HOWDY FAMILIES AND FRIENDS!

We are ready to kick off our new year on August 16! We wish our graduates moving on to kindergarten the best! We will miss you dearly, but know you are going to do great.

This newsletter is packed full of important information as we transition to a new school year. Information regarding New Family Orientation, Meet the Teacher, Open House, COVID-19 Modifications, and our Playground Ribbon Cutting are included.

There are a lot of decisions being made regarding COVID-19 and those decisions are ever evolving. Below is what we have drafted as of right now.

BGCC Fall 2021 COVID-19 Modifications & Information

The below modifications are subject to change at a moment’s notice as policies and regulations alter due to the impact of COVID-19. We will inform you when we are notified of changes. We are prepared to be flexible this semester. Thank you for helping us keep BGCC a safe and healthy place for our children to grow and thrive!

DROP-OFF & PICK-UP

Ensure anyone entering the building is well and does not have any COVID-19 symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Notify the front desk or administration if you are unable to attend due to illness
Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings
Sanitize hands upon entry and exiting building
Check-in/out your child using ProCare Touch System
Walk your child to their classroom
Remain until a teacher has completed the health check
We strongly encourage limited time spent inside the building

CLASSROOMS & OUTSIDE

Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings
Classrooms will maintain teacher consistency to the best of our ability
Classroom groups will not combine to the best of our ability
Materials used will be disinfected daily
Classrooms will be cleaned twice daily
Children and adults will wash hands before and after meals and sensory play
Classrooms will go outside twice per day weather permitting

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS & EVENTS

Individual classrooms may have special guests
Research, observations, and clinical experience will be reinstated provided guidelines can be met pending current COVID-19 guidelines
Family events will occur pending current COVID-19 guidelines
Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings

COVID-19 INFORMATION

The Becky Gates Children’s Center is under the authority of the State of Texas including Governor’s Orders, Health and Human Services (HHS), Texas A&M University and state and local orders. Policies we employ cannot conflict with local, state, and territorial laws, policies, and regulations.

Active Governor Executive Order 38:

4. To further ensure that no governmental entity can mandate masks, the following requirements shall continue to apply: a. No governmental entity, including a county, city, school district, and public health authority, and no governmental official may require any person to wear a face covering or to mandate that another person wear a face covering

“Today’s executive order will provide clarity and uniformity in the Lone Star State’s continued fight against COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “The new Executive Order emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates. Texans have mastered the safe practices that help to prevent and avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have the individual right and responsibility to decide for themselves and their children whether they will wear masks, open their businesses, and engage in leisure activities. Vaccines, which remain in abundant supply, are the most effective defense against the virus, and they will always remain voluntary – never forced – in the State of Texas.”

Click here to read more about Governor Abbott’s Press Release from 7/29/21.

TAMU COVID-19 Guidance:

https://www.tamu.edu/coronavirus/index.html

TEXAS A&M FACE COVERING GUIDANCE

Updated: May 17, 2021, 4 p.m. CDT

The health and safety of the Aggies (students, faculty, and staff), especially of vulnerable individuals, is of paramount importance. The primary purpose of wearing a face covering is to reduce the amount of virus spreading from the wearer (who may not know they are spreading the virus) into the environment and to others. The secondary purpose of the face covering is to reduce the likelihood that large droplets containing virus that are generated by others may enter the nose and mouth of the wearer. Within indoor spaces, the use of a face covering does not replace the recommendation to maintain physical distances from others. While physical distancing may not always be possible, at least 6 feet of physical distancing is still recommended. Following CDC guidance, and to protect your fellow Aggies against COVID-19:

All unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings (cloth face covering, surgical mask, etc.) in indoor public areas on campus (includes all non-private office or residential spaces such as lobbies, restrooms, classrooms, teaching laboratories, research laboratories, common spaces in residence halls, conference rooms, and break rooms). Disposable filtering facepiece respirators, such as KN95 and N95s are appropriate.
All unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings (cloth face covering, surgical mask, etc.) in outdoor spaces where 6 feet of physical distancing is difficult to reliably maintain.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

Vaccination Site Location: Student Health Services (A.P. Beutel Health Center) Click here for appointment

CDC Prevention Strategies to Reduce Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in ECE Programs:

Click here to view our Fall 2021 Calendar.

New Family Orientation Information

Howdy New BGCC Families!

Welcome to the Becky Gates Children’s Center Family! We have two opportunities for you to attend our New Family Orientation before your child begins. You only need to attend one session.

Session 1:

9:00-10:00 AM, Tuesday, August 10

https://tamu.zoom.us/j/91625926122?pwd=Rkl3N05rcTVvRWRGUU5CUkNMMEtjdz09

Meeting ID: 916 2592 6122

Passcode: 392881

Session 2:

4:00-5:00 PM, Wednesday, August 11

https://tamu.zoom.us/j/94738061732?pwd=Qk5QNy9wQ1c5YWU3RnU4TjB5ZmlSdz09

Meeting ID: 947 3806 1732

Passcode: 713521

Other Important Events:

Zoom Meet the Teacher is August 12. Your child’s teacher will email you that information. This provides the teacher an opportunity to go over classroom specific items and introduce themselves to you. Please email your child’s teacher for any questions you have about this event.

Open House will occur on Friday, August 13 from 4:00-5:00 PM. This is a come and go event. Bring any items you would like dropped off in the classroom prior to your first day and learn where your classroom and cubby will be!

BGCC Community Fun:

Our PreK and school age children got to participate in the Brazos Valley Bombers Kaboom’s 15th Birthday! The children painted canvases that were displayed at the game and were given free tickets to the game. Fun was had by all until the game got canceled due to inclement weather.