ALL programs of Cook’s School Day Care Inc, centre and home-based will remain closed until at least May 19.

Cook’s will continue to follow the direction of government officials during this pandemic and give as much notice as possible when we are able to resume operations.  Guidelines recommended by authorities will be shared when available to support a re-opening that is as safe as possible for the children, families, and educators.

We, too, are finding it difficult to be distanced from our friends and loved ones.  We miss seeing the Cook’s children and families who have brought so much happiness to our lives!  We thank you again for your patience and understanding and hope to see you soon!

Extension closure memo to child care sector for May 19

Cook’s remains closed until at least May 6.

We understand and share that the measures in place continue to be challenging. We thank you for your patience and understanding!

Please join our Facebook group, Victoria Park Child Care Centre – Staying Connected, to share with the educators and other families. We miss you and hope to see you soon.

https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/04/ontario-extends-emergency-orders-to-help-stop-the-spread-of-covid-19.html

Stay Home, Stay Connected

Help spread community spirit and positivity from home! Complete weekly creative challenges to show your support for the community and get entered in a draw to win a Northumberland prize pack.

Follow @NorthumberlandNeighbourhoods on Instagram or visit northumberland.ca/northumberlandneighbourhoods for more information.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of people across the province, the Ontario government has extended all emergency orders that have been put in place to-date under s.7.0.2 (4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act until April 23, 2020, including the closure of outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants, along with restrictions on social gatherings and the prohibition of price gouging.

Read the full announcement.

While schools and child care centres are closed, parents can apply for direct funding from the Province of Ontario to offset the cost of buying materials to support their children’s learning, while they practice self-isolation and physical distancing.

Eligible parents will receive a one-time per child payment of:

• $200 for children aged 0 to 12
• $250 for children or youth aged 0 to 21 with special needs

This funding can help parents with the costs of work books, educational apps, educational subscription services, movies and other tools to support learning at home.

Parents refers to parents, guardians, and caregivers.

Learn more at ontario.ca

Premier Doug Ford announced today that all schools in Ontario will remain closed until at least May 4th and that, “As these dates come closer, this decision will be re-evaluated based on public health advice. The closure may be extended if necessary, to protect the health and safety of students, families and staff”.

Further, “Private schools, licensed child care centres and EarlyON programs will also remain closed until April 13, according to the Declaration of Emergency, which only allows closures to be extended for one 14-day period at a time. Select centres designated to support frontline health care workers and first responders will remain open”

Updated Information on Financial Support for Child Care and Early Years Workers Relating to Covid-19

(Provided by the Association of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario)

As this public health emergency unfolds, we know many educators and early years staff have questions related to work and financial support. With available information changing day by day we have updated our resources to reflect the best information we can gather at this time. Find those resources HERE. Currently we are awaiting more information about the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and will be updating with more information about the 75% Federal Wage Subsidy as it becomes available from Canada.ca.

All programs at Cook’s School Day Care Inc (home- and centre-based locations) remain closed.

It is unclear when Cook’s will resume normal operations.

We continue to closely monitor all recommendations made by the federal and provincial governments, our local Health Unit, the County of Northumberland and the Ministry of Education. Cook’s will work with all levels of government to contain the spread of COVID-19 and respond to any direction given from authorities.

Health authorities stress the critical importance of taking the following precautions:

• wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• sneeze and cough into your sleeve
• avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• avoid contact with people who are sick
• stay home if you are sick

For your reference, here are the hotlines that have been set up to help you access up-to-date information, get answers to your questions about COVID-19, and connect with health professionals if needed.

• Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5020 https://www.hkpr.on.ca/
• Ontario Ministry of Health (416) 235-6556 / 1 (877) 604-4567
• Health Canada 1 (833) 784-7397
• Telehealth Ontario 1 (866) 797-0000

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit, Ontario Ministry of Health or Health Canada websites.

We sincerely hope you are all well and safe.

We extend our good wishes to all children, families and the entire Cook’s community, and we thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times. Updates will be provided as the situation evolves and factual information is available.

The following is a message from the Northumberland County, Early Years Division

In order to support health-care staff and other front-line workers during the COVID-19 outbreak, Northumberland County is exploring options to offer emergency child care services for those that are 1) essential workers and 2) have no other available options for child care.

To ensure that the needs of the community are being met, Northumberland County’s Early Years Division is asking for your assistance. If you are in need of emergency child care, or believe you may be in need in the coming weeks, please complete the following survey.  This will allow us to determine the level of need, the type of care required, and possible areas that require these services.

Please note: at this time there is no guarantee that these services will be offered, that they will be offered at your current centre, or that they will be offered in your municipality.  We will make any and all attempts to ensure that the needs of our families are being met.  However, the situation is fluid and rapidly changing.  More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in this difficult time.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/childcareplans

The County thanks each of you in advance for participating in the survey.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks!!

Northumberland County Early Years Division

To: All Families & Educators

From: Board of directors, Cook’s School Day Care Inc.

Date: March 14, 2020

Cook’s School Day Care Inc is committed to providing healthy and safe early learning programs for our children families, educators and community.  After much deliberation and discussion with stakeholders, we have made the very difficult decision to close our centre effective immediately in an effort to work with all levels of government to contain the spread of COVID-19.

At this time, it is our expectation that we will resume normal operations on Monday, April 6^th, 2020.

Cook’s Home Child Care Program:  At this time, Priscilla has made the difficult decision to close her home-based child care program until Monday, April 6^th, 2020.  Maria and Diane’s home-based programs remain open at this time.

We are closely monitoring all recommendations made by our local Health Unit, the County of Northumberland and the Ministry of Education.  Cook’s will respond, as always, to any direction given from authorities.  Public Health continues to assure that the risk of becoming ill from COVID-19 remains low in Ontario.

We understand that this creates significant hardship for our families, and we do not take this decision lightly.  Cook’s School Day Care Inc., including our Board of Directors, are seeking every opportunity available to support the wellbeing of our staff and educators during these closures.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and respect the direction and advice provided by public health authorities. Updates will be provided as the situation evolves and factual information is available.

Health authorities continue to stress taking the same precautions which are recommended every year for cold and influenza season. These include:

• • wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • sneeze and cough into your sleeve
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  • avoid contact with people who are sick

For your reference, here are the hotlines that have been set up to help you access up-to-date information, get answers to your questions about COVID-19, and connect with health professionals if needed:

• Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5020 https://www.hkpr.on.ca/
• Ontario Ministry of Health (416) 235-6556 / 1 (877) 604-4567
• Health Canada 1 (833) 784-7397
• Telehealth Ontario 1 (866) 797-0000

For more information on COVID-19, please visit  Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge Health Unit, the Ontario Ministry of Health or Health Canada websites.