SM Early Childhood Education Center

Carla Heintz, Principal, Early Childhood Education Center

Tracy Smarr-Dolezal, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator

Wow, November flew by!! Parent/Teacher conferences were a success and it was so good to see those of you that came in person to hear all about the wonderful things your child is doing! Thanks to your generosity SMECEC was able to donate 141 items for families in need in Johnson County through the We Care I Can food drive! It was also nice to see those of you who were in attendance at one or both of our parent nights this month. Smart Connections and/or our AAC night. There is something magical about parents coming together to learn and collaborate with each other in support of their children.

November 25-29- No School, Fall Break

December 13- Screening

December 20- No Pre-K, early dismissal for the district

Dec 21-January 3- No School, Winter Break

January 6- Start of 3rd Quarter, progress reports come home

January 7- Grades posted in Skyward

January 9- Parent Smart Connections 6-7- childcare provided

With the exception of Fridays, our school follows the district calendar. You can access it here for additional information.

As the winter months approach, it is especially important for our community members to be aware of inclement weather procedures and how to receive an alert if plans for building closures are announced.

Procedures

If conditions make it necessary for SMSD to close schools, the district will implement one of three plans: A, B, or C.

Click here to view the plans.

Inclement Weather Announcements

If plan A, B, or C is announced, this information will be shared broadly.

Staff and families can receive direct emails, texts, and voice messages.

Families can sign up to receive alerts in the manner that works best for them.

Click here for details on how to sign up for alerts.

Additional Resources:

The main page of the district website

Facebook

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Local radio and television stations

24-hour information line at (913) 993-7380

No announcement will be made when schools are to remain open.

We are gearing up for our third and final parent smart connections meeting on Thursday, January 9th. This month's topic will be "Feeling Detective and Encouraging Learning". We will learn how to identify feelings in both you and your child and learn tips and tricks to along side your child when then they are having big emotions and support them. Making sure they are in the right space to learn and grow. These meetings are a great way to not only come and learn new ways to support your child, but also connect with other parents within the building. I hope you will join us! Please be sure to sign up in advance, and let us know how many children you will be brining so that we have enough staff present for child care that night.

Seeing your children is the absolute best part of my day. I have enjoyed getting to know and support your families. As always, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or visit 913-993-2627 michellevandoren@smsd.org.

Helpful Links

Many would love a day off. An actual day of no work, no shuttling tiny humans all around town and no long to-do list. But right now, that’s just not possible. Here is a list of helpful Self-Care options Self-Care Options, when you are too busy for self-care.

Looking for topics to help you become a better/more confident caregiver? Hear from experts in their field to help you fill your toolbox. SOAR Care Givers 411, meets via Zoom monthly, is FREE and open to all parents and caregivers of individuals with special needs or disabilities of any age. The next meeting will be Tuesday November 26th.

The Johnson County Museum hosts Sensory Friendly Mondays on the first Monday of each month 9am – noon. This is a comfortable, low-sensory environment designed specifically for children with sensory processing differences and Autism Spectrum Disorders, and their families. Visitors of all abilities and museum experience are welcomed. As we head into the Holliday season, SOARSpecialNeeds.org is hosting a Sensory Santa, event on December 7th (For those celebrate). This is ideal for kids who are sensitive to sounds, lights and large crowds.

As the colder climates approaches, please keep the Low Income Energy Assistance Program in mind. This is a program in which individuals may get assistance with paying heating bills. Applications are accepted as of November 18th.

August - December (Agosto - Diciembre) Free gently used clothing and shoes for those within the Shawnee Mission School District boundaries.

Social Emotional Tips for Families of Toddlers 5 one-page posters with strategies to use during daily routines

Center on the and Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Is a great family resource that provides parent manuals supporting social emotional learning.

A Parent’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practice And Autism This manual discusses the complexity of diagnostic evaluations for children on the autism spectrum, identifies and describes effective treatments, and outlines the importance of professional judgment and using data to guide treatment decisions

We have a new Facebook page for our school. Please use the QR code to like and follow us.

You can also follow us on X- Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center @theSMECEC

While adults are stressing about expenses, travel, obligations, overeating, and a full plate, preschoolers might be feeling the stress in the air. Not only that, kids can get over-stimulated by the busyness, the lights, the activities, the gatherings, and more.

To help reduce stress try these steps:

1. Stick to Routines

• As much as possible, try and keep your normal routines. Go to bed and wake up close to your normal times, and eat meals and snacks at normal times. If bedtime always includes a story and a song, don’t forego that routine now.
• While events and traditions will understandably throw a wrench in your routine, keep things as close to your normal schedule as possible. This helps your child feel like they know what they can expect from moment to moment.

2. Tell Your Child Your Plans

• Even when you try to follow your normal routine, many days will look drastically different than what your child is used to.
• Help your child feel safe and secure with their day by letting them know what to expect. You can write a list or draw pictures, but even a verbal rundown of what to expect will be helpful.
• Telling your child, “After dinner, we’ll wrap presents,” will avoid what could have been a meltdown when your child was expecting to watch TV. We often use the phrase first...then in the classrooms at SMECEC

3. Remember, They’re Kids

• A lot of what we expect during the holidays — long church services, extended visits with older relatives, hustling from store to store — can be too much for kids. When your child gets restless or even melts down, remember they’re being put in situations they wouldn’t have chosen.

4. Let Them Vent

• Things are not going to go well every second of the holiday season. When your child melts down or complains, don’t shush them or punish them. Let them feel their feelings. When they are validated, they can work through those feelings more productively and quickly.

5. Plan for Downtime

• This is a hustle-bustle season. If you don’t plan to slow down and rest, it will be easy to skip that need altogether.
• Schedule downtime each day so you and your child can rest your bodies and your minds. And take breaks if stress levels rise in anybody in the family.
• Remember, this is a time of family connection. Downtime contributes to that important need.

Every Tuesday I like to treat the staff to a special snack between sessions. This is a much anticipated activity, and much appreciated event! I would love your help to keep it stocked throughout the year. If you would like to help in this way, please drop your donations off in the office or hand them to me at car line!

We are looking for items such as:

• Full Size Candy Bars
• Individual Snack Bags of Chips- Baked and Regular
• Individual Snack Bags of Popcorn
• Single servings or individual bags of Cookies- Kirkland Chocolate Chip is a favorite!
• Granola Bars
• Individual bags of snack crackers (pretzels, ritz bitz with cheese, etc)
• Any other kind of individually wrapped snack you think staff might like!

Want to know if your child's bus is running on time?? 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

Our school along with the district are working to improve attendance for all students. I encourage you all to do all you can to get your child to school on time (and we will continue to work with the buses for the same) and to have them here each day we are in session. As a reminder our school times are 8:10-10:55 and 12:25-3:10. We do open the doors 5 minutes before school starts to get students in their classrooms before the official start of the day. Tardies do add up to absences, 10 tardies equals a full day absence. If your child is not feeling well, please keep them home and if they are going to be absent due to illness or other reasons, please call our attendance line 913-993-2688. If your child is a bus rider, please call D.S. as well at 913-384-1190 to let them know your child will not be riding.

Time flew by so quickly! I have been having so much fun with the littles. As always, please don’t hesitate to call, email, or visit 913-993-2627 michellevandoren@smsd.org.

Helpful Links

Play in early childhood is an effective way of supporting responsive relationships, strengthening core life skills and reducing sources of stress. This quick video explores The Role of Play in Any Setting, how play can foster children’s resilience to hardship and the complex interactions involved when children play. Here is a list of Inclusive Playgrounds in our area.

A Guide to Sensory Friendly, Inclusive Fall Activities in Kansas City Sensory friendly, inclusive fall activities in Kansas City that are specifically tailored to neurodiverse and disabled children that provide important accommodations as well as community. Ideal for kids who are sensitive to sounds, lights, large crowds, or have mobility issues.

As the colder climates approaches, please keep the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) in mind. This is a program in which individuals may get assistance with paying heating bills. Applications are accepted beginning November 18th.

Annually, Johnson County Christmas Bureau hosts a Holiday Shop (Spanish) to help families with groceries, personal care items, gifts and toys. Sign up to Appointments fill quickly; sign up to shop.

August - December (Agosto - Diciembre) Free gently used clothing and shoes for those within the Shawnee Mission School District boundaries.

Social Emotional Tips for Families of Toddlers 5 one-page posters with strategies to use during daily routines

Center on the and Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Is a great family resource that provides parent manuals supporting social emotional learning.

A Parent’s Guide to Evidence-Based Practice And Autism This manual discusses the complexity of diagnostic evaluations for children on the autism spectrum, identifies and describes effective treatments, and outlines the importance of professional judgment and using data to guide treatment decisions

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, 2024. 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 2024-25 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/SHAWNEEMISSION

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.

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 2024-2025 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.

We have new social media sites this year! Please feel free to follow us and like us!!

X: @theSMECEC

Facebook: Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center

Or search for #EarlyEDSMSD to see what's happening district wide in PreK!

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