SM Early Childhood Education Center
May, 2021
Administrative Team
Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
In the News
From the Principal's Desk
Hello!
Can you believe it's May already?! We are gearing up for the last month of learning for the 20/21 school year, and what a year it has been! I would like to take a moment to thank you parents for being such wonderful educational partners for your children this year. It's been a year of challenges as we have had remote instruction, masks, social distancing, some quarantines, and the wait in the car line. However, through it all you have been supportive at every turn. We as a school know that it hasn't been easy, but the grace you have given us as we have been working in the new "normal" has been amazing!!! We could not have accomplished all we have done this year without you!! Thank you!! For those with students returning to us in the fall, we look forward to your continued partnership and the opportunity to continue to see your child grow and flourish. For those of you with students moving on to new opportunities, we wish you all the best and thank you again for the privilege of working with you and your child!
Important Calendar Reminders
May 3-7- Teacher Appreciation Week
May 21st- Early Childhood Screening
May 26th- Last Day of School for PreK
June 3rd- Report Cards Live in Skyward
Free Resource For Parents
The Bright by Text program offers development information to families delivered right to your phone. The messages focus on actionable activities based on experts and specialists. To begin text TALK to 274-448 for free resources and tips:
- Text messages in English or Spanish
- Developmental tips based on a child’s age
- Timely info on local resources and events
- Links to more online learning materials, including videos you can access on any smartphone
- Information on challenging behaviors (sleep, eating, potty training, tantrums) when you need it most
- More than 95% of Bright by Text subscribers indicate they feel more confident and informed about their child’s development as a result of our messages.
Student Absences
If your child is ill or needs to be absent for any reason, please be sure you are calling the school nurse and notifying her of those absences at 913-993-2602. Thank you to everyone who has called so far this year, and especially those who have alerted us to potential COVID exposures. Communication is key to keeping us all healthy.
Daily Covid Assessment
Prior to coming to school each day, it is important to monitor your student for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. For the health and safety of all students and staff, please conduct a Daily COVID-19 Assessment, looking for new to your child health concerns, not ones that are present due to allergies or another health diagnosis.
It is not necessary to report the assessment has been completed unless you are reporting a YES response to attendance and/or the school nurse. Please call the attendance line if your child is staying home, state their symptoms, and contact your building nurse at 913-993-2602 if you have any questions.
Daily COVID-19 Assessment
In the past 24 hours, has your student had any of the following symptoms?
1. Fever (temperature of 100 or above) * 8. Fatigue
2. Cough 9. Runny nose
3. Shortness of breath 10. Congestion
4. New loss of taste/smell 11. Muscle/body aches
5. Sore throat 12. Nausea
6. Headache 13. Vomiting
7. Chills 14. Diarrhea
*If you do not have access to a thermometer, please contact the school nurse for assistance.
Per current JCDHE Isolation Protocols:
If yes to one symptom 1-4, your student must stay home 10 days or get a note from a physician to return.
If yes to two symptoms 5-14, your student must stay home 10 days or get a note from a physician to return.
NOTE: Contact your school nurse before returning to school regarding up-to-date JCDHE guidelines as the above information may change.
· In the past 14 days, has your student been within 6 feet of someone for 10 minutes or greater who was diagnosed with COVID-19? If the answer is YES, stay home and contact your school nurse for additional instructions.
· In the past 14 days, has your student had contact with the mucous/saliva of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19? If the answer is YES, stay home and contact your school nurse for additional instructions.
· Is your student asymptomatic, but waiting on results from a COVID test? If so, stay home until test results are known. Notify your school nurse of your results before returning to school.
· Has your student traveled to a location requiring quarantine? If the answer is YES, quarantine (stay home) for 14 days and monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, stay home and contact your primary healthcare provider. See link below for the latest travel quarantine information.
https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/175/Travel-Exposure-Related-Isolation-Quaran
Food Service
SMSD will serve Summer “Pick Up and Go Meals” for Children Starting June 3
Hunger does not take a vacation in the summer time. Free meals will be provided to all children ages 1 to 18 at four school sites in the Shawnee Mission School District. This includes breakfast and lunch meals. The meals are funded entirely by USDA as part of the Summer Meal Program.
Dates:
- June 3 – July 29, 2021 (closed 7/5/21 for holiday)
- Pick up on Mondays & Thursdays
- Time of pick up: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location(s):
- Comanche Elementary, 8200 Grant St., Overland Park
- East Antioch Elementary, 7342 Lowell, Overland Park
- Rosehill Elementary, 9801 Rosehill, Lenexa
- Shawanoe Elementary,11230 W 75th St., Shawnee
Pick up & go meals include breakfast and lunch:
- Monday (3 days of meals) & Thursday (4 days of meals)
- Hot lunch entrée provided on day of pick up.
- No advance ordering needed.
Children must be present to receive meals. Contact Food Services for a voucher if special circumstances prevent a child from being present in the car at the time of pickup.
- Meals will be available for pick up outside the school front drive.
- Meals will be placed on a table for individual pick up.
- An adult accompanying children may pick up the meals for each child without all children needing to exit a vehicle.
- Please follow social distancing and wear a mask when coming to the table.
- Meals are prepared by District Food Services staff and distributed following food safety and sanitary practices.
- Meals are available to anyone ages 1-18. Children do not have to be students in the district.
SMSD will offer free, in-person lunch to students enrolled in the Summer Academy, Summer Enrichment and Extended School Year programs. Lunch is available only to students enrolled in these programs. The free lunches, funded entirely by USDA, will provide a hot entrée with choice of side dishes.
Menus and additional information available at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service/summer-meals. Menus are subject to change due to availability.
Contact the Food Services Department with any questions at 913-993-9710 or foodservice@smsd.org.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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