Dear Park’s Edge Preschool Parents:

Spring has sprung at Park’s Edge Preschool!! April 2021 brings many good things to PEP…We will kick off the month with an Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 2nd. The school-age group will help the Easter Bunny by hiding fun-filled plastic eggs for all ages on their designated playground. The children will look for ‘their’ eggs during their classroom’s regularly scheduled time outdoors. Mr. Bunny is making a surprise visit for group photos!

Spring always brings change…time change; weather change; and some staff changes to Park’s Edge Preschool. Ms. Melinda joined forces with Ms. Emily in the Busy Bees classroom upstairs, shortly after Ms. Tori’s return from maternity leave.

Sadly, Mr. James gave notice that he will be leaving Park’s Edge Preschool to work full-time with older children at Milwaukee Montessori School. His last day is Friday, April 9th. He has made a valuable contribution to PEP and will be missed by all. We will send James off with our traditional ‘sad farewell party on Friday, April 9th at 4 pm in Kurth Hall. Root beer floats will be served, and each group is giving memorable cards for keepsake.

Park’s Edge is looking for two or three more qualified and dedicated early childhood teachers to join our PEP team. If you know someone that is qualified and interested in making a commitment to children as an early childhood teacher, please let them know Park’s Edge Preschool is hiring. There is also a cook’s position available if you know anybody that likes to cook and would be interested in cooking in large quantities. PEP offers an excellent benefits package and compensation. Also, right now we are offering a $500 recruitment bonus after 90 days! Thank you. 

The Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) mission is to sustain and advance the work of healing and service as a ministry of the United Church of Christ. Park’s Edge Preschool has been recognized as a CHHSM ministry since 1999. CHHSM’s leadership is virtually training all PEP staff on Friday, April 23rd from 12-6 pm. PEP will be closed to families/children at noon. This training opportunity allows for PEP to emphasize our mission and learn more about sharing Christ’s teachings with the families/children we care for. The training will meet state/NAC Accreditation continuing education requirements. Child-care will not be available from 12 to 6 pm on Friday, April 23rd due to staff in-service training.

Park’s Edge Preschool’s 2021 summer fun is being planned already and will be available the week of April 5th. We have an exciting summer in the works. Due to the challenges and restrictions yet possible related to COVID, most of our field trips will be limited to ‘in-house’ or trips to local parks. A flat fee of $75.00, per child, will be charged for the summer programming to all families with children age 4-years old, and up. The fee will be charged June 11th for those attending through summer 2021. The summer program starts Monday, June 14. A summer survey will be distributed to families the week of April 5th with a return date no later than April 30th. Please return the completed survey asap for summer staffing and planning purposes. Thank you! Thursday, March 25th, PEP staff was introduced to ProCare’s digital communications that will soon be rolled out to PEP families. PEP is going from daily written communications on paper to digital. Each classroom will have a tablet to communicate with all or individual families. The staff is very excited to implement this new upgrade to the quality of our program. The digital communications will be a huge cost-saving, in staff time, paper and copier expenses…to name a few. Our roll-out to parents is scheduled for Thursday, April 15th, watch for an email communication to set up the app. The digital communication will come to you at the end of the day as the daily sheets have. Staff will continue to phone parents if there is a concern or accident with your child during the day. 

Sincerely, 

Ellen Kvalheim