Merry Christmas!

We have had a wonderful semester and look forward to seeing you all in 2013.  Thank you for showing your appreciation to our staff with all the gifts and goodies!  Next up will be our Donuts with Dad the last week of January.  Please check the blog after Christmas for an updated calendar and more information about registration for Fall 2013.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Staff changes

Dear Parents,

I wanted to make you aware of a few staff changes that will take place in January.  As most of you know, and have probably seen, our special ed assistant, Ms. Denise is ready to give birth at any second.  We are eagerly looking forward to meeting Zane Welch soon!  Ms. Denise plans to return to us in fall of 2013.

Ms. Megan Myers will be taking Ms. Denise's place.  She will be working with children that Ms. Denise has already assessed, and she will be devoting much of her time to Pre-K and working with teachers to make sure that the Pre-K children are ready for kindergarten.  Megan has a B.A. in  Speech Pathology and is currently working on her masters in elementary education.  This will be her last semester with us as she prepares for student teaching next fall.

Megan teaches in the Toddler 1 class on Mondays.  Ms. Kathleen Bivins will be taking her place.  Kathleen has been subbing this fall and is teaching our Bible study children on Wednesday mornings.  She is a recent graduate of Maryville College.

Megan also teaches in Toddler 2 on Tuesday and Thursday with Ms. Ashley.  Ms. Ashley teaches with Ms. Molly on Mon/Wed in Toddler 2.  Molly will now be teaching with Ashley on Wednesday and Thursday in Toddler 2.  Ms. Lauren Turbeville will be joining us in Toddler 2 on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Lauren has been subbing all fall here at Shining Light, and she will be a wonderful addition for us.

Denise and Megan have been working the last few weeks so that the transition will be smooth.  Lauren and Kathleen are both very familiar with our schedule and "how we do things" here at Shining Light which is very important to me whenever we have to make changes.

Toddler 1 M/W:  Ms. Larinda, Ms. Nancy (W), Ms. Kathleen (M)
Toddler 2 M/W:  Ms. Ashley, Ms. Lauren (M), Ms. Molly (W)
Toddler 2 T/TH:  Ms. Ashley, Ms. Lauren (T), Ms. Molly (T)

Special Ed Assistant:  Megan Myers, meg.myers1@gmail.com

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Joni Myers, Director

Reminders

Reminders:  Monday and Tuesday - full days.  Wednesday and Thursday - half days (9:00 - 12:00).

No car lane on Wednesday and Thursday.

Tuition is now due.  Please remit before Christmas break.

Monday and Tuesday - Polar Express Days - wear PJ's and bring a cup with lid for hot chocolate!

Security measures

After this past Friday's events in Connecticut, I don't think it's overreacting to re-evaluate our security measures at Shining Light.

Beginning Monday, we will lock doors promptly at 9:15 AM.  If you bring your child later, you will need to ring the doorbell or call 790-6605 ext. 21 for someone to let you in.  We will not unlock doors until 1:45 PM and will have someone stationed in the foyer until pick-up is complete.

And as most of you know, we have announcements and prayer time each morning at 8:30.  We are now going to lock the doors at 8:30 and unlock them at 8:55.  I apologize that sometimes our prayer list gets a little long, and we run over.  I promise to be more attentive to that and be ready to unlock doors at 8:55; however, you will not be able to access the building before then. So if the weather is messy, please just wait in your car until we come unlock.  Please be sure and relay this information to those who bring your child but may not read the blog or e-mails so that they also know. 

We want to ensure the safety of all at Shining Light.  I hope you understand and are patient with us as we become a little more consistent in our measures.  Thank you.

SAMARITAN'S PURSE

We have a total for Samaritan's Purse/Hurricane Sandy Relief!  We fell just short of our goal of $1000 with a total of $845!  Some of the classes even used it as a learning tool counting money and separating the different coins out.  So how cool is that?  Giving and learning at the same time!

It looks like Preschool 2 (Ms. Betsy, Ms. Laurel, Ms. Pam) raised the most followed by Toddler 1 (Ms. Larinda, Ms. Nancy, Ms. Megan).

A check will be sent next week from the church.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  When all give a little, so much can be accomplished.

Last minute details!

Last minute details for Christmas program!

1.  Don't forget blue Shining Light shirt!
2.  No car lane Wednesday or Thursday.
3.  Please have your child at school no later than 9:10.  We like to do potty time before they go upstairs.
4.  Kids will start heading upstairs at 9:25.  If you arrive after that, you will need to take your child upstairs and try to find his/her class.  In other words, please be on time!
5.  Doors to sanctuary upstairs will open at 9:30 AM.  Program begins at 9:45.
6.  Encourage your little one to sing "loud and clear for all to hear"! to quote Buddy, the elf :)

Christmas Program

The children did so well practicing for the Christmas program this week!  On Thursday the Preschool and Pre-K classes even got to practice in front of our senior group at church who were having a luncheon.  They loved it!  (We do need to work on front row not pulling shirts up over their heads and showing belly buttons...but I digress...it does provide comic relief...)

If at all possible, barring illness, please have your child there on Monday and Tuesday this week for a little more practice.  The Christmas program is scheduled for 9:40 AM on Wednesday and Thursday.  I promise you will be greatly entertained!

Don't forget - dress is blue Shining Light t-shirt with white turtleneck or white long-sleeve tee under it along with jeans or jean skirt.  They look so sharp all dressed alike with the red poinsettias and evergreen trees on stage.  So please tie a string on your finger or put a post-it note on your forehead to remember to dress your child for the program on Wednesday or Thursday!

Have a great weekend!

FAQ about PDO Ruling

Some of you may have questions concerning the letter that went home this week.  

What is the PDO (Parents Day Out) Ruling?

The Attorney General for the state of Tennessee issued a ruling that church sponsored preschools in Tennessee that were not certified by the state of Tennessee could only operate two days per week.  As a result of the response from this ruling by communities, DHS has tried to work toward a compromise and has sent out a state-wide survey to PDO programs.

When does this go into effect?

July, 2013

Whom does it affect?

Many of the churches in Tennessee operate PDO's without being certified by the state.  Some churches have a part of their program certified (i.e. Pre-K).  Some churches are officially licensed by the state of Tennessee; most, however, only certify a percentage of their classrooms.

How does this my affect my registration for Fall 2013?

We have been advised by local legislators that they are working to resolve the issue.  They have been in contact with the governor and attorney general and both are aware of the economic consequences of shutting down church-led preschools across the state - both through jobs and through providing affordable part-time childcare for parents.  Therefore, we plan to proceed as usual registering both programs for Fall 2013.

What if I register and give you my check, and you are unable to have two programs?

Our plan is to register in January and at that time also request the registration/supply fee.  Those who register for Tues/Thurs will have their check deposited and will be placed in class according to date submitted.  After January 20th, we will begin placing children from the community in order of application date.  Those who register for Mon/Wed will have their checks held until official notification from the state.  That could be as early as February or as late as the first of April.  We will not deposit a check unless we can guarantee you placement at Shining Light.

What if too many people sign up for Tues/Thurs?

Registration forms for 2013-14 will be available online at www.franklinchristianchurch.com on January 2nd, 2013.  We encourage you to mail your form in to us.  We return for second semester January 9th.  It will be first-come, first-served until January 20th.  On January 21st, we will open up registration to the community.  If Tues/Thurs becomes full before then, we will place on waiting list but will not deposit your check.

What can I do as a concerned parent needing part-time childcare?

I would encourage you to contact via e-mail or mail the legislators that were listed on the letter that went home this week.  I would emphasize the need as a constituent for affordable part-time childcare that meets the guidelines of a PDO program.  In a nutshell, the argument we've made is that if we are "safe" enough for children two days per week, why are we not "safe" enough for children two other days per week?  We are meeting PDO rules by not allowing any individual child on site more than 12 hours per week as many of you know who have requested more days and have been turned down!  

How soon will I know the outcome of the ruling and how it affects my registration?

We will keep you informed as we find out news.  The earliest will be sometime in February.  The latest will be the end of March.  As soon as we know that we can continue as usual, we will inform parents.  We fully expect that the state will work with us.  When you consider the number of churches in the state of Tennessee who have this type program, and the number of jobs lost, the head-start education provided, and the number of concerned parents scrambling for child-care, we think this matter will be resolved to our benefit.

Please Read

Two hand-outs came in home in folders today and will also be in folders on Thursday.

One is simply a newsletter from 1, 2, 3 Magic helping with discipline and stress issues during the holidays.

The other is a letter from me that is very important that you read carefully as it may affect the program for fall of 2013.

Thank you!

Samaritan's Purse totals

Second week totals for Samaritan's Purse hurricane relief collection:

Total for week #2:  $210.47
Total for two weeks:  $306.92

Our goal is still $1000.  We have two weeks left!  High fives go to Toddler 1 who raised $92.65 last week!  Nursery came in second with $32.79.  Pre-K classes need some encouragement...

Thank you for your generosity! 

Christmas Program Information

Sing along with me...."It's the most won...der...ful... time of the year...".  I just got to watch your beautiful and often extremely funny children practice upstairs for the Christmas program.  We will be practicing all this week and Monday and Tuesday of next week.  

Our program is set for 9:40 AM on Wednesday, December 12 and Thursday, December 13.  Doors will open upstairs around 9:30 AM.

Here are some ways that you can help us out:

• Encourage your children to sing loud and clear because mommy and daddy are coming to watch!
• Show excitement and encouragement that you are coming to watch them.  It's a time to show off what they have learned, and they are not to be afraid.  Do not expect/encourage perfection - encourage participation.
• You will notice when you come into the sanctuary that there are rows marked off for the children.  Please do not sit in these rows.
• Please do not set up video cameras in the aisles that would block people.  Please do not block Ms. Maria in any way as she is conducting the children, and they need to be able to see her.

The children need to wear their new Shining Light t-shirts with a white turtleneck or long-sleeve t-shirt under it.  They can wear jeans or a jean skirt with it.  If you have not received your child's t-shirt yet (they went home last week), please be sure and let one of the teachers know.

Nursery - this class has been videotaped.  They are not quite ready for a full-blown production on stage, so we have videotaped them in their classroom and during chapel time.  We will show this during the program.  They are a little more performance-ready in the spring for our end-of-year program!

And by now, you should have information about your child's Christmas party.  Some plan to do it the day of the program and some are going to do it on our Polar Express days (12/17 and 12/18).  One last thing - would you please send a sippy cup or cup with lid on Polar Express day.  We plan to have hot chocolate and marshmallows that day, and it would save us a mess if the cups had lids!

I know this has been a lot of information.  These last three weeks are packed with activities, so please make sure you read all notes in folders and e-mails from teachers!

THANK YOU!