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
A note from the principal
Dear Parkside Early Childhood Center Families,
We did it! We made it through the first week of school!
It has been wonderful to see your children beginning to make connections with their classmates, learn new routines, and—most importantly—have fun along the way!
We are so grateful for your partnership, patience, and support as we begin this new school year together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff if you have any questions or need anything along the way.
Have a restful and well-deserved weekend, and we’ll see you next week!
Melissa Cochrill
Principal and Director of Preschool & Child Care
Important Dates
September 4, 2026
- No School - Labor Day Weekend
September 7, 2026
- No School - Labor Day
Week of September 8, 2026
- First day for SIP & SSG
September 8, 2026
- First Day for Community Ed Preschool 3's & 4's
- First Day for Montessori Preschool
September 9, 2026
- First Day for Spanish Immersion Preschool
September 14, 2026
- First Day for Child Development Lab 4's
- First Day for GSRP
September 15, 2026
- First Day for Child Development Lab 3's
September 16, 2026
- Early Release Day for DK students
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures
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.
Pick-up in PM
Enter the Pick-Up loop from Norwood Street, not Sigsbee. This will allow for
We ask that students exit the car as soon as they are against the sidewalk.
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.
Hold your family sign high until you get a thumbs-up from our staff.
All students should enter the car on the side closest to the sidewalk.
Most parents are actually parking their vehicles in the turnaround all the way back and getting out walking their kiddos to the lineup, is that what we should be doing? I’ve noticed a couple of unsafe situations where other drivers are going around people, cutting the line, children crossing behind vehicles when they are backing up trying to get out of the line, etc. I just wanna make sure we understand what we are supposed to be doing. I also see people are not following the map that you put out on the website to not use Sigsbee entrance.
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.
Preschool:
Arrival 7:00 am to 9:00 am:
Parents will park in the Lewis Street parking lot
Parents will escort their children to the appropriate classrooms
Arrival 9:00 am and beyond:
Parents will drop off their students at the office
Staff will escort students to the appropriate classrooms
Dismissal:
Before 3:00 pm, parents will pick up students in the main office
After 3:00 pm, parents will pick up students in the back of the building using their provided family signs
ECSE:
Arrival: 8:00 am and 12:00 pm:
Parents will park in the Lewis Street parking lot
Parents will escort their children to the appropriate staff members at Door 12
Buses will release students to staff members in front of the building near Door 12
Dismissal: 11:10 am and 3:10 pm:
Parents will park in the Lewis Street parking lot
Parents will pick up their children from the staff members at Door 12 and escort them to their cars
Buses will pick up students in front of the building near Door 12
DK:
Arrival: 8:25 am to 8:35 am
Parents will drop students off at the back of the building
Staff will support student entry
Buses will release students to staff members in front of the building near the school sign
Dismissal: 3:15 pm
Staff will support student dismissal
Parents pick up students at the back of the building using their provided family signs
Staff members will release students to buses in front of the building near the school sign
DK Classroom Parties
We’re excited to bring back one of our favorite school traditions this year—classroom parties! These are special opportunities for our DK students, teachers, and families to celebrate together.
Our classroom parties are scheduled for:
- October 30 – Halloween
- December 17 – December Holidays
- February 11 – Valentine’s Day
Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll send information to families about how you can sign up to participate in one of the three parties. We’ll be able to have a maximum of five parents/guardians per classroom for each party.
To give as many families as possible the opportunity to participate, each family may sign up for one party per child during the school year. This will help ensure that we can have a variety of parents and guardians represented at our celebrations.
We’re really excited to welcome families back into the building and bring this tradition back for our students, parents, and staff! Parent volunteers will help with planning, organizing, and running the parties, which will also help take some of the load off our classroom teachers.
More information and sign-up details will be coming your way in the next couple of weeks. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Rockford Early Childhood Programs PTO
What is the PTO?
Our Rockford Early Childhood Programs (RECP) Parent-Teacher Organization is made up of families who volunteer their time in ways that work best for them. Whether you’d like to help support classroom teachers, assist with or coordinate fundraisers, or simply spend some time having fun with the children, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference in our program!
Ways to get involved:
- Attend PTO Meetings
- Promote the various fundraising opportunities
- Volunteer in the classroom and for events
Who are we?
The PTO Board consists of:
- President - coordinates and assists the rest of the board and parent volunteers on projects fundraisers. Plans and holds meetings.
- Vice President - works closely with the president as a co-chair.
- Secretary - creates agendas and meeting minutes from PTO meetings. Communicates with the school, teachers, and parents.
- Treasurer - balances the PTO fund and works with the Secretary to maintain checks and balances of incoming and outgoing funds.
How can I get involved?
Fill out this form (or click the button below!) with your contact information and indicate your interests. We look forward to working with you!
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 trainings, elder care, legal consultation, infant feeding support, real estate consultations, and more. - Kent County Resources Guide
This guide provides you a list of all of Kent County's resource centers and support facilities.
