Principal & Director: Melissa Cochrill, mcochrill@rockfordschools.org
Assistant Director: Missy Baines, mbaines@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
Jennifer Wackerle, jwackerle@rockfordschools.org
Important Dates
October 27
- 12 PM - 4PM Fundraiser Pick-Up at the Administration Building (Outside the Community Service Entrance, weather permitting; more details are posted below)
October 28-29
- Picture Days for the following programs (a more detailed schedule with exact date/time was shared by teachers):
- DK, ECSE, and Full-Day Preschool at Parkside
- Half-Day Preschool at Admin Building (Community Ed 3's and 4's, GSRP, Montessori, Spanish Immersion)
October 30
- DK Halloween Parties
November 3
- Voting Day! Vote on the Non-Homestead Proposal
Week of November 2-6
- DK Conferences: Monday, November 2 & Wednesday, November 4
- Full-Day Preschool Conferences: Wednesday, November 4 & Friday, November 6
- Half-Day Preschool Conferences: varies (please read your communications from your student's teacher on the timing of your conferences)
November 6
- No School for Full-Day & Half-Day Preschools (DK & ECSE in session)
November 10
- 10AM - 12:45PM Picture Retake Day: Families and students can drop-in to Picture Retake Day being held in the Parkside ECC Library
November 16
- 6:30PM Next PTO Meeting
Picture DayS
Picture Days are coming! Lifetouch will be photographing students at Parkside ECC for the following programs on October 28-29, 2026.
- Developmental Kindergarten (DK) at Parkside
- Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) at Parkside
- Full-Day Preschool at Parkside
- Half-Day Preschool at Admin Building (GSRP, Community Ed 3's and 4's, Montessori, Spanish Immersion)
To Order Your Photos:
- Pre-order today on mylifetouch.com. Create an account or login with you Picture Day ID: EVT84G7GR
- Orders will be sent home with your student after Picture Day.
- Enjoy 10% off your order using the code F2610OFF
Picture Retake Day for ALL early childhood programs is November 10 from 10AM - 12:45PM
- Families and students can drop-in to Picture Retake Day being held in the Parkside ECC Library
Fundraiser Pick-Up Details – Tuesday, Oct 27
Thank you so much for making our fundraiser such a success!
Pick-Up Details:
- Date: Tuesday, October 27th
- Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Location: Administration Building (Outside the Community Service Entrance, weather permitting)
Important Note: Please make arrangements to pick up your order during this window, regardless of whether your child has class that day. Many items are perishable, and we do not have freezer space to store uncollected orders.
Thank you again for your support!
Parkside Early Childhood Center and Rockford Preschools
Family-Teacher Conferences
The Week of November 2-6, 2026
Dear Rockford Early Childhood Program Families,
Registration for Fall Family-Teacher Conferences is still open! We warmly invite and encourage families to schedule a time to connect with their child’s teacher, celebrate their progress, and talk about their growth and learning.
Important Details:
- Conferences will be held in person in your student’s classroom.
- Registration will be closing on Wednesday, October 28 at 4:00 PM to give our staff time to prepare for conferences.
- The Parkside Library will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair - come shop after conferences!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing in your child’s growth and success!
FROM THE PTO
Our Parent-Teacher Organization is currently collecting donations to show our appreciation for the amazing teachers and support staff who care for our kids everyday!
We are going to be providing dinner for the amazing staff during Family-Teacher Conferences on November 2 & 4. If you’re able, please consider contributing to help us thank them for all they do. Every donation is appreciated!
Donations can be dropped off at the Parkside ECC front office starting November 2nd.
Book Fair is coming!
The Parkside Early Childhood Center is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair!
- Monday, November 2 - 4:00 PM -7:30 PM
- Wednesday, November 4 - 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
- Friday, November 6 - 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
We will also offer times for students to shop during the school day. The Book Fair will take place in the Parkside ECC Library.
You can get all of the Book Fair details and easily add funds to your student's eWallet here: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/parksideearlychildhood
Every purchase at the Fair supports our school.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures
Preschool 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.
Please use extra caution when crossing Lewis Street—drivers may have limited visibility. Hold your child’s hand and cross carefully.
DK/Preschool Pick-up in PM
Enter the Pick-Up loop from Norwood Street, not Sigsbee.
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. Please avoid large gaps between vehicles.
Hold your provided family sign where staff can clearly see it.
All students should enter the car on the side closest to the sidewalk.
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.
Office Reminders
Extra 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 clothing and 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: All Preschool Programs follow the Rockford Public Schools weather closures. If RPS announces a snow day, Preschool will be closed as well.
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
Additional Important Numbers
- Transportation Office: 616-863-6328
- BAC/Child Care Office: 616-863-6560
- Community Services: 616-863-6322
Family Resources
Everyone needs a little help sometimes—and we’re here to help! ♥
From food assistance and community resources to free counseling services, there are many resources available to support you and your family. Explore the resources below, or reach out to us anytime. We’re happy to help connect you with the right support and point you in the right direction.
- Hand2Hand Permission Slip
This program helps provide a student with food for the weekends and is intended for families who currently may be experiencing a financial burden. - School Assistance Program
This program provides mental health support, confidential counseling services, financial training, elder care, legal consultation, infant feeding support, real estate consultations, and more. - Feed West Michigan Website
This website provides you a list of all of Kent County's resource centers and support facilities, particularly around their mobile food pantry schedule in real time.
