PROACTIVE PROTECTION PLAN
Our Children’s Health, Safety and Security are our Number One Priority!

The outpouring of support and love from our families is astounding! We are proud to support the essential workers in our community! We are here for you during these unprecedented times!

COVID-19

HOW WE’RE KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE

INFORMATION FOR STEPPING STONE SCHOOL FAMILIES AND FACULTY

Stepping Stone School’s number one priority is upholding our commitment to maintain a safe, healthy environment for your children and family.

We care deeply for the well-being of your children and cannot thank you enough for entrusting Stepping Stone School with their care, nurturance, educational and social and emotional learning.

We want to provide you the information you need to make the best decisions for yourself and your loved ones. Below are the measures we are taking to keep our children, their families and the faculty members safe. We are here for you!

SCHOOL OPERATIONS

Stepping Stone Schools are following the guidance and directives from our federal, state and local governments, including local health departments. In addition to Stepping Stone School’s own rigorous health and safety protocols, we’re reinforcing the CDC-recommended preventative measures.

We have our own electrostatic disinfecting foggers and a CDC registered and approved, non-toxic disinfectant to mist areas of our schools if we think there is any chance that a positive COVID-19 staff or child has been present. This is the latest state-of-the-art process for disinfecting and killing germs and is being recommended by the top national early care and education professional organizations in the country.

STUDENT INFORMATION

Serving you and your families is a privilege, and we thank you for trusting Stepping Stone School to provide safe, healthy environments for your children. All Stepping Stone Schools regularly follow strict cleaning procedures, which already align with the CDC’s recommendations. Also, our administrators and faculty members frequently sanitize all high-touch areas, such as hard surfaces, bathrooms, light switches, doorknobs and learning materials.

Teachers are monitoring the children in their classrooms throughout the day for any signs of illness and we will inform parents to keep children home if they are unwell. We’re keeping the lines of communication open with families as we encourage them to actively partner with us to protect the wellbeing of our students and families.

All Stepping Stone School staff have been properly trained in first-aid, CPR, early care and education, social and emotional learning. Stepping Stone School is uniquely qualified with over 40 years of experience and degreed faculty to continue the loving care and education of your children and guiding them through this unprecedented time in their lives. We are committed to providing you with the peace of mind your family deserves!

What should I do if my child is sick or a family member has been diagnosed with COVID-19?

For the safety of your child and the other children and families at Stepping Stone School, anyone who is ill must stay home. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with COVID-19, immediately alert your campus principal and stay home. Please follow the CDC’s recommendations if you’re unwell or if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

For more information about how your school is handling health and safety protocols, please contact your campus principal.

FACULTY INFORMATION

Faculty members at Stepping Stone School provide care, comfort and education for our children, so their continued health and safety are important. Stepping Stone School’s stringent cleaning and disinfecting procedures protect the teachers and staff, too.

Stepping Stone School teachers have received resources, policies and procedures to help them protect themselves and the children in their classrooms.

Sincerely,


Rhonda Paver, M.A., Child Development
Founder, Owner & Executive Director

March 14, 2022 Update:

The wearing of masks will be optional at all Stepping Stone School campuses.

Parents welcome inside!

May 25th, 2021

As of June 1, 2021, parents will be allowed inside our campuses to drop off and pick up their children.

Masks are optional for children, families, and staff.


Austin COVID-19 Status Update

Nov 20th, 2020

Yesterday, the City of Austin and Travis County moved the COVID-19 stage from level three, back down to level four. Stepping Stone School never changed procedures when the City/County moved to level 3, so we have been practicing all of the safety, health and sanitation guidelines and requirements of level four. We will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Learn More

New Yale University COVID-19 Study

October 16th, 2020

We are excited to let you know about a new large national study out of Yale University demonstrating child care centers are some of the safest places in our communities for children and employees.

The results were published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and are the clearest evidence yet that child care centers do not cause the spread of COVID-19, even in communities where overall infections are high!

Learn More

Virtual Learning Update!

August 25th, 2020

We now have 400 school age children throughout our schools who are attending Stepping Stone School full-time while their elementary schools are closed!

Our Virtual Learning Pods are working beautifully and our children are successfully logging onto their on-line learning, completing their work and homework and participating in our own innovative school age programming.

Learn More

Stepping Stone School

Family Resources

At Stepping Stone School, our mission is to offer not only exceptional nurturing and education for our students, but also extraordinary support and care for all parents and families.
Many families are finding new and creative ways to engage and educate their children while at home. We compiled a list of fun and educational activities and resources for you to use with your family!
Learn More

Stepping Stone School

From Surviving to Thriving

Stepping Stone School is being featured in a video series produced by ChildCare Exchange!
Childcare organizations around the world are all in this together, and care deeply for the families and communities they serve.
See how Stepping Stone School and other Expert Educators are nurturing children and reinventing childcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic in “From Surviving to Thriving” series.

Learn More

Coronavirus updates and memos (click to view)

Family Resources – Articles and Blogs (click to view)

Stepping Stone School – 8 Ways to Help Your Child Through Immunizations
Stepping Stone School – “Good Friday Earthquake” March 27th Letter from Rhonda Paver, M.A.
Stepping Stone School – Ten Tips for Working at Home with Your Children
Stepping Stone School – Seven Practical Tips for Helping Your Children Feel Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics – COVID-19 Transmission in US Child Care Programs

CDC – COVID-19 Cases and Transmission in 17 K–12 Schools (Wood County, Wisconsin, August 31–November 29, 2020)
CDC – Water and COVID-19 FAQs (Information about Drinking Water, Treated Recreational Water, and Wastewater)
CDC – Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs
CDC – Talking with children about Coronavirus

National Geographic – Talking to kids about vaccines
PBS – New DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD Special, Created in Response to COVID-19, Premieres August 17 on PBS KIDS
NPR – What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) – Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource
Yale School of Medicine – Kids and COVID-19: What Parents Should Know
Education Week – How to Teach Social-Emotional Learning When Students Aren’t in School
ChildCare Aware – Coronavirus News & Resources for Families
National Geographic – What to do now that kids are “back in school”.
Mindheart – Printable Coronavirus book for Kids

NAEYC – Supporting the Development of Creativity
NAEYC – Turn Any Walk into a Nature Walk
NAEYC – 7 Tips for Vegetable Gardening With Your Toddler
NAEYC – Math in the Bath
NAEYC – Math at Home Toolkit

City of Austin – COVID-19 Information
Mayor Adler Proclamation, March 17th 2020
Judge Becerra Proclamation (Hays County), March 17th, 2020
Stepping Stone School Handwashing Procedures 

In the News (click to view)

Coronavirus FAQs

A: Stepping Stone School adheres to CDC, state and local regulations for child care providers and goes above and beyond. This includes superior sanitization and cleaning protocols, including the use of Vital Oxide and an electrostatic disinfecting fogger approved by the CDC to kill the virus. Our protocols have been recognized by several local medical officials.

A: Employees and children exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 and have a fever of 99.7 or higher will be sent home immediately. We continue to follow CDC and local health department guidelines for anyone testing positive for Covid-19. Parents of children who may have had contact with the individual testing positive, will be notified. Reminder, children running fevers are required to be fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications before returning.