Here at the Early Learning Center, we use The Creative Curriculum which is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features inquiry, exploration, and discovery as the foundation of all learning. Children have opportunities to think critically and develop process skills with rich, hands-on investigations of relevant and interesting study topics in the classroom.

During our studies, or long-term investigations, children learn concepts and practice skills related to literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts. They develop thinking skills as they observe, investigate, ask questions, solve problems, make predictions, and test their ideas.

Current Study Topics

• Ms. Linnenburger's class is studying CAMERAS.
• Ms. Edwards' class is studying CLOTHING.
• Ms. Floming, Ms. Griffith and Ms. McFarland's classes are studying BREAD.
  
• Ms. Fisher's class is studying MUSIC.

Thank you to all of the families who participated in making our Kindness Quilt!

This group helps recommend activities, classes and services for families, helps plan field trips, family nights and other fun events and we serve as a springboard for parent engagement in the district! Our FAC meets once a month with alternating AM/PM meeting times. Your feedback and input is very important to us here at the ELC!

Why should you join the Family Advisory Council? Great question!

• You will be involved in decisions about the Early Childhood Program.
• You will meet other parents with young children!
• The meetings are easy, fun and casual (plus we will have refreshments!).
• Opportunities to volunteer in your child's classroom!
• The MOST important is Parent/Family Engagement is key to a child's success in education!

Next Meeting Date: To Be Determined

The early years of a child's life are a time of incredible growth and development. It's during these formative years that children learn best. Not only through instruction, but through experiences. Field trips instill a sense of community, it presents opportunities to engage with our environment in meaningful ways and it fosters growth and development which is critical for their social and emotional growth. Joining your child on a field trip is a great way to help your child see all of the interesting things they get to learn and experience in their community. You'll get to know their teachers, other members of the school staff and parents of other students in their class!

Play groups are an excellent way for both parents and children to get out of the house and make new friends! Our school serves as a safe place for your child and your family! We host playgroups here at the ELC in hopes to foster meaningful connections with other families, build communications skills, motor skills and relationship-building skills! Family Engagement has been proven to improve child and student achievement, improves parent/teacher and student/teacher relationships and improves our schools environment!

Check out this YouTube playlist that was created for families with children birth to five, with and without disabilities. Videos feature families sharing their stories, examples of high quality inclusive practices and learning opportunities designed with families in mind.

Check out this website!

This exclusive mobile passport is a collection of curated attractions, offering deals and discounts. Explore local family fun experiences at 15+ locations perfect for all ages. Use your free pass as a guide to spring break adventures and unlock exclusive discounts and special deals.

Click here to sign up!

Engage your creative side by exploring sculptures, murals, and galleries in the QC. The QC Public Art Trail is a partnership between Visit Quad Cities and Quad City Arts. It uses a mobile-based platform to create a year-round trail that features temporary and permanent sculpures, murals, and galleries in the Quad Cities. This self- guided tour showcases an array of public art projects.

Click here to learn more.

Sign up free to embark on a self-guided tour of the deep roots of John Deere in the Quad Cities. Interact with innovative products at the John Deere Pavilion, explore the heritage and history weaved within the community, and gather a sense of the footprint Deere & Co. has built locally while taking in beautiful views along the way.

This experience offers something for everyone, from history enthusiasts to John Deere aficionados, families who want to explore, and Quad Citizens or visitors yearning to get a sense of the John Deer Effect in the Quad Cities.

Click here to learn more!

Explore More Illinois is a free service provided by your library that provides instant online access to free and discounted tickets to museums, science centers, sporting events, zoos, park districts, theatres, and other fun and local cultural venues. You will need to log in with your library card credentials. Need more information? Contact the East Moline Public Library at (309) 755-9614.

The Family Museum is pleased to offer visitors a special sensory kit to assist those who may need it. Upon request, their Guest Services staff will gladly provide you with a kit filled with items such as calming brushes, sensory toys, and tools to assist children with tension that they may endure while playing at the Museum. Also, the Museum's staff is happy to provide you with a quiet low-lit room when necessary to help your child.

2900 Learning Campus Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722 563.344.4106

Our school implements The Pyramid Model, a framework for supporting the social and emotional development of our children. An important part of our Pyramid Model work includes supporting families and sharing information about promoting social and emotional skills at home.

• March 5th--No School
• March 24th - March 31st--Spring Break
• March 28th--Deadline to complete 5Essentials Survey
• The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted February 18th - March 28th, 2025. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same period. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.

• Your family's health, well-being and partnership is important to us! Use the forms below to easily request information, resources and/or support for your family.

• Are you interested in more information, resources, or a meeting with one of our staff members? CLICK HERE to fill out a Request for Family Support
• Could your family benefit from extra food on the weekends? We partner with the Riverbend Food Bank to offer the Backpack Food Program. Click HERE to sign up for the Backpack Food Program!
• Does your child need a winter coat or full-size backpack? Click HERE to sign up for the Coat or Backpack Request Form!

Please let us know if your child is in need of a winter coat. Sizes and supply are limited. Please fill out the request form here . If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Hoffman, School Social Worker at jehoffman@emsd37.org.

Check out the Family Yellow Pages to access a guide to community resources for families with young children in Rock Island County!

Visit the QC Food Resource Guide to access information about East Moline area food resources.

Do you have younger children? Bring them in for a developmental check-up! Open to EMSD residents with children aged 0-5 years old. Call Tara to schedule an appointment for a screening (now scheduling for 2025). Currently enrolled students do not need to be screened.

• 24-25 Family Folder-Here you will find general information about our school and programming. This folder contains information about school supplies, our daily schedule, policies/procedures, communication platforms, the school calendar and more!
• 24-25 Early Learning Center School Calendar
• Outdoor Play Guide--Children benefit from being outdoors for unstructured play in a natural environment. Please see the attached Outdoor Play Guide, as the colder weather begins to move in.

Important contacts:

Main Office: 309-865-6900

Tara Schofield, Secretary (tschofield@emsd37.org)

Anna Owen, Instructional Specialist (aowen@emsd37.org)

Melissa McCullough, Principal (mmccullough@emsd37.org)