SM Early Childhood Education Center
February 2024
Administrative Team
Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
From the Principal's Desk
Important Calendar Reminders
February 8- Team Spirit Thursday- Wear your favorite team gear
- Parent/Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30
February 9- Parent/Teacher Conferences 8-3:30
February 14- Valentine's Day Parties 10:25-10:55 and 2:40-3:10
February 19- No School President's Day
February 23- Early Childhood Screening
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 23-24
DS Bus TextCaster
I know with the weather and illness, many of our buses have been running late or inconsistent. In order to keep on top of what is happening with your child's bus, I would highly recommend you sign up for TextCaster. Once signed up, you will receive text messages regarding the buses if they are running late or have another problem arise. Click the box by the bus number(s) your child rides under early childhood to be sure you have all of the most up to the minute information. You can sign up here
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent teacher conferences are coming up quickly. I highly encourage all of you to schedule a time to meet with your child's teacher to review their progress and to hear the wonderful things they are doing a school. I look forward to seeing you all in the building over the 8th and 9th.
Valentine's Day Parties
We will be celebrating Valentine's day here at SMECEC on February 14th. AM Parties will be from 10:25-10:55, PM parties will be from 2:40-3:10. Please check in with your child's teacher regarding their plans for that time. Parents are encouraged to attend the parties as they are able! No siblings please.
Smart Start for Parents
Our final Smart Night Parent night will be held on Thursday, March 7th from 6-7 pm with childcare provided by the staff. The topic of the night will be "Blowing Worries Away". We will work with you to gain a better understanding of tantrums and ways you as a parent can help support your child through them and help them to build self-regulation skills to give them confidence in the ability to control the intensity of their feelings. Please sign up here if interested.
Enrollment for 24/25 School Year
Your child is attending here they are already enrolled in SMSD for the 24/25 school year. You do not need to do anything until August, when you will be asked to complete online verification in Skyward to update their records. The only exception is for those peer families who would like their child to attend PreK at an elementary site. You will need to enroll for PreK on the district website.
If your child is moving to Kindergarten our staff will assign them in Skyward to the appropriate school in May.
For those children on an IEP who are moving to a different building to receive their special education services for PreK, we will also transfer their enrollment to the appropriate school as necessary.
Kindergarten Kickoff
All SMECEC students heading to their neighborhood school next year for Kindergarten are encouraged to attend Kindergarten Kick-Off at your home school. All kick-offs will be in April from 6:00-7:30. You can find the date for your particular school on the district website here
Join the Strategic Planning Process in January 2024
Shawnee Mission School District will begin updating its Strategic Plan in early 2024 and the entire community is invited to engage in the process. This plan will serve and guide Shawnee Mission for 2024-2029.
The success of this plan depends on broad community input, as well as individuals willing to serve on committees and action teams. Here are ways community members, family members, educators, staff, and students can prepare to engage in the process:
· Consider applying for the Steering Committee or an Action Team. Applications to serve on the Steering Committee will be open on January 4, 2024 and remain open through January 12, 2024. Action Teams will be established in early March 2024. The Steering Committee represents school and district communities, oversees the strategic plan work, and develops the core elements of the Plan. Action Teams will develop action plans to support district strategies and objectives.
· Provide your input in a ThoughtExchange. ThoughtExchange provides you with a chance to respond to an open-ended question, consider and assign stars to ideas shared by others, and learn what is important to those contributing input. The ThoughtExchange opportunity will be provided in January.
· Watch for Strategic Plan information and updates on www.smsd.org.
Shawnee Mission’s Strategic Plan work reflects an ongoing commitment by our community to support student success. The plan serves as a road map, giving clarity to our destination and the pathway to get there.
“I thank everyone for thinking about how they might contribute to our next Strategic Plan update, and for their ongoing commitment to our schools,” Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard expressed.
Click here for more information on the Strategic Plan update process.
Outdoor Recess
As the temperatures begin to drop, please make sure you are dressing your child warmly for outdoor recess. We follow the district guidelines for playing outside. We will go out as long as the temperature is above 15 and the wind chill is above 0 and there is no snow. If you could also put your child's name on the inside of their jackets, hats and mittens it will help us keep them out of the lost and found and make sure they get home to you.
SMSDE All Star District Recognition
Is there a SMECEC staff member that you see shine in your child's life on a regular basis? SMSD is seeking nominations for the district's All Star recognition. Nominations may be submitted using this link.
Resources from the Social Worker
SMECEC Family Resources: Don’t forget to check out the Family Resources Google folder with weekly updates and resources for you to access anytime! Visit the site HERE.
SMAC Clothing Exchange Calendars for January-May
Upcoming Community Event:
Blue Valley School District will be hosting their 14th Annual Special Needs Resource Fair on Thursday, February 8th from 5-8pm. This is a great opportunity to learn about community programs and resources! All are welcome!
Continued Donations for the Teacher Treat Cart Needed!!
Thank you to all of the parents that made our Tuesday Teacher Treat Cart a reality!!! Please keep the items coming!! The staff here truly enjoy this simple act and look forward to Tuesday when the treat cart comes around . Without a PTA we rely on parents to send in items for that treat cart to make it a possibility. We are needing individual packages of chips and salty snacks at this time! Thank you again for making our treat cart happen!
Attendance
SMSD Mic'D Up
Click the photo to listen in as Dr. Hubbard speaks with an expert on the importance of student attendance.
2023-24 School Meals
Food service offers breakfast and lunch for our students
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, 2023. 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 2023-24 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.
School Meal Accounts
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 2023-2024 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