Dear Park’s Edge Preschool Families:
Park’s Edge Preschool is ringing in the New Year with lasting Christmas Cheer! Speaking of Christmas…. Jesus’ Birthday Celebration, ‘PEP’s family favorite tradition’ around here hasn’t been celebrated in style since COVID. Thursday, December 15th, PEP was happy to welcome family and friends back into Emanuel Church’s beautiful sanctuary to PEP’s Annual ‘Jesus’ Birthday Celebration’. The entire sanctuary was filled with smiling parents, grandparents, and siblings too, as they enjoyed the story of Jesus’ birth. Thank you to all that were in attendance. In case you missed it…
The 2022 special Christmas production was based on the storybook, ‘Angel, Angel! What Do You See?’ by Cherie Pless Dittmer. The story is like the classic book, ‘Brown Bear, Brown Bear’ seeing animals of different colors compared to ‘Angel, Angel’ seeing characters of the Christmas Story-Mary, Joseph, sheep, shepherds, angels, stars, the wise men, God’s children and baby Jesus. The program included participation from every child/age group entering the sanctuary, wearing symbolic Christmas costumes, and singing traditional Christmas carols. At the end of the program, everyone was treated to a ‘Jesus’ birthday cupcake and fellowship in Kurth Hall. Thank you, Emanuel Church, for the use of their beautiful sanctuary. Non-perishable food donations collected for Jesus’ Birthday celebration will be donated to the Milwaukee Hunger Task Force in early January 2023. Please help us fill the Hunger Task Force bin. We are specifically collecting generous donations of peanut butter and non-perishable protein foods for the population in need. Hunger never gets a Christmas Holiday break and food donations are welcome year ‘round at PEP/Emanuel Church! Please keep the families that go hungry this holiday season in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you!
I appreciate all the families that made other arrangements for Tuesday, December 20, and Wednesday, December 21 due to high cases of Influenza A. PEP is only crediting for those 2 days for regularly scheduled children that were not in attendance those 2 days only. The 2023 added voucher can be used for Monday or Thursday of that week. PEP cannot afford to give credit for Christmas week as we did during the week of Thanksgiving. However, PEP 2022 vouchers can be used during that time. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!
All PEP staff will meet on Thursday, January 12 to update their CPR skills. This is a biennial training to maintain health and safety standards. The staff is also updated on the AED equipment, bloodborne pathogens, and first aid. Future 2023 biennial training include child abuse and neglect (CAN), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Shaken Baby Syndrome Head Trauma Training, and Fire/ Extinguisher training in meeting Wisconsin’s licensing requirements.
Sunday, January 29th, 2023, is UCC’s CHHSM Sunday. Park’s Edge Preschool has been a member of the United Church of Christ’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries since June 1999. CHHSM Sunday allows Emanuel Church members to celebrate Park’s Edge Preschool’s ministry serving Hales Corners and the surrounding community with Christian child care. Special blessings and prayers are bestowed on Park’s Edge Preschool staff and family members in health and human service professions. This year, CHSSM’s 85th Annual Meeting is Themed ‘Together Through Mountains and Valleys’, which will be held in Denver, Colorado, March 7-9. Due to PEP’s staffing shortage, I will not be attending the CHHSM Annual Meeting this year but will be there in spirit. CHHSM’s President Jamal Doyle is most proud of 2022’s accomplishment of the development of the Justice REDI Work (Justice, Race, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion). CHHSM is firmly committed to justice, inclusion, and belonging. Please pray for CHHSM Ministries that serve the most vulnerable populations with Christian care.
NEW rates go into effect the week of January 9, 2023. Please be sure to turn in your completed Tuition Agreement card and updated Health History and Emergency Care Plan Forms for each child attending Park’s Edge. If you have any questions about billing please see Megan, PEP’s Bookkeeper, or office staff only. Thank you!
Happy New Year & Good Tidings,
Ellen M. Kvalheim