SM Early Childhood Education Center
May 2024
Administrative Team
Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator
From the Principal's Desk
Important Calendar Reminders
May 6-10- Teacher Appreciation Week
May 10- Early Childhood Screening
May 28- Last Day of School, Water/Field 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 23-24
Teacher Appreciation Week
The first full week of May 6-10, is set aside to let our teachers know how much we appreciate them. Please take some time to write a note, send a picture your child colored, flowers picked from a garden, or some other gesture throughout the week to let them know they are appreciated!
Field/ Water Day
We will be having our all school field/water day on Thursday May 28th. It will be the last hour of the day for each session (9:55-10:55 and 2:10-3:10). We invite you all to come and enjoy this day with your student. Due to the number of activities and participants, we do ask that no siblings attend, please find alternative care for them. Once field/water day is complete you may take your child home, or bus riders may ride the bus to their next location. If you choose to have your child not ride the bus, please be sure to contact DS bus 913- 384-1190, and let them know your child will not be riding home. Watch for additional information to come out from your child's teacher.
Enrollment for 24/25 School Year
If, 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.
Resources from the Social Worker
Resources:
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
SMSD Summer Lunch Bunch:
Hunger does not take a vacation in the summertime in the Shawnee Mission School District. We offer free lunches for all children ages 1-18. These meals are funded entirely by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Children need to be present to receive a meal and the meal must be consumed onsite. The Shawnee Mission food services department will prepare and serve these lunches during the summer. To learn more, visit https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service/summer-lunch-bunch
DEIB:
May Celebrations & Recognitions:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
May 1: May Day/Labor Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo
May 5-6 Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Memorial Day
May 12: Mother’s Day
May 15: International Day of Families
May 21: World Day of Cultural Diversity
May 25: Africa Day
May 27: Memorial Day
May Fun Reads for Preschoolers
Thank you for the Teacher Treat Cart Donations!!!
Thank you to all of the parents that made our Tuesday Teacher Treat Cart a reality!!! I can not tell you how much this simple cart brightened the staff's day when it came around. We are truly blessed to have such supportive families that help us shine daily in so many ways!!
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