Posted September 5, 2023
 Dear SKCEE Families and Friends, Happy 2023-2024 School Year! We have LOVED welcoming our Butterflies to the 2023-2024 school year! Opening the doors at 8:15 is one of our favorite parts of the day for so many reasons. Seeing everyone outside, anxious to come in, is a daily reminder of the responsibility we have to do our very best for your children, for you and for our staff. We see such a wide range of emotions each morning, from beyond thrilled to be at school to a bit apprehensive about spending time away from loved ones. Just like with all developmental milestones, kids are in different places at different times and wherever your child is on this continuum, it is the right place for them to be in this moment. We are also grateful to see you and build relationships with you. You are your child’s first teacher and you are crucial to a successful school year. We appreciate your partnership and support. We send a family newsletter on the first Friday of each month and each teacher will be sending a weekly newsletter to their families. Teacher newsletters will share the learning and celebrations from your child’s room. We encourage you to bookmark our SKCEE website and are working to keep that updated weekly. If you are on social media, follow SKCEEFAMILIES on IG and Stephen Knight Center for Early Education Families on FB to see the fun and informative PTA posts. As always, our doors are open and we’d love to connect. In learning,Principal Shelley and Assistant Principal Aimee |
| INFORMATION, UPDATES, AND ACTION |
| Heat Days: We know that heat day early releases are really challenging for everyone and we sincerely apologize for all of the inconveniences and struggles that they are causing. We want you to know that we are doing all we can to cool the building and support students, staff, and families. We have a heat mitigation liaison from the district who comes here to work on things almost every hot day. We have additional swamp coolers for the hallways and small, portable air conditioners in each room. We are shortening outdoor recesses and providing time in the air conditioned auditorium to do gross motor activities. Our facilities manager comes in at 4:30 am to open windows and get the fans going. We check the temperatures multiple times a day and submit them to the district. 88 in classrooms is just too hot. We can request a heat day for the following day based only on the temperatures of the current day but not on the forecasted temperature so that is why we are sometimes here on very hot days, because the previous day was cooler. The district determines when to allow an early release day and also when to make the decision which in turn impacts when we can notify families. As soon as a heat day is approved, we notify you. Today, we were approved for a half day but Cory was not. For those of you with students in both places we know this is an additional challenge and again, we apologize. We share all of this so you know that we are aware that these decisions impact each of you and we are doing our best to find more effective ways to handle the heat, early releases and the timing of the decisions. One way we try to support is by feeding all students both breakfast and lunch on early release days, but much of the rest of this is out of our control. One thing is certain, we will have cooler weather moving forward soon. Private Therapy Providers in schoolWe have had several requests for private providers to come in and support our students during the school day for things like speech, play, occupational therapies, etc. Unfortunately, this is not something we can accommodate, but are happy to discuss other options with you. Please reach out to Principal Shelley Boberschmidt to discuss. |
| SKCEE PTA |
| Become a PTA Member!PTA membership is a great way to get involved in the SKCEE community, and members have a vote on any issues raised at monthly PTA meetings. Membership is $15 for an individual, $30 for a couple, and $10 for SKCEE staff. Join today and be sure to mark your calendar for our first meeting on Thursday, 9/14 at 5pm at SKCEE. Volunteer for SKCEE EventsWant to get involved in SKCEE events this year? The PTA is also looking for volunteers to help organize and run the various events and fundraisers throughout the year. Sign up here to join a committee! Joining a committee is a fantastic way to get involved with our great school and get to know other parents and teachers! Dine Out at Esters Monday, 9/18The SKCEE PTA is hosting its first dine out of the year at Esters on Monday, 9/18 from 4pm – 9pm at the Holly location. For dine in or take out orders please mention Stephen Knight and Esters will donate 20% of all food sales to SKCEE. We hope to see you there! Stock the Lounge Wednesday, 9/20Each month, parents in designated classrooms will be responsible for “stocking the lounge” with non-perishable snacks and drinks for the teachers and other staff to enjoy. Stock the Lounge items will be collected on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. Information on the first group will be sent next week! SKCEE Fall Picnic Thursday, 9/28Join the SKCEE community at our annual Fall Picnic on Thursday, 9/28 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on the SKCEE blacktop/kinder playground! This is a great opportunity to meet SKCEE families, so be sure to mark your calendars! Families will be able to purchase white t-shirts for Tie Dye Day in October at the picnic. T-shirts can also be purchased on the PTA website for those unable to make the event. More details to follow. Room ParentsWe are looking for volunteers to become a Room Parent for your child’s class! Room Parents will help their classroom teacher as needed with: communication with parents, finding resources and volunteers, planning and implementing class celebrations, and organizing class gifts. We ask that you become a member of the PTA and attend monthly meetings, as this job will include relaying specific communications from the PTA involving community events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities. Being a Room Parent is a fun and rewarding job that helps you build great relationships with your child’s teacher and classroom community! Please reach out to your teacher directly if you are interested in volunteering as a Room Parent. |
| IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS |
| September 4: Labor Day, no school September 14: CSC 3:45pm-4:45pm / PTA 5:00pm-6:00pm September 15-17: Rosh Hashanah September 20: Picture Day September 22: District Training Day: No school for students September 24-25: Yom Kippur September 28, 4-6 pm: Fall Picnic October 2-3: Tie Dye Days October 12-16: Mini Fall Break for students October 17 and 19, 4pm-7:30pm: Family conferences |