Parents register their children for school at Countdown to Kindergarten. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – Susan Dargie, director of curriculum and instruction for Westfield Public Schools (WPS), called this year’s Countdown to Kindergarten, held Jan. 16 at the Boys & Girls Club, the best yet.
“It was great, very well attended,” Dargie said.
Dargie said the event, which is coordinated by Paula Hebert, director of the Westfield Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) in collaboration with WPS, helps the enrollment and registration process in the fall. She said they were grateful that Hebert was open to moving it up to January to start to connect earlier with families that have children entering kindergarten.
WPS Director of Assessment Denise Ruszala goes over the registration process. (Photo submitted)
Over 100 kindergarten students were signed up last Thursday. Director of Assessment Denise Ruszala and the Central Office staff brought chromebooks and two copy machines to help families sign up online, and copy required documents they may have brought with them. Dargie said at one point the line was so long, that they had to plug in the second copier.
Each elementary school principal had a table, and families were directed to the school their child would be attending to meet some of the staff, get questions answered, and sign up for upcoming events, such as summer play dates and kindergarten orientation.
Elementary literacy and math coaches handed out activity sheets for the children, and tips were given to parents on things they could do to help prepare their children for kindergarten. Food services had sample lunches, and information on how to sign up for MySchoolBucks, a way to pay for school lunches online.
The Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA were present with information on before and after school child care and programs at their organizations.
“It was a really nice event; very positive,” Dargie said, adding that she met five-year-olds who were “ready to roll.” One parent told her their child had been up early and asking all day whether it was time to go yet.
Abner Gibbs Elementary School Principal Stacy Burgess welcomed families. Each school had its own table. (Photo submitted)
“It was a great opportunity to share information and start to connect with our newest families to Westfield Public Schools,” Dargie said.
For families with children entering kindergarten who were not able to attend the Countdown to Kindergarten, Dargie said they can get started with the process by going online to schoolsofwestfield.org and clicking on online registration. Required paperwork may then be brought into the Central Office on the first floor of the Westwood Building at 94 North Elm St., where any questions can be answered.
Families who register online and give their email address will be automatically added to their child’s elementary school email list, and will receive information and updates on upcoming events at the school.
