Dr. Kyle Avink - Principal
kavink@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6350 Courtland Dr., Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 863-6346
CRESTWOOD CALENDAR
Check out our upcoming events!
DISTRICT CALENDAR
The 2026-2027 district calendar can be viewed by clicking the button below:
EARLY RELEASE DAY
Wednesday, October 14th is our next Early Release Day. Students will dismiss at 1:30pm. Parent pick up is from 1:30-1:40pm.
RPS NON-HOMESTEAD MILLAGE - VOTE NOV. 3RD
WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT?
Voters will be asked to consider a Non-Homestead Operating Millage Proposal on November 3, 2026.The proposal:
- Maintains the district’s ability to levy the maximum statutory rate of 18 mills on non-homestead property.
- Replaces the district’s expiring operating millages with a single operating millage.
- Would authorize 21 mills for operating purposes, not to exceed 18 mills in any year.
- Is expected to generate approximately $9.5 million annually, representing more than 8% of the district’s operating budget.
WHAT IS A NON-HOMESTEAD MILLAGE?
A non-homestead operating millage is a property tax levied on:
- Businesses
- Rental properties
- Commercial and industrial property
- Second homes
- Vacation homes
- Non-principal residences What Is On the Ballot
Homeowners do not pay this tax on their principal residence.
GIRLS ON THE RUN!
We are currently in search of 2 coaches for our GOTR Program. This is an awesome character-building initiative as well as a focus on moving be it running or walking, for girls in grades 3-5.
Practice is 2 times a week for 10 weeks, 90 minutes duration each practice. Practices start at the end of February and conclude with a 5k at GVSU Allendale campus.
Registration for coaches is now available. Please email Elice Davey if you are interested in coaching this season. ddavey@rockfordschools.org Unfortunately, if we do not have coaches, we will not be able to hold a program here at Crestwood. Thanks for considering.
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!
CODE: 14581727
DEADLINE: MARCH 26TH, 2027
Students will receive their yearbooks mid-May.
LABEL THE LAYERS!
It's that time of year!
Layers are worn and left on the playground, on the bus, in the halls, etc. Label those layers and we will make sure it gets back to your student!
HALLOWEEN PARADE!
FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL!
Get ready for an evening of family activities, treats and food trucks! Join us at Fall Fest on Wednesday, October 28 from 5:00–6:30 PM at Crestwood. Trick-or-treat and see your teacher dressed up on the trail and hang out with friends. PTO will be passing out a treat to all and has lots of Fall fun planned! Costumes are encouraged and admission for the whole family is covered by your Activity Pass.
CANDY WARS!
In order to be fully stocked with candy on the trail, we are hosting Candy Wars among the grades from October 12-16th. The grade that brings in the most candy (by weight) will win a special donut and cider party from PTO!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Volunteers are needed to make this event a success!
BOOK CHARACTER PUMPKINS
Every Fall, the Crestwood library transforms into a magical display of book character pumpkins. Students and families get creative by transforming pumpkins into beloved book characters, filling the library with an incredible display of imagination and storytelling. Classes visit throughout the week, searching for familiar characters and proudly spotting the pumpkins they helped create. It’s a simple tradition that brings books, creativity, and a whole lot of fall fun. We can’t wait to see what our Crestwood families dream up this year!
All pumpkins are due by 10AM on October 19th and will be on display throughout the week. They will be available to pick up on Friday, October 23rd outside the library.
ROCKFORD STEAM NIGHT 2026
Mark your calendars!
Our annual Rockford STEAM Night is coming up!
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
5:30–8:00 PM
Rockford High School
STEAM Night is an evening filled with hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences for Rockford elementary students and their families.Students will have the opportunity to explore, create, experiment, and try activities hosted by teachers, community partners, high school students, and other volunteers.This year will be our first STEAM Night at Rockford High School, and we are excited to bring our elementary students and families to a new location!If you or your National Honor Society student would like to volunteer at STEAM night you can sign up here:
STEAM UPDATES
Want to Help in STEAM? Parents and family members are welcome to volunteer in the STEAM classroom! If you'd like to volunteer, sign up here:
STEAM Needs Your Recyclables!
We are always looking for clean, dry recyclable materials to use for student design challenges. Some items we can use include: Cardboard tubes, small plastic containers (yogurt, sour cream, etc.), Kleenex boxes, broken-down cereal boxes, plastic caps and lids, egg cartons, shoe boxes, etc.
If you have materials that might be useful for building, designing, or creating, please send them in! Please make sure all donated materials are clean and dry. Thank you for supporting STEAM!
Please consider bringing items to support our STEAM program! Our wish list of items include:
Craft sticks, beads, cotton balls, Kleenex boxes, small plastic containers, pom poms, cereal boxes, cardboard tubes, bubble wrap, lids and caps, fabric, show boxes and straws. Please send items clean and dried. THANK YOU!
STAFF FAVORITES
Surprising a staff member is easy with this online file full of everything our Crestwood staff loves! Download it or save it for later when you're out shopping for holidays, a birthday, appreciate week or just a sweet treat to make their day!
MILEAGE CLUB
PTO MEETING
The next PTO meeting is Tuesday, November 3rd at 7:00 PM. Vote early that day and attend PTO in the evening. During the meeting, we will be building a gratitude wall for staff and will have notes you can fill out to leave behind. Follow PTO on Facebook for up to date info on Fall Fest and more.
HELP US STOCK THE SHELVES!
Stock The Shelves for Our Schools.
Give Books. Support Local.
The Rockford Education Foundation has partnered with epilogue books to put books and educational resources into the hands of Rockford students. From now until October 16, 2026, give $50 to REF and get a $25 epilogue books gift card.
Gift cards make great gifts or purchase a new read for your family! It’s a simple way to support Rockford students and a local bookstore!
The $25 gift cards may be picked up at epilogue books.
CRESTWOOD REMINDERS
Who do I call if my student will be absent or late to school?
- If your student will be absent or tardy, please call the attendance line OR email both the teacher AND Laura Greene at: lgreene@rockfordschools.org
- If a student is ill, you must include the symptoms (or diagnosis) for our weekly health report to the Kent County Health Department.
What if my student is out sick?
Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6346 or emailed to the front office at: lgreene@rockfordschools.org
Please leave a message on our general voicemail box if you are calling after hours. Whether you are reporting an absence on our voicemail, the State of Michigan requires us to know the following:
- Student's name and teacher
- Reason for absence - if it is an illness we need to know the symptoms of the illness - vomiting, coughing, fever, cold, diarrhea, lice - whatever the reason may be.
Who do I notify if I have a dismissal change for my student(s)?
- We kindly request that there are no early pickups after 2:45 pm. Once the parent pick up line starts to form out front, the office staff is busy with dismissal duties throughout the building.
- Please be sure to let us know of any dismissal changes PRIOR to 2:00 pm
- To contact us with changes, please call 616-863-6346 or email both the teacher AND Laura Greene at: lgreene@rockfordschools.org in the event the teacher doesn’t see the message prior to dismissal.
Where do I find parent communications?
- Our family newsletter and other updates are posted on the RPS website on the Crestwood page every two weeks during the school year.
- You can also check out the Crestwood Elementary & Crestwood PTO Facebook pages.
- Please always feel free to call or email the office with any questions.
How do I set up or change busing for my student(s)?
- Please contact Transportation directly at 616-863-6328
- We also appreciate your help to support our drivers and remind your students of proper bus behavior
Important Contact Information:
Crestwood Office/Attendance Line: 616-863-6346
Allyssa Shanahan: ashanahan@rockfordschools.org
Laura Greene: lgreene@rockfordschools.org
Transportation Office: 616-863-6328
BAC/Child Care Office: 616-863-6560
Community Services: 616-863-6322
VOLUNTEERING & BACKGROUND CHECKS
Do you or a family member plan on volunteering here at Crestwood throughout the school year? (Field trip chaperone, mystery reader, classroom support, mileage club, classroom celebrations, etc.) If so, you will need to fill out a background check on the RPS website.
If you have already filled out a background check previously, it will need to be done again. Background checks need to be run for each volunteer each school year.
STUDENT RESPONSE PROTOCOL
Dear Rockford Families,
Rockford Public Schools is deeply committed to the safety and security of our students, staff, and the community we serve. We view safety as a layered approach—built through community involvement, continued district critical incident training, staff and student engagement, family support, and the use of both physical and technological safeguards. At the heart of this work is strong relationship-building. By collaborating with students, families, staff, and law enforcement partners, we foster a climate of trust that allows every student to learn, grow, and thrive.
In response to new state law signed in January 2025, school districts were required to adopt standardized emergency responses and terminology. To meet this expectation, Rockford Public Schools is partnering with the Kent Intermediate School District and the I Love U Guys Foundation to align our protocols with best practices and provide education across our school community.
The I Love U Guys Foundation has developed the Standard Response Protocol (SRP)—an allhazards approach designed for urgent situations. The SRP includes developmentally appropriate lessons that classroom teachers will share with students from Preschool through 12th grade in the months ahead.
Students will learn about the following procedures this fall:
● September: Lockdown (Locks, lights out, out of sight)
● October: Secure and Hold (Get inside, Lock doors outside)
● November: Shelter and Evacuate (Tornado and Fire Drill)
Families are encouraged to learn more about the Standard Response Protocol by visiting the I Love U Guys Foundation parent handout. Together, we can ensure our students are prepared, supported, and safe.
The safety of our students is our highest priority. By providing age-appropriate tools and clear procedures, we aim to give students confidence while fostering a strong sense of security in our schools. With your partnership, Rockford Public Schools will continue to build a culture of preparedness, care, and support so that every child can learn and thrive.
We would also like to direct you to the Rockford Public Schools Security Team page on the website for information on Michigan Secure Storage Law: RPS Security. The secure storage law Public Act 17 of 2023 provides information on the requirements and penalties for storing and securing firearms. There is also helpful information from Project Child Safe on responsible ownership and having a conversation with your children about gun safety. Please take the time to review this information and have conversations with your children about the Standard Response Protocols and gun safety.
STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For counseling services for family members, call 1.800.442.0809 (press 1 and follow the prompts) and say "I have a SAP with Rockford Public Schools".
Visit our website for more information: School Assistance Program
REMINDERS
Feel free to pack an extra pair of socks, shorts, t-shirt, and sweatpants in your child's backpack during the school year. Don’t forget to put your child’s name on coats, rain boots, etc. Thank you!
Weather Alert
For up-to-date information regarding Rockford Public Schools delays and/or closings, events and safety alerts, send a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our district’s short code number, 67587. Opt out any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop." Be sure to tune in on icy or snowy mornings!
NO CELLPHONES OR SMART WATCHES
- Students with a cellphone will be asked to turn the phone off and not use them during the school day. Please do not text or call your student on their device during the school day. This creates a distraction to the classroom. We will always help with communication through the office or an email to the teacher if needed.
- Students with Apple watches or other wrist devices are asked not use the device to communicate during the school day.
- Students who need to contact home because they are ill or wondering about the end of the day pick up should talk to their classroom teacher who will help them navigate next steps of support.
- Devices at school are distracting to students during the learning day and we ask that unless your student needs the device to communicate after school that they stay home.
- Thank you for your support.
ACCESS SUPPORT AT NO COST
Visit our SAP web page:
The Rockford Education Foundation (REF) has proudly partnered with Rockford Public Schools to provide expert counseling, therapy, and resources through Pine Rest’s School Assistance Program (SAP).
Say “I have an SAP with Rockford Public Schools” when you call 800.442.0809 and press “1.” Every RPS student, staff and family member in your household is eligible for up to three free sessions. Additional SAP benefits include: free elder care consultation, legal and financial consultation, infant-feeding advice and real estate consultation. Anyone in the household can utilize these resources and it is 100% confidential.
You can also access an online library with over 20,000 resources covering health, finances, legal topics and more. The link is below and the code to log into the library is: RockfordPS.
Login Code: RockfordPS
