Westfield Kindergarten & 1st Grade Registration Open in January

Westfield, NJ -- The Westfield Public School District will be registering children who will become eligible for kindergarten in the 2016-2017 school year.

The district also is interested in reaching children who have not attended the Westfield Public Schools for kindergarten but will enter first grade in the fall.

“It is very helpful for the District to have this information so that we may effectively plan for every new child,” stated Superintendent of Schools, Margaret Dolan.

Kindergarten Registration for all children who are residents of Westfield reaching the age of 5 on or before Oct. 1, 2016, will be held at Lincoln School, 728 Westfield Avenue. Lincoln School is the centralized kindergarten location for the Westfield Public Schools. Parents may register children eligible for kindergarten on the dates and during the times indicated below by first calling 789-4455 for an appointment.

Daytime appointments will be:

• Monday, Jan. 11, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 12, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 13, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 21, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 22, 1 - 3 p.m.

Kindergarten evening appointments will be:

• Thursday, Jan. 14, 6 - 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 20, 6 - 8 p.m.

First Grade Registration for all children who are residents of Westfield reaching the age of 6 on or before Oct. 1, 2016 and have not yet attended the Westfield Public Schools is as follows:

Daytime Registration:

• Franklin School - 789-4591 Thursday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Franklin School - 789-4591 Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Jefferson School - 789-4490 Monday, Jan. 11, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Jefferson School - 789-4490 Tuesday, Jan. 12, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• McKinley School - 789-4555 Thursday, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Tamaques School - 789-4580 Thursday, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Washington School - 789-4600 Tuesday, Jan. 12, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Wilson School - 789-4605 Thursday, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Evening appointments to register first graders who are new to the Westfield Public Schools will be held Tuesday, January 19, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. (for all schools) in the Administration Building, 302 Elm Street, Room 106 (first floor). Please call 789-4420 for an evening appointment at Elm Street.

All new students will be required to have the following information for registration in the Westfield Public Schools: Birth certificate with raised seal from the Bureau of Vital Statistics; Proof of residence (utility bill, tax bill, lease, closing statement, voter registration); Personal Health History; and Proof of Immunization (most recent record), which includes:

• Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus vaccine (DPT Series) – 4 doses with 1 dose given on or after the fourth birthday, or any total of 5 doses.
• Poliomyelitis vaccine – 3 doses of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) or enhanced inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), with 1 dose given on or after the fourth birthday, or any 4 doses spaced by a minimum of 1 month.
• Rubeola (Measles) vaccine – 2 doses given on or after the first birthday separated by at least a month, or laboratory documentation of immunity.
• Rubella (German Measles) vaccine – 1 dose given on or after the first birthday, or laboratory documentation of immunity.
• Mumps vaccine – 1 dose given on or after the first birthday, or laboratory documentation of immunity.
• Hepatitis B vaccine – 3 doses or laboratory documentation of immunity.
• Varicella vaccine - one dose of varicella vaccine on or after the first birthday or proof of disease or immunity is required for children 19 months of age or older who attend a child care center, or are entering Kindergarten or Grade 1.

State law will not permit any child to be admitted to a public school unless immunizations have been completed and documented by an M.D., D.O., or Nurse Practitioner, specifically indicating a day, month and year administered.

Only one entry physical examination is necessary on admission to kindergarten or first grade (pre-K physical may be the entry physical). A 5 year physical exam is recommended.

Registration, Personal Health History, Physical Exam and Medical Records forms are available on the district web site at www.westfieldnjk12.org. They are located within the Parents tab under the “New Student Registration Forms” link and can be printed and completed before the scheduled registration date. These forms are also available by calling one of the schools.

Should parents have any questions about the registration process, call one of the Westfield Public Schools. In the event of a delayed opening or school closing due to inclement weather, registration for that day will be rescheduled.