NOVEMBER 2, 2020 (10:15am)
We have a staff member with COVID and two others with symptoms. This is a rough time. I have spoken to the Board and we have jointly made a decision to close OC and go virtual for two weeks. We know what an inconvenience this is for all of you but the numbers are growing everywhere. We have to go back to being diligent in the community. Our staff has been doing an amazing job with masks, social distancing, and handwashing but it isn’t enough. We have to all be responsible and diligent.
We need you to make arrangements to come pick up your student by noon today and keep them home to return on November 16th. Your student is in the classroom with a staff member that has symptoms. We will let you know as soon as possible what the results are. Please watch your child for symptoms and quarantine your him/her as much as possible with a mask and at least six feet between them and another person.
We cannot offer virtual learning at school this time because we do have a positive case and possibly two more. As far as siblings go, that may attend EC, it’s best to keep them home but we understand if you have no option. We have to stop this before we have to close the doors for a period of time. Continue to be diligent at home and in the community.
Please look for information from your child’s teacher regarding virtual learning. We appreciate your understanding with this matter.
July 24, 2020 (11:15am)
Hello Families,
After much thought and discussion with the Board, we are offering “Virtual School Camp” to all students. This means that your child may continue in-person as they have been, or they may learn virtually from home until September 8th. The teachers will be in the classrooms and learning will continue. All therapies will continue as they have been.
We are asking that everyone continue to be diligent about going out in public and using the weekends to stay home or do activities outdoors while social distancing. If you travel outside of our county, and you are not able to stay away from others, you must quarantine for two weeks before returning. Air travel is extremely risky during this time and a two-week quarantine is mandatory.
We will not accept any new students for face-to-face until after the mandate has been lifted. We will continue to wear masks, check temperatures, social distance, and sanitize, sanitize, and sanitize!! No matter the age, if your child can tolerate a mask, please send one with them. We have had several that keep forgetting their masks and we are keeping some in the office that I have purchased. Due to the number of masks being taken each day, we are going to charge $1.00 for each. You can also send extras for your student to keep in the classrooms.
We look forward to seeing all that will join us face-to-face on Monday.
Have a great weekend,
Dr. Tracy Hanson
July 23, 2020 (8:10pm)
Hello Families,
This afternoon the Bell County Public Health Department issued a mandatory order for public and non-religious private schools to halt face-to face instruction until September 7th. This is devastating news since we have had a wonderful two weeks of instruction. I will be meeting with the Board tomorrow to discuss details. What I can tell you is that we will hold care for virtual school and teachers will be on campus. Things will look different but we are trying to help our families because we know you have to work. Please be patient until you hear from me again tomorrow. There are so many details to work out and so many decisions to be made.
We will have class as usual tomorrow (Friday, July 24, 2020)
Blessings,
Dr. Tracy Hanson
July 19, 2020 (6:33pm)
Hello Families,
As we begin our new school year on Monday, we begin it with new protocols and caution. Attached you will find the protocol for how a case will be handled. Two of our board members that are in the medical profession were so helpful in writing it for us. Our prayer is that we all stay healthy. Please continue to be diligent with hand washing, social distancing, travel and outings.
We are asking all of our students 10 years and up to wear a mask or face shield if they are able. We understand that sensory issues may prevent some from being able to wear them. Our teachers and staff will be in masks or shields as well. Teachers have included protocols and social stories for COVID on Monday to help with the transition.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Have a great weekend,
Dr. Tracy
July 19, 2020 (6:33pm)
Hello Families.
We had a great first week back in school! Your patience and flexibility has been very appreciated. I wanted to touch base with a little information as we return tomorrow.
Please have your student ready for class at 8:00. It makes it so difficult when a teacher has started class and they have to stop to welcome a student coming in late.
Please pick up at your designated time. If you want to come early, please pull into a parking spot to wait. We want to keep the traffic flowing. We are adjusting dismissal times beginning tomorrow to the following
2:45 Ms. Rae and Ms. Brittany
2:50 Ms. Alex and Ms. Michelle
2:55 Ms. Q and Ms. Taylor Moore
3:00 Ms. Diana and Ms. Taylor Smith
Students may resume bringing backpacks and lunch boxes immediately.
Each day between 9:30 and 10:00, classes have a snack. Please send a snack for this time if you would like for your child to have one.
We are in desperate need of Lysol, sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes. If you see some and can pick up a couple for your child’s class it would be greatly appreciated.
We look forward to another great week with your children. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to me.
Blessings,
Dr. Tracy Hanson
June 26, 2020 (3:33pm)
Families, staff and Community friends- we wanted to update you on measures we are taking to keep our children, families and staff safe:
*Weekly sanitizing of the entire facility using a hospital-grade disinfect spray.
*Air purifiers in every room.
*Extra disinfecting by staff several times throughout each day.
*Following all requirements handed down by Texas Health & Human Services (Licensing).
*Only essential staff allowed in the building.
*All who enter are screened and temp-checked. With this info, any staff or enrolled families who have traveled may be asked to self-quarantine.
*Tours are suspended- virtual tours available! Please call our office to set this up.
*Hand washing and extra hand sanitizing will continue.
*Children should bring extra clothing in cases of accidents or bodily fluids on clothes- they will be changed immediately!
Please know the health of each one of you is our top priority! Contact the Main Office at 254.526.9299 if you have any questions and have a safe weekend! ?
April 19, 2020 (8:33am)
Hello Families! It’s a new week and I’m hoping everyone is healthy and safe. I was disappointed to hear about the announcement of not returning to school for selfish reasons but I know it is necessary to keep us all healthy. I’m sure by now you are in a groove of this virtual schooling thing but when you need any assistance please reach out to your child’s teacher.
As I was planting flowers and trimming bushes on Friday, I looked over at our painted rocks in the front. I thought it would be awesome if everyone could start painting some rocks to expand our rock garden. If you have some acrylic paints, let your kiddos and your family members decorate some rocks during this time. We can spray them with acrylic clear paint to make them shiny and to make them last. Pinterest has some great ideas. So…go on a hunt for some rocks and let’s build that rock garden!
I have had the calendar for next school year completed since spring break but I’m holding off on sending it. We may have some decisions to make if we still have some restrictions in place on July 13th, our projected first day of school. I will be looking at things for the next couple of weeks and will present my proposal to the Board if changes need to made. I will keep everyone updated.
Lastly, Governor Abbott issued an order that only students of essential workers can be cared for during this time. If you are an essential worker and your child will be attending for virtual school, we will give you a form to fill out and sign. This form must be kept in your student’s file in case our state representative visits. I hate the inconvenience for those that need us but we must follow the rules for everyone’s safety.
Blessings,
Dr. Tracy
April 1, 2020 (6:35pm)
As you all know, Governor Abbott has required all Texas schools to remain closed until May 4th. Private schools fall into this order as well. So….virtual learning will continue until that time. I know this is difficult for many as it is a challenge for your child’s teacher as well. The one thing we all have in common is growth! We want our students to be as prepared for the next school year as possible. I understand that our students are getting so much more than many other students. I appreciate the hard work our teachers are putting forth and everything you as parents are having to do at this time.
Tuition will continue to be billed and expected. You have options of payment by phone or on-line. If you have any financial concerns, please let us know as soon as possible. Our prayer is that we can make it through all of this and come back to a school full of students. You all are very missed. Please continue to be safe and stay healthy.
Blessings,
Dr. Tracy
March 18, 2020 (5:58pm)
Hello Families,
Effective today, the Board is cancelling classes until March 28th. We will go virtual on Monday morning the 23rd at 7:30am. Tuition will remain the same so that when this blows over, we can pick up where we left off. You will be hearing from your child’s teacher in the next couple of days and given lesson plans and activities. Please note that teacher’s will be working from 7:30a-3:30p. Please honor their hours. They are not required to answer any emails or messages after their regularly scheduled work hours.
March 17, 2020 (11:02am)
Effective immediately: EC will reschedule all parent/teacher conferences to a later time. IF you have any questions/concerns regarding your child, feel free to call in and we will be happy to discuss by phone! 254.526.9299
March 15, 2020 (4:03pm)
Dear Families,
This afternoon our Board of Directors met for an emergency meeting. After more discussion, we are putting more restrictions into place. Please self-quarantine your student if:
- Your student has visited a theme park, festival, sporting event or any other area of 250 more people where they would be contained in one area. Walmart, grocery stores, and the like do not qualify for this protocol;
- Your student is symptomatic;
- Your student has been around anyone suspected to have the Coronavirus;
- Your student has a fever of 99.4 or above (they may return 24 hours after fever-free without fever reducers);
- Your student has traveled by air or cruise ship.
Sincerely,
There will be no reduction in tuition for lost days of school. We are a small private school that does not get any government reimbursement. Loss of tuition could shut us down quickly. If your student becomes ill during the school day, they will immediately be removed from class and placed in quarantine until you arrive to pick them up. Please know that Dr. Hanson will be monitoring all procedures during the course of the following days and will make sure to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Becky Isbell
President
March 14, 2020 (11:24am)
Dear Families,
After more discussion and research, we are asking anyone that has traveled by plane or cruise ship during spring break to please self-quarantine and keep your students at home for two weeks. Additionally if you have traveled to a theme park or events with confirmed cases, please highly consider doing the same. If they receive therapy, the therapists are also asking the same. This is just another precautionary measure that we feel should be taken to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.
We are opening up our school-age care to students of therapists and family members that need a place to go as long as staffing permits. These students will not be with our childcare or private school students. They have their own area. We will still limit adult presence in the building.
Additionally, if your child needs a hot meal during this time that we are asking for cold lunches, you may warm them something in the morning before school and put in a thermos to keep warm. Please label it so we know not to put it in the refrigerator.
As of now, we are still having our family workday next Saturday, March 21st. We will be outside in the fresh air weather permitting. If you are not able to attend but would like to help, gift cards to Lowe’s and Home Depot would be helpful to replenish mulch and plants. Every $10.00 amount goes towards one hour of volunteering towards the required 8 hours per semester.
We appreciate your patience during this time as we do everything we can to protect our staff and students.
Blessings,
Dr. Tracy Hanson
Oak Creek Academy Education Connection/Oak Creek Academy/Community
Principal/Founder
March 14, 2020 (3:03pm)
Hello Friends…
I need to clear up some confusion. We will only be accepting ages 4-12 that can go into our school-age program. The ones that will be accepted are those that already attend our camps, our staff children and our therapist’s children. No one will be permitted that has traveled by plane or cruise ships in the last two weeks. Also, limited adult access will given in the building.
Further, all schools and therapy businesses are in separate locations- each group separate from other groups in the building. For example: our childcare is on one side of the building and private school on the complete other side – and school-agers are in their own space as well. We would not and do not mix groups. If you have any concerns, we welcome your calls on Monday morning. Our goal is to provide you with clarity and peace of mind during this stressful time. Thank you!
March 13, 2020 (8:07pm)
In addition to operating at a normal capacity with adjustments to drop off and pick up procedures (see letter posted today), Education Connection IS also receiving school age children who are out of school next week! We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary and/or recommended by health authorities.
*School age children need a lunch that does not require heating and is contained in a lunchbox or disposable bag.
*Please remember mat/blanket for rest time.
(Follow the usual full-day camp policies for schoolers. There will not be any field trips planned for the week.)
March 13, 2020 (5:00pm)
Addendum to the notice posted previously:
EC Parent/Teacher Conferences will continue next week unless an adult is experiencing symptoms and wishes to reschedule. *Parents will be directed to the conference room to wash hands before beginning the session. Please call the Main Office (254-526-9299) if you need to reschedule.
March 13, 2020 (4:24pm)
Dear Families,
With the looming COVID-19 now in Bell County, we have met today with several influential people to come up with a protocol to protect our staff and children. Beginning on Monday,
March 16, 2020 the following guidelines will be put into place:
1. We are limiting excessive adult presence in the buildings and your student should be dropped at the front door. Then they will be taken to the cafeteria to meet their teacher and go to their classroom to wash hands and begin the day. If your student is in before school care, you will be allowed to walk your student into the building but will need to sanitize your and your child’s hands as soon as you walk in the door. Please limit surface touching once you’re inside the building.
2. For the next couple of weeks, lunches need to be limited to disposable, cold lunches. We want to lessen the handling of food items. Please pack everything in a lunchbox or disposable bag. We will not open lunches and separate them as we have done in the past. We will be able to put all lunchboxes or sack lunches in the refrigerator if needed. Please do not send anything that needs to be warmed. You will be notified when this protocol has been lifted.
3. Payments can be made on-line and are preferred. If you do not know how to do this, please call the office at 254-526-9299. If you need to make a payment and are not set-up to pay on-line, you may call the office and make a debit or credit card payment. If you need to pay by other means, please call the office.
4. If your child exhibits any flu or cold-like symptoms, lethargic and not participating in class activities or has a temperature of 99.4 or above, they will be sent home. Please, please, please do not give any fever reducers or pain medications for any reason and send them to school. We will trust that parents will be diligent and do their part to keep everyone safe and healthy. (This is a different protocol from our parent handbook.)
5. All students will be dismissed at the front door. Due to parking issues, we are going to stagger dismissal. Please try to be on time and leave swiftly to allow others to be able to get into the parking lot. The dismissal schedule will be:
2:40- A1, A2 and A3
2:50-A4 and A5
3:00-A6 and A7
3:10-High School
6. If your child attends after-school, please come to the front lobby and we will bring your child to you. If you have a compromised immune system, please feel free to call us and we will bring them outside to you.
7. If you elect to keep your student at home, there will be no reduction in tuition. We have a very small operational budget and our staff still needs to be paid. We are adding additional cleaning procedures and continuing to practice good hygiene. We will be practicing social distancing where possible. Please talk to your student about less hugging, hand shaking, fist bumping, etc. Hand washing is key to preventing the spread of this virus. If we have one case of Coronavirus within Oak Creek Community, it will cause us to have to shut our doors. This can cause so much hardship to families that need us. Please be honest and help us protect our staff and students.
Sincerely,
Oak Creek Board of Directors