Kindertown and COVID-19: A Community Response & Effort
After a year into the pandemic, Kindertown had it’s first close encounter with COVID-19. Though it was an incredibly stressful and anxiety-ridden time, everything has thankfully, turned out to be alright. With strong community support, constant communication and some much needed composure, we were able to safely navigate through this unexpected event and welcome all our families and friends back to Kindertown with a peace of mind. There were a series of steps that we hope to share with everyone in our community, steps we were either forced to take or decided to take, in order to ensure a safe return back. Our hope is that by sharing our experience, it can help alleviate any fears, trepidations or concerns in the event that you have a close encounter of your own:
March 22nd started like most Mondays. Staff and educators rolled into K-Town, ready to start the week after a few days of rest and relaxation. We all shared the events of the last few days, discussed our learning plans for the week, and welcomed back the smiling and eager faces that always brighten up our day.
However, unlike other Mondays – this one took a bit of a twist when a member of our management discovered they had been in close contact with someone who had recently tested positive for COVID-19. After they immediately left the center, we set about protocol: The first step – educators and families needed to know.
It wasn’t an easy communication to write – at the time, we felt like we had failed our community – the children, their families and our staff. This feeling of guilt only grew over the next twenty-four hours, as we all waited with bated breath for the test results to come back.
They finally did, around one o’clock in the afternoon the following day – just as kids were deep in their daytime nap – the test result was positive. We quickly realized there was no more time to feel guilty, or sad – It was time to remain calm and take action. Immediately upon finding out the results, we contacted Public Health, requested all our K-Town families arrive for an early pick-up and sent staff home accordingly.
We locked up our doors and sought out our dear friends at Clean Sweepers – a local cleaning company specializing in protecting spaces from COVID-19 – to begin and complete step two.
With the use of an electrostatic sprayer and disinfectant hospital grade solution authorized by Health Canada and EPA, Clean Sweepers killed any bacteria and viruses that may be lingering throughout Kindertown. To ensure that we have this type of continued protection, Kindertown will be using this same sprayer and disinfectant on a regular basis through all our classrooms, materials and spaces moving forward.
The third step was to figure out whether or not COVID-19 spread across Kindertown or was limited to this one person. Thankfully, with protocols in place, there was a chance that transmission would be minimal – and after a day or two of waiting – a sense of relief washed over us as our educators' tests came back negative, one after the other.
Speaking of which, we can’t say enough about our educators, whom throughout this entire process remained positive, composed and committed to ensuring that we would be able to bounce back on our feet. These same sentiments were shared by all our families – through regular contact and updates – as we did our best to keep them informed of the very fluid and seemingly always changing situation.
The positivity and transparency paid off – after a few days, we eventually spoke with Public Health: Kindertown’s COVID encounter was deemed a low risk – and we could open at our own discretion. Though this was a major relief, it forced us to ask ourselves: Do we open right away or take the time to ensure the safety of our families and educators?
We didn’t know it at the time, but the very good news would lead us towards the most difficult of decisions.
In step four, there were a lot of variables involved – parents would have to find alternate care for the week, staff wouldn’t be able to work, and a closure would inevitably add financial strain to our family run organization. However, we felt that we could eliminate any possibility for future spread, ensure peace of mind, and give educators a very much needed break after months of incredibly hard work by staying closed just a little bit longer.
This decision put all of our families in a tight spot – and though this made it incredibly difficult for those working from home or deemed essential to keep up with their day-to-day – our Kindertown Community showed incredible support, appreciation and thanks. Rather than frustration – we were shown gratitude and compassion - and for that we can’t say it enough: Thank You K-Towner’s.
This was the biggest takeaway from all of this: you are only as strong as the community around you - and though we are small, we are mighty!
Though this last week or so has been an emotional, anxiety, guilt ridden roller coaster with no end in sight – we made it through because of our collective. There were a million thoughts, worries and concerns flooding in all at once, however the mental and well-being of your families and front-line educators is what matters most - and that sentiment will be reciprocated.
You’ll feel guilty, sad and all those other terrible feelings, but when push comes to shove, you’ll get down to business – and with great support from your educators, families, the City of Hamilton and Public Health, navigating through such a confusing time will be made much easier.