TECEC TIMES
Where the journey begins.......September 1, 2023
Updates from Mr. Matt
Dear TECEC families,
On behalf of our TECEC team, I would like to thank you for entrusting us with your child's first school experience. We will work hand in hand to make this year an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Together, our year will be filled with countless enjoyable moments, learning and limitless possibilities.
As we begin our journey, I want to emphasize that TECEC is more than just a school, it's a supportive and caring community. We value each child's uniqueness and are committed to creating a nurturing environment where all will flourish.
Our dedicated team and children have already embarked on a journey of imagination, curiosity and learning when the doors opened on Tuesday. The preschool years are an incredible period of exploration and development, and we are committed to nurturing each child's unique potential while providing a safe, engaging, nurturing and stimulating environment.
In the spirit of partnership, I invite you to join us for "Back to School Night" on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. This will be a fantastic opportunity for you to meet our wonderful teachers, explore our inviting classrooms, and familiarize yourselves with our curriculum and daily routines. More information about the event can be found here.
Please feel free to reach out to me or our dedicated team if you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions on how to make TECEC an even more magical place!
Enjoy the long weekend!
Principal
Important upcoming dates
Monday, September 4 Schools closed in observance of Labor Day
Wednesday, September 6 Back to School Night
- 6:00 –6:45 (Children in 3-year-old programs & Head Start)
- 7:00 –7:45 (Children in 4 year-old classes and SRP)
Thursday, September 7 Football opening day. Wear you favorite sports regalia to school.
Wednesday, September 13 PTO 7:00 PMMonday, September 25 School closed in observance of Yom Kippur
First Day of School!
Jersey Day to celebrate NFL opening day
To kick off the NFL season, we thought it would be fun to have the children and team wear any type of sport regalia on Thursday, September 7th. Extra points for Vikings gear!
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Our arrival and dismissal procedures were developed to keep the children, you and our team safe. Please review the following guidelines that your adherence is critical to assure every one arrives and leaves TECEC safely. One particular highlight is that vehicles must only enter the TECEC driveway by taking a right from Middlebrooks Ave. into the parking lot from 8:20-3:30. Attempting to access Middlebrooks Ave. via Church Hill Road and trying to take a left into TECEC creates an unsafe traffic pattern and should be avoided. Our arrival and dismissal procedures can be found here: Arrival and Dismissal Procedures 2023 If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Back to School Night
Please join us for our annual Back to School Night on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. We encourage every parent to attend the session in person to learn more about the specifics of what your child experiences each day. This visitation is only for parents or guardians of children currently enrolled in our program, not students. More information about the event can be found here.
Volunteers
One of the hallmarks of our program is parent and community involvement. Your child’s teacher will be reaching out to you with the best ways to engage with their education. We also encourage you to take the time to fill out the TPS volunteer form for the 2023-2024 school year. For most individuals, you will only need to complete part one (Tier one). This will permit you to volunteer in the school while in the presence of a staff member. Part two (Tier two) is for those who will be working with children not in the presence of a school employee. Since every volunteer will be in the presence of a TECEC staff member, there will not be a need to complete that section, unless you plan on volunteering in another school. This form has to be completed annually as mandated by the state guidelines for school volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, the form can be found here and dropped off at TECEC so it can be processed. All submitted forms need to have an original signature, therefore a form with an e-signature will not be accepted.
TECEC Spirit Wear
EVERY THURSDAY IS SPIRIT WEAR DAY!
Every Thursday is spirit wear day! Since many of our children do not attend school on Fridays, we thought it would be fun to have “TECEC Thursday” each week where everyone is encouraged to wear school spirit wear. If you don't have any TECEC spirit wear, feel free to wear our school color which is blue. You can also purchase spirit wear here: https://tecec.ptboard.com/
Updates from Nurse Dana
Absences: Please call the absentee line (203) 452-4422, option 1 and state the reason for your child’s absence. If you have a specific health concern or to report a communicable disease, the health office phone number is: (203) 452-4425. Absences of 3 days or more require a note to return to school.
Guidelines: Please keep your child home if they have fever (> 100.0), nausea, vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, chills, headache, red or pink eyes, or undiagnosed rash.
Injuries/Surgeries: Please communicate any significant injuries that occur at home (bruises, burns, or any facial injuries). Any visits to urgent care or the ER, scheduled surgery, and all devices (casts, walking boots, splints, stitches, staples, glue) require a doctor’s note to return to school, noting any activity restrictions (specifically whether they are allowed to participate in PT or playground).
Medications: All medications, including commonly used over the counter medications and creams, require a ‘Medication Authorization’ form completed by the doctor and signed by the parent. Medications may not be sent in backpacks; they must be hand delivered by an adult. Over the counter medication must be in the original, unopened container. Prescribed medication must have a current prescription label with the child's name, medication name, physician’s name, and administration directions clearly marked on the container.
Physicals/ Immunizations: A three-year-old physical on the ‘Early Childhood Health Assessment Record’ form is required by the State of Connecticut within 30 days of third birthday. Four year old physicals and immunization updates are required to keep your child’s medical file up to date. Please be sure to keep a copy for your records.
Flu Shots/ Exemptions: The State of Connecticut requires the influenza vaccine for all preschoolers. If your child requires 2 doses of the flu vaccine, the first dose needs to be done by November 30th. The second dose would be due by December 31st. There are NO exceptions. Medical exemptions will only be accepted with appropriate documentation. They must be on ‘Connecticut Department of Public Health Medical Exemption Certification Statement’ form along with documentation from the physician.
Food Allergies: In an effort to maintain a safe environment for our students with life threatening allergies, snacks may not contain peanuts, tree nuts, or be processed in factories that may use nuts. Please read all food labels carefully prior to sending in food with your child. If your child has eaten these before coming to school, please be sure their hands and face are thoroughly washed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call (203-452-4425) or email Nurse Dana dangelic@trumbullps.org.
Email: dangelic@trumbullps.org
Location: Trumbull Early Childhood Education Center, Middlebrooks Avenue, Trumbull, CT, USA
Phone: 203-452-4425
PTO Playdate
Friday, Sep 15, 2023, 10:00 AM
Island Brook Park, Trumbull
News from our PTO
Dear TECEC Families,
The TECEC Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year. We are excited for what’s to come and we are dedicated to making the year productive and fun-filled! Now, you might be wondering…
WHO ARE WE?
The TECEC PTO is a group of parents and teachers who come together to support the wellbeing of students and the school community. Each year, we aim to encourage and facilitate a high level of parent and teacher involvement to raise funds and deliver programs that:
Positively impact our children’s early educational and social experiences
Support teacher/staff goals as they relate to the success of our children, and reward those efforts
Raise community awareness for TECEC and its full spectrum of programs
WHAT DO WE DO?
In years past, the PTO has raised over $25k per school year which is used to fund the following and more:
Classroom-enhancing equipment and supplies (smart boards, rock climbing wall, trikes, rugs, etc.)
Student enrichments such as Critter Caravan
Teacher/Staff appreciation gifts & EOY scrapbooks
Monthly playdates
Halloween & Spring Parties
Project Snowflake
Ice Cream Social
We are excited to announce that this year’s goal is to raise enough money to revamp the playground!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
There are a couple ways you can get involved! First and foremost, we are always looking for volunteers. Whether it’s for one event or one hour, every bit counts and we greatly appreciate whatever your schedule allows. For more information on upcoming events, volunteer sign-up forms, and the PTO meeting schedule (open to all), please register at PTBoard by visiting https://tecec.ptboard.com.
You can also help by supporting our fundraisers. Be on the lookout for more information about our biggest charity event of the year – A Big Night Out (ABNO) – as well as other fundraising opportunities such as the book fair, the fall catalog fundraiser, school photos, Penny Wars, and spirit wear tables. Donations are always welcome!
On behalf of the TECEC PTO, we would once again like to extend our warmest welcome and best wishes for a successful school year!! Please contact any of us with your questions or comments.
Kayla Seeley, President TECEC PTO AND FATHERS CLUB
Xanthi Stamos, Treasurer
Lindsay Scopelliti, Secretary tececpto@gmail.com
Bolu Adewumi, Playdate Coordinator
Lauren Rodriguez, Fundraising
ABNO Chair, Sarah Murray https://tececptofc.wixsite.com/pto-and-fc
Rita Larkin, Parent-Teacher Liaison
Kelly Isaacs- Social Media Manager