Preschool Press

No sessions February 16, or March 30.

Three options:

• 9:35 - 10:35 am

• 12:05 - 1:05 pm (Spanish)

• 1:05 - 2:05 pm

AM classes DISMISS EARLY at 10:25 AM

If your child rides the bus home from our morning session, drop off at your home or child care will be 25 minutes early.

PM classes START EARLY at 11:25 AM and DISMISS EARLY at 1:30 PM

If your child rides the bus to school for our afternoon session, pick up will be 25 minutes early from your home or child care and the bus at the end of the day from Haines Center will drop off 50 minutes earlier.

Memorial Day

Please note this is different from the last day for older students.

Save the date for our Haines Firefly community celebration at Pottawatomie Park's inclusive playground. Classrooms will be assigned for one of two sessions: 9:00 am - 10:30 am or 10:45 am - 12:15 pm

The Teacher Appreciation Committee is getting ready to roll out the red carpet for Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week May 4th-8th. This week can only be successful with help from parents, so please click here and consider supporting the event with various donations - food, gift cards, monetary donations...it ALL helps! If you have any questions or concerns please contact Kiley Hamilton at kileynhamilton@gmail.com or by cell (630-220-5841)

signupgenius.com

Together We PLAY LEARN GROW

This calendar has simple, daily tips that turn everyday moments into learning moments - because LEARNING STARTS AT BIRTH. Designed for families with children from birth to age five, this bilingual guide (English/Spanish) is rooted in The Basics Principles and helps you build your child’s brain, support healthy development, and grow the skills they need to enter kindergarten confident and ready to thrive.

The pediatric dentist and dental assistants will return on May 1 to see preschoolers that are signed up to participate and did not see the dentist on February 13 or March 27. Please contact tricia.sabathne@d303.org if you have any questions.

The Preschool Lottery may have closed but it isn’t too late to register your child for D303 Community Preschool at the Haines Center. There are currently openings. Fill out the 2026-2027 Preschool Waitlist form at https://ec.d303.org/registration.

May 12 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Online / Virtual

Registration

6:30PM – 7:30PM

** This event will be presented in English with Spanish translation **

This session is designed to support families and caregivers in understanding how sleep affects young children’s learning, behavior, emotions, and overall well-being—especially for children with developmental differences or IEPs. We will review the science of sleep in a practical, accessible way and discuss common sleep challenges that can interfere with daytime functioning at home and school. Parents and caregivers will also walk away with concrete, evidence-based strategies they can begin using right away to support healthier sleep habits and more restful nights for their children.

We'd love to see your child at school every day unless they are sick or there is a family emergency. Your child's unique contribution to their classroom and our school is valued, and missed when they aren't here.

Are you having trouble getting your child to school on time or at all? Please contact Tricia Sabathne, Child and Family Educator (CAFE) to collaboratively identify some solutions.

When you enter the dismissal car lane, help us out by displaying your visor tags on the upper left visor. Email Grace at grace.patel@d303.org if you need additional visor tags or rubber bands used to display the tags.

We also request you keep all children in their seats and buckled until you have pulled all the way up to the unloading area, and not leave your loading spot until all children are securely buckled.

Thank you in advance for your help in keeping our car line running smoothly and safely.

The staff would like help with various tasks including cutting, laminating, copying, etc. If you are able to come to the school and volunteer your time the staff would greatly appreciate it! Please fill out the google spreadsheet with your name on the time(s) you are able to help.

Playgroups at our Haines Family Resource Center offer children, ages 0-5, and a caregiver a safe, quality, and educational play opportunity. Connect with other caregivers (parents, grandparents, babysitters, etc.) to share experiences, learn from each other, and build social networks.

Sessions:

• 9:35 - 10:35 am
• 12:05 - 1:05 pm (Spanish speaking families)
• 1:05 - 2:05 pm

**There is no fee for this program. Remaining playgroup dates for the year are April 27 and May 4. Once you are registered you can attend whenever it works for you. Playgroups will resume in Fall 2026.

Outdoor play continues throughout all the seasons at D303 Early Childhood at Haines Center weather permitting, and is an important part of our curriculum. Classrooms go outside as long as conditions are safe to do so and the temperature, including wind-chill, is above 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Please be sure your preschooler has clothes appropriate for outdoor play daily. If weather prohibits outdoor play (e.g., raining, too cold, or hazardous conditions like ice present) classrooms use one of our indoor motor areas. If you are in need of a warmer coat for your child please contact Tricia Sabathne, Child and Family Educator, at tricia.sabathne@d303.org

Applications are now being accepted for D303's Preschool for All Program, which is funded by the Illinois State Board of Education, for the 2026-2027 school year. The program is for chidlren ages 3-5 who are not yet eligible for Kindergarten and provides a school experience at the Haines Center. Children are eligible based on factors such as developmental delays, low income, homelessness, having a parent or sibling with a disability, parent education level, or a non-English speaking household, among others.

Phone: 331-228-4834 for more information

To report a student absence:

• Main Haines building number- 331-228-3400
• Press 1 for the Early Childhood Center
• Press 1 for the Attendance line
• Clearly state your child's name and the reason for their absence.
• If you do not provide a reason for their absence OR do not call the absence will be unexcused.

Bus riders: There is no need to call transportation to report an absence. Drivers stop at each designated stop even when children are absent to stay on schedule for the rest of the route.

Superintendent Dr. Paul Gordon shared the details of the April 13 meeting of the School Board, where members of the D303 Communitywide Education Facilities Committee joined district leadership in presenting and discussing the Committee’s Final Report.

“I feel we’re at a crossroads,” D303 parent and Facilities Committee Member Alice Froemling told the School Board. “We have great staff, great teachers, great people who are in our schools every day working with our kids. But we’ve achieved our great success not because of our facilities but in spite of our facilities… We have to do something.”

Join the Department of Student Services for the final SEPAC Event of the school year.
Empowering the Future: Post-Secondary Community Resource Fair for Individuals with Disabilities
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Lincoln Professional Learning Center (211 South 6th Ave.)
Please RSVP HERE

ASL and Spanish Interpreters will be available. Child Care will be provided by the Interact Club from East High School and D303 Staff.

This is for students CURRENTLY in kindergarten or older.

If your child is returning to Early Childhood next year, you should have received an envelope in your child's backpack with the necessary paperwork. To request another copy if you did not receive it or misplaced it please email heather.black@d303.org

Information about Returning Student Registration (RSR) is now available on the District 303 website. The registration link will go live April 20. Please complete the Returning Student Registration process between April 20 - May 18. Thank you!

Registration Support Week returns April 20–24! D303 staff will be available all week to assist any family who needs support completing online registration for the 2026–27 school year. Do you need language support, reliable internet or computer access or just guidance through the process? We're here to help!

Summer is just around the corner and Camp registrations are under way. Don't miss out on these wonderful opportunities! Check out all the summer school and camp offerings on the District 303 website.

Thompson Middle School is turning 100! Please join us on May 13 to commemorate the school building’s 100th anniversary. Get your commemorative 100 year t-shirt now before they're gone and check out all the event details here.

Click here for more information about Student Library Cards offered by the St. Charles Public Library.

Dinner and child supervision will be provided.

Website: https://ec.d303.org/
Location: 305 S 9th St, St Charles, IL 60174
Phone: 331-228-3400, Press 1 for Early Childhood