Dear Park’s Edge Preschool Families:
November was a time of reflection, evaluation, and thankfulness and as December approaches, we look forward to the excitement of activity the Christmas season brings to Park’s Edge Preschool.
Food is love…and who doesn’t love the “Good News Group’ of Emanuel Church for the delicious Frazzled Family Dinner-to-go, served to all PEP families and staff on Wednesday, November 17th. The dedicated volunteers made it a true success in serving over eighty families’ pasta-to-go. Prayers and conversation cards completed every family’s dinner. Park’s Edge Preschool truly appreciates this annual event and generosity expressed especially during this moment in time, when everyone is feeling fatigued and frazzled.
A special ‘thank you shout out’ to Emanuel Church’s Interim Pastors: Reverend Deb Payden, Reverend Tom Payden, and Reverend Tim Perkins along with the wonderful volunteers that cooked and served: Jeff Johnson, Jayne Larsen, Karin McElrone and her daughter Hannah, Julie Porter, and of course PEP’s one and only, Assistant Director, Kristin BurrJ PEP is looking forward to next year’s Frazzled Family Dinner, only with less frazzled, please!!
Thank you to the families that participated in PEP’s Parent-teacher Conference Night, November 18th. In May and November, parents and teaching staff have the opportunity to meet for 10 to 15 minutes to review their individual child’s portfolio and discuss the child’s growth and development. The portfolios display milestone moments through photographs, anecdotal notes, and creative expression such as art. The portfolio documents the child’s progress in our program and serves as a valuable resource and keepsake when the family no longer needs our services. We look forward to meeting with you again in May but want to remind you that parents are welcome any time of the year to meet with their child’s teacher…just let us know. Thank you! Bi-annually, parents are asked to reflect on Park’s Edge Preschool’s programming by completing a NAC Parent Survey. The survey consists of 30 questions focused on the quality of our child-care services. The survey results are tallied and reported annually to the Association for Early Learning Leaders, which is the governing body of the NAC Accreditation. In early January, the staff reviews the parent surveys and sets goals for the upcoming year. It is a valuable tool to learn how we can better serve our families. If you didn’t receive one, please take one located above the family mailboxes, in the entrance lobby, or ask for one. PEP appreciates you! Celebrating the Christmas season is always a special treat at Park’s Edge Preschool…although things are a little different due to COVID. Park’s Edge Preschool All-Center Christmas Party for our families has been adjusted for a safe Christmas season this year. The event is scheduled for Thursday, December 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Santa Claus will be here too, so please see the sign-up schedule at the front desk for a family visit with Santa Claus who will be located in the Narthex. FYI-Santa will be wearing a mask to meet safety precautions too. This annual holiday event features free Christmas make or take activities in every classroom. Each family member and the visitor will receive a prepackaged decorated sugar cookie to safely eat at home. We are collecting non-perishable food items at this event to bring holiday cheer to other families too. Thank you
PEP’s favored Jesus’ Birthday Celebration will look different again…the Christmas Story will be put on a zip drive and made to go due to COVID. We want everyone to be able to visit with their loved ones this Christmas. Therefore PEP has decided that to ‘play it safe’, ‘Jesus-to-go’ is the only way to go this year! The CHHSM stone wrapped in blue tissue that I randomly picked at the workshop read ‘Blessed’. I am blessed to be at Park’s Edge Preschool during the Christmas season and I hope you and your family are blessed this Christmas season too, with laughter, good health, and above all lots of love and good cheer!
Merry Christmas!
Ellen M. Kvalheim