Kindergarten Registration Information
Questions and Answers
(1) When can children begin kindergarten?
A child must be five years old on or before September 30 of the upcoming school year to enroll in kindergarten?
(2) How do I register my child for kindergarten?
The first Thursday in May from 3:30 - 6:30 PM is a special time for you to register your child at the elementary school whose attendance zone corresponds to your home address. This is a special time because the elementary schools are open later to accommodate working parents.You can bring your child, meet the kindergarten teachers, explore the kindergarten classrooms and complete the necessary paperwork. Even if you do not have all of the required documents, bring in what you do have and get the process started.
(3) I am unable to come at that time on the kindergarten registration day. Is there another day I can register?
You may register earlier that day or on any other day thereafter between the hours of 8:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
(4) We may move to another City neighborhood over the summer. Should we just wait to register at that school?
No. We recommend that you register your child at the school where you currently live. If or when you move, you can ask the secretary at the new school to request the registration information from the school where you originally registered. Do this as soon as you move to prevent delay in your child entering kindergarten.
(5) What do I need to register my child for kindergarten?
The following documentation is required:
- A certified birth certificate for the child,or, for non-U.S. citizens, other substantiating documentation such as a passport or an I - 94 form;
- The child’s social security card;
- Proof of City residency which can be a:
- Deed/Mortage/Lease Papers
- Notarized letter confirming residency when living with another household
- Receipts for Tax or utility bill/deposit
- Voter registration card or
- Recent Payroll stub with address;
- VISA/1-94 for international families.
- A copy of a comprehensive physical examination by a qualified, licensed physician within 12 months prior to the date the child begins school; and
- Evidence of immunizations as required by Virginia law.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (DPT) - 3 doses with one after the child’s 4th birthday;
- Polio - 3 doses with one after the child’s 4th birthday;
- Mumps;
- Measles (rubeola) - 2 doses, one after 12 months, the second prior to entering kindergarten;
- German measles (rubella);
- Hepatitis B (HBV) for children born on or after Jan. 1, 1994 - 3 doses; and
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) - Required for all children not previously diagnosed as having had Varicella (Chicken Pox)
To prevent delay of your child starting kindergarten on time, have your doctor complete Part II and Part III of the Virginia School Entrance Health Form; and be sure the doctor signs it.
You need to complete Part I of the Virginia School Entrance Health Form.
If you can’t get a complete shot record, your child will have to have the missing shots over again. To obtain the shot record, you must call each place where your child was given the shot.
(6) My child is five, but is not ready for kindergarten yet. Do I have to enroll my child this year?
No. Your child’s attendance may be delayed for a year if you notify the Superintendent in writing that your child is not ready to attend school. However, a child who will be six on or before September 30 must attend school. The school division will assess whether your child, whose attendance has been delayed, should be placed in kindergarten or first grade.
(7) My child just misses the deadline for enrollment in kindergarten by a few days. Is there a waiver of the age requirement?
No. There is no waiver of the age requirement.
(8) Since my child just misses the deadline for enrollment, is there a public school prekindergarten program which my child can attend?
No. However, there is a preschool program for children who are four years old by September 30 of the school year and who score below average on a developmental screening, are part of a family that is low income, have English as a second language, work with a social service agency, or whose primary parent has not completed high school.
If you think any of these criteria apply to your child and family, you can complete an application at any elementary school or call 245-2813 to request one.
If you do not believe your child will qualify, you can call the Child Care Office of Children, Youth and Family Services at 296-4118 to find out about other preschool and child care options in the community.
(9) My child was in the city preschool program for four-year-old children last year. Do I need to register him again?
Yes. You need to register again because your child needs another physical prior to entry into kindergarten. If you currently live in a different school attendance zone from the school where your child attended last year, let the secretary know and she will request the registration information from the former school secretary. Also, this will clear up any confusion as to where your child will attend kindergarten.
(10) I work from 7:30 a.m. and until 5:30 p.m. is there a before and after school child care program at my child’s school?
Yes.There is a child care program called Creative Learning After School and in the Summer or c.l.a.s.s. Ask about it when you register or call the c.l.a.s.s. office 245 - 2501. Fees are determined by a sliding scale. Spaces fill up quickly.
(11) Will my child have to attend kindergarten all day?
The standard kindergarten day is from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you are concerned about the length of the day for your child, discuss your concerns with the Principal at the elementary school.
(12) My child’s grandmother takes care of him after school but she lives on the other side of town. Will the school bus stop in front of her house?
There are standard bus stops within each elementary school attendance zone with approximate times of pickup and drop off of elementary students. If your child care arrangements are not within the same school attendance zone, you will need to make other transportation arrangements or look for child care within your same school attendance zone.
(13) I am separated from my husband and I don’t want him to visit or pick up my child. Will you make sure he doesn’t do that?
Anyone other than the natural parent of a child must provide legal guardianship papers when enrolling a child in school. If your husband is the natural father of your child and you do not have legal papers showing court ordered arrangements, we must, by law, allow him to see his child.
(14) When is the first day of kindergarten and when will we learn who our kindergarten teacher is?
You will receive a letter in the mail in early August from your child’s school stating your child’s schedule for the first week and who your child’s teacher will be. Some schools conduct a “school entry screening” and have a “staggered entry” during the first week of school which causes the first week of school to be modified for kindergarten students.
(15) What’s a “school entry screening” and what does “staggered entry” mean?
A “school entry screening” is an assessment of your child’s speech and language development; eye-hand coordination; large muscle coordination; and, vision and hearing. It is required by the Virginia State Department of Education for all new students. Its purpose is to determine if your child may need any special services. If the screening shows a potential area of concern, you will be notified by school personnel as to whether further assessment is recommended.
“Staggered entry” is where some of the kindergarten students attend on some of the days during the first week and the other kindergarten students attend on the other days of the first week.
By attending in smaller groups, the children gradually become familiar with new faces and situations. Also during this time of transition, kindergarten teachers and instructional assistants can give more attention to each child's needs.
(16) How will I know where and when to wait for the school bus?
When you receive your letter about when kindergarten begins, you also will receive a listing of standard bus stops and approximate times for pickup and drop off of students. A schedule for all the schools will be posted in the local newspapers before school starts. A responsible adult should be there with your child at least 15 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive in the morning and the afternoon. Be sure to make “ back up plans” with your child on where he needs to go if you are not there.