REGION 15 DETAILS KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PROCESS

Now in its second year, Region 15’s revised Kindergarten registration process is a cooperative effort, involving parents, school staff, and preschool teachers.

Parents of children entering kindergarten in the 2006-2007 school year will be scheduled to come to school for a comprehensive registration process. Once school has started in the fall, building professionals such as Kindergarten teachers, speech, guidance, or resource teachers, and/or reading consultants, will do classroom observations to help assess the new students’ learning needs.

We made changes to the Kindergarten registration process last year,” said Donna Popowski, Region 15 Director of Student Services. “We found that the process went smoothly and the communication with parents enabled us to be well prepared for our incoming Kindergartners.”

To begin the registration process, parents of incoming Kindergartners should call their school now so the school can mail out a registration packet in the coming weeks.

Gainfield Elementary School: 264-5312

Pomperaug Elementary School: 264-8283

Long Meadow Elementary School: 758-1144

Middlebury Elementary School: 758-2401

Upon contacting their child’s elementary school, parents will be sent a Kindergarten information packet, which will include the date of the parent information meeting, as well as registration and parent permission forms.

At the informational meeting, the principal acquaints the parents with the registration process, introduces them to the Kindergarten teachers, and shares information with them about school operations, the Kindergarten curriculum and the school day.  At this time, parents will be able to schedule their appointment with school personnel. Parents who are unable to attend that evening can call the school office to schedule their meeting date and time.

During the registration process, parents are scheduled in groups of three to come to the school for about 45 minutes to one hour. They will rotate among three different registration stations. Office personnel will review the new school registration form for completeness. The school nurse will review the child’s developmental history with the parent and check medical forms. At this time, nurses will notify parents that children need to have a hearing evaluation prior to the start of school. A certified staff member will then conduct a pre-Kindergarten experience interview and request parent permission to contact the child’s pre-school for additional information.

“We have found the discussions with parents extremely informative and helpful. We were able to gain their important insights into their child’s strengths and developmental needs, as well as begin to know the families,” said Pomperaug Elementary School principal Carissa Keepin.

Elementary school principals reported the process, revised in the spring of 2005, worked very well. Parents were able to talk openly and at length about their child.

 “Since we were no longer doing the screening with the children we were able to refocus the informational meeting to spend more time talking about the school, school procedures, and the Kindergarten curriculum. Parents stated that they found the meeting very valuable,” said Long Meadow Elementary School principal Richard Gusenburg.

Parents will also be asked to give permission for elementary school staff to contact the child’s preschool teachers for their assessments. The questionnaire covers issues such as social skills, language and cognition, and physical development.

“Given what we know about the importance of a child’s early learning years, it only makes sense for us to work as collaboratively as we can with parents and preschool providers,” added Jami Richardson, Kindergarten teacher at Long Meadow Elementary School. “The collective knowledge of the adults who best know the children entering Kindergarten will help us better prepare for their arrival in the fall.”

In late September and October, school staff will keenly observe the new Kindergartners once they are settled into their classroom routine.

“Kindergarten teachers and special services staff spend time observing children in the natural setting of our Kindergarten classes,” said Mrs. Keepin, “after they are acclimated to our school and the Kindergarten day. We are able to determine those children we feel need a bit more support in developmental areas, as well as those we want more assessment information on. This works quite well.”

**Click here for general information about school registration.