Unity Preschool News

Welcome back from what we hope was a fun and restful Christmas Break that was filled with quality time with your family. We missed your children and we are excited to return to Unity Preschool with many "winter" activities. We pray that the weather will continue to cooperate. Please remember that we follow the Fort Mill School District (FMSD) regarding weather closures and if there is a delayed start we will NOT have Preschool.

January is our registration month so please return your registration forms and fees by Thursday, January 18 so that you have a spot for next year. Registration information for current families and siblings was e-mailed earlier this week and you can find the online registration form link in this Newsletter and on the preschool website.

Just a reminder that we will not have preschool on Monday, January 15 because the FMSD will be closed in recognition of the Martin Luther King holiday.

Happy New Year,

Ms. Linda

As you can see below, our students had fun celebrating White Day today. Our next Color Day is Thursday, January 18 and it will be GRAY DAY!

Our January Spirit Day will be on Thursday, January 25! We are WILD ABOUT KINDNESS at Unity Preschool so wear animal or animal print attire and we will be doing some special projects to share kindness with our classmates, teachers, Church Staff and some homebound congregation members. We will also be gifting a special Book Fairy book for each child.

Ms. Danielle is our Older Two's Lead Teacher and works with Ms. Kristen. Ms. Danielle has been both a Two's Assistant and Four's Assistant. She also works in the Preschool Office on Mondays and teaches music to our Four's classes.

Ms. Danielle and her husband, Tommy, have two boys who currently attend Doby's Bridge Elementary school and are Unity Preschool graduates. Colton is in fifth grade and Daxton is in third grade. Ms. Danielle attended Southeastern Louisiana University. She has several years of childcare experience and was a former Children's Coordinator at her church.

Below are a few of Ms. Danielle's favorites:

Favorite Foods: Mexican and Thai

Favorite Music: Country and Pop

Favorite Book: Ms. Danielle loves anything by Elin Hilderbrand and loves a good Devotional. Breathing Room is a favorite of hers.

Favorite Activities: She always enjoys going on trips with her family, especially to the beach. She can often be found at the football field cheering her boys.

Ms. Kristen is our newest Staff member and is working as an Assistant with Ms. Danielle in the Older Two's class. Ms. Kristen was a Clinical Social Worker before taking time off to care for her three children: 4th graders Kate and Paige, and kindergartner Patrick. Ms. Kristen's children attend River Trails Elementary School. Ms. Kristen and her family moved to Fort Mill six years ago from Verona, Wisconsin. Ms. Kristen is originally from Alabama. Her family loves to hike at the Anne Springs Close Greenway and visit local playgrounds.

Below are a few of Ms. Kristen's favorites:

Food: Gluten-free cupcakes, granola

Music: Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen

Books: Mel Fell by Corey Tabor, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen, Harry Potter

Activities: Reading, exercising, hiking, watching Formula 1 Racing

Unity will be recognizing Unity Preschool on Sunday, January 28 during the 11:00 service. Our Staff and their families will be in attendance and you are invited to attend our worship service with your family. Nursery is available for 3 and under, staffed by Ms. Carolyn, and 4s/5s will be dismissed for Children in Worship. We hope that you can attend.

Parents, grandparents and caregivers of children and youth of all ages, are invited to join Dr. Jeffrey Olrick and Amy Olrick, authors of The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents & Kids through the Science of Connection, as they present a compass of needs that embraces sound child development science and invites us into expansive faith. All of our children are born with two instincts – instincts that can seem contradictory if we don't understand them. When our kids feel safe and secure, they want to explore the world around them. When they are upset or scared, they want to be close to someone who makes them feel safe. Child psychologist and attachment researcher Dr. Jeffrey Olrick has uncovered specific ways that parents can help guide these movements, identifying six core needs children have as they grow. He and his wife, Amy Olrick, have turned these needs into a compass. On Saturday morning, February 24th, the Olricks will join us to share how they see science echoing God’s loving design, and how to use The 6 Needs compass as a tool to build strength in your child and connection in your family. Click here to register for this event in Unity's Fellowship Hall.

We are almost halfway through our school year! We assessed our supply closet and would appreciate donations of the following to help us though the end of the year:

*Two's and Three's - Liquid Hand Soap

*Four's - Paper Plates (for snacks)

Thanks in advance for any donations that you can supply!

As part of Preschool Sunday our congregation has been invited to support Unity Preschool through either a monetary donation that will support our Equipment and Scholarship Fund or by purchasing an item from our Amazon Wish List. The Amazon Wish List contains items that we use frequently during the school year in our classrooms. Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing an item: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AODLHWQMIRP6?ref_=wl_share

If you are looking for something to do with your children on Monday, January 15th, here is a great way to involve your children when helping others. Perhaps choose an organization or item that is meaningful to you and your family and have the children help purchase and drop off the item at Fort Mill Town Hall.

From the Town of Fort Mill website: In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve,” the Town of Fort Mill hosts its annual MLK Call to Service event. The Town will be accepting donations for several organizations on Monday, Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Fort Mill Town Hall, 200 Tom Hall St. [across the street from Unity Preschool], Fort Mill.

The Town will be accepting donations from the public for several local charitable organizations that each need critical items for the populations they serve. Residents are asked to serve their community and honor Dr. King’s legacy by donating items to each organization. Click here for more information, including a full list of requested donations and details about each organization.

Current Student/Sibling Registration for 2024/25 School Year: Registration forms and fees are due January 18, 2024 to reserve your spot for next year. Here is a link to our online registration form: https://form.jotform.com/223333872304148. Please remember to return the $150 registration fee and the Tuition Authorization Form by Thursday, January 18. Based on inquiries thus far, we expect waiting lists in most classes, so make sure you reserve your priority spot now.

*Preschool Closed:

MLK Holiday: Monday, January 15

President's Day Holiday: Monday, February 19

Spring Break: April 1 thru April 4

*Warm Jackets and Hats: We go outside if the temperature is above freezing and it is not rainy or too wet. Please send your child in warm jackets, hats and mittens. They need and enjoy fresh air and exercise!

*Label Clothes: Please remember to label jackets/sweaters/extra clothes that you send to school so that we can make sure they go home with the correct child.

*Folder Reminder: Please remember to empty your child's folder at least every week!

*Tuition Withdrawal: Our next tuition withdrawal date will be Thursday, February 1.

Front Row - Left to Right by teaching pairs:

Ms. Maureen and Ms. Kellie (Fours - Fish)

Ms. Elizabeth and Ms. Sarah (Fours - Owls)

Back Row - Left to Right by teaching pairs:

Ms. Carolyn (Librarian/Thursday Helper/First Call Sub)

Ms. Danielle and Ms. Kristen (Older Twos - Bees)

Ms. Becca and Ms. Jen (Threes - Monkeys)

Ms. Brandi and Ms. Laura (Threes - Frogs)

Ms. Linda (Director)

Unity Preschool does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, and other school-administered programs.

Email: preschoolatunity@gmail.com
Website: https://www.unitypreschool.org/
Location: 303 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC, USA
Phone: 803-396-8454