St. Michael Preschool News
Growing with God... February 4, 2022
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIVING HEARTS !
Dear St. Michael Preschool Families,
Catholic Schools Week was a wonderful celebration of the gift of Catholic education and pride in our preschool. Highlights included the Parable of the Sower Bible story, new seed planting for our Tower Garden, preschool cheer and joyful songs with Miss Karen, lots of gross motor fun on the playground, and a spirit week that students and teachers all enjoyed! Thank you so much for your very generous donations to Ronald McDonald House in support of our Catholic Schools Week service project. We are so grateful to you for entrusting your children to our loving care and for your partnership in your child's Catholic early childhood education.
An important safety message - for families who park on the parish office side of the preschool; children are not permitted to climb the ornamental tree near the St. Francis statue or any other trees. Thank you for reminding children that it is not safe and can cause damage to the trees. Our parish/preschool playground is open to our preschool families after 1:30 pm, Monday - Wednesday, and after 12:30 pm, Thursday and Friday, a wonderful opportunity for some family fun and playdate with friends!
Finally, we hope that the daily communications and photos from your child's teachers through the Realm Community Group have provided you a virtual window into the classroom to see the wonderful and important work our dedicated and loving teachers are doing and the joy with which your children are learning and growing with God. We look forward to the remainder of the school year and the many learning adventures to come! God bless!
Joyfully in Christ,
Lisa Ciesla, Director
St. Michael Preschool’s Tower Garden
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!
LOOK WHAT'S AHEAD!
February 14 - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
WE LOVE OUR PRESCHOOL FAMILIES!
February 21 & 22 – Preschool Closed - President’s Day and Teacher Retreat
March 2 - Ash Wednesday Early Dismissal at 12:00 pm
March 22-25 - St. Joseph/Bike Day w/Dad (see below for assigned class day)
April 14 - 24 – Preschool Closed for Easter Break
April 25 – Preschool Reopens
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
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 schedule 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
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Regardless of the reason for the call, we MUST be able to reach you or an emergency contact while your child is at school. Please take this time to remind your friends and family to add the preschool phone number to their contacts so that they do not miss or ignore our call. The St. Michael Preschool phone number is 919-468-6110.
If your child is sick, they must be picked up promptly from the preschool. Thank you for your support and understanding regarding this important policy.
Notable Changes to NC DHHS COVID Guidelines for Preschools & Childcare Settings
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
- Positive Test Result: If a child tests positive for COVID, isolation time will be 10 days. Additionally, the child’s symptoms must be improving and not distracting to the child or classmates upon their return. No negative test is required to return after the 10-day isolation.
- Exposure: If a child is exposed to someone with COVID (within 6 ft. for 15 minutes over a 24 hr. period), quarantine time in most cases will be 10 days. However, it is dependent on several variables such as if the positive case is in your household, whether the child has tested positive for COVID in the last three months, vaccination status, and how reliably a mask can be worn. Each situation is specific and details are important; therefore, the return to preschool date will be calculated using the revised toolkit protocols in consultation with our local health department.
HEALTH POLICY - To protect the health and safety of our community
Families have three options if their child develops ANY of the COVID exclusionary symptoms:
- stay home for 10 days from when symptoms first began, or
- 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.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: ALL ADULTS on St. Michael Campus must wear a face mask when dropping off or picking up their child.
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
FEBRUARY ADVENTURE CAMP CANCELED
PLEASE NOTE: Because Adventure Camp must be held outdoors under the current COVID protocols, and the potential for cold temperatures in February, we will have to cancel the February Adventures Camps. However, Adventure Camp is planned to resume in March. Parents will be credited accordingly. Thank you for your understanding as we work to maintain the health and safety of all.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
Please watch the weather and dress your child accordingly. Students will play outside daily when the temperature is above freezing with no precipitation.
As the seasons are changing, please remember to send in a cold-weather change of clothes for your child. Thank you!
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Closings and Delays: Our policy is to assess conditions on St. Michael Campus and the local area to determine closings or delays at the preschool. We understand this may not always reflect weather conditions in your area or follow the Wake County School closings or delays, so please use your discretion when bringing your child to school.
Parents will be informed of school closings and delays via our all call communication system through the primary phone, text message, and email provided. If this information needs to be updated at this time, please let the preschool office know.
On delayed openings, Early Arrival and Lunch Programs are canceled and children bring a lunch and attend from 11:00-1:00 pm. This later dismissal time may interfere with younger children’s nap schedules, so again, please use your best judgment in sending your preschooler on these days.
PROJECT ENLIGHTENMENT
OWL, RABBIT, & TIGGER PALS
FAMILY FUN
MUSIC & MOVEMENT W/MISS KAREN
Hello Families!
For the month of February, we will begin with Catholic Schools week! One of my favorite weeks of the year! We will do our annual cheer (found below) and we talk about God's tremendous love for us! We will also enjoy music about friendship, hearts, and love. Here are a few examples of the fun we will have this month in music!
Preschool Cheer
We're fired up! (arms above head)
We're sizzlin'! (wiggle fingers in front of body)
We're turnin up the heat! (Turn knob)
And when it comes to preschools (clap hands)
St. Michael's can't be beat! (clap hands)
I will play the song "Happy" and the children will pick a heart with a body motion on it and will do that to the song-hopping, skipping, dancing, twirling, etc.
Going on a Bear Hunt by the Elbows
Skidamarink by Super Simple learning
My Little Heart by Kids Praise Company
The Valentine's Activity Game by Kiboomers
Friendship Dance by Renee's here
( NOTE: we will do this a little differently-kids will not be touching hands but will dance across from one another in order to keep inline with our COVID protocols.)
May God bless you and your families!
Ms. Karen
Our next StoryWalk will begin Friday, 1/14 - 2/7 at Sears Farm Road Park in Cary, featuring the book, “The Bear and the Piano” by David Litchfield.
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