SM Early Childhood Education Center
December, 2020
Administrative Team
Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
In the News
From the Principal's Desk
Hello! It is so hard to believe Winter break is almost here. This school year is flying by!! With a week and a day until break we have a lot of learning to continue, and the students have been amazing!! They come each day with bright smiles and eager attitudes to learn and grow, whether it is for in- person learning or remote. I would like to thank all of the parents, grandparents and other care givers out there that have worked so hard to help the children at SMECEC continue to learn and grow!
Please note the dates in the calendar reminders below that we do not have school in December and January.
As we close out 2020, I wish you all well, and I hope you enjoy your extended time with your children over break.
Important Calendar Reminders
December 22- No School for PreK, Early Release for the rest of the District
December 23-January 1- No School, Winter Break
January 4- No School- Professional Development Day for Staff
January 12th- Picture Retake Day
January 18th- No School, Martin Luther King Holiday
January 28th- Report Cards live in Skyward and Progress Reports Sent Home
Bond Issue
2021 Mail-In Bond Election in the SMSD
Our Shawnee Mission community is looking toward the future. https://www.smsd.org/bond-2021 about the SMSD mail-in bond election coming in Jan. 2021.
Residents will soon be asked to consider a bond proposal, designed to provide lasting facilities improvements and to strengthen student learning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqJ5xyj2uRY&feature=youtu.be
The Board of Education, unanimously approved a resolution to place a $264.2 million bond https://go.boarddocs.com/ks/smsd/Board.nsf/files/BUKRDJ6D2094/$file/Election%20Documents%20(USD%20512)%20(January%2026%202021%20Mail%20Ballot)%20(Option%20C).pdf
The goal is that the Shawnee Mission School District can continue to be ranked among the finest school districts in the nation, employing exceptional educators who work in state-of-the-art facilities, where learners achieve their full potential.
Student Absences
If your child is ill or needs to be absent for any reason, please be sure you are calling the school nurse and notifying her of those absences at 913-993-2602. Thank you to everyone who has called so far this year, and especially those who have alerted us to potential COVID exposures. Communication is key to keeping us all healthy.
Outdoor Recess
Daily Covid Assessment
Prior to coming to school each day, it is important to monitor your student for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. For the health and safety of all students and staff, please conduct a Daily COVID-19 Assessment, looking for new to your child health concerns, not ones that are present due to allergies or another health diagnosis.
It is not necessary to report the assessment has been completed unless you are reporting a YES response to attendance and/or the school nurse. Please call the attendance line if your child is staying home, state their symptoms, and contact your building nurse at 913-993-2602 if you have any questions.
Daily COVID-19 Assessment
In the past 24 hours, has your student had any of the following symptoms?
1. Fever (temperature of 100 or above) * 8. Fatigue
2. Cough 9. Runny nose
3. Shortness of breath 10. Congestion
4. New loss of taste/smell 11. Muscle/body aches
5. Sore throat 12. Nausea
6. Headache 13. Vomiting
7. Chills 14. Diarrhea
*If you do not have access to a thermometer, please contact the school nurse for assistance.
Per current JCDHE Isolation Protocols:
If yes to one symptom 1-4, your student must stay home 10 days or get a note from a physician to return.
If yes to two symptoms 5-14, your student must stay home 10 days or get a note from a physician to return.
NOTE: Contact your school nurse before returning to school regarding up-to-date JCDHE guidelines as the above information may change.
· In the past 14 days, has your student been within 6 feet of someone for 10 minutes or greater who was diagnosed with COVID-19? If the answer is YES, stay home and contact your school nurse for additional instructions.
· In the past 14 days, has your student had contact with the mucous/saliva of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? If the answer is YES, stay home and contact your school nurse for additional instructions.
· Is your student asymptomatic, but waiting on results from a COVID test? If so, stay home until test results are known. Notify your school nurse of your results before returning to school.
· Has your student traveled to a location requiring quarantine? If the answer is YES, quarantine (stay home) for 14 days and monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, stay home and contact your primary healthcare provider. See link below for the latest travel quarantine information.
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran
Food Service
Meals are available for pick up on Fridays 12/4/20, 12/11/20 and 12/18/20. There will not be any pick up available on 12/25/20 or 1/1/21. Pick up time is from 6:30-7:45 a.m. at all schools. Food service provides these meals for free to students regardless if they are in remote, hybrid, or in-person learning. This includes breakfast and lunch meals. Meals provided cover the days the student is not in-person learning (including weekend meals). Please contact the Food Service office with questions at (913) 993-9710 or foodservices@smsd.org.
The school breakfast and lunch menus, pick up meal information, and other nutrition information is available on the district’s website at: https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service.
Early Childhood Screening
SMSD offers an early childhood developmental screening which includes the areas of vision, hearing, problem-solving, personal-social development, gross/fine motor skills, and speech/language skills. The purpose of the screening is to identify children who may have substantial developmental delays and who may be eligible for special education services. SMSD’s Early Childhood Screening (ECS) is appropriate for children ages 2 years 9 months to 5 years old who reside within the Shawnee Mission School District boundaries.
How often are screenings offered?
Screenings for 2020-2021 occur monthly on a Friday morning and are by appointment only. Parent or other legal guardian must complete a request for screening and submit the required documents before an appointment is offered.
How do I request a screening for my child?
More information about the ECS program can be found on the district’s Early Childhood Special Education home page under Early Childhood Screening.
Connect with us via Social Media
We have new social media sites this year! Please feel free to follow us and like us!!
Twitter: @theSMECEC
Instagram: SMECECSMSD
Facebook: SMECEC.SMSD
Or search for #EarlyEDSMSD to see what's happening district wide in PreK!
Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center
Email: leighanneneal@smsd.org
Website: earlychildcenter.smsd.org
Location: 6701 West 83 Street, Overland Park, KS, 6USA
Phone: (913)993-2600
Facebook: facebook.com/SMECEC.SMSD
Twitter: @theSMECEC