NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATES AND RESOURCES

En Español

 All in-person school and family programming in East Palo Alto and Hayward has shifted to remote programming as of Monday, March 16, 2020.

4/8/2020 UPDATE: Counties across the Bay Area officially announced that all K-12 schools will remain closed through the end of the school year. This means that we are planning to continue remote learning for our school-aged students through the end of the school year. This decision did not include official guidance about preschools, so we are working with County officials to stay abreast of when preschools are allowed to reopen safely. Though we don’t expect our preschool to reopen between now and June, we will let families know if anything changes.

3/25/2020 UPDATE: Seven Bay Area counties announced that mandatory school closures will continue through May 1 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We will be monitoring guidance from our County and other authorities over the coming weeks. Teaching and non-teaching staff will still be working remotely while programs are closed. 

“We have great respect for the steps that local and county officials are taking to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and protect vulnerable populations in our community,” said our CEO, Courtney Garcia. “At the same time, we know that school is not just a place for our students to learn. It is also a place that families can rely to keep their children safe, cared for, and fed during the day. We will continue to provide as much support as possible for children and families in the weeks to come.”

We know this is an uncertain time for all of us. This page includes information and resources for families, partners, and others in our surrounding communities. We will continue to add to this page as we learn more.

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

East Palo Alto

  • Remote Learning: In East Palo Alto, we moved to “remote learning” for preschool and elementary school students starting on Monday, March 16. We are planning to continue remote learning through the end of the school year.

  • Food Distribution: On Monday March 16 and Tuesday March 17 we distributed food and learning packets to all school aged families. Since Wednesday March 18, all food distribution has been done via Ravenswood City School District.

  • Learning Packets: We will no longer be distributing learning packets to families. Instead, lessons will be posted on SeeSaw. Teachers will also continue to post videos on our remote learning YouTube channel and will reach out regularly to families.

  • Birth-to-Three Programming: All in-person parent and toddler programming at the Little Blue House is canceled; we will continue to be in touch with families to share at-home activities and resources.

Hayward

  • Remote Programming: In Hayward, we will continue to offer “remote programming” and support for families in place of any in-person programming.

  • Developmental Screenings: Most families have completed ASQs and Assessments. For those who have not, our team will be reaching out to either set up a remote plan or reschedule to another date. 

  • Parent Advisory Group: Our Parent Advisory Group meeting, scheduled for March 14, 2020, has been canceled. Communication regarding critical collaborative projects with the group will continue to be conveyed via phone and email. 

How to Talk to Your Child about COVID-19

We understand that your child may be curious and perhaps even concerned about the COVID-19. Here are some resources that can help you answer questions and talk about this topic with your children.

Other Resources for Families

INFORMATION FOR PARTNERS AND VISITORS

If you were going to visit one of our program sites in East Palo Alto or Hayward, please plan to reschedule your visit. If you have been in touch with someone on our team, they will be reaching out to you individually to reschedule. Staff have been instructed to work remotely and conduct meetings over Zoom or via phone. 

GENERAL GUIDELINES TO STAYING HEALTHY

We are following the guidelines and protocols provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other state and federal agencies to keep our staff, families, partners, and surrounding communities healthy and to reduce the spread of the virus.

Resources