St. Michael Preschool News

Dear St. Michael Preschool Families & Friends,

The Advent season began this week, marking the start of a new year in the Liturgical Calendar. These next four weeks leading up to Christmas—the celebration of Jesus' birth—offer us a beautiful opportunity to prepare, reflect, and deepen our faith as a family. One of the most heartwarming aspects of celebrating this season with children is how they naturally bring joy, hope, and wonder to our Advent journey.

I encourage you to create meaningful family traditions that enrich both your faith and your time together. Consider attending Mass and Adoration, donating to A Doorway to Hope, adopting a Jesse Tree child in need, crafting your own Advent wreath, using an Advent calendar, or setting up a Nativity scene as a family. These shared experiences help us live our faith while building cherished memories. For more ideas and resources to celebrate the season, CLICK HERE.

Please know that my prayers for your family's health, happiness, and peace continue throughout this holy season. May Saint Michael the Archangel protect you and your families, always.

Joyfully in Christ,

Paula Renke

Preschool Director

Prenke@stmcary.org

.We are blessed to have our clergy visit the preschool and interact with the children with stories and activities. This month, Fr. Scott and Deacon Dave visited to read the story And Now We Call Him Santa Claus. After the story, the students left their shoes in the hallway to later find a gold coin from St. Nicholas. Our students learned that we can all be like St. Nicholas and give generously.

Tuition payments are due by the 5th of each month. If you have not already set up Auto Draft, now is a great time to do so. Click this Auto Draft Registration Link

Please direct any questions about payments to preschool@stmcary.org.

The gallery will be released in the next few days. Please pre-register using the following link to be notified when portraits are available:

https://proofs.christinarosestudios.com/gallery/26348988/

Digital downloads are instant, and print orders placed by Thursday, December 12, will be delivered to the preschool before Christmas break.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,

Christina

Look for a Realm post with a Sign Up Genius for Parent/Teacher Conferences to be held on January 15, 2025. Conferences are held with the Teacher, Teacher Assistant, and the parents of the child enrolled in our 3 or 4-year-old programs. Please note that there is NO SCHOOL on our conference day. We thank you in advance for scheduling a time to meet with your child's teachers so they can share observations of your child's growth and learning.

We hope you’ll join us for another year of Growing with God as we pray, play, and learn together! And, please spread the news to your family, friends, and all those with preschool-aged children, Thank you!

Applications for current families/re-enrollment open on Sunday, January 12, 2025.

New family applications open on 1/19/25.

The preschool reopens on Monday, January 6, 2025

Preschool Prayer Mornings provide the children with an opportunity to go to God’s House and to learn church etiquette and more about our Catholic faith in a relaxed setting (no Mass). All are invited to attend! This month's theme is learning about Advent and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Class Schedule - Beginning at 10:00 am in St. Michael Church

Mon. Dec. 9 – Preschool Prayer at church 10 – 10:30 Kanga, Tigger, and Owl

Tues. Dec. 10 – Preschool Prayer in the gathering space at church due to Adoration 10-10:30 Piglet, Rabbit, Pooh

A limited number of seats remain for our current school year. Please tell your family, friends, neighbors, or any new families in the area to contact us! Thank you for spreading the word! go to our website or directly to our registration site.

St. Michael Preschool is proud to announce our participation in the community service project with A Doorway to Hope, a St. Michael's ministry to help the working poor in our area.

Donations continue through December 10th with

our goal to fill 10 baskets and

collect 30+ packs of diapers/wipes.

We currently have 5 baskets full of items!!

Visit the Sign Up Genius to view needed items.

Closings and Delays: Our policy is to assess conditions on St. Michael Campus and the local area to determine closings or delays at the preschool. We understand this may not always reflect weather conditions in your area or follow the Wake County School closings or delays, so please use your discretion when bringing your child to school.

Parents will be informed of school closings and delays via Realm through post, email, and text message to the primary phone number provided. If this information needs to be updated at this time, please let the preschool office know.

On delayed openings, Early Arrival and Lunch Programs are canceled and children bring a lunch and attend from 11:00-1:00 pm. This later dismissal time may interfere with younger children’s nap schedules, so again, please use your best judgment in sending your preschooler on these days.

Parents are responsible for following the health policies outlined in the Parent Handbook. By sending a child to school, parents affirm that their child is in good health and recognize that if there is any doubt, their child should be kept at home.

ILLNESS POLICY - For your child's comfort and out of consideration for the other children and staff, children should remain home if they have had any of the following symptoms within the past 24 hours:

• Fever, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent cough*, frequent sneezing*, nasal discharge, rash, Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

• Children must be fever-free (without the use of medication) for at least 24 hours before returning to school

• *Children who experience allergies or cough due to allergies or asthma will need to obtain a note from the pediatrician explaining the alternate diagnosis for these symptoms

We thank you in advance for monitoring your child's health daily and for your understanding as we work to maintain a safe and healthy environment for our preschool community.

Please only park in marked parking spaces and not the fire lane with the yellow-painted curb near the playground. This is not a drop-off or pick-up zone for early arrival, lunch, or camp.

Take advantage of the NEW 15 Minute Drop Off spots located behind the Trinity Center. This allows for easy sidewalk walking to the playground door.

Also, only cars with a designated license plate or placard should be in a handicapped space. Thank you for your cooperation!

FUN AND FELLOWSHIP FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, INCLUDING ALUMNI!

Register to attend here.

Click Here to Enter our Chili Cook Off!!

Please share the news and invite alumni and future staff, students, and parents!!

INTERESTED IN HELPING or DONATING? CLICK HERE!

Register Here by January 10.

Cost: $15.50 per camp. Send a nut-free lunch with your child.

Dismissal: 2:00 pm.

Camps are offered to preschoolers 3 years and older.

• Monday, January 13 - Music Cam
• Monday, January 27 - Star Wars Camp

May the Force be with all our preschool friends!

A program just for Parents and Children to play and pray Together (PACT) during our regular school day. Geared for children ages 3 and under to attend with parent (or grandparent) from 9:45-11:00. Our next day is Monday, December 16! Come join the fun! Click here to register for this free program.

Jan/Feb registration is now open click here.

Need some extra time to run errands or get to an appointment? We can help! Register for January and February now, click here. Your child will enjoy the extra time to socialize and play!

• Early Arrival - available daily; drop-off begins at 8:15 am
• Lunch Program - available on Monday through Friday; pick up is at 1:30 pm

DROP-IN STUDENTS MUST REGISTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN STAFF ACCORDINGLY

Extended Day Fees:

Early Arrival / Lunch: Monthly Commitment Discounted Rate – $8.25 / per session

Early Arrival / Lunch Daily Drop-in Rate – $10.50 / per session

Important Notes:

Students registered in our 2-Year-Old Program are only eligible to participate in Early Arrival Programming

We invite you to join your child, classmates, teachers, and our Music Teachers to celebrate the Christmas season. Please refer to the schedule of classes below for your child's assigned program date and time.

Location - Parish Center

Wednesday, December 18

• 9:45 - 10:15 Kanga and Tigger classes; regular dismissal
• 12:00 Owls class

Thursday, December 19

• 9:45 - 10:15 Piglet and Pooh classes; regular dismissal
• 12:00 Rabbit class

If you would like the St. Michael Preschool community to pray for your immediate family in relation to the birth of a baby, an illness or a death in your family, please email preschool@stmcary.org.

St. Michael Preschool is an important mission of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. We provide a safe and loving environment where the development of the whole child and the joy of learning is nurtured through socialization and play as we grow in our love of Jesus and discover how God is a part of our everyday lives.

Email: preschool@stmcary.org
Website: https://stmichaelpreschool.com
Location: 804 High House Road, Cary, NC, USA
Phone: 919-468-6110
Facebook: StMichael Preschool

Instagram: stmpreschoolnc