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 End of school Year DATES
June 2, 2026
- Last day for ECSE
June 4-5, 2026
- Half Day for DK - 11:55am dismissal time
June 5, 2026
- Last day of Full Day Preschool (summer preschool starts on June 8)
- Last day of DK
June 10, 2026
- Start of Summer Full Day Preschool
Rockford Book Bus
The Rockford Book Bus is gearing up for another summer of reading adventures!
On June 6, you can find the bus in the Start of Summer parade.
On June 13, the Book Bus will be welcoming readers at the Rockford Farmer's Market.
On June 15, the Book Bus officially starts its travels around the Rockford community, visiting schools, neighborhoods, and child care centers.
You will want to have your calendars handy so that you can embrace each week's engaging theme and share the joy of reading with others in our community.
Weekly Themes:
- At the Beach
- Animal Antics
- Out of This World
- Magnificent Michigan
- Transportation Station
- Winter in July
- Under the Sea
More Summer Reading
Summer is the perfect time to relax, explore new adventures, and discover great books! We invite all Rockford students and families to participate in #RamsRead 2026, with resources and programs designed to keep students engaged, learning, and growing throughout the summer months.
Visit the RAMS Read 2026 website to learn more, access reading resources, find book recommendations, and start your summer reading journey today. Happy reading, Rams!
Kent district library: Free Weekday Lunches
Kent District Library will once again offer free weekday lunches for children (ages 0-18) at library branches this summer, running June 8–September 4. Most locations will serve lunch from 12:00–1:00 p.m. You can find participating branches, serving times, and additional details here: Kent District Library Summer Lunches
KDL is also partnering with North Kent Connect and YWCA to provide additional food access opportunities, including food trucks and community support events at select branches throughout the summer. The link above includes all programs tagged “Food Access,” and families can filter by branch to find specific opportunities near them.
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
