SM Early Childhood Education Center
March, 2021
Administrative Team
Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
In the News
From the Principal's Desk
Hello!
In case you haven't heard, the School Board announced Monday night that Dr. Michelle Hubbard, current deputy superintendent, will be replacing Dr. Fulton as the new district superintendent, effective July 1, 2021, upon his retirement. We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Hubbard in the upcoming years as we continue to pursue quality early childhood programming for the district.
Just a few things I wanted to bring to your attention for the upcoming week:
March 2nd is Read Across America Day, so grab a book and read with your little one. And when you do snap picture and post it, tagging our social media pages. Twitter- @theSMECEC
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/THESMECEC/
March 4th from 5-8 will be our parent/teacher conference night. If your child's teacher has not reached out to you regarding a conference, they may be doing that soon.
Lastly, I wanted to update you all on our current COVID information. As of Friday, Feb. 26th. All staff at SMECEC have been given the opportunity to receive both vaccinations and those that participated will be fully vaccinated. The district continues to schedule the rest of the district staff including bus drivers and aides as vaccinations are available. Please continue to watch for COVID symptoms in your child and if they are feeling ill for whatever reason, keep them home and call them in sick.
Important Calendar Reminders
March 2- Read Across America Day
March 4- Parent/Teacher Conferences 5-8 pm
March 19- No School District Wide
March 26- Early Childhood Screening
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.
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
Did you know your child can receive a free hot breakfast or lunch when at school? We take time at the start of each session to eat as a group to practice language and social skills during a preferred activity. The AM session eats breakfast, and the PM session eats lunch. All school meals are free right now due to a grant from USDA.
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THESMECEC/
Or search for #EarlyEDSMSD to see what's happening district wide in PreK!
Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center
Email: carlaheintz@smsd.org
Website: earlychildcenter.smsd.org
Location: 6701 West 83 Street, Overland Park, KS, 6USA
Phone: (913)993-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shawnee-Mission-Early-Childhood-Education-Center-101802735143826
Twitter: @theSMECEC