Quick hello: Families, teachers connect in morning drive-by

May 14, 2020  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

Hunger Mountain Children's Center Executive Director Amanda Olney (right)  greets a parent and children during HMCC's Teacher Parade/Drive by in Waterbury on Saturday.  Olney said she and center’s staff were glad to hear that child care facilities will be allowed to reopen in June. Photo by Sarah Milligan.

After weeks of being closed due to the coronavirus business and school shurtowns, teachers at Hunger Mountain Children’s Center organized a safe, convenient way to connect with families last weekend. 

On Saturday morning, teachers spread out along the sidewalks behind the state office complex as parents with little ones slowly drove or walked by to say hello. 

The distance allowed teachers to remove masks so children would recognize them. 

“It was so uplifting. It was helped a lot to see the kids,” said Executive Director Amanda Olney.

Gov. Phil Scott last week announced that child care centers will be allowed to reopen June 1 under new public health guidelines to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Olney said the center is tentatively planning to do so. She said she and her 14-member staff have just begun to review the new guidelines to determine how to adjust operations to meet new requirements. 

Located on South Main Street near the state offices, the nonprofit child care center and preschool cares for approximately 60 children per day, ages six weeks through age 5. 

HMCC preschool teacher Bethany Fuller and her daughter Jaye (who might be in a chicken costume) greet families behind the state complex on Saturday. Photo by Sarah Milligan.