MAIZE unified school district 266
Maize Early Childhood Center
9405 W 37th Street North, Wichita, KS 67205
PH: 316-722-3105 


December 2021
Principals Message
Dear MECC Families,
 
Earlier this week several staff members and I were reflecting on all of the wonderful moments we have already had this year at MECC and we thought we would share some of them with you:
 
·      Successful Fall Book Fair
·      Welcoming MSIS/MIS to the neighborhood with posters from each class
·      MSHS students working with students in classrooms
·      Cookie Bookie
·      PAT Playgroups
·      Starlets
·      Halloween Parade
·      MSIS Kays Club/Rising Stars Trick or Treat Extravaganza
·      MSIS Kindness Club decorating our halls with motivational posters
·      Classroom Fall Friendship Feasts
·      Caring Hearts food drive
·      Santa visit and pictures
·      PAT Grab ‘n Go with Santa
·      And more!
 
What a busy start to the 2021-22 school year! When we convene January 5, 2022(!), we will welcome Michelle Newland and Becky Hoskinson to our MECC staff. Ms. Michelle N. will be the teacher for our new 3-year-old class which will be meeting in the afternoon. Ms. Larisa will be moving down the hall and co-teaching with her and Ms. Becky will fill Ms. Larisa’s role, co-teaching with Ms. Sharon and Ms. Michelle W.
 
We will also hold our official vote on our two finalists for the official MECC Mascot! Look for your ballot to come to your inbox the second week of January! We anticipate a tight race and will be excited to reveal the results.
 
We look forward to continuing our partnership with MSHS and MSIS with “Kindness Rocks” during the month of January. Students will work together to create our own Kindness Rock Garden as well as sprinkle words of kindness around our campuses.
 
Believe it or not, enrollment for the 2022-23 school year is right around the corner – notices will be in school and district emails, websites, and social media sites. Don’t hesitate, spots fill quickly!
 
From all of us here at MECC, we wish you the happiest of times during this holiday season…we hope you have a wonderful break with your kiddos, and we look forward to seeing you next year!
 
DeDe Pierce
MECC Principal
Nurse's Nook
Notes from the Nurse
Immunizations and Health Assessments:
IMPORTANT: If I have contacted you regarding immunizations, please turn them in as soon as possible due to the deadline being January 5, 2022. You may send them to school with your student, fax them, or email them to me. Please make sure the ECC has your correct phone number and emergency contacts.


Covid Information:
There have been a lot of changes to the Covid protocols. Please refer to usd266.com/TogetherAgain for a lot of good info and resources. 

Everyone age 5 and older is eligible to get the Covid vaccine. Click on the link to find a vaccine near you. https://www.vaccines.gov

Thanks, Nurse Allison


Phone: 316-462-8403                  Email: aparkhurst@usd266.com
Parents as Teachers
Spring Session is beginning!
Join us January 11 from 10:00-10:30 for an Interactive Story Time with Anne Harris. On Wednesday, January 19, Tippi Toes will be here. More information coming soon! Then on Monday, January 31, Starlets, music class, and playgroups resume! Yippee!!

To enroll in Parents as Teachers, click here.

Mini Starlets is a parent-child program beginning in February, every Tuesday from 9:00-10:15. Parents and children participate in circle time, centers, story time, music and movement. The Frogstreet curriculum is used and taught by a licensed teacher. This class is available for all families that have a child who turns 3 between September 1 and mid-January. The cost is a one time fee of $20.

If you have questions, please email Erin at ewhite@usd266.com. Please enroll in our ECC office.  
Counselor's Corner
Beginning in January, we will have a child therapist onsite through the Kansas Children’s Service League. More information regarding KCSL services is located here. If you are interested in this service, please contact me at abeckmann@usd266.com.

Our students have grown leaps and bounds over the last few months. Most of them have adjusted to the routines of school, familiarized themselves with their teachers and peers, and have enjoyed learning about the world around them. With this said, it can be challenging coming back to school after a long break. The following lists some things you can do to help prepare your child to return in 2022. Have a wonderful holiday with your family!

Here are a few tips to preparing your child to return back to school after a week away: https://www.isdenver.org/newspost/~board/ece-principal/post/returning-to-school-after-break-pro-tips-for-ece-parents

Build expectancy
Start reminding your child three days before they are to return to school that break will be over soon and they will go back to school.
 
Announcing that their friends will be so happy to see them helps to build the expectancy and excitement. 

Reading for their return
Reading books to your children helps not only their social emotional growth but is vital to the development of their vocabulary. The following books can be a great resource for you as you prepare your child to return to school:

The Kissing Hand by Audry Penn: A little raccoon named Chester is afraid to leave his mother and go to school. Mother Raccoon shares an old family tradition, the “kissing hand,” which comforts Chester and reminds him of his mother’s love, no matter where he goes.
 
You Go Away by Dorothy Corey: Full of colorful illustrations, this book is ideal for toddlers and preschoolers struggling with separation. Through a series of relatable examples, this story comforts children with a refrain that drives home a single message: Grown-ups do come back.
 
Bye-Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick and Marieka Heinlen: Learn that goodbye isn’t forever, and parents will come back at the end of the day, in this kind-hearted board book. They also discover simple rituals that can help a child tremendously — hugs and kisses, a big wave, a deep breath and faith in teachers and friends.
 
I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas: Owen the piglet is uncertain about leaving his mother during the day, but she eases his fears by assuring him she’ll love him every minute — from the time he leaves her, until he arrives back at home — even through his adventures without her, including eating lunch and making new friends. 
 
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney: With the help from new preschool friends, Llama learns that it is OK to miss Mama Llama and still have fun at school.

Keep to your established routines 
If you have a consistent goodbye ritual, continue to use it. This will comfort your child.
 
Some parents give a high-five, a big hug, or butterfly kisses. Your child remembers those special goodbyes you had established before break so please continue them.  

Keep calm and carry on
Your children may shed some tears when returning back from break. This new challenge may shock some parents, and they wonder why this is happening so late in the school year. This is totally normal!
 
Transition back to school is hard for some children. Leaving you is not easy but remember, the longer your goodbye, the harder it will be for your child, so please keep these goodbyes brief. Lingering by the door just makes the separation more difficult.
 
It’s also important to remain calm and keep your emotions under control during drop off. Your strength and confidence can become your child’s strength and confidence. This too shall pass!
Ms. Amy                            
Facebook and Twitter

Join our group "Maize Parents as Teachers and Early Childhood Center" on Facebook! Just search for the group and ask to join. Get updates of activities going on, free tips and more!
Also follow us on Twitter @maizeecc_pat
PTO News
Upcoming PTO Events:
  • January 28 - PTO meeting at 11am
  • April 8 - PTO meeting at 11am
Important Notes
Bright Start is the Maize COOP's free screening program for ages zero-five years old. Click here for more information and dates!
Curriculum Fees

Curriculum fees are past due. Log into your Skyward account to pay for them. Any questions please contact the office at 722-3105.
Please consider linking your Dillons card to the community rewards program. Click here for instructions on how! All money earned goes directly back to our building.
Box Tops has gone digital! Please download the app, find Maize Early Childhood Center (school id 9665854) and scan your receipts! Money goes directly to school! Click here for more information!
ONEMA1ZE  #OneMa1ze