Kyle Avink - Principal
kavink@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6350 Courtland Dr., Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 863-6346
CRESTWOOD CALENDAR
Do you like to plan ahead?! Check out the Crestwood building calendar for exciting upcoming events specific for our building!! (There will be much more added to the calendar in the upcoming weeks!)
DISTRICT CALENDAR
The 2025-2026 district calendar. Click below to view!
EARLY RELEASE
Early Release Days:
Wednesday, October 29th
Wednesday, November 12th
Students dismiss at 1:30pm. Parent pick up is from 1:30-1:40pm.
ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!
Click on the image below to order your 2025-26 yearbook!
GIRLS ON THE RUN
The Crestwood Girls on the Run team is looking for 3 volunteer coaches Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45-5:15 for the 2026 season. The season will be10 weeks from the end of February through mid-May. This is a great opportunity for parents to get involved in the Crestwood Community. The team will consist of 8-15 girls in grades 3-5.
Please contact Elice Davey (ddavey@rockfordschools.org) if you or someone you know may be interested in this opportunity!
2025-26 DIRECTORY
Thanks to our amazing PTO, the 2025-2026 Crestwood Directory is complete! Please feel free to save the link for future use!
HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS
For new families, or those that may not be aware, Friday Oct. 31st (along with Christmas and Valentine's Day) will be treated as a Spirit Day for students where they can dress in their costume all day. Please have your child come dressed in their outfit. It should be one that they are comfortable enough to wear all day, wear to recess and/or participate in PE. Please be mindful of comfort for students sitting in class, riding the bus in their costumes and participating in their normal school day activities.
As you begin to shop for costumes, please refrain from weapons, scary costumes, and masks that contain fake blood and images that would frighten our younger students Additionally, please refrain from all inflatable costumes. Students wearing anything that would fall into these categories will be asked to remove their costumes.
Our Halloween celebrations will take place during the school day. Across the district, we are working to create a similar experience for all students. Each individual classroom teacher creates times that works within their classroom schedule on this day to celebrate. Teachers will be asking for some assistance in planning the short celebration that will include a snack and activity.
HALLOWEEN PARADE
You're welcome to come enjoy the Halloween Parade on Friday, October 31st at 2:40pm. (Weather permitting.) Please read the important parking and dismissal details below.
PARKING DETAILS:
- Parking on the East side of Courtland Dr, North parking lot, and parent pick up loop. (Green areas on below map.)
- If you're parking in the parent pick up loop, you must leave immediately after the parade so line doesn't get held up.
PARADE DETAILS:
- Enter the playground through the North parking lot.
- Stand along the inside or outside of the track and wait for the parade to come out.
- When the parade is finished and you plan on taking your student home, please locate your student in the teachers section inside the track (image below) to grab their things and sign out with their teacher.
- The DK and Kindergarten sections will NOT be located inside the track. Their sections will be against the exterior wall. (See map below.)
- Do NOT enter the building as the school day is still in session.
PARADE/DISMISSAL
PARKING
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FALL FEST!
Our Fall Fest volunteer sign up is looking a bit ghostly! It takes lots of hands to decorate the trail and run this event. Please consider signing up for a short shift to help.
Fall Fest fun includes:
- Food trucks: Cheezy Duz It, Kona Ice, Taquero Mucho
- Candy bag decorating
- Trick-or-Treating trail with staff dressed up!
- Pumpkin contest display
- Inflatable Corn Maze
- STEAM activities with Mrs. Anderson
- Photo Booth
- Scavenger hunt and prizes
- Dunkin' Donuts for all
Wear your costumes and come ready for fun on October 29th from 5 PM to 6:30 PM.! Candy donations are appreciated for the trail and can be turned into the vestibule by Tuesday, October 28th.
MORE FALL FESTIVITIES!
The PTO Staff Appreciation Committee will be catering F'nK tacos on November 3rd for staff. The cost of the meal is covered by PTO Activity Passes and we are looking for additional monetary contributions for beverages, on-the-go snacks and dessert. Lindsay Salay from the PTO Staff Appreciation committee is collecting donations through Sunday, October 26th. Thank you in advance for helping support our educators!
Thank you for your payments - we have exceeded 80% and would like to remind you to pay any outstanding pass balances. We understand that circumstances vary. If you'd like to discuss payment support or flexible options, please call the Crestwood office.
Pumpkins are due Monday, October 27th! We can't wait to be amazed at the creativity! Volunteers will be there to greet you from 8:30 - 10:00 AM in the vestibule or your student may bring their pumpkin with them to school.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES:
We are looking forward to conferences on Monday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 6th.
Monday, November 3rd – In person conferences.
Thursday, November 6th – In person conferences
*Miss VanKeuren will be emailing her class regarding her open house style conference.
In order to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher(s) please click on the link or use the QR Code below.
BOOK FAIR
PICTURE RETAKE DAY
To order: Click on the picture below. The event code is EVTNTXB8K
ANNI'S STORY
Let’s show our strength for former Crestwood student, Annika Meier! Within four days Crestwood was able to raise over $1000.00 for Anni's Army Foundation! Click on the link below to read all about Anni's story.
MILEAGE CLUB
A few spots are open for November to help run Mileage Club! PTO hosts Mileage Club in the cool temps unless there's snow or ice accumulation.
LABEL OR INITIAL
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 (lgreene@rockfordschools.org)
- If a student is ill, you must include the symptoms (or diagnosis) for our weekly health report to KCHD
What if my student is out sick?
Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6346 or emailed to the front office - 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 2:45pm. 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 2pm
- To contact us with changes, please call 616-863-6346 or email both the teacher AND Laura Greene (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 bi-weekly 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
JOIN THE PTO!
Join PTO! We currently have the Secretary and Vice President position open. Email crestwoodelementarypto@gmail.com for interest.
STUDENT RESPONSE PROTOCOL
This year Rockford Public Schools is following the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. The SRP provides clear, common language for how we, as staff and students, respond to different situations, whether that’s a drill, a medical emergency, or a security concern. The terms Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter are simple and action-based, helping everyone know exactly what to do. By practicing these responses, we ensure that our students and staff are prepared and safe in any situation.
Please reach out if you have any questions about this protocol.
EVERYTHING STEAM
Mark your calendars! Our annual STEAM Night is coming up on Tuesday, November 11th from 5:30–7:30 PM at East Rockford Middle School. Please note the important updates: the date has changed from November 4th to November 11th (due to voting day), and the location has moved from the Freshman Center to East Rockford Middle School. More details can be found on the attached flyer.
We are also looking for parent volunteers in the STEAM room during the month of October. Volunteers will help with student activities and prepping for classroom projects and STEAM Night. If you are interested, please sign up here:
In addition, our STEAM program is still collecting recyclable materials to support student projects. We are currently accepting cardboard tubes, egg cartons, plastic containers, cereal boxes, plastic water bottles, and corks. A flyer with more details is attached.
Thank you for supporting our students as they explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math!
Elyse Anderson
STAFF FAVORITES
Get to Know Our Amazing Staff
Our staff works hard daily to support and inspire students and we like to celebrate them. PTO has put together a fun list of all staff favorites from favorite treats to places to eat. This is a great document to save on your phone for special events such as a staff birthday, holidays or appreciation week.
REMINDERS
Feel free to pack an extra pair of socks, shorts, t-shirt, and sweatpants in your child's backpack during the spring months. 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
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. Access an online library with over 20,000 resources covering health, finances, legal topics and more. The code to login the library is RockfordPS.
Login Code: RockfordPS
