MCP3 Parent Newsletter
August 18th, 2026
A Message from Ms. Peterson
Hello MCP3 Families,
Last week, we welcomed our new staff members for their week of training and today we kick off our all staff training week! We will be planning and preparing to welcome our class of 2041! Our staff will be working hard to prepare for the best school year yet. You can expect a welcome phone call from your child's teacher in the next couple of days.
I am excited to see you and your child at your child's preschool practice session next week. Read through the details below for your 90 minute session and to ensure you are prepared.
Preschool Practice 8/24 or 8/25
Preschool practice session will support a strong, confident transition for our scholars, our staff, and for our families. This session serves as a gentle preview of the MCP3 preschool experience and plays a key role in setting a positive tone for the year ahead. The main goal is to help children begin to feel safe, familiar, and excited about entering school at MCP3!
Here is what to expect for your 90 min. session
- 75 minutes: Scholars will be with their teachers and a few classmates, while parents turn in completed paperwork, make a payment, and purchase uniform shirts.
- Any parent who has NOT attended the mandatory orientation will attend orientation at this time.
- 15 minutes: Meet and Greet with child's teacher
Arrival
**Escort your child to their classroom
**Label all personal items (blanket, bookbag, uniform)
**Greet classroom teacher briefly & drop off school supplies- K3 School Supply List
**Good-bye ritual with child at scholar’s classroom door
Attend Parent Orientation if you have NOT already attended.
Visit the Welcome Table (By our Parent Board)
**Turn in all completed paperwork received at Orientation (Red MCP folder)
**Complete As needed (Aftercare Registration- must be signed up on the link below, Special Dietary Needs, Authorization to administer medication)
Visit MCP3 Main Office (Ms. Perine)
**Make a payment and/or verify W2 Childcare payments were made. We do NOT have "tap" options such as Apple or Google Pay. We accept cash, check, and credit card.
**Purchase Uniform shirts
Departure
The last 15 minutes will be spent talking with your child’s teacher as you pick them up from their classroom.
If you have NOT signed up for your 90 min. time slot or have NOT Received the sign-up link, please email cassandra.perine@mkeprep.com.
Aftercare
MCP3 has an aftercare program from 3:30-5:30pm. There are limited seats available and they will be filled on a first come first served basis. In order to have a seat in the aftercare program, you will need express your interest by filling out this Aftercare Request form to receive the appropriate Aftercare Registration paperwork. Once the completed Aftercare Registration paperwork is fully completed and returned to the main office we will be able to secure your aftercare seat. Aftercare Registration paperwork will be handed out to families that are on this request form list during their Preschool Practice.
School Supplies
The K3 School Supply list can be found on our website or at the bottom of this newsletter. All supplies should be brought in on your Preschool Practice Day. Do NOT label supplies. Only label the scholar's blanket, extra uniform, bookbag, jacket, and lunch box.
Payments- All payments for the week of August 26th MUST be paid by the end of your scheduled preschool practice.
Wisconsin W2 Childcare Authorization:
If you receive Wisconsin Childcare Assistance, please update your authorization ASAP with the following information:
School Start Date: August 26th
Provider #: 1000588581
Location #: 003 (MCP3) Milwaukee College Prep K3 Program @ 1350 W. North Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53205
Your child’s enrollment will be complete once the authorization is updated and a payment has been made
Private Pay:
Payment is due the Friday before service. Private pay families may pay for the week of August 26th during preschool practice.
With Love and Respect,
Ms. Peterson
Class Dojo
Be sure to join the MCP3 School on ClassDojo. ClassDojo is our main form of communication. You will receive important information regarding your scholar's progress, exciting happenings, and will be able to directly message with your child's teacher. Scan the QR code now to join our school or click here.
Ms. Moore
Hello! My name is Ms. Moore!
I am excited to be returning back to Milwaukee College Prep as the Lead Teacher for our MCP3 26-27 school year. I have my degree in Early Childhood Education and 10+ years of experience in this field. I truly love helping young children learn, grow, and develop confidence. My goal is to always lead with love, create a warm nurturing classroom; where every child feels safe, loved, and excited to come to school each day. I believe in building strong relationships with families to create the foundation that our children need to succeed. I am so looking forward to getting to know each of you and making this a wonderful school year.
Ms. Hawthorne
My name is Arielle Hawthorne. I have worked in early childhood for 18 years with various age groups. This is my first year as a MCP3 teacher and I am so excited to start this new journey with your children and families!
Fun facts:
-I'm a proud MCP mom of 3!!
-My hobbies include traveling, reading and practicing yoga.
Ms. Burt
Ms. Miller
Greetings! My name is Ms. Miller and I am excited to be starting my 5th year as a K3 Lead Teacher. I was a teacher’s assistant for 20+ years. I have been with MCP almost 9 years now. I am a few semesters away from completing my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. I have one child, he attended MCP and is now a High Schooler graduate. I am eager to get to know you as well!
Ms. Harrell
Fun Facts
I have 2 children and 1 fur baby.
I love spending time with my family especially having game nights and I love shopping.
Ms. Perine
Hi my name is Cassandra Perine. I am the Office Manager for the MCP3 program. I have over 20 years of experience in the Childcare field from teacher to running my own facility. I have been married for 19 years and the proud mother of 2 MCP-36th Street graduates and have worked at MCP for the past 7 years. I look forward to assisting you and your family on your scholar’s educational journey!
MCP3 Uniforms
scholars must come to school in the Milwaukee College Prep-K3 uniform every day. Staff will check scholar uniforms at threshold in the morning. If a student arrives at school out of uniform, parents/guardians will be notified at drop off (or called by 9:00) and asked to bring in the proper uniform item by 10:00. If the scholar is not in full uniform they will not receive uniform dojo points for the day. Continued failure to follow the uniform policy could result in a student losing his/her seat.
Red MCP3 T-Shirt-MCP3 T-Shirts, fleeces, and sweatshirts are for sale in our main office starting the week of 8/17. Plain red shirts are not acceptable and considered out of uniform. If it is cold, students may wear one of the MCP fleeces/sweatshirts, long-sleeved t-shirts or turtlenecks under their T-Shirts (these shirts must be plain white, black, blue, gray, or red), or a navy blue cardigan sweater (no hoods or logos).
Navy blue pants-Solid navy blue bottoms are expected. Walking shorts, skirts or skorts that are no shorter than three inches above the knee are allowed on hot days.
Headwear-Headbands and barrettes are allowed. No hats, hoods, bandanas, du-rags etc. (any headbands determined to be distracting to the learning environment may be asked to be removed, i.e. large bows, ears, lights, etc..)
Leggings/Tights-Solid red, white, blue or black tights or leggings. (No patterned i.e. stripes, polka dots, oversized logo socks, tights or leggings).
Shoes-Gym shoes with velcro straps are preferred so students do not need to change for physical activity or recess. All scholars must wear closed toed shoes. No boots, moccasins, sandals, clogs, crocs, shoes that lace up one inch past the ankle, or flip-flops allowed. In winter, if boots are worn to school, students must change into uniform permitted shoes for class. Light-up shoes are to be turned off during the school day. Heelys are not permitted.
Potty Training Policy
Students enrolled at MCP3 must be fully potty trained before attending. Students must be wearing underwear. A student who has accidents daily, cannot wipe themselves, or is wearing pull-ups is NOT considered toilet trained.
Why do students have to be toilet trained before they attend MCP3?
- There are strict standards for changing and disposing of wet or soiled diapers/pull-ups; our classrooms are not equipped for this.
- When an adult is busy changing a child’s soiled clothing, it takes away learning time for all students and removes one adult from the direct supervision of and interaction with the rest of the class.
We understand that even toilet-trained children will occasionally have accidents. By definition, “accidents” are unusual incidents that should happen infrequently. In these instances, the teachers will monitor students and assist them in changing their clothes, encouraging independence as much as possible.
A toilet-trained child is a child who can do the following:
- Communicate to the teachers that he/she need to go to the restroom before they need to go
- Alert him/herself to stop what he/she is doing, to go and use the bathroom
- Pull down his/her clothes and get them back up without assistance
- Wipe him/herself after using the toilet
- Get on/off the toilet by him/herself
- Wash and dry hands
- Postpone going if they must wait for someone who is in the bathroom or if they are away from the classroom
- Wake up during nap time, should they need to use the bathroom
Scholars will be prompted/asked many times throughout the day and before nap time if they need to use the bathroom. A teacher will assist with clothing items as needed, but children should be able to complete toileting activities independently. In the event of an accident that is beyond the scope of the classroom teacher to assist the child in cleaning themselves or MCP3 does not have a change of clothes on hand, the parent or guardian will be notified and will need to pick up the student within the hour for the rest of the day. This is an issue that protects all concerned.
It is not uncommon for a child who is fully toilet trained to have a setback when he/she is in a new environment. MCP3 staff are aware of this. Please have your child dressed in clothing that he/she can easily manage independently and maintain an extra full uniform at school. We understand that each child arrives at this milestone differently, therefore we will allow 2 weeks from their first day of school for your child to demonstrate accomplishment of this goal. However, if the situation is frequent and not manageable within the classroom environment, we will discuss the issue with the parents and reserve the right to suspend the child's attendance at such time. This would result in the loss of a seat in the MCP3 Program.
Please note that this policy is not in place to shame or punish a child or inconvenience primary caregivers. Toileting accidents in the K3 childcare setting are time-consuming and take away from teachers' time interacting with all children.
MCP3 Information
Email: allison.peterson@milwcollegeprep.com
Website: milwcollegeprep.com
Location: 1350 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Phone: 414-264-6007
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milwcollegeprep