We are absolutely thrilled to welcome you to the vibrant beginning of the 2026-2027 school year! Together, we’ve made an incredible effort to ensure a seamless transition back to school, which is allowing our students to gain greater independence with each passing day. Your support in preparing them for this journey means the world to us!
In this monthly family newsletter, you can look forward to exciting updates on upcoming events, essential information about our school, and highlights showcasing the wonderful activities at the Early Learning Center and throughout District 63.
Stay Connected
Parent Portal: Access real-time information and report student absences.
Daily Arrival & Morning Routines: Getting your child to school on time each day ensures they don't miss important morning announcements, engaging lessons, and valuable time for connection with teachers and classmates. Establishing a consistent morning routine reduces stress for everyone and sets a calm, positive tone for the day.
Dismissal & Timely Pickups: Punctual end-of-day pickups give your child a strong sense of security and help our school staff execute a safe, orderly, and efficient dismissal process.
School Calendar: Please review our 2026–2027 School Year Calendar for reference on key dates, holidays, and school events.
Cheers to an incredible year in front of us! Let’s make it wonderful together!
Join us for a morning of fun, exploration, and making memories together! While at the farm, students and their families will work together to complete a fun scavenger hunt, exploring the farm and discovering all it has to offer.
RSVP to the form in the newsletter post by September 11. We can’t wait to see our preschool friends and their families for a fun-filled morning on the farm!
Greetings from the Imagination Station
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. Your child will start checking out a book the week of September 7th. One book will come home every week! Books must be returned to school each week 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
Fall 🍂 Picture Day
Fall Picture Day is officially scheduled for Friday, October 2! Help us make it a great day by keeping a few quick things in mind:
Date: Friday, October 2
Ordering: Pre-ordering is available online at mylifetouch.comusing Picture Day ID: EVT9DF9KC, or you can send order envelopes with your student on Friday morning.
We are so excited to see everyone looking sharp!
Backpack Tags
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 pictured) 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.
Let’s work together to teach our young learners good hygiene habits such as good handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and using tissues properly.
Please keep your child home if they are sick. They should not return to school until they are well and no longer contagious. Your cooperation helps keep our school community healthy!
Weather
The students go outside to play daily for temperatures between 25° F and 90°F, taking into account heat index and wind chill. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather. Be sure to have your child wear a hat, boots, and gloves in the cold weather.
Reporting Absences
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.
Questions? Contact the Early Learning Center main office at 847-827-4165
Tardy Students: If your child is late to school, you must check them in using the iPad Kiosk in the front foyer.
Arrival
Please check the chart below to see which door your student will be entering at the beginning of the school day. Doors will open 5 minutes prior to the start time.
Stand behind the white line or on a white spot while waiting to enter the building (to avoid overcrowding at the doors).
It is important that students are in their classroom and ready to learn at 8:40 AM or 12:15 PM. Attendance is taken by the classroom teacher five minutes after the arrival time. If students are not inside their classrooms at this time, they will be marked absent or tardy and will miss important instruction.
Dismissal
Please check the chart below to see the dismissal door for each teacher.
All students will exit at 11:10 am or 2:45 pm
Stand on a white spot while waiting for students to exit (to avoid overcrowding at the doors).
Visitor Aware
All parents and approved pick-up persons must show a valid state-issued ID to sign a student out early.
No ID, no release.
Visitor Aware provides an additional layer of security for your child by validating the identities of anyone entering the premises or seeking to pick up a student.
What kind of identification is required?
A valid, non-expired state-issued identification plastic card with a photo of you. Photos of ID and/or screenshots of state IDs will not be accepted.
Alternative options – accepted, but not recommended - require staff-assisted check-in:
Green Cards
Passport
Mexican Consular ID Card
Military Identification Card
Transportation & Pickup Changes
To ensure student safety and clear communication, all transportation changes must be sent directly to the front office.
Important Note: Teachers will not respond to ParentSquare messages or emails regarding transportation changes, early pickups, late pickups, or alternate pickup persons.
The front office will ensure classroom teachers receive all necessary updates.
Parking Lot Guidelines
Safety is a top priority of the preschool staff. Following the school's traffic patterns in the school zone provides for a safe environment. There are designated pick-up and drop-off zones for students that do not interfere with bus traffic. Your cooperation will help ensure the safety of all our school children. Please click herefor the map.
A few safety reminders:
For drop off and pick up, enter the parking lot from the drive located off of Harrison Street. Cars will proceed down the drive alongside the Early Learning Center (Watch the video in this newsletter).
Make a right turn to enter the parking lot of the Early Learning Center. Park your car and proceed to the arrival and dismissal door that your child’s class is assigned to.
Please only use the designated handicapped parking space if you are authorized to do so.
To exit the parking lot, please proceed to the exit that is located off of Dee Rd.
School zones are also cell phone-free zones. This means that any cell phone use, even hands-free, is prohibited.
ELC Behavior Expectations
At the Early Learning Center, we are consistently working on teaching students expectations and rules for the different learning environments. 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.
Birthday Treats
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 itemssuch as pencils, erasers, stickers, bookmarks, or a book for the classroom library. We will not allow the distribution of any food items to celebrate the 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.
Parent Technology Workshops
Join our Parent Technology workshops this fall and earn a FREE MacBook Neo and District hotspot! The workshops will cover digital skills, online safety, and District programs. AM and PM sessions are available and will be held at the Family Resource Center. Must attend all 4 sessions to earn the device. Sign up today!
