Maize Early Childhood Center
November 2022
A message from Principal Mrs. DeDe Pierce
Dear MECC Families,
Earlier this week several staff members and I were reflecting on all of the wonderful moments we have already had this year at MECC and we thought we would share some of them with you:
- Successful Fall Book Fair
- MSHS students working with students in classrooms
- MECC/Community Cookie Bookie
- Our first Parent Night - Explore Love and Logic
- PTO Pie fundraiser
- PAT Playgroups and Musikgarten
- Starlets
- PTO Spirit Nights at Chick Fil-A, Chipotle, and Panera
- Halloween Parade and Parties
- MSIS Kays Club/Rising Stars Trick or Treat Extravaganza
- Classroom Fall Friendship Feasts
- Caring Hearts food drive with help from MSIS Kays Club packing the food boxes
- Collaboration with MES for some of our 4 year old students to participate in the Music Program
And we still have events happening in December! Santa visits on December 13, and the
FACS students from MSHS visiting our morning 3-year-old classrooms.
Whew! What a busy start to the 2022-23 school year! When we convene January 5,
2023, not only will it be a New Year, we will have two new sessions for three year-old
students! Cara Strathman and Ashley Harris have been teaching part time, and we are
adding a session to each of them so they will both be full time. This allows for over 30
new three year-old students to attend MECC!
January 19th is the date for our second Parent Night – Exploring Tips and Tricks for
Parenting through the Tough Moments – Building Resilient Kids. We received highly
positive feedback for our first parent night, you do not want to miss this opportunity!
Look for the flyer later in this newsletter, and register by January 16. Limited childcare
available, first come first served!
Believe it or not, enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is right around the corner –
notices will be in school and district emails, websites, and social media sites. Don’t
hesitate, spots fill so quickly -- we had to generate lengthy waiting lists for the 22-23
year!
From all of us here at MECC, we wish you the happiest of times during this holiday
season…we feel blessed to be a part of your child’s educational beginnings.
DeDe Pierce
MECC Principal
Stay Connected
Visit our school website at www.usd266.com/pre-k.
Connect with Mrs. Pierce at dpierce@usd266.com or 316-722-3105.
Maize Early Childhood Center is located at 9405 W. 37th St. North in Wichita.
Parents as Teachers & Starlets
Tuesday, November 29 - Last day for Music and Starlets
Thursday, December 1 - Last day for playgroup
We will resume groups in late January.
Tuesday, December 13 - Santa is coming to MECC for a visit. PAT families may bring their children for a picture from 11:00-11:15. Starlets families may bring their children at 2:15-2:30.
Mini Starlets is a parent-child program beginning January 24 every Tuesday from 9:00-10:15. Parents and children participate in circle time, centers, story time, music and movement. The Frogstreet curriculum is used and taught by a licensed teacher. This class is available for all families that have a child that turns 3 between September 1 and mid-January. The cost is a one time fee of $20. If you have questions, please email Erin at ewhite@usd266.com. Please enroll in our MECC office.
We have day time openings for home visits where you will receive developmental activities for you and your child to do together. In addition, your child will receive annual developmental, social emotional, hearing and vision screenings. Click here for PAT Enrollment Page.
Parenting Event
Thursday, January 19 from 6:00-7:30 we will host a free parent night, Exploring Tips and Tricks for Tough Moments with Mika Gross from the Parents Place. This one night class is designed for any parent with children under the age of 6. Click the form below to enroll, if you need childcare please call the office at 316-722-3105 to reserve a spot.
Nurse's Corner
Screenings
Vision and hearing screenings are happening now. You will be notified if your student
does not pass the vision or hearing screening.
SAY BOO TO THE FLU!
Flu season is approaching. Get your flu vaccine now! Vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people with the flu will not have a fever.
The best defenses against the flu are washing your hands often and getting your flu vaccine!!
Keep your child home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medication. A fever is defined at 100 degrees or higher. Children and teenagers with symptoms of the flu should NEVER take aspirin. A rare but very serious and sometimes fatal illness called Reye’s syndrome can develop. Your physician can recommend safer ways to treat symptoms of the flu.
Click on the link below to find out where you can get your flu shot!
https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/
Thanks, Nurse Allison
Club Carwash PTO Fundraiser
The PTO is offering a carwash fundraiser to help provide classroom supplies, enrichment activities and teacher grants. Club Carwash has graciously offered to help us with this task. For every card sold, Maize Early Childhood Center receives 47% profit.
Each $17 card provides ONE Elite wash. The Elite wash includes: under body spray, triple foam, clear coat, hot wax & shine, wheel brightener, 2- day guarantee (exterior only), free vacuums.
What a creative stocking stuffer! Or stock up before winter comes, to get that YUCK off your car – we all know that’s COMING. Good news, there is NO expiration date. Did you know that Club Carwash is a franchise, therefore it’s valid in all its locations? Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas…. Just to mention a few!
For close friends and family members that live out of town who would like to support MECC, this is a great opportunity for them to benefit as well. Just put the Club Carwash card in an envelope, add a stamp, and they too can get their carwashes!
DUE date is DECEMBER 8th. Please return sign up sheet to your child/children’s teacher. All cards will be passed out the week of December 12th. They will go home in your child/children’s backpack.
To ensure the safety of our MECC families no door-to-door sales. All sales should be with friends and family. Parents can sell at work.
Inclement Weather Reminders
With winter around the corner, Maize USD 266 is reminding parents to please ensure that you have updated your information for notifications. Please also keep in mind that contact information does not instantly sync. Please allow at least 24 hours for data to update in the systems.
Dillons Community Rewards
Please consider linking your Dillons card to the community rewards program. Click here for instructions on how! Search for 47624 and MAIZE EARLY CHILDHOD CENTER. All money earned goes directly back to our building.
Maize Education Foundation
Many Maize educators support the Maize Education Foundation's efforts through a payroll donation option. Last school year, Maize USD 266 employees donated more than $12,000 in support of Maize Education Foundation programs throughout the district. That's nearly enough to fund 25 student grants.
Did you know that if 100 people will pledge just $10 a month, we could match that contribution? Who will help us to meet that goal? We CHALLENGE you to visit bit.ly/Donate-MEF and make your pledge today. Thank you for your support of Maize USD 266 students, educators, and schools!
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops has gone digital! Please download the app, find Maize Early Childhood Center (school ID 9665854) and scan your receipts! Money goes directly to the school. Click here for more information!