Because Northside is expecting almost 7,000 kindergarten students for the next year, it's important that parents register their children now in order to secure a seat at their neighborhood school.
Northside's annual Kindergarten Round-Up will be held April 6-9 to give next year's kindergarten students and their parents an opportunity to pre-register for school, meet teachers, and tour classrooms, and to help ensure there is a space for the child at the neighborhood school.
To be eligible for kindergarten in 2009-10, children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2009. To pre-register a child in kindergarten, parents must bring: a certified (original) copy of the child's birth certificate, an updated immunization record, and proof of residence (such as an electric bill or apartment lease). A social security card is optional.
Most elementary schools throughout the District will hold special Kindergarten Round-Up events so that children and their parents can tour the school and meet staff members. The District's Kindergarten web site has a complete schedule of events school-by-school for the Round-Up.
"If the children have never been in a school setting before, it's a great opportunity to visit the school," said Pat Mesquiti, instructional specialist for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs.
Students will not be assigned to a class until the summer, but parents will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
Many schools hand out packets of information to let parents know what they need to do to prepare their children for school.
Parents who can't attend Kindergarten Round-Up can register their child anytime during school hours through the end of the year, Mesquiti said. However, Northside is expecting more than 6,800 kindergarten students for the 2009-10 school year, so it's important parents register their children as soon as possible to help ensure a spot in their neighborhood school.
No more than 22 students can be assigned to each classroom, and once all the classes in a school are filled up, children may be sent to another campus, Mesquiti said. Transportation will be provided for these children.
"By participating in Kindergarten Round-Up, parents can assure a seat for their child when school starts in August," she said. "And all their paperwork will be done and ready to go."
For more information about Kindergarten Round-Up, call the appropriate elementary school.
