May/June 2023
Congratulations to the MECK Pre-K Class of 2023!
We are so proud of all of our MECK Pre-K Class of 2023 graduates! This year we recognized over 1,800 students who participated in MECK Pre-K and are now prepared to take on kindergarten. We are grateful for all of the teachers, teacher assistants, parents, and more who have played a role in each child's success this year. We wish all of our families the best as they continue their lifelong journey of learning in elementary school.
Parent Testimonials
Here's what some of our MECK Pre-K parents had to say about their experiences with MECK Pre-K:
"Pre-K has helped Amina flourish in so many ways. She's responsible, she learned how to write her name and all her alphabets. She definitely learned to be around kids more. She learned about manners, recycling, about the world, the bugs and other things. I'm definitely excited and ready for her to go to kindergarten because I know she was well prepared and taken care of in pre-K."
"After she started Pre-K, she knows all her numbers, she knows all her alphabets, she can write her name and she can read. I don't think I could get the same attention at another pre-k. Ms. Nettie made sure each child was treated as an individual."
We'd like to hear from you what it means to see your children's growth in MECK Pre-K. Share your story on our Testimonial Page!
More Ways to Give Feedback!
Thank you as well to the many families who have given us feedback by rating, reviewing and sending emails to MECK Pre-K.

If you haven't had the opportunity yet, it's not too late - click here to rate and review us.
Scenes From MECK Pre-K

Here are a few highlights from some of our MECK Pre-K graduations and classrooms over the past few weeks. Congratulations to all of our students and their families!
Our students proudly posed for the camera as they tried on their cap and gowns.
In preparation for Kindergarten, our students got a visit from Gus the Bus to learn all about bus safety and how fun it is to get to and from school.
Students performed and showed family and friends a little bit of what they have learned throughout the year.
Apply Now for the 2023-2024 School Year
Applications are still being accepted for the 2023-2024 school year! Children must turn four on or before August 31 and live in Mecklenburg County to enroll. Space is limited, so families are encouraged to apply today!

Our team is here to ensure that all children turning four by August 31 can enroll in our program! Check out our website to join us at our next event.
If your child won't be four on or before August 31, 2023, don't worry! You can sign up to be notified when registration is open for your child's year.
Teacher Appreciation Week
From May 8-12 we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week at MECK Pre-K! This was a great week where we got to thank our educators because without them, we would not be MECK Pre-K.

MECK Pre-K teachers held parties; received gifts and thank you notes from admins, parents and students; had lunch on us; AND had the chance to attend a Charlotte Knights baseball game! We loved seeing all the fun activities our teachers participated in. Our teachers really know how to bring the joy of learning to our classrooms and to the program.

If you're interested in being one of our MECK Pre-K Teachers, check out our careers page and job board to view current openings.
Benefits of Being
a MECK Pre-K Teacher
MECK Pre-K teachers and assistant teachers receive the same pay as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) educators. They also receive health insurance, retirement benefits, and a consistent schedule with built-in planning and organizational time. MECK Pre-K educators also have professional development opportunities, ongoing support from success coaches, and a high-quality curriculum to follow. Learn more on our careers page!
Professional Learning Community for Site Administrators
This spring, MECK Pre-K site administrators attended their first Professional Learning Community (PLC) meeting at Park Road Baptist Child Development Center.
 
The PLC serves two broad purposes:
  1. Improving the skills and knowledge of educators through collaborative study, expertise exchange, and professional dialogue.
  2. Improving the educational aspirations, achievement, and attainment of students through stronger leadership and teaching
Help Spread the Word
About MECK Pre-K!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn and share our posts! You can find even more ways to talk about MECK Pre-K on our Partner Toolkit Page.
Important Community Updates
Fun Summer Activities
Summer is a wonderful time of year! It's the season of fun in the sun, spending time with family and friends, visiting the beach and more. It's also an important time to keep children engaged with learning, ensuring a strong start in the new school year. Here are some free and inexpensive activities to enjoy with your family this summer.

  • The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is offering a variety of reading events this summer. You can check out their website to find an event near you! The library has also started their Summer Break program! The Summer Break program acknowledges how critical it is to maintain reading and learning all summer long. You can create an account and track your reading and activity progress to receive rewards! Read our latest blog post to learn more on teaching your child to read.
  • Want to do more hands on activities? Visit the Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville! The Discovery Place Kids has a variety of daily activities and exhibitions you and your child can participate in. This is a good chance for your little ones to get some more science and mathematical thinking practice!
  • Explore one of Charlotte's many greenways. Little Sugar Creek Greenway currently has five open sections and stretches over 10 miles!
Recommended Books
Ice Cream Face by Heidi Woodward Sheffield. Sheffield wrote and illustrated the wonderful book Brick by Brick, and is back this time with Ice Cream Face, the perfect picture book for summer. Ice Cream Face recounts the many big emotions a boy experiences waiting in line for ice cream.

Leo and Lola books by Anna McQuinn & illustrated by Ruth Hearson This series of beloved books depicts the daily life of two siblings, Leo and Lola. Many of these books are available at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in both English and Spanish.

  • In Leo Can Swim, Leo goes to swim class with his father. There are wonderful words here, so when you read with your child, try drawing attention to the “sh” sound in splish, splash, and fish. You can even go on a Scavenger Hunt looking for all of the “sh” sounds throughout the book.
  • In Lola Plants a Garden, Lola is a little older than her brother so she is able to plant her own garden in Lola Plants a Garden. Like the boy in Ice Cream Face, Lola must wait for her garden to grow. She works with her Mommy to get everything ready for her garden and plant it.
Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Celebrates 30 Years!
Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is celebrating 30 years of mobilizing resources, forging partnerships, and supporting families to improve early childhood health, education, and development. Over the past 30 years, Smart Start of Mecklenburg County has been a leader in the early childhood space, helping ensure that all children in Mecklenburg County "turn five ready to thrive."
Smart Start supports families to improve early childhood health, education and development - all to help ensure that children turn five ready to thrive.
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