December 2, 2020
Dear UCAP Head Start Families,
Our Head Start classrooms remain open to the extent possible. As part of the MN Childcare and
education team, we are an essential business to Minnesotans as we know many parents are also still
working and need education and quality care for their young children. Out of the abundance of caution
and as guided by the MN Department of Health, your child’s classroom may experience short onsite
closures if there is a COVID-19 exposure. If a classroom is closed, remote services will be offered.
Facemasks have become part of our new normal and are one of the main aspects for limiting the spread
of COVID-19. From our medical and pandemic experts, MN Department of Health, the CDC and the
Office of Head Start, we know that face masks are key in mitigating the spread of the virus. Through
current research, we now know that face masks protect both the person wearing the mask and those
you may come into contact with.
To protect our staff and young children, as well as yourself, masks must be worn when coming into
contact with Head Start teachers, staff members, and other children. We will have masks available if you
should need one at drop off/pick up times.
In the classroom, children over two years of age also wear masks unless the child has a disability and is
unable to. In this case, we have a parent permission form that should be signed. This protects your child,
other children in the classroom and our teaching staff.
To further protect your children, our staff members will also be tested for COVID-19 through December.
Thank you and stay safe,
Dr. Mary Lockhart Findling
United Community Action Partnership