Unity Preschool News
February 2021
Director's Dispatch
Dear Preschool Families,
We have enjoyed celebrating Valentine's Day in our classes this week. We decided that we all need some extra love right now. We had so much fun together sharing Valentine stories, making Valentine crafts, working on our Valentine learning activities, and singing Valentine songs. Thank you so much for the many treats, including the delicious Panera bagels this morning, that you shared with our Staff. We have felt lots of LOVE this week.
Traditionally, this time of year when we celebrate Donuts with Dad in our Four's classes. In the past, our Dads were invited to our Four's classrooms to observe our Circle Time followed by donuts with the children. Unfortunately, COVID has prevented us from hosting that tradition this school year, but we have not forgotten our amazing DADS! We hope that you enjoy your gift and a little "treat" at home with your child this week.
Just a reminder that we will not have preschool this Monday, February 15 because the FMSD will be closed in recognition of President's Day.
Much love,
Ms. Linda
Director - Unity Preschool
Owl Class - Alphabet Match
Fish Class - Alphabet Match
Owl Class - Heart Craft
Frog Class - Stamping
Monkey Class - Valentine's Snack
Monkey Class - Candy Heart Sorting
Color/Spirit Day - Valentine's Day
Our next Color Day is Wednesday, March 17 and it will be GREEN DAY! We are looking forward to searching for the Leprechaun that causes mischief in our Preschool every St. Patrick's Day!
Our Next Spirit Day is Thursday, March, 25. Dress your child in any kind of (polka) dots that you have in honor of The Dot, a book by author Peter Reynolds. See below for more information about our March Literacy month.
Community Helper and "L" Week
Our Three's enjoyed "L" week last week and one of our students, Lawson (Monkey Class), brought his lizards, Rocco and Turbo, to school! His sisters, Presley and Peyton (both Unity Preschool graduates), taught us how they take care of their Bearded Dragon lizards and shared some interesting lizard facts.
Owl Class
Fish Class
Fish Class
March Literacy Month - Peter Reynolds
Unity Preschool is excited to celebrate Literacy month in March. Why do we promote literacy in preschool? Promotion of early literacy gives students the foundation they need in order to learn and grow. Building literacy and language skills helps our children develop a love of books and a genuine interest in learning to read and learn. We learn how language works and we use language every day in our classrooms to tell stories, share ideas, and ask questions.
Each week of March we will be reading a book written by Peter Reynolds:
Ish - March 1
Sky Color - March 8
Be You - March 15
The Dot - March 22
https://www.peterhreynolds.com/
*Be on the lookout at the end of this month for some at-home extension activities, a BINGO reading board, and a reading log that you can return for a special surprise!
*March 25th Spirit Day is Dot Day! Dress your child in any kind of (polka) dots you have!
*Place your scholastic book orders! If you order online, there is a Peter Reynolds 3 pack that includes Ish, Sky Color, and The Dot.
*The Bookmobile visits Unity once a month, but you can visit the Fort Mill Public Library any time! Gathering books for specific trips or long car rides is a great idea! Before the beach- get a beach book! Before the dentist- get a dentist book! Before family visits- get a Grandma and Grandpa book!
Scholastic Book Orders
I have included a link below to digital flyers for preschool students. Please place your on-line orders by Monday, February 22. Thanks in advance for your generous support.
Our Class Code: GXCK8
Teacher Feature - Ms. Danielle
Ms. Danielle is our Four's Assistant with Ms. Heather in the Fish class. Next year she will be our Older Two's/Younger Three's Lead Teacher. She worked in the Two's classroom last year with Ms. Tee and is looking forward to teaching our little ones again.
Ms. Danielle and her husband Tommy, have two boys who currently attend Doby's Bridge Elementary school and are Unity Preschool graduates. Colton is in second grade and Daxton is in Kindergarten. Ms. Danielle attended Southeastern Louisiana University. She has several years of child care experience and was a former Children's Coordinator at her church, New City Church. Below are some of Ms. Danielle's favorites:
Favorite Foods: Mexican and Thai
Favorite Music: Country and Pop
Favorite Book: Ms. Danielle loves anything by Elin Hilderbrand and loves a good Devotional. Breathing Room is her favorite right now.
Favorite Activities: She always enjoys going on trips with her family especially to the beach. She does miss one of her favorite activities of walking every aisle of Target by herself drinking coffee.
Thank You
Thank you also if you donated to our Chili for Children on-line fundraiser. We raised over $1600 for our Scholarship Fund!
Ash Wednesday Worship Opportunities at Unity
Your child is bringing home a Lent calendar today with some fun activities to learn about the lenten season. Lent begins this Wednesday, February 17. We have the following Ash Wednesday activities at Unity that you are invited to attend:
Prayer Stations: Self-guided Prayer Stations will be available on Ash Wednesday, February 17, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Participants are asked to sign up for a 15 minute slot. One individual or family may sign up for each time slot. The prayer stations will walk you through setting an intention for Lent, confessing of sins and being assured of God’s forgiveness, and the imposition of ashes. Each person or family will use an individual container of ashes and will put the ashes on their own forehead or on the foreheads of other family members. We hope this will be a meaningful way to begin Lent and remind you of God’s constant love and grace in your life. Registration is required, click here to register.
Upcoming Events
Four's Conferences: Conferences for our Four's classes will be the week of March . Ms. Brandi's class will be Tuesday, March 2 and Ms. Heather's class will be Wednesday and Thursday, March 3 and 4. Ms. Linda will send an e-mail with a sign-up link next week.
Miscellaneous Reminders
*Preschool Closed:
President's Day Holiday: Monday, February 15
Spring Break: April 5 thru April 8
*Warm Jackets and Hats: We go outside if the temperature is above freezing and it is not rainy or too wet. Please send your child in warm jackets, hats and mittens. They need and enjoy fresh air and exercise!
*Label Clothes: Please remember to label jackets/sweaters/extra clothes that you send to school so that we can make sure they go home with the correct child.
*Tuition Withdrawal: Our next tuition withdrawal date will be Monday, March 1.
COVID Update
Our quarantine numbers jumped in January/February due to close contact situations outside of preschool and a positive test result of a Staff member. We currently have one teacher (Ms. Becca - Three's Monkey class) who is quarantined until Monday, February 15, because of a positive test of one of her family members (no symptoms). Yesterday, Ms. Sonia (Three's - Frog class) received a positive test result. As a result, the Three's Frog class (9 students; 2 Staff members) will be quarantined at home until a return to school date of February 23. Please keep Ms. Sonia, Ms. Lauren and all of our Frog friends in your prayers this week. We hope for a quick recovery for Ms. Sonia and that all of our preschool friends remain healthy and COVID-free.
Thank you for your faithfulness in keeping your child home if you or your child are not feeling well. We encourage you to temperature scan and monitor your child closely for any sign of potential illness. Students should remain at home if they are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 including fever, new or persistent cough, headache, loss of taste or smell, fatigue and/or stomach issues (diarrhea). It is also helpful to keep your children home if another family member in the household has similar symptoms.
We recognize that CDC quarantine guidelines are confusing and changing. We have a direct contact with DHEC so if you have any questions regarding whether you think your child should quarantine, please just ask. We pray that we continue to remain COVID-free.
COVID-19 CUMULATIVE Update for 2020-21:
Quarantine Students: 16 (10 currently - Frog class; 3 in January)
Positive Test Students: 1 (January - during Christmas Break)
Quarantine Staff: 5 (3 currently)
Positive Test Staff: 1 (currently - 3's Frog class quarantined until 2/23)
Unity Preschool Staff 2020-21
Left to Right by teaching pairs:
Ms. Heather and Ms. Danielle: Fours (Fish)
Ms. Brandi and Ms. Kellie: Fours (Owls)
Ms. Sarah and Ms. Becca: Threes (Monkeys)
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Sonia: Threes (Frogs)
Unity Preschool
Email: preschoolatunity@gmail.com
Website: https://www.preschoolatunity.com/
Location: 303 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC, USA
Phone: 803-396-8454