Director: Melissa Cochrill - mcochrill@rockfordschools.org
Assistant Director: Missy Baines - mbaines@rockfordschools.org
Principal: Mindy McGinn - mmcginn@rockfordschools.org
Address: Parkside Early Childhood Center, 156 Lewis Street Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 863-6360 Fax: (616) 866-2327
Administrative Assistants:
Julie Palmieri - jpalmieri@rockfordschools.org
Jamie Brown - jbrown@rockfordschools.org
IMPORTANT DATES
April 21, 2026
- REF Virtual Event: "Social Media Safety" from 7-8pm via Microsoft Teams.
April 22, 2026
- 4-year-old CDL Field Trip to Dairy Discovery
- Early Release for DK - 1:15pm
- Play and Learn Night for Preschool
April 27, 2026
- Rockford Early Childhood Programs (RECP) Parent Involvement Meeting - 6:30pm
April 30, 2026
- 3-year-old CDL Field Trip to the Zoo (classroom teacher will have more info)
- Last day for Community Ed Preschool 3s/4s
May 1, 2026
- Yearbook Ordering Deadline
May 4-8, 2026
- Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week (more information below)
May 6, 2026
- Early Release for DK - 1:15pm
May 7-8, 2026
- Last day for CDL Preschool 3s/4s
May 14, 2026
- 3-year-old Full Day Preschool classes to the Zoo (classroom teachers will have more info)
May 14-15, 2026
- Last days for ECSE SIP & SSG
May 15, 2026
- Class of 2026 Senior walk-through
May 19, 2026
- Family Night at the Whitecaps (details + ticket information listed below!)
May 21, 2026
- Last day for Montessori Preschool
May 22-25, 2026
- No School for all programs - Memorial Day weekend
May 27, 2026
- Last day for Spanish Immersion Preschool
June 2, 2026
- Last day for ECSE
June 4-5, 2026
- Half Day for DK - 12:55pm
June 5, 2026
- Last day of Full Day Preschool (summer preschool starts on June 8)
- Last day of DK
Yearbook
It's time to order your 2025-26 Rockford Early Childhood Programs yearbook!
Follow this link: Lifetouch Order Link
Our Yearbook ID Code is 14563126.
Prices start at $14.00.
From the Rockford Early Childhood PTO
Teacher/Staff Appreciation - May 4-8, 2026
Rockford Early Childhood PTO is excited to celebrate and show appreciation for our amazing teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week (Monday, May 4 – Friday, May 8, 2026)!
Help us celebrate our Preschool and Early Childhood staff by sharing a note of appreciation! Your message can be as simple as “Thank you for all you do,” or something more personal—like a favorite memory your child has from this year.
You’re also welcome to upload notes or artwork, which will be printed and delivered to staff.
Social Media Safety Event
The Rockford Education Foundation is sponsoring a "Social Media Safety" virtual event on April 21, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM via Microsoft Teams.
Hosted by Alisha Meneely, Government and Community Outreach Director for the Michigan Child Protection Registry, this session is designed to provide parents with essential tools and knowledge to protect their children in a constantly changing digital landscape.
Key topics to be covered include:
- Practical home safety steps to keep children protected online.
- Insights into popular apps and the tactics used by predators and traffickers.
- Michigan laws regarding sexting and sextortion and their impact on families.
- The Michigan Child Protection Registry (ProtectMiChild) and how it helps safeguard your child.
- Spreading awareness to keep more families informed.
Family Night at the Whitecaps
Rockford Family Night is back this year on May 19th! For each ticket purchased through the link below, a portion will be donated back to Rockford elementary schools! Over the past few years the schools have raised over $6,000 total.
Week of the Young Child
Celebrate Early Childhood during the ENTIRE month of April -- a special time to celebrate the joy, curiosity, and creativity of young learners. It’s a time to explore, play, and learn together while honoring the bright futures of our youngest students.
Our school will specifically be celebrating The Week of the Young Child from April 13 to 17, 2026.
Below are ideas of something you can do every day with your child!
The rest of April...
April 17: Reach out to grandparents or aunts and uncles with a video call.
April 18: Help your child hold the door for someone else.
April 19: Mix and match clothes for a family photo shoot.
April 20: Sing a rhyming bedtime story like I’m a Little Teapot by Iza Trapani.
April 21: Find new recipes to cook together at: My Plate recipes
April 22: Play as a team, like doing a puzzle or keeping a balloon in the air.
April 23: Find some new authors to read together at: Reading Rockets
April 24: Play Go Fish together. Enjoy popcorn and a movie! Have a little fun together.
April 25: Let another person ahead of you at the grocery store.
April 26: Build a blanket fort and read with a flashlight.
April 27: Turn on some music without words and dance however you feel.
April 28: Read Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert.
April 29: Use rubber bands to turn a cookie cutter into a tiny guitar!
April 30: Paint and decorate paper plates to make masks or creatures like ladybugs.
Nominate a Teacher!
Super(-intendent) Substitute!
One of your teachers may be selected for a well-deserved day off with our own super substitute, Dr. Matthews! Once a month, Dr. Matthews will be trading his Superintendent’s office for the classroom and stepping in to substitute for a day.
How it works:
Each $10 donation to the Rockford Education Foundation nominates a teacher to win a day off while Dr. Matthews takes over the classroom. All donations support REF educational grants, celebrate our incredible educators, and give Dr. Matthews a front-row seat in the classroom.
- $10 = 1 entry to nominate a teacher - multiple entries gladly accepted!
- Teachers may nominate themselves or a colleague
- One winner will be drawn monthly, January–May 2026
Rockford Eats
Supporting our schools and community
The Rockford Education Foundation (REF) is excited to announce the Rockford Eats Gift Card Fundraiser, running from April 20 to May 1, 2026! This unique opportunity supports Rockford students and lets you savor the best of our local dining scene. With each $100 donation to REF you’ll receive a $50 gift certificate to one of our fantastic restaurant partners of your choice!
Your generosity fuels local education initiatives and helps sustain the restaurants that make our community special. Gift cards will be mailed by REF the week of May 11, 2026.
Office Reminders
Extra Clothing
As the seasons change, take a moment to swap your student's extra clothing for more seasonally, weather appropriate clothing.
We recommend that ALL students keep a full set of weather-appropriate extra clothes in their cubby (shirt, pants, underwear, socks, and shoes). Students may need to change due to bathroom accidents, cafeteria spills, or getting wet or dirty at recess.
PLEASE BE SURE TO LABEL EVERYTHING! We have over 200 students in our building, which makes for a lot of winter gear! We want everything to return to your home at the end of each week!
Weather Alerts
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!
PLEASE NOTE: Preschool follows the Rockford Public Schools weather closures. If RPS announces a snow day, Preschool will be closed as well.
Staff Favorites
Want to spoil a Rockford Early Childhood staff member? Want to spread a little sunshine? Here are our staff's favorites!
DROP-OFF & Pick-up Reminders
Drop-off in AM
Please do not park or stop on Lewis Street, as the front curbs must remain open for our Early Childhood Special Education drop-offs.
All drivers need to park in the Lewis Street parking lot and walk students into school.
Please use extra caution when crossing Lewis Street—drivers may have limited visibility. Hold your child’s hand and cross carefully.
Pick-up in PM
Hold your family sign high until you get a thumbs-up from our door greeters, Meera and Mariano.
Pull forward all the way to the cone in the pick-up circle (or as far as the next car) to keep traffic moving smoothly.
Be patient with our students. Their little legs take time to cover distances in this big building! They may also be coming from different places (playground, bathroom, cafeteria, etc.), so it might take a few extra moments for them to reach you. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
STUDENT ABSENCES
Who do I call if my student will be absent or late to school?
Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6360. Press 1 for the Attendance Line.
When you are reporting an absence on our voicemail, the State of Michigan requires us to know the following:
- Student's name
- Reason for absence - if it is an illness we need to know the symptoms of the illness (vomiting, coughing, fever, cold, diarrhea, lice, etc.).
Contact Information
Parkside Early Childhood Center Office/Attendance Line - 616.863.6360; press 1.
- Jamie Brown (Preschool Admin Assistant) - jbrown@rockfordschools.org
- Julie Palmieri (DK/ECSE Admin Assistant) - jpalmieri@rockfordschools.org
- Transportation Office - 616.863.6328
- BAC/Child Care Office - 616.863.6560
- Community Services - 616.863.6322
Hand2Hand
Hand2Hand's mission is to deliver nutritious food to students over the weekends and on extended school breaks by mobilizing churches, schools, individuals, and businesses to join together, providing hope and opportunity to thrive.
To enroll your loved one, please scan the QR code below or click this link.
A free weekend food opportunity for kids! They will receive 3 breakfast items, 4 snack items, and 3-4 lunch/dinner items, often with a recipe card. The food bags are delivered by the Hand2Hand team so that the students can bring them home on Fridays.
If you have any questions, please email the Hand2Hand organization: permissionslip@h2hkids.org.
School assistance program (SAP)
Access support today!
Say "I have an SAP with Rockford Public Schools" when you call 800.442.0809 and press "1." Every RPS family member in your household is eligible. 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).
The program provides:
- Counseling services for family members
- A free online resource library
- Free financial and legal consultations
- Free elder care consultations
