October Newsletter

Happy October! It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up our first full month together.

September is always a bit of a whirlwind—full of big emotions, drop-off goodbyes (for both kiddos and families!), finding cubbies, and learning how our school day works. But over the last week or two, you can really feel the shift. The initial jitters are fading, drop-offs are getting somewhat smoother, and our little ones are settling into comfortable daily rhythms.

It’s amazing how much confidence comes with knowing what to expect next. Now that the routines feel familiar, the real fun begins—watching them dive into friendships, try new things, and proudly show off what they can do all on their own.

Thank you for trusting us with your tiny humans every day and for helping them navigate this transition so well. October is always one of our absolute favorite months in early childhood, and we can't wait for all the cozy fall learning and fun ahead!

OCTOBER

• Tuesday, October 1: Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• Tuesday, October 6:
• Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• 1/2 day, Release at 11:15 & 11:30; Limited Eagle Club Space available
• Thursday, October 8: Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• Tuesday, October 13: Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• Thursday, October 15:
• Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• 1/2 day, Release at 11:10 & 11:30; Limited Eagle Club Space available
• Friday, October, 16:
• No School; No Eagle Club
• Homecoming Parade & Game
• Monday, October 19: Make Up Picture Day
• Tuesday, October 20: Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• Thursday, October 22: Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• Tuesday, October 27: Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER
• Wednesday, October 28: 3 year-old fall celebration
• Thursday, October 29:
• 4 Year old Field Trip to Diehl's Orchard & Cider Mill
• Play TOGETHER, Learn TOGETHER

Tuesday, November 3: No School-No Eagle Club

Saturday, November 14: Mother Son Dance-Tickets on sale now!

Monday & Tuesday, November 23-24: No School for 4 year old Preschool due to Family/Teacher conferences. 3 year old preschool and Eagle Club for Y5-5th grade will run normally.

A crisp autumn adventure is waiting for our 4-year-olds! On Thursday, October 29, our classes are heading to Diehl’s Orchard and Cider Mill for a magical morning.

The children will see how fresh apple cider is made, enjoy a cozy hayride, and get their own pie pumpkin to bring home.

Keep an eye on your child’s backpack next week—their teacher will be sending home a permission slip with full details!

As the school year begins, we practice safety drills more frequently to help students and staff feel confident and prepared. As part of a county-wide effort aligned with state standards, Linden uses standard emergency terms across all district schools. Here is a quick reference guide to help when discussing safety drills with your child:

• HOLD: Hallways are kept clear for medical emergencies or localized incidents. Classroom instruction continues as normal.

• SECURE: Exterior doors are locked due to a nearby community incident. Normal activities continue indoors.

• LOCKDOWN: Used for immediate internal threats (e.g., hostile visitor, suspicious package). Doors lock, lights turn off, and everyone stays out of sight.

• SHELTER: Used for weather emergencies (tornado) or environmental hazards (hazmat). Everyone moves to designated safe zones inside.

• EVACUATE: Used for fires or unsafe building conditions. Everyone exits to outdoor gathering spots.

Whether it’s a planned family trip, a doctor’s appointment, or an unexpected sick day, please remember to notify your child’s teacher and the front office as soon as you know your child will be absent. Letting us know early helps us keep our attendance accurate and ensures student safety.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our classroom connected and safe!

The LCS ECC is excited to introduce ECC PEEPs (Preschool Eagles Educators and Parents). Whether you can volunteer a little, a lot, or simply want to stay informed about upcoming events and activities, we’d love to have you join us in making this year extra special for our little Eaglets!

Check out the attached flyer for more details, and scan the QR code or email PEEPs.ECC@gmail.com to get connected.

At LCS ECC, we serve all meals and snacks family-style at no cost to families. Family-style dining gives children a daily opportunity to build independence, social skills, and healthy lifelong habits. In line with state and federal nutrition standards, our meals are balanced, nutrient-dense, low in sugar and salt, and reflective of our community's diverse cultures. If you have any questions about mealtime, please reach out to your child's teacher or the program director.

October Breakfast & Lunch Menu

October ECC & Eagle Club Snack Menu

October Nurse Newsletter

Linden Community Schools builds a supportive environment across all buildings through the district-wide SOAR framework. At the Early Childhood Center (ECC), we bring this framework to life using four "Big Rules" tailored specifically for our youngest learners:

• S – Stay Safe

• O – Offer Kindness

• A – Act Responsibly

• R – Remember Respect

Translating Rules into Daily Routines To make these big ideas accessible, teachers translate each rule into small, understandable expectations for every part of the day—whether students are at Large Group time, in the hallway, or on the playground.

Building Social-Emotional Foundations: Because preschool is a pivotal time for social growth, teachers actively weave these rules into daily skill-building:

• Reading Social Cues: Helping children recognize facial expressions, body language, and personal boundaries.

• Resolving Conflicts: Guiding students to share, take turns, and talk through disagreements constructively.

• Navigating Emotions: Teaching kids to identify their own feelings and show empathy toward others.

By practicing these habits every day, our students learn how to manage big feelings, build positive friendships, and lay the groundwork for long-term school success.

Learning how to navigate disagreements is a big part of growing up! To help our students handle conflicts peacefully and independently, we’ve introduced the 6-Step to Conflict Resolution in our classrooms. This approach gives kiddos a simple, step-by-step roadmap to pause, communicate their feelings, and find fair solutions whenever disagreements pop up during the school day.

Eagle Club:

• Before/Am care 6:30-8:30am
• After/Pm care 3:30-6:00pm
• 1/2 day care requires an additional sign up form and runs 11:30am-6 students must pack a lunch and there is limited availability on these days.

4 year old 1/2 day M-TH; 3 year old AM M, W, F; 3 year old PM M, W:

• AM 8:15-11:15
• PM 12:15-3:15

4 year old full day M-TH or M-F

• 8:30-3:30

Half Day dismissal:

• for 1/2 day students it will remain 11:15am
• for full day students it will be at 11:30am

To keep traffic moving smoothly and ensure every student’s safety, please carefully follow our staggered arrival, dismissal, and walk-up procedures.

Staggered Arrival & Dismissal Schedule Please do not arrive earlier than your designated window using the ECC lane to the left. Joining the line early creates traffic congestion for families in the earlier session.

• 8:15 AM / 3:15 PM Schedule:

  • Morning Drop-Off: Line up starting at 8:10 AM.

  • Afternoon Pick-Up: Line up starting at 3:10 PM.

• 8:30 AM / 3:30 PM Schedule:

  • Morning Drop-Off: Line up starting at 8:20 AM (please do not join the line prior to 8:20 AM).

  • Afternoon Pick-Up: Line up starting at 3:20 PM (please do not join the line prior to 3:20 PM).

Please Note: If you arrive early and get mixed into the line for an earlier schedule, staff may ask you to circle around or park in a designated space until your turn begins.

Walk-Up Pick-Up Procedures

• Car Tags Required: Always bring your physical car tag with you when walking up to collect your child.

• Crosswalk Safety: Please use designated crosswalks when crossing traffic, or proceed at your own risk.

• Dismissal Order: Staff call vehicles in the main drive line first. Walk-up students will be brought out to waiting parents in between car calls, so please allow for a brief wait.

Please remember to have a valid photo ID ready whenever you come to pick up your student. While we love connecting with our families, different team members assist in the pick up line and in the office, so you may be asked to show identification even if you have picked up before. If someone new or out of the ordinary will be picking up your child, please notify the main office and your teacher in advance so we can update our records.

Also, please never leave a child unattended in a vehicle—even for a moment, and even if the car is idling, parked nearby, or you are just stepping out to walk a student to the door or check into the office.

If you need to exit your vehicle to walk a child inside or help them out, please turn off your engine and bring all children with you. If you ever need extra assistance during drop-off or pick-up, please notify one of our staff members on duty.

Thank you for your cooperation, patience, and partnership in keeping our parking lot safe for all families!

We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is key to a wonderful preschool experience. Here are all the easy ways to stay updated on school news and keep in touch with our team:

Where to Find School Updates

• District Website: Visit www.lindenschools.org anytime for news, updates, and school information.

• Monthly Newsletter: Watch your email inbox for our monthly Smore newsletter, which will also be posted directly to our webpage.

• Linden Schools App: Download the district app for quick, mobile access to announcements and updates on the go.

• When in doubt please reach out to the office at 810-591-0320

Reaching Out to Your Child’s Teacher:

Your child’s teacher is always happy to connect, answer questions, or discuss your child's learning and growth. You can easily reach out through:

• Talking Points App: Ideal for quick messaging and daily check-ins.

• Email or Phone: Great for detailed questions or scheduled chats.

• Notes: Feel free to send a written letter or note in your child's daily folder.

• Please note that as students are in session they are our number one priority, teachers will respond to messages as the day allows.

Please never hesitate to reach out—we are always here to partner with you!

Please review the foundational structure of our Eagle Club before- and after-school care program, along with key daily operational reminders.

Eagle Club Program Structure

• Minimum Schedule: Families must maintain a set schedule of at least 3 days per week (before and/or after care).

• Schedule Changes & Deadlines: Submit schedule updates via the Google Add/Drop Form by the Wednesday prior to the week the change takes effect.

• Capacity & Waitlists: We are currently at capacity on several days. If you drop a day, that spot may be immediately offered to a family on our waitlist, and you may lose that day permanently if capacity is reached.

• All students must be pre-scheduled to attend. If you need to add an unscheduled day for your child, please reach out to the office first to verify space. Due to strict capacity limits, we will be unable to accept unscheduled students if a classroom or program is full for the day. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our programs safe and properly staffed!
• Vacation Holds: Traveling? Note your dates in the comments section of the Add/Drop Form so we can hold your child’s spot (up to 2 weeks maximum).

• District Half Days: Half-day care requires a separate registration form 2 weeks prior to the half day (available HERE), an additional $40/day fee, and a packed lunch from home.

Daily Operational Reminders

• Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures:

  • Location: Northwest end of the building. Please always park in a designated parking space.

  • Mornings: Have your student ready to exit the car, then call or text the Eagle Club cell at (810) 869-5864. A staff member will open the door.

  • Afternoons: Park, then call or text (810) 869-5864 stating who you are picking up. Staff will have your child gather their belongings and head to your vehicle.

  • Pick-Up Patience: Pick-up involves coordinating several families at once and helping students take responsibility for cleaning up their activities, so please allow for a brief wait time. We appreciate your patience!

• Attendance & Absence Reporting:

  • Mandatory Safety Check: Daily headcounts are critical. If a scheduled student does not arrive, staff will call parents immediately to verify their whereabouts.

  • How to Report: Call the main office at 810-591-0320 (7:00 AM – 3:30 PM) or call/text the Eagle Club cell at 810-869-5864 after hours.

  • Tuition Policy: No payment adjustments are made for absences due to illness.

Email: nbarkey@lindenschools.org

Website: https://ecc.lindenschools.org/o/aecc

Location: 325 Stan Eaton Dr. Suite A Linden MI

Phone: 810-591-0320