Early Learning Center Welcome
August 6, 2021
Contact Information
Email: firststeps@emsd63.org
Website: emsd63.org/firststeps
Location: 10000 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-4165
Twitter: @D63_FirstSteps
Upcoming Events
- Class Assignments available in the Parent Portal
- Back to School Meet and Greet (Families can stop in anytime between 4:00-6:00pm)
- First Day of School
- No School - AM Parent Participation Day & Chromebook Pickup
- No School - Labor Day
Dear Preschool Families,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! We are all excited to welcome our students full time. Your child will attend school at the new Early Learning Center, 10000 Dee Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016. We look forward to welcoming all children into the building and fully exploring the amazing space. Before the doors open, we do ask that you begin having conversations at home with your child and family about the importance of wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, and social distancing.
Within this message, you will find important dates and reminders to get you ready for the upcoming school year. An updated 2021-2022 school year calendar as well as some information about East Maine School District 63 communications.
Please continue to check your email frequently for updates from our school and from District 63. Learn more about East Maine School District 63’s 2021-2022 school year planning,
Thank you for your continued cooperation and support. If you have questions about the upcoming school year or need assistance with registration, please contact us by phone at 847-827-9165 or via email at firststeps@emsd63.org. Our main office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30-3:00.
Have a safe and fun remainder of the summer. We look forward to seeing you soon, and to sharing a great school year together!
Sincerely,
Barb Golik
Principal
Class Placement
*If you do not see this information in the parent portal, it means we are missing a piece of registration documentation. Please contact the office for additional information.*
Student Health Forms
First Day of School
- AM Session starts at 8:40 AM (doors open at 8:35 AM) and ends at 11:10 AM.
- PM Session starts at 12:15 PM (doors open at 12:10 PM) and ends at 2:45 PM.
Back to School: Meet and Greet
All visitors to our schools, including students and family members, need to be masked.
Snack Information
Student Supplies
Student Chromebooks
Main office procedures
Please continue to contact the office via email or phone when you have questions or concerns. When possible, schedule in-person visits in advance so that we can limit the number of individuals in the office at one time. A reminder that masks must be worn at all times by any individual who enters our school building.
Bus Transportation
Health and Safety Protocols
- All students are required to wear face coverings indoors (Vented masks and gaiters are not allowed).
- No face coverings are required while outdoors.
- All students and employees will be tested for COVID-19 once weekly using the SHEILD Saliva Test. If you wish to opt your child out of testing, please call the school office.
- All visitors to our schools need to be masked inside our building.
REPORTING ABSENCES
If your child has to miss school due to illness or any other reason, please call 847-827-4163 to report the absence. You may make that call during the evening before the absence or anytime in the morning prior to 9:00 AM. Main office staff will attempt to call you at home or work if your child is absent from school and we have not heard from you by this time.
Tardy Students: If your child is late to school, please bring him/her to the main office (Door #1).
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
- Please check the chart below to see which door your student will be entering at the beginning of the school day. Doors will open 5 minutes prior to the start time.
- Stand on a white spot while waiting to enter the building (to avoid overcrowding at the doors).
- Teachers will meet students at their assigned door during the first week of school.
Dismissal
- Please check chart below to see dismissal door for each teacher.
- All students will exit at 11:10 am or 2:45pm
- Stand on a white spot while waiting for students to exit (to avoid overcrowding at the doors).
Parking Lot Guidelines
Parking Lot Guidelines: Safety is a top priority of the preschool staff. Following the school's traffic patterns in the school zone provides for a safe environment. There are designated pick-up and drop-off zones for students which do not interfere with bus traffic. Your cooperation will help to ensure the safety of all of our school children. Please click here for the map.
A few safety reminders:
- For drop off and pick up, enter the parking lot from the drive located off of Harrison Street. Cars will proceed down the drive alongside the Early Learning Center (Watch the video in this newsletter).
- Make a right turn to enter the parking lot of the Early Learning Center. Park your car and proceed to the arrival and dismissal door that your child’s class is assigned to.
- To exit the parking lot, please proceed to the exit that is located off of Dee Rd.
- Schools zones are also cell phone free zones. This means that any cell phone use, even hands free, is prohibited.
Curriculum
All of the classes in the Pre-K Program use The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, which is a research-based curriculum approved by the State of Illinois. It is a comprehensive system of assessment and program planning which addresses the four major areas of development: social-emotional, physical, language, and cognitive skills; it also addresses the five areas of content learning: literacy, math, science, social studies, and the arts. Using exploration and discovery as a way of learning, The Creative Curriculum for Preschool helps children develop confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills through a play-based approach.