Early Childhood Center

Dear Early Childhood Families,

I honestly cannot believe we are in the month of May and that the school year is almost over. What a great year of learning and growth it has been!

If your child will transition to kindergarten in the fall of 2024, you will be receiving an email around June 17th regarding re-enrollment through the parent portal. See the flyer in this newsletter for more information, and please reach out to your home elementary school with any additional questions. We will also be providing each child who goes to kindergarten with a "Kindergarten Preparation Pack" of supplies - look for these to come home by the end of the school year.

Remember that the End of the Year Celebrations are upcoming for each class. Two special adults are invited to attend this 45 minute celebration. Be sure to RSVP using the link below in this newsletter. We hope to see you there!

THANK YOU again for sharing your children with us and partnering with us this school year. Have a safe and fun summer, and if your child goes to kindergarten in the fall we wish them the best of luck. Please keep in touch!

Sincerely,

Dr. Ann M. Westbrook

ECC Principal

Each month on approximately the third Wednesday and Thursday, students are encouraged to wear school colors (blue, green, white) or wear an ECC shirt! You can customize and purchase various items at the 1st Place Spirit Wear online shop. Click here to access the site!

Spirit Wear Dates:

May 15 & 16

Kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is officially open!

Current Early Childhood students transitioning to kindergarten in the City of St. Charles School District can complete registration on June 17, 2024 in the parent portal.

Please contact your home elementary school if you have any questions regarding this process!

The end of the school year classroom celebrations are scheduled for this month. TWO special adults may attend this celebration; due to parking lot space, carpooling is recommended. Unfortunately due to space limitations we are unable to include siblings. Please make childcare arrangements.

You will participate with your child in their daily circle time and have an opportunity for photographs. Please be sure to RSVP!

https://forms.gle/f5cpJF4knB6wyyom7

You will receive the third trimester's Progress Report on May 22nd or 23rd.

The areas that will be assessed each trimester will include:

• Self and Social Development
• Physical Development
• Early Writing Skills
• Early Reading Skills
• Early Math Skills

Each curricular area corresponds with a rating rubric that guides teachers as they assess student progress. Assessments are based on what children should know and be able to do by the END of the year. We use a 4 point scale to track progress towards that end goal:

Skill Level Rating Scale:

LND- (Level Not Determined) Not yet demonstrating skill

1- Beginning to approach expectation

2-Approaching the expectation

3- Met the expectation

4- Exceeds the expectation

• For children who were 3 on July 31st, the end year goal is to score 2 (approaching expectations) or higher in all areas. This is considered basic.
• For children who were 4 on July 31st, the end of the year goal is to score 3 (meet expectations) or higher in all areas. This is considered proficient.

The rubrics for each curricular area will be attached so that you can refer back to them as you see your child progress this school year.

If your child is accessing special education and related services, progress on your child's IEP goals was shared with you at conferences. In some M-Th half day classrooms, you may also receive "benchmark" data and each trimester data on our Early Childhood standards.

• Never send an obviously sick child to school.
• A child with a sore throat, severe cough, earache, vomiting, or a fever over 100 degrees within the past 24 hours, should not be sent to school.
• A child with a contagious disease may not come to school until completely well. Proof of treatment may be required.
• A child with head lice may not attend school. The child must be examined by the nurse/clerk before he/she is allowed to return to the classroom. Proof of treatment may be required. Please notify the school immediately if your child has head lice.
• If your child has been ill, please use common sense and good judgment as to whether or not to send him/her back to school.
• Any child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home. He/she must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication (ibuprofen, Tylenol) before returning to school.
• The clinic must have a way to contact the family during school hours at all times.
• Students are not allowed to keep prescription or non-prescription medications with them while at school.
• Inform the clinic immediately of any new health information that may affect your child at school; for example, diabetes, seizure disorder, asthma, contagious disease, new or change in medications.
• All food treats must be commercially packaged. Homemade treats will not be given to students.
• The teacher and student must be responsible to go to the clinic for medication at the prescribed time.

If you have any questions, contact our school nurse, Barb Lujanovic at 636-443-2903 or Dr. Westbrook.

• The 8:00 and 12:00 classes will be directed to use the car lanes where a staff member will walk your child into school each day.
• Car lanes begin promptly at 7:45 and 11:50.
• Families who walk up to the front door to drop off a child during the 8:00 or 12:00 arrival will be redirected to join the car lanes.
• Once all cars have been directed to pull up past the cones in front of the school, an adult must exit the vehicle and help the child unbuckle and exit the vehicle. (ECC staff members are not able to open/close vehicle doors or put children in/take them out of car seats.)
• Once all students have safely exited the cars, you will be directed off of the parking lot.
• Car lanes close promptly at 8:01 and 12:01. If you arrive after these times, you will need to park your car in the green visitor aisle, use the crosswalk, and walk your child into the school to be signed in. After 8:10 and 12:10, your child will be marked as tardy.

• The 11:00 and 3:00 dismissal times will use the car lanes where a staff member will walk your child to your vehicle each day.
• Car lanes begin promptly at 10:50 and 2:45.
• Be sure to have your child's sign/vehicle tag displayed on the dashboard so that it is visible.
• If you do not have the sign at dismissal, you must park and walk up to the front door to show an ID. In order to keep all children safe, we will ask this of ALL families who do not have the car sign. Please ask classroom teacher for additional car signs, if needed.
• You will receive a temporary sign to place on your dashboard.
• You will then rejoin the car line.
• Once all cars have been directed to pull up past the cones in front of the school, an adult must exit the vehicle to open the car door and help the child into their car seat to be buckled. (ECC staff members are not able to open/close vehicle doors or put children in a car seat.)
• Per state law, children must be secured in a car seat or booster seat any time the vehicle is in motion.
• Please hold your child's vehicle tag so that it is visible so we can quickly guide students toward their cars.
• After students have safely been returned to their cars, you will be directed off of the parking lot.
• Car lanes close promptly at 11:01 and 3:01. If you arrive after these times, you will need to park your car in the green visitor aisle, use the crosswalk, and walk into the school to wait for your child.
• You will need to wait in the front vestibule for the dismissal to finish. You must have your car tag or your ID for a staff member to check.
• For safety, once the dismissal window is closed (at 11:01 and 3:01) and the car line has been directed off of the parking lot, your child will then be released to you.

• The Half Day, Monday-Friday classes will use the middle lane of the parking lot and park. On the map, the parking spaces are colored in green and labeled "Visitor Parking."
• Arrival will begin at 8:15 and at 12:15. Please do not walk up to the school doors until this time.
• Once you have parked and unloaded your vehicle, hold your child's hand and use the crosswalk to walk to the main school doors.
• Please bring your child's name sign and have this visible so staff can safely identify and direct your child to their teacher.
• You will be greeted by a staff member at the front doors who will walk your child to their class.

• The Half Day, Monday-Friday classes will use the middle lane of the parking lot and park. On the map, the parking spaces are colored in green and labeled "Visitor Parking."
• Dismissal will begin at 11:25 and at 3:25. Please do not walk up to the school doors until this time.
• Once you have parked and unloaded your vehicle, use the crosswalk to walk to the main school doors.
• Please bring your child's name sign and have this visible so staff can safely identify and direct your child to you.
• If you do not have your child's sign, you will need to show an ID.

Before Care Drop Off Locations:

1) Parents arriving 6:30 - 7:15 AM will continue to park on the South side and walk their child to the ECC building side door (no change)

2) Parents arriving 7:15 - 7:45 AM:

1. Park in the ECC front parking lot
2. Walk your child into the ECC front door vestibule
3. Ring the doorbell and wait for an ECC staff member
4. Notify the ECC staff member that you are bringing your child to Before Care
5. The ECC staff member will walk your child to Before Care.

After Care Pick-up Notification:

The following changes are in place to help prepare children and their belongings for Aftercare dismissal:

1) The Aftercare family member shall call Mrs. Tarin at 636-578-2916 within five minutes of their arrival at ECC. Please note this is a new phone number.

2) The side door doorbell is no longer in use to notify staff members of your arrival. If you have not yet called and there is no one in the Aftercare room then family members are urged to call the phone number to notify the Aftercare staff.

If your child will be utilizing our After Care program, please read below for the procedures if you need to pick up your child early:

By 2:55 all students who attend the ECC Aftercare program have been dropped off in the aftercare classrooms.

Between 2:50 and 3:30 dismissal from our regular school day occurs.

If you would like to pick up your child early from aftercare (between the times of 2:50 and 3:30):

1. Call our School Secretary, at (636)443-2902 and indicate the time that you would like to pick your child up**

2. Park and walk to the front door/vestibule. Do not join the car line.

3. Bring your sign or State ID with you to the front door/vestibule.

**If you do not call ahead you will be required to wait until after our regular dismissal procedures have been completed.

Class Dojo is for parents/educational decision makers only to keep you informed of your child's class. You will NOT need to sign up for the paid version.

If your PowerSchool portal is not currently linked to your mySchoolBucks account, accurate lunch balance information will not be reflected. Directions to access and link MySchoolBucks with Power School can be found by clicking HERE.

To ensure you haven't missed any notifications, please check your Spam Folder for emails from FoodServiceStCharlessd.org@e-hps.com , as this will include Negative Balance Letters, Student Status Updates, Reminders for annual documentation needed, and Senior Balance Information.

1. Credit/debit card on-line: Go to My School Bucks or download the app:

myschoolbucks.com

2. Cash or check - send your payment in a Chartwell's envelope with your child to school. (Envelopes are available at the school office or with the classroom teacher) Make check payable to: City of St. Charles School District

We encourage all families to fill out and submit a Free and Reduced Meals Application and submit this to school. You can find the link to the application through the SCSD website, or visit:

https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

No need to make a special trip to the store or to school to provide treats for your class!

The food service department at St. Charles can provide you with all you need! We take care of everything: allergy needs, delivery to the class room, plates, napkins and utensils.

Please call or e-mail your Café Manager!

We would appreciate a week advance notice.

ECC: Pamela Anderson 636-443-2935 paanderson@stcharlessd.org

1. Your Café Manager will confirm the specific treat, any allergies in the classroom, and contact the teacher to determine the day and time for the treat to be delivered to the classroom.

2. Payment must be received prior to the event. Sorry, no charging allowed.

3. The cost of the treats will be deducted from your student’s lunch account.

4. You can send in a check or pay on line through myschoolbucks as you normally would for your student’s breakfast and lunch meals.

5. *Receipts furnished upon request.

**To ensure that we are meeting allergy requirements and availability the treat menu is limited. The following snacks do not contain peanuts or tree nuts.

Fresh Apple or Banana $ .75 ea

Crazy Color Roll Up $ .75 ea

Chocolate Ice Cream Cup $ .95 ea (contains milk)

Double Chocolate Chip Muffin $ .95 ea (contains eggs, milk, soy, and wheat)

Do you know that at ECC we have a Social Worker on staff? The role of the ECC Social Worker is very similar to the role of the School Counselor at the elementary school level. The ECC Social Worker, Candice Hathorn, can help families access community resources. If you would like to contact Candice, follow the QR Code or message her on Class Dojo:

May 1 - Fire Drill

May 3 - Lunch Hero Appreciation Day

Week of May 6-10 - Staff Appreciation Week

May 8 - School Nurse Day

May 7 & 8 - Water Play Days

May 9 & 10 Water Play Rain Dates

May 13 - Tornado Drill

May 14 - Elephants EOY Celebration at 9:45 & 1:45

Ponies EOY Celebration at 9:45 & 1:45

May 15 - ECC Spiritwear Day

Froggies EOY Celebration at 1:45

May 16 - ECC Spiritwear Day

Ducks EOY Celebration at 9:45 & 1:45

Deer EOY Celebration at 9:30 & 1:30

Owls EOY Celebration at 10 & 2

AM Turtles EOY Celebration at 10:00

Octopus EOY Celebration at 10:00

Hedgehogs EOY Celebration at 10 & 2

May 17 - Lions & Cardinals EOY Celebration at 10:15 & 2:15

Tigers EOY Celebration at 1:45

Bunnies EOY Celebration at 2

Dolphins EOY Celebration at 9:30

May 20 - MWF Cool Cats EOY Celebration at 1:45

May 21 - TTh Cool Cats EOY Celebration at 1:45

PM Turtles EOY Celebration at 2

May 22 - Common Assessment Trimester 3 data chart due

Send home progress reports

Pandas EOY Celebration at 10 & 2

May 23 - Last day of school, end of the 3rd Trimester

Send home progress reports