Avondale Little Jackets

Dear Early Learning Center Families,

Welcome to our Little Jacket Newsletter! This is the space where I will communicate important information for the program. Avondale School District information that is pertinent to us will also appear here. Whenever this newsletter is updated, I will email the link. To stay up to date, be sure to read all communications coming from the Early Learning Center.

The Avondale School of Choice application window will open Wednesday, February 19th and will close Thursday, March 20th. If you do not live within the Avondale School District boundaries, you must enroll your upcoming TK/Kindergarten student in the district in which you reside OR you may complete the School of Choice application for your student. If you have more than one student you are looking to enroll in Avondale, you must submit an application for each student. If you already have students currently enrolled as School of Choice students in the district, you will still need to complete an application for your current PreK student. You can find this information on our Avondale School District website.

As a reminder, please drive cautiously through our parking areas, especially in winter weather conditions. We have disability parking spaces in both of our building's parking lots, but you may only park there if you have a valid disability parking placard or license plate. Please park in the designated parking spaces and not on the curb when dropping off and picking up your student(s).

Have a great weekend!

Tiffany Mellado

Director of Early Learning and Child Care Services

We are curious how our communication is going and would love to have your input. Please click on the link below to fill out a brief survey to assist us in getting information to you! Thank you!

We have begun accepting applications for Summer Camp, our 3 year old classrooms and our GSRP/Pre-K for All classrooms. Please note that all current students who intend to continue on with the ELC must complete enrollment with us for the upcoming school year. "Rolling" to the next school year is not automatic.

For Summer Camp (children ages 2.9 years old - 5 year olds who have not completed a year of TK/K), scan the QR code below or click here.

For our 3 year old classrooms, complete the Avondale Early Learning Center registration form by scanning the QR code below or clicking here. We will email you an enrollment packet with required documents including the payment policy and a link to PowerSchool.

For our GSRP/Pre-K for All classrooms, begin Phase One of the enrollment process by scanning the QR code below or by visiting www.miecc.org/MiECC/application/add/63.

1. Select "Preschool (3-5 Year Olds)"
2. Enter your email
3. Check the box for "Do you have a specific preschool you would like to apply for?"
4. Select Auburn Hills
5. Select Avondale School District

You will need to provide documentation of family income, child's age and residency.

Phase Two: Our program will contact you to schedule a Family Meeting and collect additional enrollment information.

Thank you to all who attended our first Stakeholder Meeting for our new Early Childhood Center on Thursday, January 23, 2025. We would like to invite students, staff, families, and community members to continue refining the center’s design, functionality, and overall vision during a follow-up meeting on February 4, 2025.

Meeting Details:

• Date: February 4, 2025

• Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

• Location: Avondale Administration Building Boardroom, 2940 Waukegan Street, Auburn Hills, MI 48326

• RSVP: All attendees must RSVP here

This meeting will serve as a follow-up to review the building layouts that the group created, which our builders have turned into proposed designs. We will go over different variations based on the suggestions from our last meeting and discuss how these elements will best support our youngest learners and the broader community.

Childcare Information:
Childcare will be provided during the meeting, but it is important that all attendees RSVP to ensure we have adequate staffing. Please note that children will not be allowed in the meeting space, and childcare must be arranged in advance.

Even if you missed the first meeting, we encourage you to join us and share your ideas as we move forward! For questions or more info, please contact us at 248.537.6000.

Food service for our 3 year old program will not be offered for this school year. Half Day students - please pack a morning snack and lunch. Full Day students - please pack a morning snack, a lunch, and an afternoon snack.

We will use Procare for billing, messaging, and sign in/out via a QR code. You will need to bring your phone to the door with you when you bring your child into school and when you are picking them up. You should have already received a notification from Procare via email and/or text message. Please be sure to download the app on your phone.

It is imperative that your child arrives to school on time. Unlike a daycare center that you can drop off and pick up at any time, the Avondale Early Learning Center classrooms follow a structured daily routine that has a specific starting time in each classroom. We understand that things come up, however, if tardiness becomes a regular occurrence, we may not be the best fit for your family.

The Early Learning Center is licensed by the State of Michigan to care for young children. We have procedures and guidelines that must be adhered to. One of the guidelines are that the person picking up your child must, 1. be 18 years of age, 2. have a state ID or drivers license with them to show teachers, 3. be listed on your child's information card. If a person comes to pick up a child without any of these three things being in place, we cannot and will not release your student. We understand that emergencies arise. That is why we ask that your child's information card has anyone and everyone listed on it who could pick your student up in the case of an emergency. If you ever need to add someone, you must do it in person and make the request to the teacher. We will not and cannot add people on the card any other way.

Your classroom will have a closing time, or a dismissal time. We ask that you plan to arrive at minimum, 5 minutes prior to that time so that you are on time. If students are left in our care for longer than 15 minutes after closing or dismissal, we may need to call our local police departments to ensure the safety of the student. We understand that things come up, however, if picking up late becomes a regular occurrence, we may not be the best fit for your family.

Please find an information sheet, the classroom supply list, and a suggested donation list for the school year.

2940 Waukegan Street, Auburn Hills, MI, USA

248.537.6503 | jessica.hamer@avondaleschools.org

Website: Avondale Early Learning Center
Facebook: Avondale Early Learning Center