Red Robin Country Day School & Camp’s 2020-2021 Safety Policies

Michael Cohn, Red Robin Country Day School & Camp Owner/Director

Since 1957, Red Robin Country Day School & Camp has remained devoted to the safety and well-being of our students and campers, physically and emotionally.  As a New York State certified Emergency Medical Technician and Social Worker, with a Master’s Degree in the field, these areas are paramount to me as the owner/director of Red Robin Country Day School and Camp.  Curriculum and programming are of course essential, but only after safety has been ensured and made a priority at all times.

It is for these reasons that our Educational/Program director, Miss Sheryl, is First Aid and CPR certified, as well as other staff members who are CPR certified. We are all fully committed to the welfare of our students and campers.  Just a few examples of our standard (pre-COVID) safety protocols: we prohibit popcorn and balloons (both major choking hazards), slice camp hotdogs in half during the summer, intentionally altering their shape and size, and watch diligently to make sure that toys in our classrooms and at “Arts & Crafts” are age-appropriate.  We retain a tree company and its professionals to assess all of the trees on our property regularly, removing all dead wood and branches that pose a risk, and constantly assess all other potential hazards.

General Safety Protocols for School & Camp

Beyond COVID-19, the only way to minimize obvious risks, as well as freak acts of nature, is to constantly monitor, tweak, and remain vigilant with regard to those risks that may exist.  As an integral part of our team, we ask all of you to aid us in this endeavor by never sending children to Red Robin with finger or similarly shaped carrots, whole grapes and/or whole cherry tomatoes, hotdogs, popcorn, or any other clear edible or inedible choking hazards, such as toys, balloons or “trinkets” that may be easily swallowed.

Please be sure to quarter grapes, cut other fruit and vegetables into small pieces, and be mindful of meat and large pasta that you may be packing for your child’s lunch.  In addition, Red Robin Country Day School & Camp is now a completely peanut and tree nut free environment.  Please refrain from sending in any lunch, snack or birthday items that may contain these ingredients.  Please send an ingredient list with random or atypical snacks that may have questionable contents. 

If you would like us to celebrate your child’s birthday in school, please feel free to send in a large watermelon.  Most children love watermelon and it serves as a great substitute for baked treats.  Another option is the School Safe product line, which is sold at Whole Foods, Stop & Shop and Shop Rite, among others.  They offer cupcakes and cookies guaranteed to be free of peanuts and tree nuts.

In addition, if you would like us to celebrate your child’s birthday in school, we respectfully request that you avoid sending him or her in with “goodie bags” as it is usually very difficult for families to completely avoid dangerous items and candy.  We have found that some toys, which appear to be harmless, may actually be quite hazardous.  Therefore, please work together with us in providing a safe environment for our students by eliminating “goodie bags” from your child’s in-school party.  Our teachers will highlight his or her birthday and your child will proudly don his or her own Red Robin Country Day School birthday crown. 

Once again, with regard to any contagious illnesses or fever, please carefully assess your child’s health each morning before sending him or her to school.  If you suspect an illness of any type, please exercise extra caution and allow him or her to remain at home until he or she is well.  Once at school, if your child becomes feverish (100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or greater), is vomiting and/or appears to have a potentially contagious illness, we will immediately contact you and request that you pick your child up from Red Robin.  Once again, please be sure that your child is fever free for 72 hours before returning to school, alerting our office of any COVID-19 or other significant diagnoses.  In addition, children with contagious illnesses and/or those who have been prescribed medication for an illness may only return to school with a note from your child’s pediatrician. 

As always, in addition to COVID-19, the New York State Department of Health is warning all schools to work closely with their students’ families in preventing the spread of the Swine Flu, Roto Virus and the many other illnesses that may be easily transmitted through unnecessary exposure.  As discussed herein, our teachers are constantly washing toys and surfaces, even more frequently now, and our students are taught to thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water, even more frequently now.

Students’ Medical and School Forms

We appreciate your assistance with regard to the immediate submission of all necessary forms, including your child’s updated physical form, complete with an official record of immunizations and clearance from his or her pediatrician for participation in all school activities (NYS requires that all physical examinations must have been performed within the last year and that they must be signed by a licensed physician.  Forms that expire prior to the last day of school will need to be renewed per NYS regulations.), the white student background form, the NYS emergency form, Red Robin’s consent/transportation form and the topical medication/napping forms.

The consent/transportation form is mainly designed to provide our staff with the names of those members of your family, babysitters, and/or others you give permission for us to release your child to.  Individuals listed on the form must present a valid NYS driver’s license in order to facilitate the safe release of your child to him or her.

Finally, once our students have entered the buildings at the start of each school day, we lock our doors.  Based on our COVID-19, closed campus protocol, it will now be necessary for you to call our main office from the parking lot at (516) 334-1144 if you are signing your child in late or out early.  Children entering late or leaving early must be health screened (when entering only) and noted in our log book, which will be provided at the front gate.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

Miss Sheryl, our staff and I care deeply about our students, our campers and their families, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect you all.  As always, we very much appreciate the trust and confidence that you place in us, and revel in working together with you as a family and a team.  Please understand that none of this detail is meant to scare or upset our families, but instead to reassure you that we are focused on safety at all times.

If you should ever have questions with regard to these or any other matters, I wholeheartedly invite you to call us in the office at (516) 334-1144 or visit with us for a face-to-face conversation.  On behalf of Miss Sheryl and the entire Red Robin staff, we look forward to a fantastic school year and very much appreciate your cooperation with regard to our enhanced COVID-19 procedures, and beyond.

Yours truly,

Michael Cohn, MSW and NYS Certified E.M.T.

Owner/Director, Red Robin Country Day School & Camp