St. Michael Preschool News
Growing with God... February 26, 2023
Jesus said, Let the little children come to me... Matthew 19:14
Dear St. Michael Preschool Families,
I hope that the start of this Lenten season has provided you with quality time with family as well as meaningful time in prayer. We want to sincerely thank our clergy for their continued spiritual direction, especially Deacon Brian Phillips, for celebrating our preschool Ash Wednesday prayer service that was so well attended by our preschool families. In addition, we extend a special thank you to Fr. John De Guzman, for leading such a lovely Lenten retreat for our preschool teachers.
On this first Sunday of 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 Realm 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
ROO PALS
LOOK WHAT'S AHEAD!
March 13 & 16 - Church Morning
March 17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day
March 19 - Happy St. Joseph Feast Day
March 20, 21, 22, & 24 - Bike Day w/Dad (see below for assigned class day)
March 23 - Preschool Closed - Teacher Workday
April 5 - 16 – Preschool Closed for Easter Break
April 17 – Preschool Reopens
Tuition Payment Methods
Your next tuition payment is due by March 5. If you have not already set up Auto Draft, now is a great time to do so.
- Click this Auto Draft Registration Link
- Enter the amount to draft for "Tuition - Current PS (PS-Preschool)"
- Enter Frequency as Monthly
- Select Continue to enter your personal banking information
Limited Preschool Seats Remain for Next School Year! *Register Today*
GROWING IN FAITH & LOVE
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
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 2023
A CRS Rice Bowl will be sent home in your child's backpack. 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 27.
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!
KANGA, POOH, PIGLET & GOPHER PALS
PRESCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Professional Development Day
Dental Health Month
St. Michael Preschool’s Tower Garden
Our preschoolers continue to enthusiastically observe our growing plants! The indoor Tower Garden is an Aeroponics growing system that we were awarded through a grant from the Diocese of Raleigh. We look forward to the many hands-on learning opportunities ahead. And we especially can’t wait to sample healthy food and make yummy green smoothies!
Church Morning - All are Welcome! March 13 & 16
Church Mornings provide the children with an opportunity to go to God’s House and learn church etiquette and more about our Catholic faith in a relaxed setting (no Mass). All are invited to attend!
Church Morning Class Schedule - Beginning at 9:45 am in St. Michael Church
Monday, March 13 - Rabbit, Owl, Piglet, & Kanga
Thursday, March 16 - Clifford, Tigger, Gopher, & Pooh
SAVE THE DATE: St. Joseph's Bike Day w/Dad's
CALLING ALL PRESCHOOL DADS - SAVE the DATE!
The St. Joseph’s Day celebration with dads will be held March 20 – 24. 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.
Monday - March 20
Pooh - 9:45
Clifford - 11:45
Tuesday - March 21
Gopher - 9:45
Owl - 11:45
Wednesday - March 22
Piglet - 9:45
Rabbit- 11:45
Thursday - March 23
Preschool Closed - Teacher Work Day
Friday - March 24
Kanga - 9:45
Tigger - 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.
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.
OWL, RABBIT, & TIGGER PALS
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
WE MUST BE ABLE TO REACH YOU DURING PRESCHOOL HOURS
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.
POLICY ON ALLERGIES
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY!
With COVID, RSV, and FLU still going around, we urge you to monitor your family's health. Your child should not be at the preschool if they are unwell or experiencing any symptoms. We understand the disruption caused to everyone's schedule when a child is home sick, however, we greatly appreciate your partnership and compliance with these policies as well as your open and timely communication regarding signs of illness in your household. Working together, we can do our best to keep our students, teachers, and staff healthy and learning in person.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME If they develop one or more of the following symptoms: congestion or runny nose, headache, fever or chills, cough, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, diarrhea, or vomiting.
*PRESCHOOL RETURN TO SCHOOL POLICY:
- stay home for 5 days, and return wearing a mask for 5 more days, OR
- get a negative COVID test, which must be submitted to the preschool office (photo of the home test), OR
- get a note of alternate diagnosis from the pediatrician
*REGARDLESS OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST OR ALTERNATE DIAGNOSIS, ANY REMAINING SYMPTOMS SHOULD NOT BE DISRUPTIVE TO THE CHILD OR CLASS.
COVID GUIDANCE UPDATED – On September 6, the Childcare/Preschool COVID Toolkit was updated.
Early Arrival & Lunch Program
Need some extra time to run errands or get to an appointment? We can help! Check out our Extended Day Programs. Your child will enjoy the extra time to socialize and play!
- Early Arrival - available daily; drop-off begins at 8:15 am
- Lunch Program - available on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; pick up is at 1:30 pm
DROP-IN STUDENTS MUST REGISTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN STAFF ACCORDINGLY
Extended Day Fees:
Early Arrival / Lunch: Monthly Commitment Discounted Rate – $6.00 / per session
Early Arrival / Lunch Daily Drop-in Rate – $8.00 / per session
Important Notes:
Students registered in our 2-Year-Old Program are only eligible to participate in Early Arrival Programming (beginning in August), and Discovery Day (beginning in January, if seats remain).
MARCH ADVENTURE CAMP
If your child would love extra time learning and playing with friends, CLICK HERE to register. These camps are offered to preschoolers 3 years and up.
Thursday, March 2 - Super Sculpture
Wednesday, March 8 - Little Picasso
Cost: $13.00 per camp. Send a nut-free lunch with your child. Dismissal: 2:00 pm.
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. Thank you!
DISCOVERY DAY FRIDAY PROGRAM
PARENT RESOURCES
MUSIC & MOVEMENT W/MISS KAREN
Dear Preschool 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
Get Outdoors! Get Reading!
A brand new StoryWalk will run 2/3 - 2/27 at Carpenter Park and will feature, "Can a Critter in a Hat Do That?" by Nancy Armstrong, a local Cary author.
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!
PopUp StoryWalk Cary is a fun community program exhibiting recreational reading adventures in our local parks. Enjoy some time outdoors while reading children's stories with your family as you stroll, run, or skip to find each page along a trail. Events typically "pop up" for 3 weeks & frequently feature fresh selections, inspiring families to follow our installations at various locations around town. View our current event below and follow us on Facebook for updates.
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 2021/2022 school year must be requested via the preschool office at preschool@stmcary.org)
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 Realm communication system. A text message will be sent to the primary phone number, an email to the primary email addresses on file, and a post to the Realm App. 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 peanut/nut-free 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.
PARISH ATHLETICS
Parents,
Spring Soccer and Baseball registrations are now open on the website.
Apex-Cary Spring Soccer
Grades: Coed, Pre-K (3-year-olds) thru 8th grade.
Dates: March-May.
Practice Locations: Apex or Cary, you pick.
Game Locations: Apex & Cary.
Cost: Pre-K - $60; K thru 1st Grade - $65; 2nd thru 8th grade - $70
Note: Pre-k players have a combined practice/game on Saturdays. Kindergarteners thru 8th graders have one-weekday practice per week and weekend games.
Apex Spring Baseball
Grades: Coed. Pre-K (4-year-olds) thru 4th grade.
Dates: April – June.
Practice/Game Locations: Apex.
Cost: $65
Note: PreK thru Kindergarten plays T-Ball; 1st thru 4th grade plays machine pitch. Pre-k players have a combined practice/game on Saturdays. Kindergarteners – 4th grade have one-weekday practice per week and games on Saturdays.
CLIFFORD PALS
PROJECT ENLIGHTENMENT
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