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September 2025

Giving MECK Pre-K families the tools to succeed!

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Dear MECK Pre-K Families,

We are so excited to welcome all our new families this year! Thank you for trusting us with your children—it’s a responsibility we cherish deeply. As the new school year begins, our teachers are busy preparing classrooms that are not only full of learning but also filled with joy, curiosity, and care.

We know that a successful school year isn’t just about academics, it’s about the relationships we build together. Our goal is to create a nurturing space where every child feels seen, valued, and supported. The Child Development and Family Support team is here for you, ready to partner with you and make this year both meaningful and memorable for your family. Please check out our website for more information about how we support families and the MECK Pre-K Family Engagement Calendar https://meckprek.org/child-development-and-family-services/.

Here’s to a wonderful year of growth, connection, and fun!

Warmly,

Brittany Smith M. Ed

Child Development and Family Support Director

Grandparents Day is September 14^th. Our MECK Pre-K families are welcome to add pictures of grandparents to a special display at their site on September 12^th. All MECK Pre-K grandparents are invited to have lunch with their grandchild on Monday, September 15^th. Families may coordinate with teachers specific reading times throughout the week as we welcome our grandparents to come in and read!

Together, let's make this school year a journey of growth, discovery, and shared success.

Our Parent Advisory Committee is made up of parents who serve as representatives of the MECK Pre-K Program for the 25/26 school year. This committee meets monthly and will support the program throughout the year. Would you be interested in serving on our Parent Advisory Committee?

Join us on September 5^th at 5:30 for an information session on how you can become a member!

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Meeting ID: 232 436 323 023

Passcode: TA7QH7VZ

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+1 872-239-6022,,943838645# United States, Chicago

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Phone conference ID: 943 838 645#

See you all there!

Come on in! There’s a spot just for you! Our Welcome Mat is all about making sure every child feels included, supported, and celebrated, no matter how they learn or grow. Here, we share tips, stories, and little ideas to help families and teachers work together so every child can shine. Think of it as our way of rolling out the mat for friendship, learning, and lots of big smiles because every child belongs and every family matters!

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! As we come off of a long summer break, we want to remind you how important it is for your child to get a good night's sleep. Many families find naptime and bedtime to be a challenge time for them and their children. It is estimated that 43% of all children and as many as 86% of children with developmental delays experience some type of sleep difficulty. Sleep problems can make infants and young children moody, short tempered, and unable to engage well in interactions with others. Sleep problems can also impact learning. When a young child is sleeping, their body is busy developing new brain cells needed for their physical, mental, and emotional development. Parents also need to feel rested to be nurturing and responsive to their growing and active young children.

Here are a few proven tips for making bedtimes and naptimes easier for parents and children.

 Making Life Easier Bedtime Routine

“Naptime and Bedtime" Tips

• Establish Good Sleep Habits
• Consider keeping a sleep diary for a week
• Talk with your child about their fears
• Look for the signs of sleepiness
• Celebrate the little success along the way

Please visit Making Life Easier Bedtime Routine Website for more details on each tip!

We know that your child may have many emotions going back to school. We encourage you to utilize this scripted story to talk about what all happens during their school day.

English car ver  English bus ver   Spanish car ver    Spanish bus ver

As parents we have lots of feelings as we send our children to what is sometimes their first school experience. The types of feelings and thoughts that runs through our minds: Are they ready? Do they know all the things they need to know? These questions and feelings are all completely normal! What is important to remember is that our children have unique skills and experiences which makes them an integral part of their classroom family. The beginning of the school year will focus on learning what interests your child, what makes them special, and teaching them classroom routines and expectations. You can build upon these same skills at home, too. Daily routines are often thought of as just “maintenance” activities: meal time, running errands, getting ready for bed, taking baths. But these everyday actions are rich opportunities to support your child’s learning and development, while having fun. Routines offer the chance to build self-confidence, curiosity, social skills, self-control, communication skills, and more. Try something like the example below when you and your child next perform a daily routine together.

Take grocery shopping:

Midori (aged 2) and her mom wheeled through the supermarket. Midori pointed at the apples and her mom said, “Look at the red apples and the green apples. Don’t they look yummy?” She held one out for Midori to touch: “Feel how smooth they are.” Then she picked up a plastic bag and turned back to Midori: “Why don’t you help me choose some to bring home?” Together, they counted out five apples and put them in the bag. Midori tried her best to help, but those apples were hard to hold! It took two hands to get one in the bag. “Nice work!” said her mother, “Thanks for helping.”

Here, a simple interaction in the produce section opened the doors for practicing language skills, taking turns, talking, using one’s senses, and learning about numbers. It also provided a chance to nurture Midori’s self-confidence and self-esteem as her mother let her know that her thoughts and interests were important. Midori’s mom also let her know that she was capable of doing important things, like choosing and bagging the apples.

Routines provide the two key ingredients for learning: relationships and repetition. So enjoy these “ordinary” moments with your child. If she’s having fun with you, she’s learning, too!

Please click the link for more information on the benefits of building routines-

Creating Routines for Love and Learning | ZERO TO THREE

Latin American Festival

Date: Saturday, September 20th, 2025

Time: 12pm with festivities going on until night. Kids Zone 1pm-5pm.

Location: Ballantyne's Backyard

11611 N Community House RD, Charlotte NC

Scan the QR code to apply for free rides to farmers markets. SNAP recipients in North Mecklenburg can access rides to 3 farmers markets: Davidson, Huntersville Growers' and North Meck Community Farmers Markets.

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About MECK Pre-K!

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