Carla Heintz, Principal, Early Childhood Education Center

Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator

We have had a wonderful start to the school year!! It was fabulous to see all of you in person at parent/teacher conferences, and to have those of you that could walk your child in to the building on their first day! It made for a much smoother start to the year than we have had the past few years! As we head into September, I look forward to the greatness continuing as the students settle into their school routine and learn to work and play together. Thank you all for being such amazing advocates for your children at home and at school, together we can go far!!

Sept 5- No school- Labor Day

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 22-23

Our school created a new crisis plan to help us be prepared in the event of an emergency. Staff are aware of the security measures for the district and we are working together to ensure the safety of every student. In the event we would need to evacuate the building, our evacuation site is the Vineyard Church at the corner of 83rd and Lamar. As part of the district procedures we conduct safety drills throughout the year. This year we are being asked to inform parents when our code red drill will be held. For a code red drill teachers are asked to lock their doors, turn out the lights and move the students away from glass and out of visibility from the interior or exterior of the building. We have practiced these in the past, and given the relationship the teachers have with the students, they have gone very smoothly with no tears as we all keep calm and support each child's individual needs. When it is time for our code red drill you will receive a text message Skylert from me the night before, informing you when that will take place. If you have questions or would like to see our crisis plan in full, please do not hesitate to reach out.

The new drop off and pick up procedures at door 2 have been going well over all. I would just like to remind parents to please park in the northwest lot and walk your child to the crosswalk to cross. The drop off lane in front of the school is reserved for those parents with other small children in the car, so they do not have to unload and reload them. When others park there it prevents those that need assistance from dropping off and picking up their child in a timely manner.

If you are a parent who is utilizing the curbside pick up, I ask that you remain with your vehicle. I will call out names as the car is near the cross walk and load the cars in the front first so they can load quickly and move out of the way for the next car in line. If you are in the middle of the line and get your child at the door and then have to walk them back to the car, you prevent those behind you from getting their child as soon as they could had you remained with your car.

Those of you parking be sure to use the Northwest lot and walk your child using the cross walk. Please do not park in the visitor spots in the front of the school during normal pick up and drop off times. With the buses and car traffic at pick up and drop off it can be a hazardous place to cross the parking lot for you and your child. For after hours drop off and pick up, the visitor spots are the perfect place to be.

Student safety and parent ease and speed in picking up are our top priorities. If we all work together to follow the above guidelines the process will work smoothly, everyone will remain safe and pick up and drop off will be expedited for all. Thank you so much for your help as we continue to improve the process.

I would like to send a special thank you to Becky Schieber for her work to weed our flower beds and additions of some color. They look amazing and the extra help is so appreciated ! It is our parents that make the difference for the students and staff at SMECEC. We appreciate all of you and the support you give us, whether it's your time, your donations, your positive thoughts and comments, or the time you give to your children daily to help them be successful at school. We love partnering with you!! If there is anything we could do to support any of you more, please let us know!

Food service will continue to offer breakfast and lunch next year. Unfortunately the USDA nationwide waivers allowing for free school meals for all students will conclude at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. Prices will be as follows:

Elementary Breakfast: $1.55

Reduced $0.30

Elementary Lunch: $2.85

Reduced: $0.40

Families can complete a child nutrition meal benefit application to see if they qualify for free for reduced meal prices after July 1, 2022. The information and link will be on the Food Service web page after July 1 and families are encouraged to apply as soon as it is available so that any benefits the family may receive are processed prior to the start of the 2022-23 school year.

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.

Food Services has updated the School Meal Information flyer for parents. It is available on the main page of the Food Service web page and linked here for you convenience.

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.

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.

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!