ELC Lion's Latest News

With the school year well under way, our ELC Little Lions have set the bar high for themselves, so be ready to Watch us Grow, and Hear us Roar! Students are becoming more independent by the minute and learning something new every day that passes. Routines, schedules and expectations are being set in place, and students have even given their input as to what topics they would like to learn about this school year. Classrooms are roaring with conversation, storytelling and the most contagious sounds of laughter!

Thank you for being a very special part of our ELC community! We thank you for all you do to keep our students motivated, engaged and safe!

There are LOTS of clickable links in this week's newsletter, so make sure to click on any colored bar or picture as you scroll! (When in doubt, give it a click!)

As always, please reach out with any questions, comments or concerns by phone or email.

Your partners in education,

The ELC Team

... the swing is the clear favorite, earning an overwhelming 74% of votes!

Thank you everyone for voting for your favorite playground equipment!

• September 15th: Hispanic Heritage Month Begins; dress in bright colors or traditional clothing
• September 17th: PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) Meeting 5:30 at the ELC
• September 19th: Picture Day
• September 19th: Spirit Wear Orders Due
• October 1st: NO SCHOOL for PRESCHOOL - Staff Institute Day
• October 3rd: World Smile Day; wear yellow, a smiley face or a shirt with a kind message
• October 13th-17th: NO SCHOOL for PRESCHOOL
• October 16th & 17th: Family Conferences
• October 29th: Fall Classroom Celebrations
• October 31st: NO SCHOOL for PRESCHOOL - MORNING FAMILY EVENT 9 to 11 AM

• Thank you for all of your cooperation with drop off and pick up procedures, especially during the recent construction.
• In the drop off line, please try and assist your child in unbuckling as you approach staff members for exiting.
• For the safety of all students and staff, please stay in the car line until you have safely exited the parking lot. A staff member will let you know if it’s okay to pull around another vehicle that may need a little extra time.
• Please remember that ALL preschool-age students MUST be in a child restraint system. Please refer to the guidelines below for your child's height and weight requirements.

The D123 preschool program provides all items needed for snacks, which are distributed by Whitson's School Nutrition and are free of cost to all families. Click on the menu to view nutrition information, ingredients and allergen information, accessible from any mobile device or computer.

***THE ELC SNACK CALENDAR IS LISTED UNDER OAK LAWN-HOMETOWN SD ELC CENTER***

D123 uses the Visitor Aware Program to immediately identify visitors and create a temporary ID badge to wear for the duration of their time spent at our schools.

In order to ensure a smooth visit to the ELC, please use THIS LINK to complete the pre-registration for Visitor Aware for any future classroom volunteering and visits inside our building.

You will be prompted to take a picture of yourself and answer a few questions, including Driver's License #. Once you complete this, you will be added to the system and will not have to resubmit this information every time you visit the building. You will receive a QR code via text and email to scan which is what you will use when checking into the school for a visit.

You can find common questions about the Visitor Aware System answered HERE. Click HERE for SPANISH.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact the Main Office.

Register for our next webinar on September 10, from 12:30-2, with optional reflective practice to follow for IDTA members only! We’ll explore how sensory differences can impact participation and, more importantly, how to bridge those gaps. You’ll leave with practical, ready-to-use strategies to spark engagement, encourage skill growth, and foster joyful, positive interactions at home, in the community, and everywhere in between. This is your chance to gain fresh tools and inspiration to help every child thrive.
Sara has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist for 18 years in the field of early intervention as well as in schools and clinical settings. She is the Director of Occupational Therapy Services at HLC Therapy Group. Sara is certified in ADOS-2 administration and she holds a Basic Certification in DIRfloortime. Sara specializes in working with autistic children and their families through a neurodiversity affirming, and strengths-based approach.
Link for webinar: https://illinoisdta.org/event-6299038/Registration

Early Learning Center

4201 W. 93rd Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453

Director: Christine Fuller - cfuller@d123.org

Website: d123.org Instagram: @d123elc

MAIN OFFICE HOURS:

Monday through Friday

7:00 am to 5:00 pm