Parkside Newsletter

To our amazing Pach

Dear Parkside Families,

As we come to the close of this school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on what a truly special year it has been!

Together, we’ve celebrated learning, growth, and connection. We’ve watched our students discover new books, take brave steps in math, science, and writing, and express their creativity through art, music, and movement. We’ve shared laughter at school events, cheered each other on during performances and field day, and built memories that will last a lifetime. Perhaps most importantly, we’ve built relationships between students, teachers, staff, and families that have shaped the heart of our school.

This year also marks a significant transition for our school community. Our beloved school building will be repurposed, and next year our students will begin a new chapter at schools across the district. While this change brings a mixture of emotions—excitement, curiosity, and yes, even some sadness—it also brings opportunity.

Change, though often uncertain, can open doors we never expected. It allows us to grow in new ways, meet new friends, and discover new strengths within ourselves. As your children walk into new classrooms next year, they will carry with them everything they’ve learned here—academically, socially, and emotionally. They will bring their kindness, resilience, and curiosity into new communities, and those communities will be better because of it.

Though our building may be changing, the spirit of our school—the love, the memories, the connections—will live on in each student, staff member, and family who have been part of this journey. Thank you for trusting us with your children, for supporting our staff, and for being such an integral part of this extraordinary community.

We are proud of all we have accomplished together and hopeful for all the good that lies ahead. Let’s continue to take chances, embrace change, and believe in the beautiful things that can grow from it.

Wishing you a safe, restful, and joyful summer.

With heartfelt gratitude and pachyderm pride,

Mindy McGinn

Principal, Parkside Elementary School

Once a PACHYDERM always a PACHYDERM

NOTEWORTHY ITEMS

• If your student has medication in the office (prescribed or over-the-counter), please pick it up on the last day of school.  Medication not picked up will be disposed of the week after school lets ends.  
• Important Information for Families Not Returning to RPS in the Fall:  If your student will not be attending RPS in the fall (for example, due to homeschooling or moving), the student's school file will be automatically transferred to Valley View.  When your student's new school requests records, please instruct the new school to send the request to Valley View Elementary. Valley View will then handle the official withdrawal process and forward the student’s file to the new school.
•  Keep the Pages Turning This Summer!
  • As the school year wraps up, don’t let your reading adventure end.  Jump on the Rockford Book Bus and keep exploring! Packed with exciting stories, graphic novels, and books for every interest, the Book Bus brings the joy of reading right to your neighborhood. Reading over the summer is important to help prevent the "summer slide" and keep skills sharp for the next school year. Make reading a part of your summer fun by visiting the Rockford Book Bus often, and let your imagination roll! 

Book Bus Schedule

Thank You, PTO—We Couldn't Do It Without You!

As we close another incredible school year, we want to extend our deepest thanks to our amazing PTO. Your unwavering support, generosity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our students, staff, and school community. From organizing events to funding programs and always stepping in with helping hands and warm hearts, you’ve helped create a place where students thrive. We are truly grateful for everything you’ve done.  Katie, David, Gina, and Joanne, we can't thank you enough for being such an essential part of our "Pach"!

Parkside Shoutouts

As we reflect on our year at Parkside and all the great memories we have shared as a “pach,” we recognize we couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers.  There are so many wonderful people to thank for their support over the years!

If we happened to miss anyone, please know it wasn’t intentional. We are truly thankful to everyone of you!

Denise, thank you for the amazing baked goods and for always being willing to help in the classrooms and preserving the legacy of Parkside in the museum. Returning to Mrs. Molesta’s class year after year, helping with a special gift for Kindergarten families has been so appreciated! 

Emily, you have been such a help in Mrs. Westveer’s classroom and in the entire school! Thank you for your support with March-is-Reading Month and the year-end festivities.  

Jamie, thank you for lending your artistic talents to PKS and for always showing your appreciation for our staff by helping out and coordinating events! Your coordination and planning for Staff Appreciation week was over the top appreciated! 

Heidi and Randy, you have always spoiled us with your amazing meals and treats!

Katie, thank you for leading the charge in a new PTO, providing history for the incoming board, and working with community and staff members to provide great things for our Parkside kids.

Melissa, thank you for your dedication to the GOTR program for the past couple of years. 

Joanne, thank you for being on our PTO board,  planning an epic dance celebration and end-of-year party!

Allison, thank you for all of your work you have done with and for the students in Mrs. Dunham’s class!

Our Room Parents, without your planning, organizing, purchasing, and all the things, we could not have had more fun at our Halloween, Holiday, and Valentine Day parties. 

Melody, thank you for your help with planning the fun last Parkside Carnival and all of the fantastic things that you do to help support the Parkside family. Your first-grade and kindergarten families are so thankful for you!

Parents who contributed to conference meals, we are so appreciative of the amazing meals that were provided throughout the year for conferences!

Parkside “spirit-lifters” are those who were creative and thoughtful in bringing treats, treasures, and lovely notes in the days, weeks, and months of our school’s repurposing process. We are SO thankful for you. 

Heather and Allison, you made the Kindergarten year fun, festive, and full of amazing activities! 

Danna, the teaching staff is so thankful for the countless times you said “yes” to subbing for us. We are so thankful you were able to step up in times when our staff needed you. 

To the families that stocked the lounge this year, thanks for keeping our souls and bellies full!  Megan, Sara, Allyson, Joanne, Heather, Trisha, Lyndsay, Jamie, and all the others that brought goodies- you are appreciated! 

Tabytha, thank you for running the 5th-grade fundraiser and planning an epic party for our 5th graders!

Our holiday shop was a success this year thanks to Gina, Lindsay, Richelle, Trisha, David, Jamie, Whitney, Melissa, Heather, Kelsey, Devon, and Joanne.

Ashley and Lazy Dazy coffee truck, thank you for the amazing drinks. They were such a treat to our staff this year!

Thank you to the wonderful moms who made our popcorn days great, Cyntheanne, Melody, Trisha, Lindsay, and Melissa (we know there are more - thank you!).

Kelvin, thank you so much for your weekly visits to keep our first graders stocked with books. They’ve truly looked forward to them! Your help with classroom odds and ends has also been a huge support in keeping Mrs. Carnes organized. We’re so grateful for your time, care, and dedication!

Katy, thank you for helping us carry forward Parkside’s proud tradition of inclusion by deepening our understanding of Cerebral Palsy. Your support has not only expanded our knowledge but also nurtured greater empathy and compassion among our students. We are truly grateful for the positive impact you’ve made in our community.

Lauren and Chris, your generosity and support over the years have been amazing.  You have made such an impact on Parkside.  

A huge thank you to the Bennett, Holmes, Richardson, and Guest families for the treating staff! 

Thank you to Katie, Cyntheanne, and all the wonderful volunteers who helped make the Best Day Ever and Donuts with Grownups such fantastic events.  

To the talented and creative ladies who transformed our doors and library into a magical celebration during March-is-Reading Month, inspiring our students to dive into the joy of reading, thank you!

We are so grateful for the incredible time, energy, and heart our volunteers have given to Parkside. Whether you helped in classrooms, on field trips, at events, or behind the scenes, your support has made a real difference in our “pach”.