Avondale Little Jackets

Welcome to our Little Jacket Newsletter! This is the space where I will communicate important information for the program. Avondale School District information that is pertinent to us will also appear here. Whenever this newsletter is updated, I will email the link out. Please be sure to read through each newsletter that is sent out so that you can have the most up-to-date information about the program and the District. Also, please make sure you have added my email to your contact list and have your notifications on for your Procare app. If a parent/caregiver is missing from your student's account, please email Jessica and provide that information to her and she'll update the account.

Dear Early Learning Center Families,

What an exciting week at the Early Learning Center! This week, we Pinked Out Avondale, visited the Island of Orange for Regie Rainbow, and welcomed the fire truck to our Woodland ELC, where our friends from the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms joined in the fun!

Next week, Auburn will welcome a visit from the police department, and Woodland will have a special visit from a dentist. There are so many fun and exciting things happening throughout our Early Learning Center! Be sure to check our social media, Procare, and classroom newsletters for photos and updates.

Important Reminder: Early Pick-Up Procedures

Please remember that early pick-ups are not permitted after 3:00 p.m. at either Auburn or Woodland. This helps ensure that our dismissal routines and procedures run smoothly and safely for all children and families. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Winter Communication Reminders

As we look ahead to the winter months, we want to ensure that all families receive important communications from Avondale School District, including notifications about school closures. Please take a moment to confirm that your contact information in PowerSchool is up to date, that you have consented to receive SMS (text) messages, and that a current email address is on file.

To be sure you have agreed to receive text messages from the Avondale School District, navigate to E. Student Contacts in your student’s Forms. Click on the three horizontal dots (ellipsis) in your contact card to open the edit menu. Next, click on the ellipsis next to your phone number to edit. Click on Allow SMS to grant permission to receive text messages. This will be important as the Avondale School District will send out school cancellation notices if weather conditions warrant school closures.

Student Forms A–M

If you have not already done so, please complete Student Forms A–M in PowerSchool. Jessica will be reviewing each GSRP student's account and uploading any documents that are currently on file. If you need assistance accessing your PowerSchool account, please reach out to her by email.

Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where every child can thrive. The positive experiences we create together—through consistent routines, caring relationships, and a strong sense of community—help lay the foundation for children's social, emotional, and developmental well-being.

We are so grateful to be part of your child's learning journey and look forward to many more wonderful experiences together!

Warmly,

Tiffany and the Early Learning Center Team

Free Weekend Meals for Avondale Kids

Rising food costs can make weekends difficult for many families and no child should have to worry about being hungry. Blessings in a Backpack helps by sending home a bag of kid-friendly meals and snacks with students each Friday so they have what they need over the weekend. Foods may include things like macaroni and cheese cups, granola bars, fruit cups, or crackers.

This program is offered at no cost to families, and food is distributed discreetly and with care. If this would be helpful for your family, we encourage you to sign up! Just complete the form provided by your child’s school and return it as soon as possible, or use the link below. (Please note any food allergies—parents are responsible for checking labels when the food comes home.)

Blessings in a Backpack Sign Up Link

Parking Reminder

If you choose to park in the back ELC parking lot or the Woodland Elementary parking lot, please arrive by 3:00 p.m. After 3:00 p.m., the carpool line may begin to block access to parking spaces.

For safety and consistency, families may not enter through exit lanes, bus lanes, or bypass the established carpool procedures to access the parking lots. Please follow all designated traffic patterns and arrival and dismissal procedures.

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and partnership as we work together to keep arrival and dismissal safe and predictable for all students and families.

We will use Procare for billing, messaging, and sign in/out via a QR code. You will need to bring your phone to the door with you when you bring your child into school and when you are picking them up. You should have already received a notification from Procare via email and/or text message. Please be sure to download the app on your phone.

It is imperative that your child arrives to school on time. Unlike a daycare center that you can drop off and pick up at any time, the Avondale Early Learning Center classrooms follow a structured daily routine that has a specific starting time in each classroom. We understand that things come up, however, if tardiness becomes a regular occurrence, we may not be the best fit for your family.

The Early Learning Center is licensed by the State of Michigan to care for young children. We have procedures and guidelines that must be adhered to. One of the guidelines are that the person picking up your child must, 1. be 18 years of age, 2. have a state ID or drivers license with them to show teachers, 3. be listed on your child's information card. If a person comes to pick up a child without any of these three things being in place, we cannot and will not release your student. We understand that emergencies arise. That is why we ask that your child's information card has anyone and everyone listed on it, who could pick your student up in the case of an emergency. If you ever need to add someone to it you must do it in person and make the request to the teacher. We will not and cannot add people on the card any other way.

Your classroom will have a closing time, or a dismissal time. We ask that you plan to arrive at minimum, 5 minutes prior to that time so that you are on time. If students are left in our care for longer than 15 minutes after closing or dismissal, we may need to call our local police departments to ensure the safety of the student. We understand that things come up, however, if picking up late becomes a regular occurrence, we may not be the best fit for your family.

I have attached an information sheet, the classroom supply list, and a suggested donation list for the upcoming school year below.

2940 Waukegan Street, Auburn Hills, MI, USA

248.537.6503 | jessica.hamer@avondaleschools.org

Website: Avondale Early Learning Center
Facebook: Avondale Early Learning Center