Westfield Public Schools Director of Assessment Denise Ruszala and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – Countdown to Kindergarten, an annual information drop-in event for families with children who will be turning five on or before Sept. 1, 2020, has been scheduled on Jan. 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield on 28 West Silver Street. (Snow date will be Jan. 23.)
Sponsored by the Westfield Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant in collaboration with the Westfield Public Schools (WPS), families who attend will be able to register for kindergarten and meet the principal, staff and teachers of the school their child will be attending.
Children are welcome to attend the event, said Denise Ruszala, WPS director of assessment and accountability, who said it can give the little ones the first taste of being in a big environment with lots of other children. She said families can also get information about local before-and after-school programs, as well as play dates that will take place over the summer at the elementary schools, where new students may meet their classmates.
Other information available at the event includes information about school meals, sample menus and transportation questions.
Ruszala said families will be able to get assistance to register their child online that night, if they wish. They may also drop off required documents that evening, which include birth certificates, immunization records and physical examination documentation, and proof of residency.
“They can get it all done, or make an appointment,” Ruszala said. She said families who have a student that requires English language services may also make an appointment for a screening, which will begin in February. Translators will be on hand at the event.
“It’s helpful and very well attended. A lot of families come,” Ruszala said.
“We are pleased to continue to cooperate with the Westfield Boys and Girls Club as well as the CFCE in offering this event. We moved the event to January from April in the hopes that our families will register for kindergarten sooner so that we can more accurately predict enrollment for the 2020/2021 school year,” said WPS Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski.
For more information about Countdown to Kindergarten, contact the Westfield CFCE Coordinato Paula Hebert-Pike at 413 568-5242.
