Early Childhood Happenings
St Charles CUSD 303 Early Childhood Department
March 2024
331-228-5727
D303 News
D303 Early Childhood and Community Partners- FREE Opportunities
What's Going on In Our Children's Brains?
Registration required for child care (provided the evening of April 24th) and appreciated for April 30th but not required.
Brought to us by the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and held at Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center.
Family Connections - FREE Including Food
APRIL 9 - MAY 29 (8 Tuesdays)
All families with at least one 4 (by September 1, 2024) or 5 year-old living within the St. Charles School District 303 are invited. EVERYONE in your home is welcome to come together weekly. Each week includes a FREE meal, served to you, so you can focus on connecting with your family, having fun, and experiencing joy together. Following time with your whole family the children are given time to play together while adults talk in a group about parenting and self-care topics.
Parenting Presentations via Zoom
In April
Kane County FREE EVENTS March & April
Parent Education Night in Spanish
Wednesday, March 27, from 6-8 pm, 545 Hiawatha Dr., Elgin.
Parent Cafe - In Spanish via Zoom
Preschool for All
Applications are currently being accepted for CUSD 303's Preschool for All Program, which is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education for the 2024-2025 school year. The program provides a school experience for young children ages 3-5 years old (not eligible for Kindergarten) at Fox Ridge Early Childhood Center. Students are found eligible by taking into account various factors including delays in development, low income, homelessness, parent/sibling with a disability, parent education level, non-English speaking household, and others. Call 331-228-4834 for more information about how to apply.
Playgroups 2024
Spanish interpretation available upon request during the 10:15 AM session.
NO Playgroup Monday, March 25.
Remaining sessions for this school year run weekly, on Mondays, from April 1 - May 13.
Once you are registered you can attend anytime that works for you!
FREE Events in the St. Charles Area
St Charles Pubic Library
UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Unless otherwise noted all programs for Families (Ages 7 and Under with Caregiver) and are at the St. Charles Public Library at One Sixth Ave, St. Charles.
St. Charles Public Library Programs
- March 23 Spring Weather Sticker Collage (Ages 2 & 3 with Caregiver) from 10 - 11 am in the Miller Haase Community Room
- March 25 Big Blue Blocks! from 9: 30 am - 4:00 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- March 25 Green Golly & Her Golden Flute: A Rapunzel Story from 2: 00 - 3:00 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- March 26 Giant & Small Matching Games from 9: 30 am - 4:00 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- March 27 LEGO Building! from 9:30 am - 4 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- March 28 Relaxing Coloring from 9:30 am - 4 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- March 29 KEVA Plank Build from 9:30 am - 4 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- April 1 April Fool's Day Activities from 3 - 9 pm in the Youth Services Department
- April 5 Paper Bag Puppets (Ages 2 & 3 with Caregiver) from 10 - 10:30 am in the Miller Haase Community Room
- April 8 Week of the Young Child - Music Monday from 9:30 am - 1 pm in Youth Services
- Dance Party in the Miller Haase from 10:30 - 11 am
- April 9 Week of the Young Child - Tasty Tuesday from 9:30 am - 1 pm in Youth Services
- April 10 Week of the Young Child - Work Together Wednesday from 9:30 am - 1 pm in Youth Services
- April 10 Stories at the Nature Center (Families) from 10:30 - 11 am at Creek Bend Nature Center at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St, St. Charles
- April 11 Week of the Young Child - Artsy Thursday from 9:30 am - 1 pm in Youth Services
- April 12 Week of the Young Child - Family Friday from 9:30 am - 1 pm in Youth Services
- April 19 Big Blue Blocks! (Families) from 9: 30 am - 4:00 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
- April 20 Baby Dance Party (Ages 0 - 23 months with Caregiver) from 10 - 10:30 AM in the Miller Haase Community Room
- April 25 Block Party! (Ages 0 - 5 with Caregiver) from 11 am - 12 pm in the Miller Haase Community Room
- April 25 Dot Art Butterfly (Ages 2-3 with Caregiver) from 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm in the Miller Haase Community Room
- April 26 Family Board Game Night from 4 - 7 pm in the Helen Gale Story Room
Family Story Time in the Miller Haase Community Room from 10 - 10:30 am
Saturday on April 6
Mondays on April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Thursdays on April 4, 11, 18, 25
Stories & Snacks in the Miller Haase Community Room from 6 - 6:30 pm
Tuesdays on March 26 , April 9, 23
Youth Accessibility Collection
The St. Charles Public Library Youth Service Accessibility Collection brings thoughtfully curated materials to the Library and supports individuals with neurodivergent differences, auditory processing, language, motor, physical, sensory processing, and visual processing disabilities and delays. Through these materials, the Library aims to provide opportunities for families to utilize items which aid in everyday living and celebrate inclusion and access. The collection is located on the lower level in Youth Services. The St. Charles Public Library offers materials and services to accommodate library users of all ages.
Contact the library if additional accommodations are needed to support your experience at the library. We have a selection of assistive aid devices and sensory-friendly tools like noise-dampening headphones and fidgets available for use in the library. Please visit the Youth Services desk for assistance.
BONUS: There is an Adult Accessibility Collection too! Find it on the main level's southwest corner.
Prepare for a Visit to the Library
Use a First/Then Board to navigate your visit: First/Then Board
View a story on YouTube to prepare: Video
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Learning to read begins long before kindergarten. Reading to your child is one of the best ways to boost their brainpower. Any child from birth to entering kindergarten can participate in this self-paced early literacy program.
Come into the Library to sign up and get a paper log. Check in at the Library when you finish a log and move your canoe up our pretend river. When you finish 1,000 books, you’ll receive a fun, musical prize!
If you read just one book per day, you will reach 1,000 before the child is three years old. Join us on this journey to help create a brighter future for your child.
Vroom
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
iGrow- Free programs for eligible families
Food
Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Pantry & Pop Up Markets (Drive-thru model)
All Drive Thru Models. No ID or documentation needed. First come, first served while supplies last.
- Mar 26 in Elgin at Buena Vista Apartments, 1287 Fleetwood Rd (Behind building 1213) from 4 - 5:30 pm
- April 4 in Carol Stream at Villagebrook Apartments, 278 E. St. Charles Rd from 4:30 - 6 pm
- April 8 in Wheaton at Immigrant Solidarity, 311 S Naperville Rd, from 4-5:30 pm
- April 9 in Elgin at Old Sherman Parking Lot, 901 Center St, from 4-5:30 pm
- April 16 in Elgin at Buena Vista Apartments, 1287 Fleetwood Rd (Behind building 1213) from 4 - 5:30 pm
- April 25 in Aurora at Our Lady of Mercy, 701 S. Eola Rd, from 4:30 - 6 pm
- April 27 in Aurora at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N May St from 10 - 11:30 am
Find a Local Food Pantry
SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army St. Charles (Tri-City) Community Center
1710 S. 7th Avenue
St. Charles, IL 60174
Phone: (630) 377-2769 | Fax: (630) 377-2849
Child Care Assistance Program
Did You Know?
- You can receive 3 months of childcare while you look for work or attend school?
- If you are employed at a childcare center or childcare home, you can receive $1 copay
- There is no copay for families that are displaced?
Head Start (Elgin)
Health for Children
Many families do not have dental insurance. Well Child Center's mission is to provide ALL children with dental services regardless of their parents' ability to play. From 1 to 18 - with or without insurance - they can receive a comprehensive, full service dental exam.
Muchas familias no tienen seguro dental. La misión de Well Child Center es proporcionar servicios dentales a TODOS los niños independientemente de la capacidad de pago de sus padres. Desde 1 año de edad hasta los 19 años, con o sin seguro puede recibir un examen dental integral de servicio completo.
Adult Learning - GED, English, Citizenship
Do you want to learn English? We will match you with a tutor who will teach you one hour each week. You can take the class in the morning, afternoon or evening at the library or another public place. To qualify, you must be an adult who lives or works in St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elburn, Campton Hills, LaFox, Lily Lake, Wasco or Wayne.