First United Methodist Preschool

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Stay up to date with our latest school events, special projects, and information from FUMPreschool. Visit here often to stay informed.

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Parent Conferences: What are we going to talk about?

parent_teacher_conferenceAs a new parent at FUMP, you may wonder what will be discussed at this parent conference. We are not giving out grades or report cards, so why are we meeting? What is covered in a parent conference for a young child?

Here are some of the goals of the Parent-Teacher Conferences at FUMP.

First and foremost, it is our teacher’s chance to learn more from you about your child. While we have gotten to know your child, it is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into parents’ views of their child’s experience thus far.

Secondly, teachers will be sharing information about your child’s development. At this point in the school year, the teachers have been observing your child’s development in each of the five domains: cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and language development. Each teacher is familiar with the developmental milestones for your child’s age and uses that knowledge to observe your child. Teachers are identifying your child’s strengths and areas for growth for the remainder of the school year and into the future. Teachers will be sharing their observations at the conference.

In some cases, teachers may discover that a child’s development does not align with the expected developmental milestones. Or perhaps, they are exhibiting behavior in the classroom environment that you do not see at home. If that is the case, the teacher may bring up an outside evaluation from a child development specialist. We consider our teachers experts on child development and hope you take action from their recommendations. As always, please let us know if you have additional questions.

If you are interested in additional resources for parents, please check out our PARENT RESOURCES page for local organizations and agencies.

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ENews: March 23

First of all, I hope that all of you are well. I have spoken to several teachers and let me speak for all to say that we miss you and your children! It is hard to believe that it has only been 10 days since school was in session – it seems like much longer. I miss the hugs, laughter and smiling faces in the hallways. During times of worry, a child’s sense of wonder about the world around them lightens our burdens. We miss seeing your children explore, create and connect. I hope all of you are making the best of this difficult time.

During this time of uncertainty, I am optimistically planning to proceed with registration for our summer program, which is scheduled to begin June 8. As there are so many unknowns at this time, we will take your registrations to hold your child’s spot, but we will hold off on taking in the registration fees at this time.

  • Summer Registration will be online and go live at 10am. Our program dates and tuition rates are posted on our website: OUR SUMMER PROGRAM.  The summer registration process is different from our regular school-year registration – it is based on a first-come, first-served basis without regard to seniority or the number of days attended during the school year. We typically plan for only 4 to 5 classes during the summer. This may possibly result in multi-age groupings and the combining of classes. Please be aware that your child’s current teacher and classmates are subject to change as well. Registration for Before and After School Care and Pizza Mondays will occur in mid-May.
  • There is a registration fee of $50 per session/per child that will apply toward your child’s tuition. At this time, we will hold off on taking in those funds until we have a better idea of our timeline to return to preschool.
  • The balance of your tuition payment will be due on the first day of each session. We hope you will join us for summer splashing and more!

In other FUMP News, our teachers will be reaching out in the coming days with ideas for home activities for your family. Some of the teachers have begun Facebook Live stories and songs, and Ms. Lara is conducting Chapel time as well,  so please check our FUMP FACEBOOK PAGE for those events.

Also, we will be sending out a survey for parents about options for supporting our financial obligations to our teachers later this week. I have already heard from some parents about ideas and thank you for your support. I will text and email a link as soon as it is available.

Be well.

 

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ENews: March 2-6

March is here – and looks to be an exciting month at FUMP. We will have the Austin Public Library storyteller here for stories and songs this Friday, along with Chapel with Ms. Lara.

Summer registration will begin on March 23 at 10am.  Check out our summer hours/calendar here: https://www.fumpaustin.org/calendar-newsletter/calendar/

Reminder: Pick up time is 12:45 -1:00. We highly recommend that you plan to arrive on campus at 12:45, so that hiccups like traffic issues do not hinder your arrival. Our teachers do have after school duties and commitments to attend to each day.  Thanks for your mindfulness for on time pick ups.

Tuition is due by Friday. Please note that if your child is returning for the 2020 school year, there is a registration fee added to your invoice.

School Portraits are the first week of APRIL, not this week. Hold on to those fancy outfits for one more month!

The next segment in our parent education series will be held at Tarrytown Baptist CDO: Picky Eaters and Developmental Red Flags.

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ENews: February 24-28

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TEACHERS on achieving NAC Accreditation! The National Accreditation Commission of Early Care and Education Programs has awarded our teachers and program the highest seal of approval, based on indicators such as high quality teacher/child interaction, curriculum, health and safety, and more. There are only 1300 NAC accredited program across the nation, and FUMP is one. I am so proud of our teachers for this recognition of the teaching and guidance that our staff provides each and every day. Would you like to know more about accreditation? Visit our ACCREDITATION PAGE on our website.

Other FUMP News:

  • This Wednesday, February 26 is Ash Wednesday. The pastors will be hosting “Ashes to Go” in the parking lot that morning.
  • Parents can access their 2019 tax receipts via the FUMP PARENT PORTAL.
  • This week, the oldest classes will enjoy Stretch-N-Grow and our Infants, Toddlers and Twos will have music.
  • School Portraits are next Thursday and Friday, March 2 & 3 More info soon
  • Join us at the Central Austin Parent Education Series on March 4th. Info is posted after the survey below.
  • Take our MUSIC FESTIVAL SURVEY. We changed a few things this year and let us know about your experience.

 

 

 

 

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ENews: February 10-14

What a wonderful Music Festival on Friday! Thank you to all of our families who came and celebrated and danced!! What fun. The crafts and activities were a hit and Mr. Will was wonderful with the children. It takes the time and talents of many people to pull off this event, and I am so thankful. Thank you to our set up crew: Eric Ford, Lani Adebanjo and Kristen Thurman. Also thanks to our cupcake crew: Jacob Hendrickson, Shelby Walter and Carly Criscoe. Thank you to our wonderful teachers who assisted in the activities and the clean up. There are photos and videos on our social media accounts, thanks to Ms. Keely! Check them out. 

2020-2021 Registration Update. 
Thank you to all for completing your registration forms for next year. We still have 23 children who are not registered. Please complete your registration by 5pm today using this link: https://www.fumpaustin.org/post/2020-2021-registration/. As for you that have registered, we are excited to have you return to FUMP, and we are already making plans for an exciting school year. Hooray! Please note that registration for summer begins on March 23, right after Spring Break.  
 
Wednesday will be Music with Ms Amanda.
Friday is Valentines Day. Be sure to watch for notifications from your child’s teacher regarding plans for Friday.
 
FUMP will be closed on February 17 for Presidents Day. 
 
Director’s Blog. This week, I want to highlight a column from one of my favorite bloggers: Amanda Morgan. She has an approach to early childhood education that very closely resembles our FUMP philosophy. In the current state of education and instagram parenting, there is a push that earlier is better. However, the research shows that children’s develop will proceed as their brains and bodies develop. In light of that, at FUMP, we break down complex processes such a reading into small manageable and flexible experiences for children. In her blog series, WHY DON’T YOU TEACH READING?, you can learn more about how FUMP teacher support teaching literacy while supporting children’s individual difference and maturation rates.  Happy reading!
 
Teacher Column: Ms. Erin. Why Making Music Matters in Early Childhood Development.  
 
I recently read a wonderful new research paper from Dr. Dennie Palmor Wolf titled “why making music matters”. In the paper, her research points to several key reasons why investing in children early and often is critical to healthy development and a successful future. She also emphasizes that music can play a role in everyday interactions that support the next generation. 
 
Studies have found that day old infants breathe differently depending on whether they are listening to Mozart or Stravinsky, that music soothes premature babies, and that babies will listen to a lullaby for twice as long as a baby talk or adult speech. Live music and the human interactions that accompany music said is one of the most intense multi-sensory and physically involving activities in which young children and their caregivers can engage in together. Making music especially tapping, clapping, bouncing and dancing develops fine and large motor control. Simple songs and games back-and-forth play build brain and body coordination. Music also builds intimacy. In relationships with caregivers, children develop a sense of trust and security. Music can support this, for example, when a caregiver sings lullabies, they use pitch, rhythm and lyrics to sooth, teach language, and communicate hope and affection. Humans are wired to be sensitive to sound patterns, and the sensitivity allows music to foster communication and imagination. When they hear and see others singing as a daily part of life, young children quickly pick up the habit using sound to explore new ways to understand the world around them. Finally, live music is a remarkable carrier of delight and excitement. It attract others, lift moods, wards off sadness and illness. In a world where children experience trauma from violence, or, natural disasters, etc  music and the other arts can play a powerful role in their healing. 
 
In our PreK classroom at First United Methodist Preschool, I enjoy using music on a daily basis to communicate with the children, to teach new concepts, to lift spirits and to have further enjoyment and connection in our day-to-day interactions with ourselves and each other.