SM Early Childhood Education Center
February 2022
Administrative Team
Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
In the News
From the Principal's Desk
Hello Parents,
Conference week is upon us. If you have not scheduled a conference with your child's teacher and would like one, either in person or via WebEx, please feel free to reach out to teacher to schedule that.
We have spent the last week celebrating Kindness week and we are carrying that into the month of February taking extra time to acknowledge those acts of kindness we see throughout the day and teaching about how to be kind to one another. When we see an act of kindness we write it on a heart and hang it in the hallway. It is our hope that by February we will have our have our halls covered in kindness hearts. I would encourage you as families to take some time to have your child draw a picture on a heart, or write a quick note of gratitude and cut it out in the shape of a heart for your child's classroom teacher and service providers in an effort to lift their spirits right now and help us spread the kindness in our building. We would love to hang your notes along the hallway too!
Valentine's Day parties will take place on February 14th. Please watch for information coming from your child's teacher regarding parties. At this time we are still asking parents to send purchased, pre-wrapped treats, instead of home made. Due to COVID, parental participation will be limited.
Because parent activities in the building have been limited this year, we have been working to send home at home learning fun for families throughout the year. We sent the first one home in October, and you can look for another activity packet to come home the weekend of February 18th. We hope you enjoy the activities with your child!
As you know COVID continues to be moving through our community and our schools. We are continuing to work to support our students to wear their masks, sanitize classroom and comply with other district mitigating measures. We appreciate the work you are also doing at home to support your child wearing a mask out in public as those short term "practice sessions" may help us transfer that to the full half day efforts at school. I would also encourage you all to continue to keep an eye on your child and watch for symptoms. If you have questions regarding district guidelines regarding COVID you can access that information here. As always if your child is ill, please be sure to keep them home and call them in on the attendance line 913-993-2688.
Important Calendar Reminders
February 3- Conferences 4:30-7:30
February 4- Conferences 8:00-3:00
February 14th- Valentine's Day Parties 10:30 and 2:30
February 21-No School, President's Day
February 25- Early Childhood Screening
Our building follows the district calendar and PreK schedule, with the exception of no school on Fridays. You can access the district calendar here District Calendar 21-22
Notes from the Nurse
Knowing that some of our students are 5, and some will be turning 5 as we move through the school year, we are asking parents of students who have received the COVID vaccine to provide documentation to the school nurse of their child's COVID vaccination. While COVID vaccine documentation is not required, it helps the school nurses in two ways:
1. Students who are asymptomatic, with documentation of being fully vaccinated, are not excluded from school if exposed to a positive case.
2. Nurses can better estimate the number of fully vaccinated students in a building which is useful information when there are outbreaks.
Again, while COVID vaccine documentation is not required, it would be helpful to the school nurses. You may send those to me at katiewatkins@smsd.org.
Attendance Reminder: Please call your student in to our attendance line if they will be missing school for illness/appointments/out of town. Our attendance line is 913-993-2688.
Outdoor Recess
As the weather gets colder, please be sure to dress your child appropriately for outdoor play. We follow the school district guidelines and go outside for recess as long as the temperature is above 15 degrees, the wind chill is above 0 and there is no falling moisture.
Food Service
Free Meals
School breakfast and lunch meals are FREE for ALL students at all schools for the 2021-22 school year. Once again, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put into effect nationwide waivers allowing school foodservice departments to continue to serve healthy school meal options free to all students. PreK students at SMECEC attending the AM session receive breakfast, those attending the PM session receive lunch.
Breakfast
Breakfast is available each school day. The breakfast menu includes an entrée, grain, fruit and milk. Students are served all items to receive a full breakfast; including the required ½ cup of fruit.
Lunch
Lunch includes an entrée, grain, fruit, vegetable and milk. Students are served all of these five components on their lunch tray, including the required ½ cup fruit and/or vegetable.
The “pig” symbol on the menu means that the item contains pork.
Menus, nutritional and allergy information are available online at https://www.schoolcafe.com.
Special Diet
If you have an allergy or specific dietary concerns, contact your school nurse for a medical form to be filled out by your doctor.
Food service information is available on the district’s web site at www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service or you can call the Food Service office at 913-993-9710.
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