St. Michael Preschool News
Growing with God... Dec. 11, 2022
A Message from Pastor, Fr. Michael Burbeck
At this time of year, the image of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus looks out at us from countless Christmas cards, decorations, and nativity sets. It is a beautiful image that radiates peace and a sense of wonder at the birth of the Son of God. It is also not very realistic. Mary and Joseph always look well-rested, well-groomed, and at peace. The baby Jesus also looks clean and content, perfectly fresh and comfortable. I imagine that was not actually the scene. Mary and Joseph had just traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, frantically searched for a place where Mary could have her child and found themselves thrown in among the animals. They wrapped Jesus in whatever homespun cloth they had at hand and laid him in the manger because it was cleaner than where the animals were. I am sure the whole scene was a shade messier and more chaotic than it seems in the picture. And that is good news, because our lives often are too.
If your preparations for Christmas are a little hectic, your house is not as clean or well-decorated as you hoped, or if your lofty ambitions of spiritual preparation this Advent did not work out as you planned, be at peace. Jesus was born for you. He was born precisely into our messy, complicated, sometimes chaotic world to bring us His peace.
The important thing for us, as it was for Mary and Joseph, is not that we have our lives perfectly in order, or that everything go just as we planned, but that we open our hearts to welcome Him anyway. Just as they found that the best they could do for the Son of God was to welcome Him in a manger because they didn’t have anywhere else, the best we can do is welcome Him in our hearts and in our lives exactly as they are. And, just as He transformed that manger by His presence into a place that still radiates peace, hope, and joy, so His presence transforms us if only we will let Him.
So, amid the craziness, welcome Jesus. Pause, take a breath, and let Him into your heart and your life and that will be enough.
Have a blessed Christmas!
Fr. Michael
2's Programs
Christmas Letter from Bishop Luis Zarama
Dear St. Michael Preschool Families & Friends,
On behalf of the teachers and staff of St. Michael Preschool, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May the birth of our Lord Jesus at Christmas bring you renewed hope and much peace, love, and joy.
We thank you for your continued support and prayers, and commitment to your child’s Catholic preschool education. We look forward to praying, playing, and learning together in 2023 as we continue "Growing with God!" May God bless you and keep you always.
Christmas blessings,
Lisa Ciesla, Director
THIS WEEK Christmas Sing-alongs!
NO SCHOOL: CHRISTMAS VACATION DECEMBER 19 - JANUARY 2
COMING IN JANUARY!
Registration Information for the 2023/2024 School Year
We hope you’ll join us for another year of Growing with God as we pray, play, and learn together!
Tuition Payment Methods
Your next tuition payment is due by JANUARY 5. If you have not already set up Auto Draft, now is a great time to do so.
- Click this Auto Draft Registration Link
- Enter the amount to draft for "Tuition - Current PS (PS-Preschool)"
- Enter Frequency as Monthly
- Select Continue to enter your personal banking information
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS
St. Mike's Tikes Live Nativity
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR PLAYGROUND RAFFLE BASKET FUNDRAISER!
WINNERS NOTIFIED BY MONDAY, DEC. 12!
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
Please watch the weather and dress your child accordingly. Students will play outside daily when the temperature is above freezing with no precipitation.
As the seasons are changing, please remember to send in a cold-weather change of clothes for your child. Thank you!
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Closings and Delays: Our policy is to assess conditions on St. Michael Campus and the local area to determine closings or delays at the preschool. We understand this may not always reflect weather conditions in your area or follow the Wake County School closings or delays, so please use your discretion when bringing your child to school.
Parents will be informed of school closings and delays via our Realm communication system. A text message will be sent to the primary phone number, an email to the primary email addresses on file, and a post to the Realm App. If this information needs to be updated at this time, please let the preschool office know.
On delayed openings, Early Arrival and Lunch Programs are canceled and children bring a peanut/nut-free lunch and attend from 11:00-1:00 pm. This later dismissal time may interfere with younger children’s nap schedules, so again, please use your best judgment in sending your preschooler on these days.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY!
PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME If they develop one or more of the following symptoms: congestion or runny nose, headache, fever or chills, cough, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, diarrhea, or vomiting.
*PRESCHOOL RETURN TO SCHOOL POLICY:
- stay home for 5 days, and return wearing a mask for 5 more days, OR
- get a negative COVID test, which must be submitted to the preschool office (photo of the home test), OR
- get a note of alternate diagnosis from the pediatrician
*REGARDLESS OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST OR ALTERNATE DIAGNOSIS, ANY REMAINING SYMPTOMS SHOULD NOT BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE CHILD OR CLASS.
COVID GUIDANCE UPDATED – On September 6, the Childcare/Preschool COVID Toolkit was updated.
PLEASE REMEMBER, that by sending a child to school, parents are affirming that their child is in good health and recognize that if there is any doubt, they should keep their child home. We thank you in advance for monitoring your child's health daily and for your understanding as we work to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our entire preschool community.
PLEASE SAVE THE SWEET & SUGARY TREATS FOR HOME
Allergy Sensitive Snacks
- Children will bring their own snack to school. We ask that it be just one or two healthy items that can be easily enjoyed by your child.
- Snacks may NOT contain peanuts/nuts or peanut/nut products. This includes foods that have been produced/processed in a plant with nut products.
- Avoid potential choking hazards - all grapes, cherries, and mini tomatoes need to be cut in half. Popcorn, hard candy, or sugary snacks are not permitted.
3's Programs
MORE TIME TO PRAY, PLAY, & LEARN!
REGISTRATION FOR JANUARY ADVENTURE CAMP IS NOW OPEN!
Miss Tracey and Miss Lynn lead our super fun Adventure Camps. These camps are offered to preschoolers 3 years and older. Camps will occur one Wednesday and Thursday per month. If your child would love extra time playing and learning with friends, REGISTER HERE
Thursday, Jan. 5 - Disney - Let's have some fun with Mickey and friends!
Cost: $13.00 per camp. Send a nut-free lunch with your child. Dismissal: 2:00 pm.
ONLY TWO SEATS REMAIN FOR DISCOVERY DAY FRIDAY - REGISTER TODAY!
If your child just can’t get enough preschool fun, and loves to learn, explore, and experience all preschool has to offer, Discovery Day is the program for them!
Led by our incredible Miss Susan, lead teacher and resident licensed Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP), Discovery Days are thematic-based units designed to reinforce your child’s love of learning. We encourage students to wonder, explore, problem-solve, and most of all, have fun! The thematic activities will focus on literacy, art, religion, music, math, and science. Teachers will provide an outline of each class including concepts, vocabulary, and discussion questions so there can be a carryover from school to home.
The program runs on Fridays from October through May and is open to children ages 3-5. If seats still remain in January, children in the 2's program may enroll.
Early Arrival & Lunch Program - January - May Dates NOW OPEN
Need some extra time to run errands or get to an appointment? We can help! Check out our Extended Day Programs. Your child will enjoy the extra time to socialize and play!
- Early Arrival - available daily; drop-off begins at 8:15 am
- Lunch Program - available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; pick up is at 1:30 pm
Extended Day Fees:
Early Arrival / Lunch: Monthly Commitment Discounted Rate – $6.00 / per session
Early Arrival / Lunch Daily Drop-in Rate – $8.00 / per session
Important Notes:
Students registered in our 2-Year-Old Program are only eligible to participate in Early Arrival Programming (beginning in August), and Discovery Day (beginning in January, if seats remain).
4's Programs
PARENT RESOURCES
PARISH ATHLETICS
Parents,
Spring Soccer and Baseball registrations are now open on the website.
Apex-Cary Spring Soccer
Grades: Coed, Pre-K (3-year-olds) thru 8th grade.
Dates: March-May.
Practice Locations: Apex or Cary, you pick.
Game Locations: Apex & Cary.
Cost: Pre-K - $60; K thru 1st Grade - $65; 2nd thru 8th grade - $70
Note: Pre-k players have a combined practice/game on Saturdays. Kindergarteners thru 8th graders have one-weekday practice per week and weekend games.
Apex Spring Baseball
Grades: Coed. Pre-K (4-year-olds) thru 4th grade.
Dates: April – June.
Practice/Game Locations: Apex.
Cost: $65
Note: PreK thru Kindergarten plays T-Ball; 1st thru 4th-grade plays machine pitch. Pre-k players have a combined practice/game on Saturdays. Kindergarteners – 4th grade have one-weekday practice per week and games on Saturdays.
Get Outdoors! Get Reading!
Tracks in the Snow, by Wong Herbert Yee
Dates: December 9th through January 2nd
Location: Walnut Street Park
This meaningful family experience was organized by our very own St. Michael Preschool mom, Caroline Laski. Thank you, Caroline, for all your enthusiastic efforts to bring this wonderful activity to our community!
PopUp StoryWalk Cary is a fun community program exhibiting recreational reading adventures in our local parks. Enjoy some time outdoors while reading children's stories with your family as you stroll, run, or skip to find each page along a trail. Events typically "pop up" for 3 weeks & frequently feature fresh selections, inspiring families to follow our installations at various locations around town. View our current event below and follow us on Facebook for updates:
“The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Storywalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.”
PROJECT ENLIGHTENMENT
TK Program
Scholastic Books
Harris Teeter Rewards
Box Tops for Education
Social Media - Please follow us on…
Twitter: @stmpreschoolnc
Instagram: @stmpreschoolnc
About Us
Email: preschool@stmcary.org
Website: https://stmichaelpreschool.com
Location: 804 High House Road, Cary, NC, USA
Phone: 919-468-6110
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichael.preschool.16
Twitter: @stmpreschoolnc