Dear Park’s Edge Preschool Families:
Valentine’s Day is upon us and of course we are busy making valentines at Park’s Edge Preschool. The preschool children will also be creating special valentines for the residents at Hales Corners Care Center and veterans too. Valentine’s activities are planned in each classroom so be sure to see the details in your child’s class. Speaking of heart matters…twenty PEP staff were trained in CPR and on the AED machine this past month by Brian Schulenburg from Pulses First Aid Training. The Wisconsin State Licensing Department requires all staff to be CPR certified. The training also includes first aid, blood borne pathogens, the Heimlich maneuver for choking, and AED machine experience for staff in meeting required health and safety standards for all age groups.
Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27, the Wisconsin Association for Child Care Administrator’s (WCCAA) Annual Conference was held in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. I was excited to be able to attend this year to network with directors from other centers. I was curious how the childcare worker shortage is going to be addressed as centers across the state/nation are faced with a shortage of childcare workers. Did you know that over 100,000 care givers have left the profession since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic? This crisis is impacting centers, families looking for childcare, and businesses employing workers with children across the nation. WCCAA is addressing this issue with active lobbyists working on behalf of WCCAA advocating for young children. I will keep you informed on how this situation develops.
‘Something new’ at Park’s Edge Preschool…a whole new outdoor learning environment! PEP’s new and improved playground opened four months earlier than planned. The final walk-through with GRG Playscapes to approve the new playground was done on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, by Marie Hoven, Emanuel Church’s Building and Grounds Trustee and me. The children were delighted to ‘finally’ be able to play on the new playground.
‘Someone new’ at Park’s Edge Preschool/Emanuel Church…I am pleased to announce that Emanuel Church’s new pastor will start in his position officially on Monday, February 6, 2023. We look forward to welcoming and developing a rapport with Reverend Joshua Simon. Park’s Edge Preschool has been a mission of Emanuel Church since June 1999 in serving the community with Christian childcare. Once Pastor Joshua settles in, we will have a more formal celebration in welcoming him to PEP. He will be preaching here every Sunday at 9:30am Worship Service starting February Stay tuned…
To top off the new playground design, PEP staff will participate in a Professional ½ Day training on Extended Play in the Great Outdoors on Friday, March 10. Park’s Edge Preschool will be celebrating the playground’s grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 20th.
On Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14th children will be decked out in red, pink, purple, and/or hearts in celebration of this wonderful day celebrating love. Park’s Edge Preschool sponsors an annual Valentine’s Day Parade at 10am in Emanuel Church’s beautiful Sanctuary. You are welcome to come and see it and celebrate love and friendship at PEP. Love is the reason for this month’s holiday season. We are fortunate to share Jesus’ teachings to ‘Love One Another ‘with the children in our care. Please pass it on to others too
Sincerely,
Ellen M. Kvalheim