WCS Schedules Kindergarten Round-Up For Class Of 2027
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
The journey for the Warsaw Class of 2027 starts with the Kindergarten Round-Up Celebration Thursday. All eight of Warsaw Community Schools’ elementaries will host a round-up starting at 6 p.m. “We ask that all parents go to their home neighborhood school even if they are thinking about transferring to another school or the half-day program. The process needs to start there and all the paperwork will be available,” stated David Hoffer, WCS assistant superintendent and chief academic officer. The informative session at each school will include the building principal, teachers, nurses and a representative of the transportation department. “It’s just a great jump start for parents to ask any questions they may have. Nurses will be answering any health questions. The transportation department will have maps and be available to share preliminary transportation information,” Hoffert said. Parents will be able to see what a “21st Century” kindergarten classroom looks like, he added. “It’s so different than it was years ago. They’re reading, writing full sentences and using technology like iPads. We want them to see what a kindergarten classroom looks like today. Parents will be surprised at the true academic learning taking place today. It’s a true learning environment,” Hoffert said. Information on early entry also will be available at the round-ups. According to state statute, children who have not turned 5 years old by Aug. 1 shall not be eligible for entrance into kindergarten. According to information provided by Hoffert, when parents request that a child enter kindergarten before the legal age, they must submit an appeal to the chief academic officer of the corporation. A parent of a child who turns 5 no later than Sept. 30 of the school year may submit an appeal for consideration to the CAO for WCS. The appeal must be made by June 15 of the year that early entrance is requested. WCS will not entertain an appeal for a student younger than 5 by Sept. 30. Any parent interested in the half-day kindergarten program should go to their neighborhood school. Traditionally, the half-day program takes place at Washington STEM Academy, but Hoffert said WCS is asking parents to go to their neighbhorhood school for that application until a final determination is made. The program is contingent on enrollment numbers. For the current school year, WCS has 28 kindergarten sections with just under 600 kindergarten students. The round-up is not limited to families within the corporation. “We also want to encourage any out-of-district parents interested in their kindergartner attending Warsaw Schools,” Hoffert said. “We’ll have information on that application. We’d love to provide any information needed.” For the 2013-14 school year, 33 kindergartners were out-of-district transfers to Warsaw, Hoffert reported. “We have one of the most welcoming policies for students looking to transfer from out of district without tuition costs,” he said. Child care will be provided at Thursday evening’s event. It will be run by the Warsaw Community High School golf team, National Honor Society and academic instructional coaches. Activities will include educational games and art. “We’ll have some other activities as well where parents and kids can visit the kindergarten classrooms. We will have a bus at each site so students can walk on a bus for the very first time. Bus drivers will be on hand to talk about bus routes and a feel for what it’s like for kindergarten students,” Hoffert said. “We highly encourage all of our incoming parents to attend. It’s a way to get connected to school prior to their student’s entry into kindergarten.” Every child attending Thursday’s Round-Up will receive a free book and coloring pages designed by Warsaw students. The Celebration also will have information on United Way Kindergarten Countdown, a program for students that have not attended preschool to prepare them for the kindergarten experience, Hoffert said. It takes place over 17 days during the summer. This will be the second year for the “highly successful” program, he added. In its first year, Kindergarten Countdown had 50 incoming kindergarteners involved. Hoffert said the growth the students made was great. A translator will be available at the Round-Up. If anyone can’t make the Kindergarten Round-Up, Hoffert said they should contact their neighborhood school or the Central Office at 574-371-5098, Ext. 2424, for more information. Full packets will be available at the schools and also online at www.warsaw.k12.in.us
