to extraordinary lengths to keep everyone healthy and safe while ensuring a comfortable and joyful learning environment.
Wellness
On average, preschoolers experience eight to ten illnesses a year. We know that managing the demands of work can be challenging when your child is ill. We strive to limit the spread of communicable diseases in our center and are committed to implementing policies that balance and respect the needs of children, families, and staff in these circumstances.
Our Child Illness Policy is based on the Model Health Care Policies developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Exclusion from the center is sometimes necessary either to reduce the transmission of illness or because the center is not able to adequately meet the needs of the child. Mild illnesses are common among children, and infections are often spread before the onset of any symptoms. In these cases, we try to keep the children comfortable throughout the day.
Please keep your child at home if s(he):
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Has an illness that prevents the child from participating comfortably in program activities, such as going outdoors.
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Has an illness that results in a greater need for care than our staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children.
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Is ill during the night or has a poor night’s sleep - this may be the first sign of an impending illness
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Has a fever (100 degrees or above) or has had one during the previous 24 hour period
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Has a cold that is less than four days old
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Has a heavy nasal discharge
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Has a constant cough
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Has diarrhea or watery stools
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Has vomited more than 2 times in the previous 24 hours
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Is fussy, cranky, and generally out of sorts
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Is just tired - rest at such times may prevent the development of serious illness
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Has symptoms of a possible communicable disease (rash, hives, bodily discharge, etc.)
Children suffering from a common cold will be assessed on an individual basis. Factors of consideration include the developmental level of your child in congruence with our ability to limit the spread of germs. The younger your child, the more difficult it is to keep the spread of germs down. For example, hand to face contact, mouthing of toys, uncontrolled nasal discharge, uncovered sneezing and coughing, etc.
As our world struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have instituted a set of protocols and procedures for the re-opening of our campus. Please click here to read our “COVID-19” guidelines.
PICKING UP AND RETURNING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL
For your child's comfort, and to reduce the risk of contagion, we ask that children who exhibit any of the signs listed above be picked up within 1.5 hours of notification. Until then, your child will be kept comfortable and will continue to be observed for symptoms.
Children need to remain home for 24 hours without symptoms before returning to the program unless the center receives a note from the child’s medical provider stating that the child is not contagious and may return to the center. In the case of a (suspected) contagious disease, rash, or continuing symptoms, a note from the child’s medical provider may be required before the child can return.
The final decision on whether to exclude a child from the program due to illness will be made by the center.
Please notify us at once if your child has a communicable disease so we are able to inform other parents. We exercise discretion and confidentiality at all times. If your child contracts lice, pinworm, conjunctivitis, strep throat, etc. PLEASE BE SURE TO INFORM US. If your child is found to have nits or lice during our periodic checks (s)he is to be picked up immediately and kept home for a full 24 hours after using a delousing product.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE SCHOOL BE MADE AWARE OF ALL HEALTH ISSUES (i.e. seizures, allergies, asthma, tubes in ears, a tendency towards high fever, etc.) We have no way of properly dealing with your children if we don't have adequate information. You can share medical information in the Famly app or directly with your child’s teacher.
Please take the time to review our full COVID precautions at www.gansinai.org/covid. These policies will need to be agreed to by each family.
As always, we remain committed to protecting your children and our staff and look forward to a great school year.
VACCINATION
Vaccination as a Jewish value
Each year, the American Academy of Pediatrics publishes a “Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.” Practicing pediatricians across North America recognize this schedule as the standard of care regarding childhood & adolescent vaccinations. Concurrently, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) annually publish vaccine standards for adults.
Among our most cherished Jewish values is the imperative for preserving life and maintaining health. We embrace this value specifically by taking preventive measures to protect the public health of our synagogue community as a whole. This is why we require all children, staff, and faculty who attend our summer camp, Religious School, Early Childhood Education, and youth programs to adhere to the immunization standards described below.
Vaccination is a shared responsibility and is our expectation
Parents send their children to Temple Sinai to enjoy themselves, have positive social interactions, learn from the rich Jewish environment and be safe and healthy. All the fun, friendship building, Jewish identity affirmation and character development can only happen if we are confident that individual safety and public health remain at the center of every decision made throughout our programs. Reducing the risk of vaccine‐preventable illnesses entering any of our programs is the most effective strategy to protect public health. This goal can be accomplished only through the appropriate vaccination of all participants and staff.
What we require
All participants and staff are required to have completed the most current age‐appropriate vaccine schedule recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. We do not accept religions exemptions.
You must have a current (non-expired) DH 680 Form, or Florida Certification of Immunization, on file in the Playground app. This is the mandatory document required for children entering daycare or K-12 school systems in Florida to prove they have received the necessary vaccinations. It is generated through the Florida SHOTS system by authorized healthcare providers or county health departments.
Yes, there are very, very rare exceptions to the Temple Sinai Vaccination Policy
We recognize that individuals who have had a documented allergy or severe adverse reaction to a particular vaccine may not be able to complete the immunization schedule outlined above. Additionally, individuals with medical conditions such as congenital immunodeficiency or HIV, cancer and who are receiving chemotherapy, transplant patients, and persons receiving immunosuppressive drugs and chronic steroids also may not be able to receive certain vaccines. In these extremely rare circumstances, current documentation from a Physician (MD or DO) describing the reason for exemption from immunization must be furnished to Temple Sinai. We are happy to discuss case by case management of the extremely rare circumstance of medical contraindication to partial or complete vaccination.
This policy aligns with the “2019 Policy Statement on Vaccine Status of Campers, Staff, Faculty, and their families attending URJ Camps and Israel Programs” and the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Responsa 5759.10 “Compulsory Immunization.”
Safety
Safety is fundamental to creating a learning environment. That's why our beautiful campus is fully gated with full-time, armed guards on duty. Every car entering campus must be identified with either a carpool pass or a sticker. Please message Rabbi David in the Playground app if you need a new carpool pass.
So that we are ready to face any safety challenge, we practice fire drills monthly and our staff are trained in infant/toddler/child/adult CPR, basic first aid, defibrillator usage, blood borne pathogens, and the Heimlich maneuver.