• Remember that playing, reading with a caregiver, and exploring nature are all learning! 

​"The magic of early childhood comes from allowing for moments of unstructured play and experiential learning. Find joy in the moments of togetherness and take time to enjoy a slower pace at home." - Teacher Jen at Gabriel Park Preschool

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• Take a look through these activities for some fun ideas:

  • Local kindergarten teacher offering online lessons

  • Ideas by Subject compiled by Teacher Jen at Gabriel Park Preschool

  • Remote Learning for Pre-K/K 

  • TRUCE Teachers Resources

  • Consider joining an online group of other parents in the same situation

  • List of educational companies offering free subscriptions

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• Look for live-stream musical performances. Red Yarn took his last performance to Facebook Live after the event was cancelled. We hope to see more performers follow suit.  

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• Check out these online storytimes:

  • Storyline Online​

  • Kid Lit Authors Reading Stories and Doing Activities

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• Get creative about movement! 

  • Cosmic Kids Yoga​

  • Imagination Yoga

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• Go on virtual tours!

  • Check out this very thorough list​, with links

  • This list of museums has a few additional places not found above (no links)

  • This list also has several places not found above (no links)

We are so fortunate to have so many helpers to assist us with these conversations!

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• Read this great piece from a Hawthorne Family Playschool parent and therapist

• Check out this conversation between a dad and his daughter

• Mr Rogers was amazing at talking with young children about difficult topics. Read this wisdom from the Fred Rogers Center. 

• Another great read from the Child Mind Institute

• This post from A Mighty Girl has excellent resources for talking to children about things that make them feel worried

Guidance from health authorities includes staying home as much as possible, practicing social distancing, and engaging in excellent hygiene. What does all of that mean?

• Johns Hopkins University explains it all here.  

• Read this excellent piece from Hawthorne Family Playschool 

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To stay informed, gather information from reputable sources:

• Center for Disease Control (CDC)

• Oregon Health Authority (OHA)

  • Here is an excellent one page resource from OHA​

• Clackamas County Health Department (OR)

• Washington County Health Department (OR)

• Multnomah County Health Department (OR)

• King County Health Department (WA)

  • If your county is not listed here, please check this list for Oregon, and this list for Washington.​

• World Health Organization (WHO)

We have some amazing technology to help us stay connected while practicing social distancing.  Options such as Zoom.com**, Facetime, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams offer free ways to maintain that human connection. 

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• Online Storytimes ​

  • Preschool teachers may choose to offer this as a way to stay connected to their students.

  • Take turns reading books to each other’s kids. 

  • Please note: if you choose to read a book aloud online, follow these guidelines.

• Other online interactions with your school's teacher (meditation and breathing times, yoga exercises, singing, etc), like Teacher Merry at Brooklyn Cooperative Preschool​

• Simultaneous scavenger hunts, letter hunts, or other building games with friends via the apps/sites above

• Have lunch/snack together! Set a time to do a video call with a friend, and set up your device at the table. 

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**Check out zoom troubleshooting here. 

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Self care is going to be so important for adults! 

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• Zoom.com**, Facetime, and Google Hangouts are for you, too. Set a time and host an online meet up, such as a virtual Parent’s Night Out, a book club, or a conversation about tips and tricks for managing this unusual time. 

• Get your child set up with one of the activities above, and take 10 minutes for yourself in another room - read a book, listen to a podcast, or just drink your coffee alone. 

• Work to build in self-care with parenting, such as kid-friendly meditation.

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**Check out zoom troubleshooting here. 

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• Take Parent Meetings Online!  Board and membership meetings can be hosted online. Meeting announcements must include instructions on how to connect**, and minutes must be kept - just like an in-person meeting.

  • C​onsider changing the format of your meetings to keep your board/members engaged. This advice from nonprofit consultant Joan Garry may be just what you need!

• Continue open communication with your members. Here are sample announcements from Canby Community Preschool and Hawthorne Family Playschool.

• This may be the perfect time for your board to work on a long-term project that you haven't had time to do, such as reading through and updating bylaws and policies, 

• Learn more about what early childhood programs need to know about doing business during this pandemic. ​

  • Stay up to date with the Early Learning Division (ELD) of the Oregon Department of Education and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families

  • Check out this free webinar by Child Care Aware America

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**Check out zoom troubleshooting here. 

This is a big season for school fundraisers, so the loss of one of these events may feel devastating. But don't give up yet! Get creative about adapting your in-person event to a remote one. 

• Check out these comprehensive resources from the Nonprofit Association of Oregon

• Explore online auction and raffle sites, such as SchoolAuction.net, Greater Giving, and RallyUp.

• Host a live auction via Facebook Live!

Please consider posting COVID-19 related questions on our Google Groups. This will allow PCPO staff to respond more quickly and efficiently. Just like in school, there are no dumb questions, and if you have a concern, you can bet it is shared by many other members.  

 

There are google groups for the most common board positions. If you are not connected with our Groups, or aren’t sure where your position fits, please email Kimberly Peterson so you can be part of the conversation

 

**If you are not comfortable sharing or your query is not best fit for a public forum, do not hesitate to contact PCPO staff directly**

7:00 - 8:30pm

Virtual meeting

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Presidents and Treasurers from PCPO’s member schools are invited to attend
our insurance information night. This one-hour session will introduce the
group insurance coverage our schools participate in, how to be compliant
with policies, and the renewal process, with time for Q&A. Members are
encouraged to submit questions ahead of time to inspcpo@pcpo.info.
 

Registration will be required. Details will be released in our Connection e-
newsletter the week of 7/14.

7:00 - 8:30pm

Virtual meeting

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Please note that this meeting is on a Thursday. This is a change from our regularly scheduled Tuesday meetings. 

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PCPO members, please join us for the fourth session of our COVID forum series. This session will cover the following topics:
Cleaning & Sanitization

Supply Lists

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Registration link will be sent to all schools prior to 8/6. Please limit attendance to two attendees per school. 

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**If you are not receiving email invitations to these forums, please contact PCPO to add your email address to our distribution list. 

7:00 - 9:00pm

Virtual meeting

​

Board meetings are open to all members, and we welcome anyone who is interested in serving the co-op community. Come see who we are and what we do. Learn how you can be more involved with a really fun group supporting cooperative, play-based education! 

​

Interested in joining the board? Fill out this board interest form. A current PCPO board member will follow up with you. 

7:00 - 8:30pm

Virtual meeting

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PCPO members, please join us for the fifth session of our COVID forum series. We will talk about policy updates for schools based on any changes from their states, in preparation for reopening. We expect new guidance to be released by the Oregon Early Learning Division (ELD) on August 14th, and we will be closely watching Washington state for any new information from the Department of Health (DOH).

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Registration link will be sent to all schools prior to 8/18. Please limit attendance to two attendees per school. 

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**If you are not receiving email invitations to these forums, please contact PCPO to add your email address to our distribution list. 

9:15-11:15am

FORMAT/LOCATION TBD

 

Introduction to PCPO’s board, services, resources, publicity opportunities, and events. The PCPO Handbook, each school’s annual Dues statement, and more will be distributed at this meeting. All board members from your school are welcome!

7:00 - 9:00pm

Virtual meeting

​

Board meetings are open to all members, and we welcome anyone who is interested in serving the co-op community. Come see who we are and what we do. Learn how you can be more involved with a really fun group supporting cooperative, play-based education! 

​

Interested in joining the board? Fill out this board interest form. A current PCPO board member will follow up with you. 

9:15-11:15am

FORMAT/LOCATION TBD

 

Break out session for Treasurers

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ITEMS DUE: 

• Postmark Deadline for PCPO Dues and Insurance Balance Payments

• Open House Ad form and payment

• Community Outreach Participation Agreement

7:00 - 9:00pm

Virtual meeting

​

Board meetings are open to all members, and we welcome anyone who is interested in serving the co-op community. Come see who we are and what we do. Learn how you can be more involved with a really fun group supporting cooperative, play-based education! 

​

Interested in joining the board? Fill out this board interest form. A current PCPO board member will follow up with you. 

Balances from your school’s Spring Insurance Statement are now due May 1st, 2020.

 

REMINDER: If your school has an event that has been postponed or cancelled, you MUST inform the insurance office to have the charge removed.

 

Is your school planning Summer Camps? Summer Park dates? Open houses?

These are reportable events. ​

Please have forms submitted 6-8 weeks prior to the activity. 

7:00 - 8:30pm

Virtual meeting

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PCPO board members (and SWPCC teachers) Amanda Pillsbury and Sharon Forcum will host this forum for all PCPO teachers. There is no structure to the meeting, just a time to talk about school, life, COVID, reopening, and whatever else comes up. PCPO staff will attend for a short time at the beginning to answer any questions. 

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Zoom meeting details will be emailed prior to the Wednesday meeting.