“I give you a new commandment: As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13:34
Dear St. Michael Preschool Families,
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5th, and is the season in which we prepare our hearts for the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. The forty days of Lent are an opportunity to enrich our daily lives and grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Explaining Lent to children can be a challenge, but as preschool educators, we find kid-friendly ways to make the concepts and traditions of Lent meaningful to them. Prayers from the heart, acts of kindness, Bible stories, and our Ash Wednesday Prayer Service are just a few examples I’m sure you will enjoy hearing about from your children.
During Lent, let us inspire each other to create special moments that allow our preschool community to be more like Jesus and grow closer to God.
As a reminder, enrollment for the Fall is now open. We have classes for 2, 3, 4, and 5-year-olds, including Discovery Day. We encourage you to share this newsletter with family, friends, and neighbors, and spread the word about what makes our community so special. Our church visits are open to all, and it is through your ongoing support and prayers that our program continues to flourish. We are excited for another wonderful year of "Growing with God!"
In His service,
Paula Renke
CPO Children's Clothing Corner
Hi Moms & Dads 😊
CPO - Catholic Parish Outreach is supported by our local Catholic parishes. Each hosts 2 food drives a year and some host a baby item drive.
CPO serves 3 counties - Wake, Johnston & Franklin. Catholic Charities suppprts our neighbors in need regardless of religion, color, race, etc... Providing Help - Creating Hope - Serving All
Children's Clothing Corner is an infant to preschool program serving children 4 years old and younger. They are an underserved population in our community. Expecting Moms can receive maternity clothing as well.
This program is 100% donation item supported. There is no funding for this bonus program. Out of 204 families served at the food pantry this past Monday, 70 families needed clothing for their young children.
We implore you, please think of CPO Children's Clothing Corner when you are finished with your little ones clothing, socks, shoes, jackets, and books.
Please tell friends, family, and neighbors, and share with CPO what you might drop off to Goodwill or a thrift store. We are freely distributing what we have to offer. The others are selling those items, yes, for good causes in general, but ours go out free to families in need.
The need is ongoing and the # of families continues to climb. The vast majority of our clients are working families who can't make ends meet.
CPO averaged serving 6000 people a month in 2022. We were up to 10,000 end of 2024. We need your help!
The greatest needs:
Used and new clothing 2T-6T ( if you would put your child in it, so would we)
New / gently used underwear 3T-6T
Shoes sizes 2 - kids 12 and socks
Jackets and coats
Picture books up to preschool level
Diapers sizes 4-6
Wipes
Formula
Thank you for partnering with CPO and Catholic Charities to serve our neighbors in need.
Donations can be brought to St. Michael Preschool for the remainder of the school year. Collection boxes will be located in the playground door entry.
Questions, contact Darcy Hull
CPO Volunteer Coordinator
CPOvol.coordinator@ccharitiesdor.org
919-847-1466
Volunteer Shifts are Mon - Sat. ( No Tues) 8:30 AM -12:30 PM contact Darcy to get started.
Tuition Payment Reminder
Tuition payments are due by the 5th of each month. If you have not already checked your balance recently or 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.
March ADVENTURE CAMP
Register Here by March 7th for Lego Camp
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, March 10th Lego Camp
- Monday, March 24th Dinosaur Camp
SAVE THE DATE: St. Joseph's Bike Day w/Dad's
CALLING ALL PRESCHOOL DADS!
The St. Joseph’s Day celebration with dads will be held March 18- 19-20.
Dads of 3 and 4-year-olds, please bring your child's bike/trike/scooter and helmet to school on your assigned day and time to enjoy some outside fun with your child!
*If dad is unable to attend, please send another family member.
Tuesday - March 18
Owl - 11:45
Wednesday - March 19
Tigger - 9:45
Kanga - 11:45
Roo 1 and 3 - 11:45
Thursday - March 20
Pooh and Piglet - 9:45
Rabbit - 11:45
Roo 2 and 4 - 11:45
You are also invited to join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® in the fight against childhood cancer by participating in the St. Jude Trike-A-Thon. The week-long event teaches our students that they have the power to help others. While at school, they will learn trike safety through fun lessons, songs, and movement. More information will come home in your preschooler’s school bag before your scheduled bike day.
Early Arrival & Lunch Program
Need some extra time to run errands or get to an appointment? We can help!
- Register for March now, click here. Your child will enjoy the extra time to socialize and play!
- Now Open March, April, and May Extended Care registration!
- March - May Adventure Camp Registration is now open!
Lunch Program - available on Monday through Thursday, pick up is at 1:30 pm
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
OUR PACT PROGRAM IS GOING STRONG
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.
March registration is now open click here. PACT DATES ARE:
- Tues. 3/4
- Mon. 3/10
- Tues. 3/18
- Mon. 3/24 - NOTE: This session will be in the Parish Center for large gross motor activities
- Mon 4/7
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT US!
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 our 2025 - 2026 registration link https://onrealm.org/StMichaelArchangel/Registrations/Info/3d248b85-9eae-4eff-9a49-b26600e348b0?returnTo=upcomingEvents
Prayer Requests
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.
- Continued healing prayers for Pooh TA Miss Lisa's daughter, Danielle and all those facing health issues.
- Prayers for the repose of the soul of the father of Tigger's Teacher, Miss Krista.
- Healing for Miss Sheela
- Strength for Quinn's Grandfather (Kanga class) as he battles cancer
St. Michael the Archangel, Pray for us!
Financial Support
African American and Native American Ancestry Tuition Assistance
Application Now Open through March 15
The Diocese of Raleigh is pleased to announce an opportunity for Catholic school families of African American and Native American heritage. Through our African American and Native American Ancestry Tuition Assistance program, we aim to make Catholic education more accessible to eligible students from preschool through 12th grade. This vital initiative, supported by generous parish donations and a grant from the Black and Indian Mission Office, reflects our commitment to serving diverse communities throughout our diocese.
This scholarship program is administered by the Diocese of Raleigh Office of Education.
Catholic school students (Preschool-12th grade) of African Ancestry and Native American heritage in the Diocese of Raleigh are eligible to apply for tuition assistance beginning February 1, 2025. The assistance awards are funded by parish second collection donations and a grant from the Black and Indian Mission Office founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States.
- All applicants MUST complete a Catholic school enrollment application before this application will be considered.
- Applications are available online and open on February 1, 2025, and close on March 15, 2025.
- Decision letters will be emailed to parents no later than May 24, 2025.
- Tuition awards are sent from the diocese to the applicant’s school.
- View the program flyer (PDF).
Please contact Anna Bragg at anna.bragg@raldioc.org or 984.900.3165 with any questions about this program.
Notes from Music and Movement
Hello Loving Preschool Families,
Happy March! The snow days in February reminded me of my former home in Michigan! And when the snow melts and the sun comes out Lent and Spring are here!
We are wrapping up our winter season songs and will be learning a scarf song called “A Little Seed”: https://youtu.be/JOIfLlG0hoM?si=kbYXCTV1tT8_mGs5. You can do it with any thinnish square or rectangular scarf or material.
I’ll introduce “Did you Ever Meet my Jesus” and “The Little Lent Song” around Ash Wednesday. And we always keep “This Little Light of Mine” fresh because the children love it, and it’s what we are all about.
As always, you are invited to join us for Preschool Prayer in Church at 10:00 on Monday March 3 and March 17. Hope to see you there. Thank you for sharing your loving children with us!
Blessings,
Miss Alita (M,W,F)
Dear Preschool Families,
Happy March! This month we will have some special songs about Lent as we prepare for Easter. We will also be learning some beautiful and engaging songs about St. Patrick’s Day, Spring and rainbows!
Here are just SOME of the songs we will be learning:
This Is My Garden
The Lent Song
Ladybug, Ladybug
Fly Like a Butterfly
Colors of the Rainbow
St. Patrick’s Day Freeze Dance
Thank you for sharing your children with us at St. Michael’s Preschool! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments!
Blessings,
Ms. Karen
Karen Cassidy
Second Step Social Emotional Program
Our St. Michael Preschool teachers strive to create a safe and loving environment where children treat themselves and others with respect and show care and concern for others all while growing in their love of Jesus. We recognize that supporting children’s social-emotional development helps them grow as learners, build relationships, and feel happier and more successful in the classroom and in their daily lives.
The Second Step weekly lessons are designed to teach preschoolers how to harness their energy and potential to achieve improved learning and behavior. The program teaches children to listen, pay attention, control their behavior, and get along with others. Students entering kindergarten with these self-regulation and social-emotional skills are set up for success.
Home Link letters and activities are a valuable component in building a strong home-school connection. They coordinate with the weekly lessons and concepts being taught to your children so you can reinforce them at home. We thank you in advance for partnering with us to ensure the success of your child’s early childhood education.
Spirit Wear now available to order online!!
Thanks to collaboration with Mookie Lewis with Ad In Design, we now have a website to order new St. Michael Preschool bags, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and even bows. Check it out here!!
Our Next Spirit Wear Coffee Shop - Mon. March 24, 2025
9:15 - 10:30 in the Parish Center
Join us for coffee while shopping for some awesome STM Spirit Wear
About Us
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