Crestwood Newsletter

Dr. Kyle Avink - Principal
kavink@rockfordschools.org
Address: 6350 Courtland Dr., Rockford, MI 49341
Phone: (616) 863-6346

ROCKFORDSCHOOLS.ORG

CRESTWOOD CALENDAR

Check out our upcoming events! 

CRESTWOOD CALENDAR

DISTRICT CALENDAR

The 2026-2027 district calendar can be viewed by clicking the button below:

DISTRICT CALENDAR

THANK YOU! 

BOOK CHARACTER PUMPKINS!

Every Fall, the Crestwood library transforms into a magical display of book character pumpkins. Students and families get creative by transforming pumpkins into beloved book characters, filling the library with an incredible display of imagination and storytelling. 

Classes visit throughout the week, searching for familiar characters and proudly spotting the pumpkins they helped create. It’s a simple tradition that brings books, creativity, and a whole lot of fall fun. We can’t wait to see what our Crestwood families dream up this year! 

All pumpkins are due by 10AM on October 19th and will be on display throughout the week. They will be available to pick up on Friday, October 23rd outside the library.

STAFF FAVORITES

Surprising a staff member is easy with this online file full of everything our Crestwood staff loves! Download it or save it for later when you're out shopping for holidays, a birthday, appreciate week or just a sweet treat to make their day!

VIEW STAFF FAVORITES

MILEAGE CLUB

ACTIVITY PASSES DUE! 

Activity Passes are Due October 2ndFrom Donuts with Grown-Ups, Fall Fest, field trips, Mileage Club, special events, staff appreciation, and so much more, the Crestwood PTO Activity Pass helps make these experiences possible for our students and families.

The Activity Pass is what allows PTO to plan ahead, budget responsibly, and make sure we can continue providing these fun and meaningful experiences throughout the school year.

If financial help is needed you may contact the Crestwood office. 

All passes are due October 2nd.

PAY ONLINE TODAY!

STEAM!

FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL! 

Get ready for an evening of family activities, treats and food trucks! Join us at Fall Fest on Wednesday, October 28 from 5:00–6:30 PM at Crestwood. Trick-or-treat and see your teacher dressed up on the trail and hang out with friends. PTO will be passing out a treat to all and has lots of Fall fun planned! Costumes are encouraged and admission for the whole family is covered by your Activity Pass.

In order to be fully stocked with candy on the trail, we are hosting Candy Wars among the grades from October 12-16th. The grade that brings in the most candy (by weight) will win a special donut and cider party from PTO!

Start saving those candy bags, ask the neighbors, and help your grade win the candy crown!

Follow PTO on Facebook for up to date info on Fall Fest and more.

CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS

HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS:

We’re excited to bring back one of our favorite school traditions this year—classroom celebrations! These are special opportunities for our students, teachers, and families to celebrate together. Our classroom parties are scheduled for:

• October 30 – Halloween
• December 17 – Holiday
• February 11 – Valentine’s Day

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll send information to families about how you can sign up to participate in one of the three parties. We’ll be able to have a maximum of five parents/guardians per classroom for each party. 

To give as many families as possible the opportunity to participate, each family may sign up for one party per child during the school year. This will help ensure that we can have a variety of parents and guardians represented at our celebrations.

STUDENTS BIRTHDAY:

Students often like to bring in a little something for their class to help celebrate their birthdays. That being said, we ask that you do not bring in any kind of food treats or balloons of any kind. 

CRESTWOOD REMINDERS

Who do I call if my student will be absent or late to school?

• If your student will be absent or tardy, please call the attendance line OR email both the teacher AND Laura Greene at: lgreene@rockfordschools.org
• If a student is ill, you must include the symptoms (or diagnosis) for our weekly health report to the Kent County Health Department. 

What if my student is out sick?

Absences MUST be called into the office 616.863.6346 or emailed to the front office at: lgreene@rockfordschools.org 

Please leave a message on our general voicemail box if you are calling after hours. Whether you are reporting an absence on our voicemail, the State of Michigan requires us to know the following:

• Student's name and teacher
• Reason for absence - if it is an illness we need to know the symptoms of the illness - vomiting, coughing, fever, cold, diarrhea, lice - whatever the reason may be.

Who do I notify if I have a dismissal change for my student(s)?

• We kindly request that there are no early pickups after 2:45 pm. Once the parent pick up line starts to form out front, the office staff is busy with dismissal duties throughout the building.
• Please be sure to let us know of any dismissal changes PRIOR to 2:00 pm
• To contact us with changes, please call 616-863-6346 or email both the teacher AND Laura Greene at: lgreene@rockfordschools.org in the event the teacher doesn’t see the message prior to dismissal. 

Where do I find parent communications?

• Our family newsletter and other updates are posted on the RPS website on the Crestwood page every two weeks during the school year.
• You can also check out the Crestwood Elementary & Crestwood PTO Facebook pages.
• Please always feel free to call or email the office with any questions.

How do I set up or change busing for my student(s)?

• Please contact Transportation directly at 616-863-6328
• We also appreciate your help to support our drivers and remind your students of proper bus behavior

Important Contact Information:

Crestwood Office/Attendance Line: 616-863-6346

Allyssa Shanahan: ashanahan@rockfordschools.org

Laura Greene: lgreene@rockfordschools.org

Transportation Office: 616-863-6328

BAC/Child Care Office: 616-863-6560

Community Services: 616-863-6322

VOLUNTEERING & BACKGROUND CHECKS

Do you or a family member plan on volunteering here at Crestwood throughout the school year? (Field trip chaperone, mystery reader, classroom support, mileage club, classroom celebrations, etc.) If so, you will need to fill out a background check on the RPS website. 

If you have already filled out a background check previously, it will need to be done again. Background checks need to be run for each volunteer each school year. 

RPS Volunteer Consent Form

STUDENT RESPONSE PROTOCOL

Dear Rockford Families,

Rockford Public Schools is deeply committed to the safety and security of our students, staff, and the community we serve. We view safety as a layered approach—built through community involvement, continued district critical incident training, staff and student engagement, family support, and the use of both physical and technological safeguards. At the heart of this work is strong relationship-building. By collaborating with students, families, staff, and law enforcement partners, we foster a climate of trust that allows every student to learn, grow, and thrive.

In response to new state law signed in January 2025, school districts were required to adopt standardized emergency responses and terminology. To meet this expectation, Rockford Public Schools is partnering with the Kent Intermediate School District and the I Love U Guys Foundation to align our protocols with best practices and provide education across our school community.

The I Love U Guys Foundation has developed the Standard Response Protocol (SRP)—an allhazards approach designed for urgent situations. The SRP includes developmentally appropriate lessons that classroom teachers will share with students from Preschool through 12th grade in the months ahead.

Students will learn about the following procedures this fall:

● September: Lockdown (Locks, lights out, out of sight)

● October: Secure and Hold (Get inside, Lock doors outside)

● November: Shelter and Evacuate (Tornado and Fire Drill)

Families are encouraged to learn more about the Standard Response Protocol by visiting the I Love U Guys Foundation parent handout. Together, we can ensure our students are prepared, supported, and safe.

The safety of our students is our highest priority. By providing age-appropriate tools and clear procedures, we aim to give students confidence while fostering a strong sense of security in our schools. With your partnership, Rockford Public Schools will continue to build a culture of preparedness, care, and support so that every child can learn and thrive.

We would also like to direct you to the Rockford Public Schools Security Team page on the website for information on Michigan Secure Storage Law: RPS Security. The secure storage law Public Act 17 of 2023 provides information on the requirements and penalties for storing and securing firearms. There is also helpful information from Project Child Safe on responsible ownership and having a conversation with your children about gun safety. Please take the time to review this information and have conversations with your children about the Standard Response Protocols and gun safety.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

For counseling services for family members, call 1.800.442.0809 (press 1 and follow the prompts) and say "I have a SAP with Rockford Public Schools".

Visit our website for more information: School Assistance Program

REMINDERS

Feel free to pack an extra pair of socks, shorts, t-shirt, and sweatpants in your child's backpack during the school year. Don’t forget to put your child’s name on coats, rain boots, etc. Thank you!

Weather Alert

For up-to-date information regarding Rockford Public Schools delays and/or closings, events and safety alerts, send a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our district’s short code number, 67587. Opt out any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop." Be sure to tune in on icy or snowy mornings!

NO CELLPHONES OR SMART WATCHES

• Students with a cellphone will be asked to turn the phone off and not use them during the school day. Please do not text or call your student on their device during the school day. This creates a distraction to the classroom. We will always help with communication through the office or an email to the teacher if needed.
• Students with Apple watches or other wrist devices are asked not use the device to communicate during the school day.
• Students who need to contact home because they are ill or wondering about the end of the day pick up should talk to their classroom teacher who will help them navigate next steps of support.
• Devices at school are distracting to students during the learning day and we ask that unless your student needs the device to communicate after school that they stay home.
• Thank you for your support.

FUN AT CRESTWOOD!