General Safety Guidelines

• Only three parents will be allowed at a time beyond the drop-off entrance doors. As parents leave, other parents will be allowed to enter. Pick-up will be the same.
• Children will remain in small groups, and every effort will be made to keep the same children and teachers together from week to week.
• Developmentally appropriate small group activities will be arranged throughout the space for our 2’s class, preschool and elementary aged children.
• During any large group “story time,” all children will be physically distanced – small children on “spot dots” and elementary kids on chairs.
• Until further notice, face masks will be required for all persons, age 3 and over, in NCK and NCS.

Teacher-to-Child Ratio & Group Sizes

Classroom Ratios will be as follows:

Nursery: 3 adults / 6 children

1’s class: 3 adults / 6 children

2’s class: 3 adults / 5 children

Preschool: 3 adults / 9 children (1 adult & 3 children to a table)

Elementary: 1 adult /  8 children per group with 5 groups max

Kids will be kept in small groups, with safe distance between kids. We will limit 3 groups per room, with a maximum of 3 adults and 15 kids per room.

Students (Middle & High School): All small groups with proper distancing standards in place.

Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures

All persons entering NCK and NCS must be screened prior to check-in. The screening process will include the following:

• Volunteers and children will get a temperature check and have their hands sanitized. If a temperature of 100.3 degrees or more is indicated, they will not be permitted in NCK for the morning.
• Children that exhibit any of these symptoms are asked to not attend NCK or NCS until they have been symptom free for 48 hours, including (but not limited to): runny nose, cough, red eyes, skin rash, diarrhea and lethargy.
• Only one parent per family will be allowed beyond the drop-off entrance door.
• Students will be dismissed from NCS. Please establish a place for your student to meet you, after they are dismissed from their programming.

Sick Policy

• If your child currently (or in the past 48 hours) has a temperature of 100.3 degrees or more, they will not be permitted in NCK or NCS for the morning.
• If your child shows any other symptoms of illness, including (but not limited to): runny nose, cough, red eyes, skin rash, diarrhea, and/or lethargy, we will ask that they not attend NCK until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

Each family must answer “NO” to the following questions in order to be checked into a classroom:

• Have you or your child experienced any fever or flu-like symptoms in the past week?
• Have you or your child been exposed to someone who you know or believe has the Coronavirus in the 14 days?
• Have you or your child traveled outside of the state in the last week?

Cleaning & Room Policies

Check-in:

• All check-in tablets and printers will be used by NCK volunteers only and disinfected after each use and between services.
• Name tags will be printed by a member of the NCK team and ready for parents at the entrance of New City Kids.

Infant Room:

• Each child will be given a blanket when they arrive. The blanket will move about the room with the child. If the blanket becomes soiled, it will be replaced. All toys, blankets, etc. will be specifically for each service time.
• No diaper bags will be permitted in the room.
• Pacifiers must be clipped to your child.
• No diaper changes, unless necessary. NCK will provide a fresh, disposable diaper for your child. 
• All surfaces and toys will be disinfected, prior to and throughout each service.
• All NCK volunteers will wash their hand prior to entering and periodically throughout each service. Hand sanitizer will be available in each room.
• Room will be disinfected after each service, and the previous service toys, blankets etc, will be stored.

Toddler Rooms (1 year old and 2 year old rooms):

• No diaper bags will be permitted in the room.
• Pacifiers must be clipped to your child. 
• No diaper changes, unless necessary. NCK will provide a fresh, disposable diaper for your child. 
• All surfaces and toys will be disinfected, prior to and throughout each service.
• All NCK volunteers will wash their hand prior to entering and periodically throughout each service. Hand sanitizer will be available in each room.
• Room will be disinfected after each service, and the previous service toys, blankets etc, will be stored.
• Snack will be served on a disposable placements and cups. No personal sippy cups will be allowed.
• All door handles will be disinfected throughout service time.
• Each classroom will have toys, snacks and supplies for their service time only. All items will have been disinfected prior to the service and placed in a plastic bin.

Preschool / Elementary / Student Areas:

• Until further notice, face masks will be required for children and students ages 2 through High School. Face masks will need to be in place prior to and throughout their time in NCK and/or NCS.
• Children/students will use hand sanitizer, as they enter the space and   immediately move into their small group.
• All surfaces, toys and supplies will be disinfected prior to and throughout each service.
• All NCK volunteers will wash their hand prior to entering and periodically throughout each service. Hand sanitizer will be available in each room.
• All toys and supplies will be specifically for each service time. There will be no cross contamination from service to service.
• Room will be disinfected after each service, and the previous service and supplies, toys, blankets etc, will be stored.
• Snack, if applicable, will be served on a disposable placements and cups. No personal cups will be permitted.
• All door handles will be disinfected throughout and between all services.
• Each classroom will have toys, snacks and supplies for their service time only. All items will have been disinfected prior to the service and placed in a plastic bin.

Family Responsibility

We ask that all families exercise personal responsibility during this time in an effort to keep all kids and families of New City Church healthy and safe. In addition to the other policies and procedures outlined here, and in addition to our general policies, we ask families to observe and respect the following expectations:

• Do not bring children who have experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms within the past week (with or without fever).
• Notify New City Kids or New City Students if/when any member of their immediate family has been diagnosed or directly exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or if/when any child begins experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Help to educate and equip children on the importance of social distancing behavior.

Guidelines to Volunteer in Kids & Student Ministry during COVID-19

• All volunteers must have no underlying medical conditions which would predispose them to a complication with COVID-19.
• All volunteers must be willing and able to follow the policies and procedures as outlined here, including until further notice, face masks while serving in NCK or NCS.
• Any volunteer who does not feel comfortable serving in NCK or NCS is asked to communicate that fact, prior to re-opening. We understand that feelings may change over time, along with your availability.
• All volunteers must be willing to submit to the health and safety screening questions, as outlined in these policies. Any volunteer who fails the screening process will be asked not to serve on that Sunday.