Unity Preschool News
September 9, 2021 - Week One
Ms. Linda's Letter
What a wonderful first week of preschool! We enjoyed the smiles, hugs, and laughter of your children. Your children are a delight and it has been a smooth opening. Thank you for trusting your child's preschool education and faith-building to us. We are grateful for your generous and heartfelt support and for your patience, flexibility and understanding during these uncertain and challenging times. Our hope is to remove any uncertainty about your child's safety while at Unity Preschool. Your children are precious gifts and we are committed to their welfare.
Thank you also for all of the supplies (and many extras) that you provided. We will be using them throughout the year. We are so excited to begin this school year with you and helping your child have a year filled with learning, adventure, friendship, and fun! Please continue to keep Unity Preschool in your prayers as we pray for a successful and healthy year for all.
Much love,
Ms. Linda
Director
Color and Spirit Days
Color Days: Each month we will have at least one "Color Day" when we ask your child to wear something to school with that color on it (example - shirt, pants, socks, hair bow, or shoes). Our first Color Day is Thursday, September 22. Wear something BLUE to school on this day.
Spirit Days: Because we are continuing to "pause" many of our external events this year, we will continue to host fun internal events in our classrooms on the last Thursday of each month. Our first "Spirit Day" is Thursday, September 29 and we will celebrate author Peter Reynolds by hosting "DOT DAY." Please wear something with polka dots to preschool.
October 28: Halloween Celebration - We will have Halloween parties in our classrooms.
November 23: Feast Day - We will celebrate Thanksgiving in our classrooms by enjoying a Thanksgiving meal prepared by some special Unity Preschool friends.
December 16: PJ Day - We will all wear our pj's and enjoy some Christmas fun.
Paperwork
The following forms are in your yellow parent information folder. Please complete the information and return them next week if you have not already done so:
- Purple Information Form/Photo Release: Please make sure you sign and date the photo release on the back of this form. The photo release allows us to post pictures of the entire class on SeeSaw and/or our School Newsletter. We will NOT post pictures on Facebook or Instagram and no names are used with any pictures that we post.
- Blue Directory Information: We would like to have the information returned by the end of next week so we can have the directory available by the end of September.
Vaccination Record: If you are a new student at Unity Preschool, please provide a vaccination record for your child. If you have a well visit coming up, just let us know when to expect your child's record. You should have received a note in your child's folder this week if we are still missing your record.
Folders: Each child received a plastic pocket folder with his/her name on it. Those folders will go home every day. Please review and empty them and return them on your child's next day of school.
SeeSaw App: Most of our communication this year will be through this Newsletter and your class SeeSaw app. Please download the Family Seesaw App or you will miss fun pictures and teacher announcements. Contact your child's teacher if you need assistance.
Meet our New Staff Members
Ms. Elizabeth: Elizabeth Carter has lived on and off in Fort Mill since 2002. She now lives in Baxter with her husband, Simon, and her daughter, Katherine, and their dog, Janson. Ms. Elizabeth is former Kindergarten and Fourth grade teacher and has taught in both Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Fort Mill School Districts. Ms. Elizabeth loves reading, travelling and spending time outside with her family. She will be working with Ms. Sarah (former Three's Assistant) in the Four's (Owls) classroom.
Ms. Beth: Beth Davis and her husband, Andrew, have a son, Bingham, who just started Kindergarten at Riverview Elementary School. Ms. Beth is a former third, eighth, and special education teacher. She recently "retired" as the Preschool Coordinator at her church, Westminster Presbyterian. Ms. Beth enjoys painting, decorating and thrift shopping. Ms. Beth will be working with Ms. Becca in the Three's (Monkey) classroom.
Ms. Laura: Laura Vaughn is not a stranger to Unity Preschool. She was our Art teacher pre-pandemic. Ms. Laura lives in Fort Mill with her husband, Richard, and two children, Riley (14) and Garrett (11) who are both in middle school. Ms. Laura is a former fifth grade teacher. Ms. Laura loves sushi, the beach, and being a boy mom! Ms. Laura will be working with Ms. Lauren in the Three's (Frogs) classroom.
Returning Staff: We are thrilled to welcome back Ms. Maureen (Four's Lead Teacher- Fish) and Ms. Jen (Older Two's Assistant - Bees). They stayed home with their children last year to participate in the FMDS Virtual program. We are also excited to welcome back our Older Two's class that was "paused" last year. Ms. Danielle (former Two's and Four's Assistant) is our Older Two's Lead Teacher and will be working in our Preschool Office on Mondays and teaching Music to our Four's classes.
Ms. Lauren (Frogs) and Ms. Becca (Monkeys) are back this year to once again lead our Three's team. Ms. Kellie and Ms. Sarah (former Three's Assistant) are assisting our Four's team. Ms. Carolyn will be working in the Preschool Office on Wednesdays and will serve as a substitute when needed along with Ms. Linda, our Director, who begins her 13th year at Unity Preschool. We will feature our returning Staff in future newsletters.
Playground Update
Scholastic Book Fairy Program
The simple and enjoyable act of sharing books with your child helps them learn pre-reading skills such as understanding the sounds letters make, developing a bigger vocabulary, and building background knowledge. Reading to children from an early age can help prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed.
Three times a year we also send home Scholastic Flyers so that you can choose some new books to purchase for your children. The preschool earns points from your orders that we can use to purchase additional books for our Preschool Library. Watch for our first Scholastic Flyer Order from in your child's backpack next week.
COVID Update
We hope that you have had a chance to review our COVID-19 Response Plan that was in the yellow parent information folder. Our Response Plan is also posted on the Unity Preschool website under the "COVID Policies" tab. We have worked hard to design a COVID-19 protocol that will keep our Staff and your children safe, while doing our best to make this year as normal as possible given the current circumstances. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
It is essential this year to maintain good communication and to keep your children home if they are not feeling well or if you have an immediate household family member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Each week we will share our current COVID data with you.
COVID-19 Update as of 9/9/2021:
Quarantine Students: 0
Positive Test Students: 0
Quarantine Staff: 0
Positive Test Staff: 0
Car Line Reminders
Temperature Checks: In the morning, your child's Assistant will take your child's temperature while they are in the car and then assist them from the car. Please use your car tags in the morning for the month of September. This will help us as we get to know you, your child and your car.
Car Line: Just a reminder that we begin unloading in the morning at 8:45 a.m. We begin loading the Two's and Three's at 11:55 a.m. and the Four's at 12:10 p.m.
Car Tags: If you need extra car tags, let us know. If you place your car tag in the window, be careful if you roll down your window. Windows like to eat car tags:)!
Miscellaneous
*Outside Reminders: We go outside every day as long as it is not raining or too cold. Please apply sunscreen in the morning, if needed, and wear tennis shoes/close-toed shoes and socks. We have mulch and a sandbox in our Park area and comfort is more important than fashion.
*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: Our next tuition withdrawal date will be Friday, October 1st.
Unity Preschool Staff 2021-22
Front Row - Left to Right by teaching pairs:
Ms. Maureen and Ms. Kellie (Fours - Fish)
Ms. Sarah and Ms. Elizabeth (Fours - Owls)
Back Row - Left to Right by teaching pairs:
Ms. Carolyn (Librarian/Wednesday Helper/First Call Sub)
Ms. Jen and Ms. Danielle (Older Twos - Bees)
Ms. Beth and Ms. Becca (Threes - Monkeys)
Ms. Lauren and Ms. Laura (Threes- Frogs)
Ms. Linda (Director)
Questions, concerns, or comments? preschoolatunity@gmail.com or (803)396-8454
Unity Preschool
Email: preschoolatunity@gmail.com
Website: https://www.preschoolatunity.com/
Location: 303 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC, USA
Phone: 803-396-8454