Since July 2020, the Suzuki preschool has been open to in-person learning. During this time, the preschool staff under the leadership of Debra Leary has successfully brought joyful learning to our young students and kept a very safe environment without causing any spread of the COVID-19 virus. They have done amazing work coming together after those three months of shut-down last March through June 2020.

Not only do we have living proof that early education can continue in person without causing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, this article published in The Lancet - Global Health substantiates the lower risk of spread via children attending preschool. According to a scientific study conducted in France to explore the infection rates among children and their likelihood to transmit the virus, scientists "found that the 14 seropositive children (of 320 children, 150 daycare centre staff, and 150 adult comparators) were broadly distributed across 13 different centres and that seropositivity among the children was not associated with the duration of exposure (ie, the number of days attending the daycare centre) or the seropositivity of the daycare centre staff. All of these exploratory analyses constitute additional arguments for interfamilial transmission rather than transmission at the daycare centre." Thus, the greater risk occurs from one's own family members than from attending an early childhood center.

We must all continue to be vigilant and it is nice to see that the vaccine is increasingly being distributed and reaching more people. However, it is so nice to know that the science has indicated children have the advantage of lowest risk, and our fabulous teachers are working their hardest to keep them safe and provide an excellent education with lots of fun.

As we currently have spaces available in our Suzuki preschool, I hope you all would consider helping us spread the word of our wonderful Suzuki learning here which includes Suzuki violin and piano, Mandarin, sports and the upcoming Spring Art Show. It is a place to learn, play, and grow -- every day!

Sachiko Isihara
Executive Director