Preschool Press
February 2023
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
Dear Terrace Families,
I continually speak of all the wonderful things happening at Terrace and how amazing our students and staff are, a true Terrace family. Staff and students work hard every day, week and year. We are influencing each other’s lives and finding success in many corners and at many turns. Thank you for all your support.
February brings our Spring Parent Teacher Conferences. Please remember to sign up for a time with your student’s teacher (watch for an email). This is always a wonderful meeting to share in the celebrations of your child(ren). We hope to have 100% attendance as our partnership is very important to the success of all our students. I cannot wait to see everyone again!!
I need to ask that everyone PLEASE respect the rules of our parking lot for the safety of all our students. By following the guidelines below and the more detailed guidelines in this email we can keep everyone safe. Your cooperation in this matter is much appreciated.
- Follow traffic flow patterns
- Slow Down
- Hold your student(s) hands at all times in the parking lot and in the crosswalk
- DO NOT park in the bus lane or next to the sidewalk that is in the parking lot/bus lane – find a parking spot in the lot instead
- DO NOT park in handicapped spaces without a designated sign in your window
- DO NOT park in Preschool Van area at the front of the school unless you are a preschool van
- EVERYONE should be parking in the parking lot unless you are a Preschool Van or you have a designated handicap sticker displayed in your car.
Finally, February is the month of LOVE, remember to take the time every day to tell your children how much you LOVE them. They can never hear it too much and their heart grows bigger every time you say it. I LOVE seeing my Terrace students and staff every day and thank you for allowing me to be a part of such a caring community.
Sincerely
Yours in Education,
Sheila Schmidt
Principal
DROP OFF AND PICK UP
Your students need to be at school by 8:10 or 8:25 for the morning classes and by 11:40 or 11:55 for the afternoon classes. Caregivers are to walk their student up to their designated drop-off location and wait with the student until the teacher arrives.
ONLY daycares are to use the dropoff spot in the front of the building.
If a caregiver is dropping off their student late or picking up early, they are to come to the main office, door E1. Staff members will assist the student in getting to and from the classroom.
Please remember that pets are not allowed on school grounds.
NURSE KAYLEE'S CORNER
February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Nurse Kaylee will be going into classrooms to teach good dental health habits. Please remember these tips to be successful with dental care at home:
-Try to make brushing fun. Play a song that lasts 2 minutes or brush your teeth with your child.
- Keep up with the routine. Reinforce the importance of dental health by staying consistent with brushing twice daily.
-A little bit of toothpaste is better than none at all. Start with a small amount and work up or try different flavors.
-Don't forget to floss daily. It's important to clean in between teeth where cavities can form.
-Eat healthy foods and limit sugary beverages. If your child enjoys the occasional fruit snack, make sure they brush their teeth after or try to avoid them.
-Make sure your child sees the dentist at least twice a year
We are in need of Kleenex for the classrooms if you would like to donate a box or two. It seems like the cold weather brings out the colds and sniffles.
2023-2024 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Online registration for the 2023-2024 Kindergarten school year will open on Friday, February 3rd at 8:00AM. Instructions on the registration process can be found on the District Website. If you're not sure which school your child will be attending, please use the address tool found here to help you. The registration link WILL NOT go live until Friday February 3rd at 8:00AM!
Please look over the required documents list and have them ready to upload onto the application if needed.
A kindergarten information form can be found on the registration checklist. This form should be filled out and sent to the elementary building that your student will be attending (NOT Terrace) before the start of the school year.
2023-2024 PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR NEW PRESCHOOL STUDENTS
Online pre-registration for our 2023-2024 preschool school year will open on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 8 AM CST. Pre-registration allows us to fill our open spots using the date and time stamp of your online submission. The enrollment page on the preschool website will provide you with an overview of this process. Please contact preschool@ankenyschools.org if you have any questions.
Please look over the required documents list and have them ready to upload onto the application. You will NOT be able to complete the application without uploading a proof of residence and proof of age for the student. Immunizations and physicals can wait because many children will not be old enough to receive the shots that they need at the time of registration.
We will use the date and time stamp of your online submission to fill our open spots. Once all of the preschool spots are filled, your application will be put on a waitlist. You will be notified by the preschool if/when a spot becomes available.
Students who are able to to attend preschool again will not need to reenroll. Please just fill out the registration information for the 2023-2024 school year.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
INCLEMENT WEATHER
When the start of the school day is delayed due to inclement weather, there will be no morning preschool. If school is dismissed early, there will be no afternoon preschool.
GUIDELINES FOR VISITORS/VOLUNTEERS~ VIPS
Friendship Parties are this month!! Don't forget to get signed up to help!
Applying to volunteer is a four-step process:
- Step 1- A background check for volunteering within the Ankeny School District is required every 5 years. Once you fill this out it will let you know if you have already filled out a background check in the last 5 years.
- Step 2- The Volunteer Handbook must be completed before you plan to volunteer and must be completed each year.
- Step 3 -You must create an account and include Terrace as a school you want to volunteer at. (On the left side of the page.)
- Step 4- After you do the above 3 steps you will then be able to see and sign up for volunteer events that are available at Terrace. Here is the link to the page
PTO NEWS
We are thankful for all the support the Terrace parents and guardians have given to the PTO! We are really pleased to have been able to purchase a Die Cut Machine for the teachers to use to easily cut shapes and letter, among other things! We continue to find ways to support the teachers and we thank you for your help!
Our next fundraiser is the COIN BATTLE! The students really love this one and it is easy!
In April we will have a special art fundraiser with your child's artwork so look for that to come!
With the end of the year quickly approaching the PTO will be looking for parents or guardians to help run the PTO. It is a fun and rewarding position! If you have a 3 year old that will be coming back next year or you know someone that will have a 4 year old at Terrace next year please let them know about the PTO! We have an easy job supporting our teachers!
ATTENDANCE
If the school is not notified of an absence, the parent/guardian will be called by the secretary. If we do not hear from you, your student's absence will be marked unexcused in Infinite Campus.
ARE YOU MOVING?
To update other demographic information such as phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts etc., please login to Infinite Campus and update that information through the parent portal.
SNACK CALENDAR
VBACKPACK
FEBRUARY EVENTS
13th-17th~ PTO Spring Coin Drive
16th ~ Fire Drill PM
20th~ No School- Teacher PD
24th~ Coin Drive Winner Balloon Party
27th -March 3rd~ Spring Conference Week