“I like Kindergarten because it’s fun and we learn a lot of stuff,” said 5-year-old Mary Alex Seaborn, who enjoys going to school to be with her friends in Henrico County.
Seaborn is one of more than 12,000 children who are in kindergarten this year in the Richmond region. Her mother, Dianne Seaborn, registered her on kindergarten registration day last April so the school could prepare for her child. But, more than 4,000 families in the area registered their children late and many children missed the first day of school.
Children who are five years old by September 30 can start kindergarten in the fall. But first they need to be registered. Thursday, April 10, is regional kindergarten registration day for 15 local school divisions: the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, as well as the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, King William, New Kent, Powhatan, Prince George and Sussex.
Registration is held at every elementary school in the area. See times for registration and information for their specific school district.
“It’s really important that parents register their child on April 10,” said Jacque Hale, Director of Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond at United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. “If parents wait until the summer, then it’s a scramble – both to gather the paperwork and to make sure the child has the necessary skills to be successful in school.”
At registration, schools will identify any missing paperwork, provide information about summer activities or other chances to visit the school. Even if parents don’t have all of the paperwork, they should still come registration. The school will guide parents to resources to help complete the process.
“The office staff was there to greet us and help us get through the many forms that are needed for registration,” said Seaborn, who says her daughter loved seeing the “big” cafeteria on registration day.
Families should bring the child’s certified original birth certificate, the child’s social security number, proof of address, the school entrance health form and a photo ID of the parent or legal guardian. Families are encouraged to still come to registration if they are missing a form because the school can offer resources to complete the process.
Mary Alex Seaborn on her first day of school.
Hale encourages parents to register on time so schools can hire the appropriate number of teachers and prepare for space and materials, while allowing teachers to prepare individually for each child.
“Children love seeing their name on their cubby on the first day of school and their name on the bulletin board. These things really matter to the child and sets them on the right path to succeed in school,” added Hale, who’s excited about her daughter starting kindergarten in Chesterfield County this fall.
Smart Beginnings recommends parents, grandparents and caregivers start preparing their children for kindergarten long before the child reaches the classroom. In the Richmond region, 1 in 7 children enters kindergarten already behind in language and literacy skills. They offer these tips for
families to practice with their children:
• Write their name
• Read and look at books every day
• Practice counting real objects
• Find and name letters of the alphabet everywhere you go
• Show respect and use good manners
• Follow directions and listen to others
“Parents, including expectant parents, need to know they are the first and most important teachers for their children,” said Hale. Seaborn says she started preparing her daughter for kindergarten early by reading books with her, visiting children’s museums and exploring parks.
“I also really emphasized how exciting Kindergarten would be. All children have a wide range of emotions and I didn’t want her to feel nervous or anxious about going,” she said.
“On the first day of school, Mary Alex couldn’t have been more excited! She was so ready to start her day and ride the bus. She was eager to meet new friends and eat lunch in the ‘big’ cafeteria. I was emotional about letting her go, but I was so excited for her at the same time.”
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Here’s a message about kindergarten registration from Maya Smart:
For more information about kindergarten registration and what to bring on April 10, parents can dial the phone number “2-1-1” or visit www.readychildren.net to find information specific to their school division. 2-1-1 connects to United Way’s Information and Referral Center with free information on available health and human services, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
