Early Learning Center Family News

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Monday, September 4

• No School - Labor Day

Thursday, September 7

• Board of Education Meeting at 7:00pm

Friday, September 8

• No School for Preschool - AM Family Friday Event

Monday, September 25

• No School - Yom Kippur

Wednesday, September 27

• Fall PIcture Day

Thursday, October 5

• Board of Education Meeting at 7:00pm

Monday, October 9

• No School - Indigenous People Day

Friday, October 13

• No School for Preschool - Family Friday Event

Dear Preschool Families,

It's been a wonderful start to the 2023-2024 school year. Thank you for helping us create a smooth transition to school. Students are really starting to work on their independence by coming in to the school building and walking down to their classrooms. We appreciate your help in preparing them for this.

I'll be sharing this newsletter with you on a monthly basis. It will contain information about important things happening at the ELC.

Here is our 2023-2024 school year calendar for your reference.

Sincerely,

Barb Golik

Principal

Please make sure to send your child to school with their backpack each day. Attached to their backpack will be a tag (an example is in the picture to the right) that helps us identify each student and the classroom that they need to go to. We ask that you do not remove these from your child's backpack as they help all of our staff make sure that students get to their correct classrooms. If the tag for your student has been misplaced please let the teacher know and we will get you a new one.

If you are in need of a backpack for your child, please let the classroom teacher know and we can help to secure one.

On Friday, September 8, 2023, preschool students will not have school. However, we will be hosting a Family Friday event from 9:00-10:15 am at the Early Learning Center. Join us for "If you Take your Family to School" to visit different school spaces and participate in games, creating art, listening to a story, and more.

New families to the ELC will also pick up their child's chromebook on this day. If you are a returning ELC family you should alread have your chromebook at home.

If you are planning on attending, please RSVP here by the end of the day Friday, September 1, 2023.

My name is Mrs. Christine Douglass and I am the Library Clerk for the Imagination Station or as I love to call it our beautiful library. Next week your child will start checking out a book. One book will come home every week! Books must come back to school each week in order for students to check out a new book the following week. If a book is not returned, your child will not be able to get a new one the following week. Some things to remember to keep the books looking new:

• Make sure your hands are clean.
• Do not eat or drink while you read the book.
• Put a note in the book if there is any damage so that we can repair or clean it right away.

We hope you enjoy reading these new books with your child!

Thank you,

Mrs. Douglass

The safety of our students and staff is a top priority at the Early Learning Center and throughout District 63. Our school works closely with Cook County police to assess, evaluate, and develop safety and security measures.

Procedures are in place that limit access to all schools in District 63. All visitors must be buzzed in and go through a security screening before gaining access to the rest of the school. Other safety measures include:

• Security cameras at all buildings
• Law enforcement, emergency preparedness, and lockdown drills
• Emergency notification systems in each school that enable quick notification of first responders, staff, and administrators.
• A technology filtering system that flags student content on school devices that might be of concern.
• Social emotional safeguards

Thank you for your partnership in helping keep all of our students and staff members safe. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please don't hesitate to reach out to Principal Golik.

If your child has to miss school due to illness or any other reason, please submit via the Parent Portal.

How to use the Parent Portal to report your child’s absence:

• All absences must be submitted on the morning of the day your child will miss school - NOT the night before. Once you log into the Portal, you’ll choose your child’s name and navigate to a list of online forms. Select and complete the “Absence Form,” and then submit.
• You can find detailed, step-by-step instructions at any time on our District 63 website.
• Questions? Contact the Early Learning Center main office at 847-827-4165

Tardy Students: If your child is late to school, please bring him/her to the main office (Door #1).

Students at the Early Learning Center have been busy these first few week learning about our behavior expectations around the building. Our three big expectations are Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Ready. Rules in different parts of the school are then linked to these expectations. Each expectation and rule is focused on being positive and specifically telling children what "to do" rather than what not to do. Please see the expectations at the Early Learning Center here.

Click here to find a great resource about being consistent with positive guidance for young children that could be helpful at home.

We love to celebrate birthdays with our students. If you would like to provide your child’s class with a birthday remembrance, please feel free to send non-food items such as pencils, erasers, stickers, bookmarks, or a book for the classroom library. We will not allow the distribution of any food items to celebrate birthdays of students or teachers. This will ensure that we are in compliance with the federal, state, and District 63 nutrition guidelines and are mindful of keeping students with food allergies safe. Your support in this matter is much appreciated.