Kehler’s Gymnastics Covid-19 Protocols
for Fall 2020 and Until Further Notice
After reading the Kehler’s Gymnastics Covid-19 Protocols below, please proceed to the PDF Page for directions for your electronic signature.
Positive and Fun Environment
We are aware that young children need a positive and fun environment this season and we expect to balance our concern for safety with having a calm and upbeat atmosphere. It will help the children feel comfortable in activities during this time of extra precautions if families will go over the protocols and explanations as to the need for special rules this season to keep everyone well. We encourage families to promote rest, healthy eating, and following CDC guidelines for distancing, masks, and other safe practices even while away from KGC, to keep everyone safe. Consider limiting social activities for your child to just their friends at KGC.
Overview:
We appreciate your interest in our programs, and your patience during this difficult season as we all monitor the changing situation with Covid-19. We have decided to go forward with our school year programs, only after so many parents requested that we do so. We understand that many families depend on KGC for psycho-social, as well as physical development of your children, and we want to be there to help. Our other concern is to provide employment for our employees, so they can support their families as well.
In an effort to continue to adopt the CDC and state guidelines during this difficult time, we are able to hold camps and classes with protocols in place for additional safety. We are therefore planning to promote contactless registrations, continue our cleaning regimen, require hand washing and use of hand sanitizer, keep enrollments much lower than normal to limit exposure, change some class times to allow for new drop off procedures, and no adults will be permitted in the building except our staff.
Additionally, at this time we do not expect to host large groups or parties and the indoor playground, the Kid’s Fun Factory, will remain closed for general admission or use after classes. Thanks for your understanding and patience as we continue to monitor the restrictions by health authorities as we all try to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible. These protocols will be dynamic as the situation changes and the health authorities refine their regulations. Updates can be reviewed at www.kidsfun.org .
Because we have greatly reduced the number of available spaces in activities, we are allowing this season, we do not anticipate covering our operating expenses, however we hope to make a much safer experience for everyone. Safety has always been our first concern. We understand that every family must weigh the risks for themselves, and make the best decision for their children, just as we have struggled with this decision. So, we have invested hundreds of hours in preparing our facility, training our staff, and preparing protocols, with safety as our first concern. Please read through the following, and share with all caretakers who will drop off students.
Drop 0ff Schedule at the Red Side Door. (5 to 10 minutes before class only)
Our protocols aim to limit contact between staff and students’ guardians as much as possible. Place an 8”x12” sign in the driver’s side window with your child’s name. Drive past the building, turn left at the second driveway, circle behind the building, to the red side door, and stop in line until it is your turn to walk your child to the red door. Please remain in your car, wear masks, and communicate from a distance. Kehler’s staff will not take children directly from the cars but will instead maintain distance from the car and caretaker at drop off time. Remember please, no parents may enter the building.
Our employees are not permitted to converse with anyone not wearing a mask. Adults dropping off children will be asked to verify that they have monitored children for symptoms, that the children are symptom free, and their temperature is not above 100.4 degrees F. Please take your child’s temperature at home every day before class.
When no other parents are at the door and your car is at the front of the line, please take the children out of their seat belts, stay six feet or more from the red door to the facility, and send the student through the red door to our waiting staff when they signal to do so. The student should have no extra belongings except a water bottle.
Pick up/ Drop Off must be done in a timely manner.
We do not recommend late arrivals or early pickups as no parents may enter the building this season. Please try to avoid these situations as we will need to stop the entire class to open the door for you to pick up/drop off late. In the event of an unavoidable situation, please stay in your car and call the office at 610-359-9999 to get instructions. If no answer, leave a message, then try the customer emergency number 215-316-3852 as your 2nd call/text (during class only). As soon as we can have someone available to greet parents/children at the door, we will return your call. You may also try to reach us at kehlersgymnastics@gmail.com. Be patient please.
Pick Up for 5 Minutes Immediately Following Class ONLY:
Again, please enter via the lower driveway, circle behind our building, and stop at the red door on the side of our building. Place an 8”x12” sign in the driver’s side window with your child’s name. Your child will eventually exit the red door, and you should then get out of your car, and help your child into the car, and attach their seat belt before exiting the driveway.
Please be patient this year as the drop off and pickup will take more time as we verify no symptoms and distance from caretakers. We appreciate everyone’s help. Notify any adult dropping or pickup campers for ALL protocols to prevent any misunderstanding or stress to the campers. Please remember, we are all doing our best.
What to bring:
We will not permit sharing of items and will keep each student’s water bottle separated from others’ in individual containers.
Bring (1) Reusable or disposable water bottle labeled with the student’s name is required. Do not send juice, Gatorade, or other beverages, as we will carry the water bottles in our activity areas.
Gymnasts should wear shorts and t-shirts that tuck in. For safety no skirts or leotards with skirts, or anything that looks like a skirt.
Do NOT SEND: hand sanitizer, medications.
Special Needs Parents please remain on site.
Normally if students have behavioral concerns, or if there are concerns that might require medications be given we ask parents to remain on site. This season “on site” will mean in our parking area rather than inside the building. Please be sure to have your mobile phone available, and when applicable, any medications that may be needed while waiting on site. Minors found to be in possession (in hand, in their belongings, etc.) of any medications of any kind, shall be immediately dismissed from the program with no refund and no further warning. This includes, but is not limited to, inhalers, epipens, over counter meds, prescription meds, therapeutic lotions/creams, test kits, etc.
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette:
Practice at home so the children are comfortable with the routine. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
We will require frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, for all students and staff. Please do NOT send your child with hand sanitizer. We have stocked soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues, disinfectant cleaners and no-touch trash cans. Sanitizer, or hand washing, will take place regularly before beginning each new activity, which is quite frequently, sometimes as often as every 6 minutes. You may wish to have your child use hand moisturizer when they get home each day to prevent drying of skin.
Staff and students should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into elbows. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer. Please make sure your child is potty trained and able to take care of hand washing on their own.
Cloth Face Coverings:
All staff are required to wear a cloth mask at all times except when eating/drinking. The CDC would prefer that all students wear a cloth mask at all times, however, they recognize that face coverings may be challenging for young students. If your child starts the day wearing a mask, and it becomes distressful for them as the day progresses, we may allow them to remove it until they are comfortable again.
Masks are required for students age 13 years and over. Students using masks should have elastic loops at ears rather than ties. Cloth face coverings are not surgical masks/respirators. We strongly suggest that for the safety of everyone, that all students wear a mask with their name on it.
Posted Health Signs and Daily Instructions from staff will remind students of protocols. Staff will be trained on the protocols and parents informed by email and our website.
Cleaning and Disinfection
We have thoroughly cleaned our facility during the closure and will continue to clean frequently touched surfaces (equipment, door handles, sink handles, light switches). We will limit the use of shared objects and equipment will be cleaned daily, and whenever possible, between use. Staff will use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash and then wash hands.
Ventilation and Water:
We will ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of air as much as possible, for example by opening windows and garage doors in the gym area. Drinking fountains have been closed to avoid contamination, but sinks will be available if your child uses all the water in their bottle.
Physical Barriers and Guides
We are installing some physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, in some areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart. During some activities students will be reminded to remain a safe distance where possible.
Small Groups: Keeping Them Together (Cohorting)
To limit your child’s exposure to others, we will keep students together in small cohort groups of 7 or less (we average 4 to 6), with dedicated staff, and make sure they remain with the same group throughout the class, every week for the entire session.
Therefore in order to follow CDC guidelines we are not permitted to follow our usual unlimited makeup policy. At this time it is our plan to provide Gymnastics & Tumble Tykes makeup lessons from this school year during the 5th session, provided by then, we are permitted by CDC recommendations to allow co-mingling of groups.
Experience has shown us that there will be times when we must switch a child’s group, or add additional instructors/students, but we will make every effort to limit those occurrences. There will not be large group activities involving the entire class this year, however, there may be times when we place two or more of our small groups on the same activity, reminding children to safely distance when possible.
Limited Exposure Protects Children & Staff:
At this time, we plan on very limited class enrollment. No parents or adults other than Kehler’s Gymnastics
Center Staff are permitted in the building this season.
Communicate with us.
Do not hesitate to call and leave voicemails or email if you have questions or concerns and a staffer will get back to you as soon as possible. The office phone may not always be answered immediately as our staff will have addition duties keeping the students as safe as possible. You might also try kehlersgymnastics@gmail.com. Because parents may not enter the building, we now have a way for you to reach us during your child’s class, by calling our customer emergency number 215-316-3852.
Contact Tracing:
Regardless as to what measures are taken to protect our children and staff, it is always possible that someone may become infected with a virus, including Covid-19. Chester County Health Department is in charge of Delaware County during the pandemic and they have asked for the following procedure:
Students or staff with symptoms should contact their medical professional who will make the decision to test if necessary and will contact the local health authorities if testing occurs. This communication does NOT go through our staff. In the event that someone does need to do contact tracing, the Health Department will require KGC managers to release the names and phone numbers of attendees who may have been exposed to Covid-19 through contact to the infected person. Please be aware that your contact information will be given to Chester County Health Department should they call and ask, and we request that you comply with their questions about anyone who may be exposed.
If an employee or student has symptoms or tests positive or has been exposed to someone with Covid-19 within the 14 days prior to being at KGC, we request that you e-mail the office at kehlersgymnastics@gmail.com with the dates you attended. As per the Health Department, to protect others, this information may be shared with families from the same small group, or others at KGC that week that may have had contact, but only as anonymous information. Families and staff may be advised to monitor for symptoms.
Symptoms of illness occur almost daily in any environment involving children for an assortment of reasons, including allergies or being sad because of missing mom and dad. As directed by the Health Department, we will not be informing everyone in KGC every time a child has symptoms, but as stated above we will wait for their direction regarding contact tracing should that become necessary.
In the event that a student shows symptoms during class, they will immediately be separated from KGC groups, temperatures may be taken, symptoms assessed, parents will be called (please make sure we have contact numbers that will be answered and you have an adult ready and able to pick up from class on short notice). An isolation area where they can sit comfortably and wait for a parent pickup will be used. Isolation areas after 24 hours will be cleaned and disinfected prior to reuse.
When to Stay Home for Staff and Students:
Employees and students who show symptoms of Covid-19 or have recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days and monitor for symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat or stomach distress. If they were exposed to Covid-19, they may return after 14 days if they remain symptom free, based on the time it takes to develop the illness.
Employees and students should stay home if they have tested positive for or are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Call your medical professional. If the student or employee is recovering from Covid-19 they should wait 10 days after symptoms appear, have 3 days with no fever and no symptoms, prior to returning to KGC.
I have read the KGC Protocols above. I understand, and accept the risk, that regardless of what protocols are in place, there is always the possibility that my child, myself, or my family may still contract Covid-19 or other illness as a result of my family participating in Kehler’s Gymnastics Center Inc. Activities. I will make every effort to follow all the protocols, will check my child’s temperature and symptoms daily.
To participate in any KGC activities after September 1, 2020, all families will need to sign and agree to the above Protocols through an E-Sign Document. To request that document complete the short form on the PDF Page and it will be emailed to you.
We are aware that young children need a positive and fun environment this season and we expect to balance our concern for safety with having a calm and upbeat atmosphere. It will help the children feel comfortable in activities during this time of extra precautions if families will go over the protocols and explanations as to the need for special rules this season to keep everyone well. We encourage families to promote rest, healthy eating, and following CDC guidelines for distancing, masks, and other safe practices even while away from KGC, to keep everyone safe. Consider limiting social activities for your child to just their friends at KGC.
Overview:
We appreciate your interest in our programs, and your patience during this difficult season as we all monitor the changing situation with Covid-19. We have decided to go forward with our school year programs, only after so many parents requested that we do so. We understand that many families depend on KGC for psycho-social, as well as physical development of your children, and we want to be there to help. Our other concern is to provide employment for our employees, so they can support their families as well.
In an effort to continue to adopt the CDC and state guidelines during this difficult time, we are able to hold camps and classes with protocols in place for additional safety. We are therefore planning to promote contactless registrations, continue our cleaning regimen, require hand washing and use of hand sanitizer, keep enrollments much lower than normal to limit exposure, change some class times to allow for new drop off procedures, and no adults will be permitted in the building except our staff.
Additionally, at this time we do not expect to host large groups or parties and the indoor playground, the Kid’s Fun Factory, will remain closed for general admission or use after classes. Thanks for your understanding and patience as we continue to monitor the restrictions by health authorities as we all try to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible. These protocols will be dynamic as the situation changes and the health authorities refine their regulations. Updates can be reviewed at www.kidsfun.org .
Because we have greatly reduced the number of available spaces in activities, we are allowing this season, we do not anticipate covering our operating expenses, however we hope to make a much safer experience for everyone. Safety has always been our first concern. We understand that every family must weigh the risks for themselves, and make the best decision for their children, just as we have struggled with this decision. So, we have invested hundreds of hours in preparing our facility, training our staff, and preparing protocols, with safety as our first concern. Please read through the following, and share with all caretakers who will drop off students.
Drop 0ff Schedule at the Red Side Door. (5 to 10 minutes before class only)
Our protocols aim to limit contact between staff and students’ guardians as much as possible. Place an 8”x12” sign in the driver’s side window with your child’s name. Drive past the building, turn left at the second driveway, circle behind the building, to the red side door, and stop in line until it is your turn to walk your child to the red door. Please remain in your car, wear masks, and communicate from a distance. Kehler’s staff will not take children directly from the cars but will instead maintain distance from the car and caretaker at drop off time. Remember please, no parents may enter the building.
Our employees are not permitted to converse with anyone not wearing a mask. Adults dropping off children will be asked to verify that they have monitored children for symptoms, that the children are symptom free, and their temperature is not above 100.4 degrees F. Please take your child’s temperature at home every day before class.
When no other parents are at the door and your car is at the front of the line, please take the children out of their seat belts, stay six feet or more from the red door to the facility, and send the student through the red door to our waiting staff when they signal to do so. The student should have no extra belongings except a water bottle.
Pick up/ Drop Off must be done in a timely manner.
We do not recommend late arrivals or early pickups as no parents may enter the building this season. Please try to avoid these situations as we will need to stop the entire class to open the door for you to pick up/drop off late. In the event of an unavoidable situation, please stay in your car and call the office at 610-359-9999 to get instructions. If no answer, leave a message, then try the customer emergency number 215-316-3852 as your 2nd call/text (during class only). As soon as we can have someone available to greet parents/children at the door, we will return your call. You may also try to reach us at kehlersgymnastics@gmail.com. Be patient please.
Pick Up for 5 Minutes Immediately Following Class ONLY:
Again, please enter via the lower driveway, circle behind our building, and stop at the red door on the side of our building. Place an 8”x12” sign in the driver’s side window with your child’s name. Your child will eventually exit the red door, and you should then get out of your car, and help your child into the car, and attach their seat belt before exiting the driveway.
Please be patient this year as the drop off and pickup will take more time as we verify no symptoms and distance from caretakers. We appreciate everyone’s help. Notify any adult dropping or pickup campers for ALL protocols to prevent any misunderstanding or stress to the campers. Please remember, we are all doing our best.
What to bring:
We will not permit sharing of items and will keep each student’s water bottle separated from others’ in individual containers.
Bring (1) Reusable or disposable water bottle labeled with the student’s name is required. Do not send juice, Gatorade, or other beverages, as we will carry the water bottles in our activity areas.
Gymnasts should wear shorts and t-shirts that tuck in. For safety no skirts or leotards with skirts, or anything that looks like a skirt.
Do NOT SEND: hand sanitizer, medications.
Special Needs Parents please remain on site.
Normally if students have behavioral concerns, or if there are concerns that might require medications be given we ask parents to remain on site. This season “on site” will mean in our parking area rather than inside the building. Please be sure to have your mobile phone available, and when applicable, any medications that may be needed while waiting on site. Minors found to be in possession (in hand, in their belongings, etc.) of any medications of any kind, shall be immediately dismissed from the program with no refund and no further warning. This includes, but is not limited to, inhalers, epipens, over counter meds, prescription meds, therapeutic lotions/creams, test kits, etc.
Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette:
Practice at home so the children are comfortable with the routine. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
We will require frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, for all students and staff. Please do NOT send your child with hand sanitizer. We have stocked soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, tissues, disinfectant cleaners and no-touch trash cans. Sanitizer, or hand washing, will take place regularly before beginning each new activity, which is quite frequently, sometimes as often as every 6 minutes. You may wish to have your child use hand moisturizer when they get home each day to prevent drying of skin.
Staff and students should cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into elbows. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash and hands washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer. Please make sure your child is potty trained and able to take care of hand washing on their own.
Cloth Face Coverings:
All staff are required to wear a cloth mask at all times except when eating/drinking. The CDC would prefer that all students wear a cloth mask at all times, however, they recognize that face coverings may be challenging for young students. If your child starts the day wearing a mask, and it becomes distressful for them as the day progresses, we may allow them to remove it until they are comfortable again.
Masks are required for students age 13 years and over. Students using masks should have elastic loops at ears rather than ties. Cloth face coverings are not surgical masks/respirators. We strongly suggest that for the safety of everyone, that all students wear a mask with their name on it.
Posted Health Signs and Daily Instructions from staff will remind students of protocols. Staff will be trained on the protocols and parents informed by email and our website.
Cleaning and Disinfection
We have thoroughly cleaned our facility during the closure and will continue to clean frequently touched surfaces (equipment, door handles, sink handles, light switches). We will limit the use of shared objects and equipment will be cleaned daily, and whenever possible, between use. Staff will use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash and then wash hands.
Ventilation and Water:
We will ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of air as much as possible, for example by opening windows and garage doors in the gym area. Drinking fountains have been closed to avoid contamination, but sinks will be available if your child uses all the water in their bottle.
Physical Barriers and Guides
We are installing some physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, in some areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart. During some activities students will be reminded to remain a safe distance where possible.
Small Groups: Keeping Them Together (Cohorting)
To limit your child’s exposure to others, we will keep students together in small cohort groups of 7 or less (we average 4 to 6), with dedicated staff, and make sure they remain with the same group throughout the class, every week for the entire session.
Therefore in order to follow CDC guidelines we are not permitted to follow our usual unlimited makeup policy. At this time it is our plan to provide Gymnastics & Tumble Tykes makeup lessons from this school year during the 5th session, provided by then, we are permitted by CDC recommendations to allow co-mingling of groups.
Experience has shown us that there will be times when we must switch a child’s group, or add additional instructors/students, but we will make every effort to limit those occurrences. There will not be large group activities involving the entire class this year, however, there may be times when we place two or more of our small groups on the same activity, reminding children to safely distance when possible.
Limited Exposure Protects Children & Staff:
At this time, we plan on very limited class enrollment. No parents or adults other than Kehler’s Gymnastics
Center Staff are permitted in the building this season.
Communicate with us.
Do not hesitate to call and leave voicemails or email if you have questions or concerns and a staffer will get back to you as soon as possible. The office phone may not always be answered immediately as our staff will have addition duties keeping the students as safe as possible. You might also try kehlersgymnastics@gmail.com. Because parents may not enter the building, we now have a way for you to reach us during your child’s class, by calling our customer emergency number 215-316-3852.
Contact Tracing:
Regardless as to what measures are taken to protect our children and staff, it is always possible that someone may become infected with a virus, including Covid-19. Chester County Health Department is in charge of Delaware County during the pandemic and they have asked for the following procedure:
Students or staff with symptoms should contact their medical professional who will make the decision to test if necessary and will contact the local health authorities if testing occurs. This communication does NOT go through our staff. In the event that someone does need to do contact tracing, the Health Department will require KGC managers to release the names and phone numbers of attendees who may have been exposed to Covid-19 through contact to the infected person. Please be aware that your contact information will be given to Chester County Health Department should they call and ask, and we request that you comply with their questions about anyone who may be exposed.
If an employee or student has symptoms or tests positive or has been exposed to someone with Covid-19 within the 14 days prior to being at KGC, we request that you e-mail the office at kehlersgymnastics@gmail.com with the dates you attended. As per the Health Department, to protect others, this information may be shared with families from the same small group, or others at KGC that week that may have had contact, but only as anonymous information. Families and staff may be advised to monitor for symptoms.
Symptoms of illness occur almost daily in any environment involving children for an assortment of reasons, including allergies or being sad because of missing mom and dad. As directed by the Health Department, we will not be informing everyone in KGC every time a child has symptoms, but as stated above we will wait for their direction regarding contact tracing should that become necessary.
In the event that a student shows symptoms during class, they will immediately be separated from KGC groups, temperatures may be taken, symptoms assessed, parents will be called (please make sure we have contact numbers that will be answered and you have an adult ready and able to pick up from class on short notice). An isolation area where they can sit comfortably and wait for a parent pickup will be used. Isolation areas after 24 hours will be cleaned and disinfected prior to reuse.
When to Stay Home for Staff and Students:
Employees and students who show symptoms of Covid-19 or have recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should stay home for 14 days and monitor for symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat or stomach distress. If they were exposed to Covid-19, they may return after 14 days if they remain symptom free, based on the time it takes to develop the illness.
Employees and students should stay home if they have tested positive for or are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Call your medical professional. If the student or employee is recovering from Covid-19 they should wait 10 days after symptoms appear, have 3 days with no fever and no symptoms, prior to returning to KGC.
I have read the KGC Protocols above. I understand, and accept the risk, that regardless of what protocols are in place, there is always the possibility that my child, myself, or my family may still contract Covid-19 or other illness as a result of my family participating in Kehler’s Gymnastics Center Inc. Activities. I will make every effort to follow all the protocols, will check my child’s temperature and symptoms daily.
To participate in any KGC activities after September 1, 2020, all families will need to sign and agree to the above Protocols through an E-Sign Document. To request that document complete the short form on the PDF Page and it will be emailed to you.