I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

The teachers and I want to sincerely thank you for all your ongoing support and prayers. We wish you good health and happiness this Thanksgiving and offer a prayer of thanks for your beautiful children who you entrust to our loving care.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for these very special young lives. They burst with hope and joy and fill our days with such delight. Guide them and keep them each day. May they know your loving hand upon their lives and come to know you as friend and Father. Inspire their hearts as they grow and mature. Protect their minds, watch over their hearts, and lead them to great adventures. Amen.

In Christ,

Lisa Ciesla, Director

lciesla@stmcary.org

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This past year, the Diocese of Raleigh Preschool/Early Childhood Standards were revised and implementation of these standards is occurring this year. They have been designed to include overarching standards, achievement standards, and age-level goals. The standards cover ages 2 through pre-kindergarten, outline the level of competency expected of students at each age, and are aligned to the North Carolina Foundations of Early Learning and Development. Catholic Identity is infused throughout the standards.

The Fall Narrative Assessment you received from your child's teachers offers a snapshot of your child's learning at this point of the school year, highlighting areas of developmental strength and areas for continued growth. It is important to remember that children enter preschool with a vast diversity in experiences, language, culture, development, and ability, therefore, the standards are created to occur in a continuum with the achievement of learning goals by the end of the preschool program year. This will help promote a successful transition from each preschool program and then to kindergarten, which supports the child's future social/emotional, and academic success.

If you should have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher or the director. Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's early childhood education.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY!

Whatever your family’s plans are for the holidays, we ask that you continue to remain cautious and take steps to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Please refer to the CDC guidance for domestic and international travel which can be found HERE. If your family travels during the holidays and you plan to keep your child home for a few days before returning to school, please let your child’s teacher know. We thank you for your continued support in keeping our preschool community healthy and safe.

If a child develops one of the COVID-19 exclusionary symptoms (fever of 100.4 or higher, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, cough, or loss of taste or smell), families have three options:

1. stay home for 10 days from when symptoms first began, or
2. receive a negative PCR COVID test, or
3. receive a negative antigen (rapid) COVID test, only accepted if the child has no known or suspected exposure to a person with COVID-19 within the last 14 days
   
4. provide a note of alternate diagnosis from the pediatrician

If a child is sick with a non-exclusionary symptom, like a fever under 100.4, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, our normal illness policy applies (24 hours free of diarrhea, vomiting, and fever without fever-reducing medication before returning to school). Your child must look and feel well before returning to school.

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!

Hello Families!

As the weather turns cooler, we begin our focus on being thankful, turkeys, and the beautiful bible story of Loaves and Fishes. We will learn to dance the Turkey Tango and sing about being thankful. We will be using our scarves this month for some extra movement. I am very thankful for your funny, sweet, kind children, and savor every moment that I share with them! I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving!

God Bless you!

Ms. Karen

Rhythm in the Scarves

If Your Thankful and You Know It

Any Turkey Can Tango!

Loaves and Fishes (Tune of Ten Little Indians)

Five little loaves and 2 little fishes (one hand up with 5 fingers and 2 fingers on the other hand)

Five little loaves and 2 little fishes

Five little loaves and 2 little fishes

In the little boy's lunch

Five little loaves and 2 little fishes

Five little loaves and 2 little fishes

Five little loaves and 2 little fishes

Jesus fed a bunch!

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. 6 - 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.

Need some extra time to run errands or get to an appointment? We can help! We still have some openings in our early arrival and lunch programs. Your child will enjoy the extra time to socialize and play!

Early Arrival - available daily, drop off begins at 8:15 am at the front preschool door

Lunch Program - available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; pick up is at 1:30 pm at the playground

Please note that registrations after 9/3 are not guaranteed as we must be able to maintain adequate staffing while ensuring cohort groups.

Ready to register for Extended Day?

Log Into Realm (Realm Log In required), then while logged in click the following Extended Day Registration Link

JOIN OUR DISCOVERY DAY FRIDAYS!

We are excited to offer your child another day to play, pray, learn and grow together at St. Michael Preschool! Discovery Day Friday offers you the option to add an additional fun day to your child’s existing preschool program for ages 2-5, who are not already attending school on Friday.

Miss Susan and Miss Corrine lead this exciting program where the children engage in discovery learning within the areas of early literacy, math, science, religion, art, music & movement. Comprised of age-appropriate thematic units and project-based activities that allow children to experience success through exploration, socialization, and play. Your child will develop their curiosity, problem-solving skills, and a sense of wonder about the world around them while continuing to grow with God.

When: Every Friday school is in session through mid-May.

Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm (regular school hours). Early Arrival is also available beginning at 8:15 am for an additional fee.

Ages: Open to students 2-5 years old.

PLEASE email preschool@stmcary.org to learn more and to register.

Please do not send your child(ren) to school if anyone in your household is awaiting COVID-19 test results or exhibiting any COVID symptoms, even if the person with symptoms is fully vaccinated!

Happening now through November 28th at Walnut Street Park in Cary featuring, "Thanksgiving in the Woods" by Phyllis Alsdurf. Come out & enjoy a great read along a beautiful path!

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!

“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 offers support to parents of young children from birth through kindergarten with topics such as discipline techniques, communication, child development, and more.