Dear Park’s Edge Preschool Families: 

Thank you to the families’ that helped Park’s Edge Preschool welcome the new school year with a safe, annual ‘Open House’ on Thursday, September 10th from 6 to 7pm. To keep families’ healthy, extra precautions were taken for PEP’s annual Open House due to COVID-19. Only two families at one time, per classroom, was able to come in and tour the classroom and meet the teachers per each 10-minute period between 6 and 7pm. Featured in each classroom was the Portage Assessment Tool, marking each child’s growth and development throughout the year. Park’s Edge Preschool treated everyone that came to PEP’s Annual Open House to an ice cream treat of their choice from ‘Granny’s Treats’ old- fashioned ice cream truck. This was a ‘cool’ way to safely ‘kick off’ the 2020-2021 school year at Park’s Edge Preschool. It was a nice opportunity to get to know many of our families’ better 

Speaking of Food…at Park’s Edge Preschool, annually we collect food donations the entire month of October for the CROP Walk. This year we will be collecting again for the Virtual CROP Walk held in communities throughout the country. CROP is the acronym for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty. Emanuel Church and Park’s Edge Preschool are collaborating to collect nutritious, non-perishable food(s). It is a positive way to help the hungry in our community by raising awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting agencies. You too can help by donating a bag or two of healthy non-perishable food items to the Hunger Task Force Box located in the entrance area. Thanks again for your caring help during this pandemic! 

Woot! Woot! Happy 20th Anniversary and Congratulations to Ms. Kristin Burr, Park’s Edge Preschool Assistant Director! Kristin started at Park’s Edge Preschool in 2000 as a high school co-op student. She gradually worked her way up through the ranks from assistant teacher to teacher to the office in 2008. Kristin possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work and has 3 children. It has been a very (busy) and rewarding twenty years at Park’s Edge Preschool. She says what she likes about her role at PEP is that ‘every day is like putting together a puzzle…and a new one awaits her the next day’. Please feel free to drop off a card at the PEP desk to congratulate Ms. Kristin on this wonderful achievement. Kristin is always the one ‘behind the scenes’ that makes PEP’s special events spectacular! A big hug and thanks goes out to Ms. Kristin…and here’s a cheer of many more PEP years to come! Time sure flies when you are having fun, doing what you love to do…doesn’t it?! The week of October 5 through the 9 is ‘Fire Safety Week’ at Park’s Edge Preschool. The children will be excited to see the Hales Corners Fire Department visit Park’s Edge Preschool on Wednesday, October 7th from 10 to 11 am. ‘Fire Safety’ week is a great reminder to check your smoke detectors at home and discuss fire safety and prevention with your family at home. 

A Family Friendly ‘Trunk or Treat’ Harvest Celebration/Costume Party for all ages will be held at Park’s Edge Preschool on Thursday, October 22nd from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Details will be out soon to make this a safe celebration for families this year. It is going to be a safe and ‘spook’tacular celebration! 

Friday, October 30th,PEP children of all ages (including staff) are ‘dressing-up’ as their favorite character for an all center costume parade; weather permitting, outdoors! Parade time is 10:00 am. Parents will be allowed to come watch—outdoors only. We will take lots of pictures, so you will not miss the Halloween fun! Halloween surprises and goodies will be in every classroom too! However, you choose to celebrate Halloween this year, please be safe and healthy in your choices…COVID-19 is very scary!! Happy Halloween!! 

Sincerely, 

Ellen M. Kvalheim