Kirkwood Early Childhood Center

2-4-6-8, who do we appreciate? Kirkwood Early Childhood Center / Parents as Teachers PTO and our generous families, that's who!

Another fabululous day of feeling the love. A little Tuesday energy kickstart with grab 'n go breakfast goodies hit the spot, followed up by the coolest gift--literally and figuratively--a small cooler with surprises inside.
Overflowing with gratitude; Thank you! 🥰

Simply gorgeous! We are continuously blown away by the thoughtfulness and generosity from our families. This cart is not only full of flowers, it is full of smiles and hugs and gratitude and our whole building feels it!

THANK YOU for making our day 💕💐
Early Childhood Center / Parents as Teachers PTO

Meet Officer “Grandpa” Steve Olsen — our Key Contributor for Security Supports across Kirkwood Early Childhood Center Tillman Elementary School-Kirkwood School District and Robinson Elementary School .
Known affectionately by students as “Officer Grandpa,” Steve Olsen is a constant, caring presence throughout our schools. He is always available, always kind, and always focused on building meaningful connections with students and staff. Whether he’s greeting students at car rider duty, joining them at recess, or sitting alongside them in the cafeteria, Officer Olsen makes sure every child feels seen, heard, and safe.
His impact extends far beyond safety. Officer Olsen brings a calm, thoughtful approach to every situation, offering guidance and support to staff while helping problem-solve with professionalism and care. His reliability and responsiveness provide a strong sense of confidence across our buildings.
Students are naturally drawn to him, not only because of his role but because of the genuine relationships he builds. He takes time to listen, joke, and connect, creating a positive and reassuring presence for even our youngest learners.
In addition to his daily work, Officer Olsen goes above and beyond to support experiences like Bike Week and fourth-grade fishing trips. During these events, he spends countless hours preparing bikes, untangling fishing lines, and even helps provide bikes for students who may not have one at home.
Officer Olsen exemplifies what it means to keep our schools safe while building a strong, supportive community. We are incredibly fortunate to have “Officer Grandpa” as part of Kirkwood schools.

Kirkwood School District will dismiss early today, Monday, April 27, at all Kirkwood Schools in anticipation of severe weather at the end of the school day. This decision was made as the National Weather Service has raised the risk level related to predicted weather conditions. Families should check their email for specific dismissal times. All after school activities, including Adventure Club, events, and practices are cancelled. Tonight’s scheduled Board of Education meeting will be rescheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m.

Please stay safe and ensure you have a plan to take shelter from the storm.

What an amazing event! Thank you to all who helped make the Spring Early Years Fun Fest a huge success. The weather was great, the activities were so much fun, and the smiles were endless: just perfect. Building community outside of the school buildings is as important to us as building it on the inside.

Kirkwood School District
Premier Entertainment - Balloon Artists, Balloon Twisters, & More
The Painted Party Co.
Party With Cocoa

HAPPY EARTH DAY! 🌎💕

Students in the Turtle Room celebrated Earth Day by reading a story about ways to take care of the Earth, which made them decide to do a litter walk! They put their special picker-upper gloves on and away they went. They collected so much litter; they filled an entire bag! They took their inspiration from the walk back to the classroom to create an Earth day craft. We are so thankful to them for taking care of our school AND our planet!

Key Contributor Spotlight: Join us in celebrating Christian Robinson, a truly outstanding member of our Adventure Club team at Tillman!
Christian embodies what it means to love what you do. She shows up each day with energy, creativity, and a willingness to jump in wherever she’s needed. Her innovative ideas and thoughtful approach bring excitement and joy to every club activity.
A natural leader, Christian consistently supports her colleagues—whether that’s mentoring fellow Program Assistants, collaborating with her team, or even sharing her skills like Canva to help others grow. Her creativity shines through not only in her work with students but also in the vibrant, welcoming environments she creates.
Christian’s kindness, integrity, and enthusiasm make a lasting impact on everyone she encounters. She builds strong relationships with students, balancing warmth with structure, and it’s no surprise that kids and staff alike love working with her.
Simply put, Adventure Club wouldn’t be the same without her. We are so lucky to have Christian as part of our team.

We are thrilled to announce that Laura Cochran has been named the new Assistant Principal of KECC!

Laura is a familiar face to many, having dedicated 25 years of her career to our KECC community. For the last 15 years, she has specialized in Early Childhood Special Education, where she has been a tireless advocate for inclusive and supportive learning environments. Her deep roots in our building and her unwavering commitment to our students make her the perfect fit for this role. Please join us in congratulating Laura!
https://www.kirkwoodschools.org/news/~board/district-news-kirkwood-school-district-20775/post/kirkwood-school-district-board-of-education-approves-hire-of-new-assistant-principal-of-kirkwood-early-childhood-center

Hope we see you there-a fun place to meet your KECC friends for dinner! 🐔

What a fantastic way to switch up your home library! 📚

📚✨ SAVE THE DATE: KECC Kids Book Swap ✨📚

Get ready to refresh your child’s bookshelf and share the joy of reading. The KECC PTO is hosting a Kids Book Swap for our KECC families.

📅 April 15, 2026
⏰ Starting at 4:00 PM
📍 KECC

Here’s how it works:
📖 Bring gently used children’s books
📖 Swap them for “new to you” stories
📖 Discover new favorites to take home

📥 Book Drop Off:
Please drop off your gently used books at KECC before April 14.

This is a wonderful way to reuse books, discover new stories, and spread the love of reading within our KECC community. 💛

We can’t wait to see all of the great books being shared.