St. Michael Preschool News
Growing with God... March 4, 2022
Dear St. Michael Preschool Families,
I hope that the start of this Lenten season has provided you time for meaningful prayer and reflection. We want to sincerely thank our pastor, Fr. Michael Burbeck, for his continued spiritual direction and for leading a lovely Ash Wednesday prayer service where our preschoolers and teachers were able to receive a sprinkling of ashes to begin our Lenten journey together.
As we approach the first Sunday in Lent, let us remember that we are preparing our hearts for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. In class, your child is learning about Jesus' Passion and Resurrection through a meaningful and age-appropriate curriculum. Please look for the daily teacher communications and ask your child to share their learning with you. Also, your child made a special Lenten Prayer Pot in class. Please look for the instructions in this newsletter so your family can find weekly inspiration for how to be more like Jesus and grow closer to God. Additionally, you will learn of two opportunities to grow through almsgiving during Lent with the CRS Rice Bowl and the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon. We thank you in advance for your giving hearts!
May the 40 days of Lent be a time of meaningful reflection for us all and a time to “show and tell” our love and gratitude for each other every day. Let us also inspire our preschool community to be more like Jesus and grow closer to God.
Lenten blessings,
Lisa Ciesla, Director
Ash Wednesday Service
March 22-25 - St. Joseph/Bike Day w/Dad (see below for assigned class day)
March 29 & 30 - Class Pictures
April 14 - 24 – Preschool Closed for Easter Break
April 25 – Preschool Reopens
Limited Preschool Seats Remain for Next School Year! *Register Today*
A limited number of seats remain. 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
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
Lenten Almsgiving through CRS Rice Bowl 2022
Please look in your child's backpack for the CRS Rice Bowl. Each Lent, Catholic families across the country unite to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Through CRS Rice Bowl, families learn about how our sisters and brothers across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and malnutrition, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all.
By donating to the CRS Rice Bowl, your family can support the needy members of our human family throughout the world. Your generosity will help put nutritious food on their tables and help them lead more healthy lives. We will be collecting the Rice Bowls during arrival the week of March 28.
The season of Lent gives us a wonderful opportunity to reflect and make room in our hearts to help others. Thank you in advance for your giving hearts this Lent and for supporting St. Michael Parish!
St. Joseph's Day & Bike Day w/Dad's
CALLING ALL PRESCHOOL DADS - SAVE the DATE!
The St. Joseph’s Day celebration with dads will be held March 22 – 25. Dads please bring your child's bike/trike/scooter and helmet to school on your assigned day and time to enjoy some outside fun with your child! *If dad is unable to attend, please send another family member.
Tuesday - March 22
Pooh - 9:45
Owl - 11:45
Wednesday - March 23
Kanga - 9:45
Rabbit - 11:45
Thursday - March 24
Piglet - 9:45
Tigger - 11:45
Friday - March 25
Clifford - 11:45
ST. JUDE TRIKE-A-THON
You are also invited to join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in the fight against childhood cancer by participating in the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon. The week-long event teaches our students that they have the power to help others. While at school, they will learn trike safety through fun lessons, songs, and movement. More information will come home in your preschooler’s school bag before your scheduled bike day.
Your involvement is a big part of making this fundraiser a success and participation is easy:
Please encourage friends and family to donate online:
• Log any offline donations (cash & checks) in your online fundraising center to receive credit toward earning prizes!
• Return offline donations to the preschool office (checks only).
• Select your prizes via the link emailed to you after the event.
ROO PALS
IMPORTANT PRESCHOOL HEALTH & SAFETY REMINDERS
NC DHHS COVID Guidelines for Preschools
REMINDER: Monday 3/7 begins the mask optional policy for all students and teachers. Please model kindness and mutual respect as you interact with our entire preschool community. Thank you!
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.
KANGA, POOH, & PIGLET PALS
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
Dear Families,
Happy Spring! The sun is shining and the chilly days of winter are beginning to melt away! We will be singing and dancing to songs about spring, nutrition, Lent, St. Patrick's Day and money/factory for my Clifford Pals! Here is a sample of the songs that your children will be hearing! As always, if I can answer any musical questions, please send me an email to kallen@stmcary.org. I am happy to pass along songs lyrics, song files, etc.
Lenten Song - to the tune of Frere Jacque
Prayer, fasting, and giving (Praying hands, rub belly, put hands out)
We are meant to repent (Beat chest lightly)
40 days in all
Kindness big and small (arms BIG and then SMALL)
This is Lent, This is Lent (one hand out at a time)
You must watch Jack Hartmann's Money Song and Fruit Salad Salsa by Laurie Berkner. They just might get stuck in your head! We will use scarves and move to Let's Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins.
March is also the month of St. Patrick and we will do the Unicorn Song from the Malarky Brothers which talks about the story of Noah and the Ark. As always, I am just an email away at kallen@stmcary.org to answer any of your musical questions!
May God bless you and your families!
Ms. Karen
Our next StoryWalk will run 2/25 - 3/21 at Bond Park Paw Paw Trail (loop around the Community Center)., featuring the book, "My Friends, Mis Amigos" by Taro Gomi.
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