St. Michael Preschool News
Growing with God... April 1, 2022
Dear St. Michael Preschool Families,
"We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you." Colossians 1:3
As we approach the fifth Sunday in Lent, let us reflect on how we have been preparing our hearts for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Thank you for modeling the Lenten practice of almsgiving for your child with your thoughtful and generous participation in the CRS Rice Bowl and the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon. In school, your child continues learning about Jesus' Passion and Resurrection through meaningful and age-appropriate curriculum like Benjamin's Box and Resurrection Eggs. Please look for the daily teacher communications and ask your child to share their learning with you.
We also appreciate you taking the time to recognize our teachers' commitment, dedication, and loving care of your children as evident in your extremely positive responses and helpful suggestions to our recent parent survey. We thank you so much for taking the time to share this feedback and for all your continued support and prayers. God bless your weekend!
Lenten blessings,
Lisa Ciesla, Director
April 14 - 24 – Preschool Closed for Easter Break
April 25 – Preschool Reopens
April 27 or 28 or 29 - Parent Appreciation - The Gift of Time from Us - 1:00 pm Dismissal *please see schedule below for your assigned day
Limited Preschool Seats Remain for Next School Year! *Register Today*
A limited number of seats remain in our 2's and 3's classes. We will continue to take applications throughout this school year. If you have any friends, neighbors, or know of any new families to the area, please tell them to contact us! Thank you for spreading the word!
PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Bike Day w/Dads
Thank you so very much for your generous donations to the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon. Last week, our preschoolers peddled their way to raise $1640.
We are grateful for your giving hearts and to all the dads, grandpas, moms, and special guests that made our trike days safe and fun!
Parent Appreciation Day
In celebration of you and your continued support of your child’s early childhood education, we will extend our preschool day to 1:00 pm for you to enjoy a gift of some extra time.
*Thank you for sending your child to school with a peanut/nut-free lunch, however, please note that children with allergies will still need to bring their lunch. Thank you!.
Please see the schedule below for your assigned Parent Appreciation Day:
April 27: M/W Roo
April 28: T/TH Roo, Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Tigger, Clifford
April 29: Kanga
ROO PALS
GROWING IN FAITH & LOVE
LENTEN PRAYER POT
Lent is the season in which we prepare our hearts for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Your child is making a special Lenten Prayer Pot to be brought home on Ash Wednesday. Please read the following information so that your family can find weekly inspiration for how to be more like Jesus and grow closer to God during Lent.
Prayer Pot Instructions:
On Ash Wednesday: Please place the prayer pot in a special place where it can't be missed - perhaps the center of the family table. It reminds us that Lent is here but remains empty for the next few days.
First Sunday of Lent: A small heart is placed in the prayer pot during the main meal to remind everyone of God's love for us and that we should show our love for and be kind to others. Romans 8:38-39
Second Sunday of Lent: A seed is placed in the pot to remind us that God's love for us constantly grows and that we should try hard to do more for other people. Colossians 1:10-12
Third Sunday of Lent: Place a rubber band in the prayer pot as a reminder that God always stretches His patience with us and we need to do the same for others, even when it isn't easy. Ephesians 4:2
Fourth Sunday of Lent: A happy face sticker is placed in the pot to remind us that we need to remember to take turns and to share. Hebrews 13:16
Fifth Sunday of Lent: Add a band-aid to remind us to help other people when they are sad or hurt. 1 Thessalonians 5:13b
Palm Sunday: Place a tiny piece of palm* to remind us that Jesus is our King and we always need to remember to say our prayers to him (*please use a palm your family receives at Palm Sunday Mass). Colossians 1:15-20
Easter Sunday: The last item is a tiny egg to remind us that Jesus will always be with us and is always ready to hear our prayers. Matthew 28:1-8; 18-20
Activity Source: Catholic Parenting
KANGA, POOH, & PIGLET PALS
IMPORTANT PRESCHOOL HEALTH & SAFETY REMINDERS
POLICY ON ALLERGIES:
NC DHHS COVID Guidelines for Preschools
If your CHILD or ANYONE in your household is not feeling well, experiencing any symptoms, or awaiting COVID test results, your child MUST stay home.
Exclusionary symptoms now include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
PLEASE REMEMBER OUR GENERAL ILLNESS POLICY - IF A CHILD IS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS THAT IMPACT THEIR LEARNING AS WELL AS THEIR CLASSMATES, THEY NEEED TO STAY HOME UNTIL THEIR SYMPTOMS HAVE IMPROVED REGARDLESS OF TESTING NEGATIVE FOR COVID.
RETURN TO SCHOOL POLICY UPDATE
Families have options if their child develops ANY of the COVID exclusionary symptoms:
- stay home for 5 days from when symptoms first began, AND RETURN TO SCHOOL WEARING A MASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5 DAYS, or
- stay home for 10 days
- get a negative COVID test, or
- get a note of alternate diagnosis from the pediatrician
It is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver to understand and follow all health and safety protocols.
PARENT RESOURCES
TAX RECEIPTS
Need Payment History Receipts for your taxes?
No Problem! See our website for links and details.
St. Michael Preschool has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Federal ID: 56-1053379 State Tax ID: 09-2012282
(any receipt for dates before the 2020/2021 school year must be requested via the preschool office at preschool@stmcary.org)
COVID-19 TESTING IS AVAILABLE ON ST. MICHAEL CAMPUS
Please do not send your child(ren) to school if anyone in your household is awaiting COVID test results or exhibiting any COVID symptoms, even if the person with symptoms is vaccinated!
If your child is sick, and you would like for the St. Michael School nurses to conduct a COVID test, they would be happy to coordinate a time for you to bring your child to campus. Simply contact them at nursegroup@stmcary.org or call 919-468-6156.
Registering your child is quick and simple:
- Click the Registration link below
- Choose the Minor/Guardianship option
- Check “not experiencing symptoms,” then continue
- Check “No” for close contact, then continue
- Complete your child’s demographic information, followed by your information and electronic signature.
- Finish by clicking submit and a confirmation text will be sent to your phone.
StMS Student COVID-19 Testing Registration
Early Arrival & Lunch Program
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
PROJECT ENLIGHTENMENT
OWL, RABBIT, & TIGGER PALS
FAMILY FUN
MUSIC & MOVEMENT W/MISS KAREN
Hello families!
Music class is all abuzz at this time of the year! We are beginning to practice our end-of-year programs (which we will perform in person in May). The children are really excited about singing for all of you! You just might hear about some of the songs, but we are doing our best to keep them a surprise!
We are also singing about spring, flowers, frogs, farms, and Humpty Dumpty! We will be using the parachute with spring flowers and egg shakers for Easter! Our Clifford Class will begin a space unit and we will be going for a Rocketship Run!
Here are a few selections that we will be enjoying this month:
It's Gonna Rain using egg shakers
I look forward to seeing all of you in person for our end-of-year performances next Month!
God bless you and your families,
Ms. Karen
Our next StoryWalk will run 4/8 - 5/2 at Walnut Street Park, featuring the book, "Accident!" by Andrea Tsurumi.
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.”
PARISH ATHLETICS
ParishAthleticsNC.org has opened registration for the Spring 2022 Soccer and Baseball Season.
Spring Soccer (Apex-Cary)
Grades: Coed; Pre-K (3-year-olds) to 8th.
Dates: March to May.
Practice Locations: Apex or Cary, you pick.
Game Locations: Apex & Cary.
Cost: Pre-K $60; K – 8th Grade $65; (includes a medal, shirt, and picnic).
Note: Pre-k players have a combined practice/game on Saturdays. Kindergarteners to 8th graders have one-weekday practice per week.
Spring T-ball & Machine-pitch (Apex)
Grades: Coed. Pre-K (4-year-olds) to 4th grade.
Dates: April to May.
Cost: $65 (includes a medal, shirt, hat, and picnic).
Practice & Game Location: Apex
Note: Pre-k players have a combined practice/game on Saturdays. Kindergarteners to 4th grade have one-weekday practice per week.
Format: Pre-k & Kindergarteners play T-ball and 1st to 4th graders play Machine-pitch.
CLIFFORD PALS
Social Media - Please follow us on…
Twitter: @stmpreschoolnc
Instagram: @stmpreschoolnc
About Us
Email: preschool@stmcary.org
Website: https://stmichaelpreschool.com
Location: 804 High House Road, Cary, NC, USA
Phone: 919-468-6110
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichael.preschool.16
Twitter: @stmpreschoolnc