October
Preakness Early Childhood Center Newsletter
Dear Families,
Dr. Jess Hammmond
Principal, Preakness Early Childhood Center
Nurse's Notes
Flu season has arrived! As per New Jersey State Code, Chapter 14 Immunizations requires all preschool children 59 months ( 4 years 11 months old) and younger to receive a flu shot between September 1st and December 31st, 2021
Proof of your child’s immunization must be received in the Health Office before this date or your child will not be able to return to school on January 2, 2021.
Please feel free to call Nurse Brie with any questions or concerns you may have.
To call your child in to school please call the Attendance Line at 973-968-7400 ext. 2690
Nurse Brienne Trignano - btrignano@wayneschools.com
973-968-7400 ext. 2670
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
Our arrival and dismissal seems to be going very well, a big thank you to our parents and caregivers for ensuring the safety of our young students. As a reminder, our procedures are outlined below.
Parents transporting their child to and from school will use either the driveway in front of the school via Hamburg Turnpike or the Church Street entrance and park in the side parking lot near the playground and walk to the front of the school for drop off/pick up.
• Follow the arrival and dismissal traffic patterns at the front of the center. You may park your car and hand your child off to a staff member in the front of the building. For safety reasons, children should exit from the passenger side of the car only and caregivers will hand their child to the staff on duty. Dismissal follows the same pattern as arrival.
As a reminder, parents should NOT use the back driveway as that is strictly utilized for our school buses.
Bus Students will be assisted by the teachers and paraprofessionals.
Important Reminders:
If the adult picking up your child is not known to our staff, he or she must show photo identification (driver’s license, etc.) to prove his or her identity before your child may be dismissed into his or her care.
AM Sessions
AM Arrival is at 8:20am (doors open at 8:15am)
AM Dismissal is at 10:55pm (doors open at 10:55am)
PM Sessions
PM Arrival is at 12:10 pm (doors open at 12:05 pm)
PM Dismissal is at 2:45 pm (doors open at 2:45 pm)
Halloween/Costume Parade
Halloween/Costume Parade Class Schedule
Halloween
We are planning a costume parade for Friday, October 29th. Each class will be spaced out to ensure social distancing while parading. Parents are invited to attend the parade outside our PECC.
Costumes
Students should arrive to school in costume
Costumes should be safe and appropriate for school and represent a non-violent character.
Toy weapons or props will not be permitted to accompany a costume
Please refrain from wearing clown costumes.
Since usual face masks are required, face coverings related to costumes are not permitted.
Coffee Hour
In planning for this month's Coffee Hour, I would like to see what topics you might be interested in learning more about this year.
I have included a few topics, but please add in anything you might like to learn more about.
Please click here for the Google Form.
October 4th – 8th
Week of Respect will be celebrated throughout New Jersey the first full week in October. This year, our schools are celebrating“Be YOU-nique”as our theme. Our goal is to share the importance of being proud of who you are, be respectful of what makes others unique and help all students understand that they have a place to belong.
No Place for Hate Pledge:
I promise to do my best to treat everyone fairly.
I promise to do my best to be kind to everyone-even if they are not like me.
If I see someone being hurt or not treated fairly, I will tell a teacher or trusted adult. Everyone should be able to feel safe and happy at school.
I want our school to be NO PLACE for HATE.
Week of Respect activities include:
Monday, October 4th: “Blue Shirt Day”-Wear Blue for World Day of Bullying Prevention Tuesday, October 5th: “You Are Out of This World”- Wear space or favorite place attire Wednesday, October 6th: “Express Yourself-Share What’s on the Inside, Out”-Wear your clothes inside out
Thursday, October 7th: “You Were Born to Stand Out”-Wear bright or neon colors
Friday, October 8th: We Are Family-Wear your school colors
In addition, The Preakness Early Childhood center will participate in:
● Signing of the No Place For Hate Pledge
● Classroom ACTIVITIES about the individuality and diversity among usPECC October Calendar
PTO News
PREAKNESS ECC - Fall Fun!
Trunk or Treat Sign up is now Open!
October 29 is our first Trunk or Treat event. Preschoolers are invited to dress in costume and trick or treat in a fun, safe setting. Trunks will be decorated by our PTO families and teachers. Ice cream and lawn games will be available.
Boo Bucket Order Forms
Order forms for Boo Buckets were sent home with preschoolers this week. For only $10, your preschooler will be delivered a pumpkin bucket filled with treats, arts and crafts, and toys. Our PTO volunteers will deliver them right to your doorstep before Halloween. To download an additional form, click here. Send your completed form and payment into school with your preschooler.
SCHOOL SPIRIT & GIVING BACK
Spirit Wear - Order forms due October 15!
Two weeks left to order Spirit Wear. If you need additional Order Forms, please click here to download. Please send your order form to the school in an envelope marked “PTO” along with your child’s name.
NexTrex Recycling Challenge
October 1 kicks off our NexTrex Recycling challenge. Magnets were sent home with students including acceptable plastic. Please click here for more information. When 500lbs of plastic is collected, Preakness ECC will earn a free bench to add to our beautiful grounds!
Sponsors for Communication Board - Inclusive Playground
For those of you who have visited the Inclusive playground in Wayne, you may have noticed the Communication Board, which allows nonverbal children to communicate with adults and peers. Our PTO has drafted a letter to help encourage businesses to sponsor our very own Communication Board. If you are a business owner or would like to spread the word and help, please download our fundraising letter here.
THANK YOU!
We hope you enjoyed our first Monthly Update! For more information, please contact us at pto.pecc@gmail.com. Thank you!