McDanield Preschool

AM: 8:15-11:45 (Doors open at 8:15)

Dismissal begins between 11:35-11:45

PM: 12:15-3:45 (Doors open at 12:15)

All Day: 8:15-3:45

Dismissal begins between 3:35-3:45

NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAYS AT MCD

12/19-1/5: Winter Break (No School)

1/6: 3rd Quarter Begins: School Back In Session

1/6-1/8: 3 days for $2 (Wear Pajamas)

1/19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)

New Visitor Management System Coming to Our Schools

We take the security of our schools and the protection of your children very seriously. As part of our ongoing commitment to student and staff safety, we are implementingCentegix Visitor Management, a new system that will strengthen security at all of our school buildings beginning the week of January 19, 2026.

Why We're Making This Change

In response to the U.S. Department of Education's guidelines for school security, which recommend limiting school access points and implementing visitor control systems, we have selected Centegix Visitor Management to enhance our ability to monitor and manage all visitors entering our buildings. This system provides an additional layer of protection by screening visitors and maintaining accurate records of who is in our schools at all times.

How the System Works

When you visit any of our schools, the check-in process will be quick and easy:

Bring a valid photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID)
Report to the main office and go to the visitor kiosk
Click on the appropriate badge type on the screen
Scan your ID using the optical scanner
Your photo will be taken and a visitor badge will print instantly
Wear your badge at all times while in the building
When leaving, check out by swiping your badge or selecting your name on the screen

The system instantly performs a security screening, including a sexual offender check, to help ensure that all visitors in our buildings are authorized to be there. This process takes no more time than our current sign-in system—typically less than a minute.

Important Information

Please remember to bring your ID with you each time you visit
All visitors, including parents, guardians, volunteers, contractors, and guests, will use this system
Your information is kept secure and confidential
Office staff are available to assist you if you need help using the system

Implementation Timeline

Weeks of January 5 & 12: Soft roll-out period as our staff becomes familiar with the new system
Week of January 19: Full implementation begins

We appreciate your patience during the initial weeks as everyone adjusts to this new process.

Thank you for partnering with us to make our schools safer places for all children.

Stopfinder App

We are excited to share that our district will soon be rolling out the Stopfinder app for families utilizing district transportation. Stopfinder is a parent-engagement mobile app designed to keep you informed in real time about your child’s school bus and transportation details.

This easy-to-use platform will provide bus stop assignment information along with pick-up and drop-off times. Families will also receive push notifications and alerts for schedule changes, bus substitutions, and the arrival or departure of the bus at stops or other designated “alert zones.” The app allows you to track multiple students, share access with trusted caregivers, and receive updates in multiple languages.

As we prepare for this rollout, here’s what families can expect:

You will receive an email from Stopfinder with an invitation link when the system is ready for your use.
From there, you can download the Stopfinder app on your smartphone or tablet (available on iOS and Android) and set up your account.
More details will be shared as we get closer to launch, and we look forward to offering this tool to help keep families connected and informed.

Pick up passes need to be shown at the car rider door everyday.

(If you do NOT have the pick up pass- you will be asked to go to the office to check out your child)

Your child needs a backpack, water bottle and change of clothes everyday.

Snack Rotations: Each class will have 2 months assigned to them throughout the school year.

Snack Items Include:

(Granola bars, graham crackers, cereal, popcorn, Go-Gurts, cheese sticks, apples, carrots/ranch, vanilla wafers, applesauce, yogurt covered raisons, pretzels, cheese balls, fruit snacks, veggie straws, animal crackers, teddy grahams, clementines) (16 Count)

January: Ms. Verhaeghe's Class: 3 items from the list above

(If your child has Ms. Verhaeghe please bring 3 items from the list above by January 8)

If you are unable to send a snack, please reach out to your child's teacher.

Thank you!

Your child will need:

Extra change of clothes labeled in a ziplock bag to keep at school (underwear, socks, t-shirt, pants)-LABEL the bag
If not potty trained: pull-ups & baby wipes
Water bottle
Full size backpack
Label your child's items (Name on each item)

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an amazing program dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading by gifting books to children. Any child from birth to age 5 is eligible to enroll. Visit kschildrenscabinet.org/imaginationlibrary to enroll your child today!

I can follow directions.

I can use whole body listening.

I can share and take turns with my friends.

I can wait my turn.

I can use manners.

I can be kind.

I can ask for what I need and want.

I can be a problem solver.

I can identify the size of the problem.

I can show empathy.

I can identify same and different feelings.

I can apologize.**

I can identify feelings.**

Letters: Ww, Aa, Ff, Rr, Ss, Hh, Qq, Ww, Yy, Cc, Gg, Xx, Ii, Aa

Numbers: Counting/ Numbers #1-14

Shapes: Star, Diamond, Circle, Rectangle

Colors: Red, Blue, White, Purple

-Have your child put on and take off their coat, mittens, and socks

-Practice zipping and unzipping coats

-Point out and name letters, numbers, shapes, and colors

-Count objects around the house

-Encourage your child to talk, share ideas, and answer simple questions

-Read together daily

-Practice following simple directions

-Let them help with small chores

-Practice writing

-Practice taking turns (games)

-Work on independence (cleaning up toys, carrying backpack, throwing away trash)

USD 204 is using Rooms! Everything you need for all your children in the district will be in this one app. Click on the link below to learn more about Rooms.

https://www.usd204.net/page/rooms-support