Mt. Vernon Schools Start Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration Feb. 24

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mount Vernon school officials will begin conducting registration on Feb. 24 for all students who will attend its full-day pre-kindergarten or kindergarten classes during the 2020-21 school year. Here are details about how to reserve a time and place, and what you have to bring to the appointment.

For parents' convenience and to reduce wait times, kindergarten registration, which must be done in person, will be held by appointment only. Visit the district website to download an application and make an appointment.

Walk-in registrations will only be allowed for pre-kindergarten students.

“This is something new for the convenience of everyone. We are asking parents and guardians of our incoming kindergarten class to please set up an appointment to register for the next school year to ensure that we are able to take their information and get their student registered in the most timely and efficient way possible,” said Dr. Gayle White-Wallace, Director of Pre-K & Special Projects. “Unfortunately, parents and guardians of kindergartners who do not set an appointment and walk in to register will have to come back at another time that is scheduled by appointment. The only walk-ins that we will allow are for pre-kindergarten registration.”

All registrations will be conducted between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Here are the choices for date and location:

Feb. 24-March 27
Mount Vernon Board of Education
165 North Columbus Ave.
Mount Vernon, NY 10552

March 30-May 1
(Excluding April 13)
Mount Vernon Public Library
28 South 1st Ave.
Mount Vernon, NY 10550

May 4- 15
Hamilton School
20 Oak Street
Mount Vernon, NY 10553

May 18- 28
(Excluding May 19 and May 25)
Mount Vernon Board of Education
165 North Columbus Ave.
Mount Vernon, NY 10552

To register:

• For Kindergarten, students must be 5 years old on or by Dec. 1, 2020. Students will be designated by zone to the appropriate school.
• For the Pre-K program for 4-year-olds, students must be 4 years old on or by Dec. 1, 2020. Space is available at MVHS, Pennington, Traphagen, Columbus, Holmes, Williams, Parker, Graham, Mandela, Friendship for Tots, and Our Lady of Victory Schools, based on school zone.
• For the Pre-K program for 3-year-olds, students must be 3 years old by Dec. 1, 2020 to enroll. Space is available by lottery at Friendship for Tots, Mount Vernon Daycare, Toddler’s Park, and Mount Vernon Head Start.

Students must be present with the parent/guardian at the time of enrollment. Parents and guardians will be required to present:

• One of the following: current mortgage statement, property tax bill, lease agreement, affidavit of property owner/landlord
• Two of the following: Current pay stubs; income tax form(s); current utility bill (power company, i.e. ConEdison, cable, water bill); membership document/library card (MVPL user information sheet with library logo); voter registration document(s); state or other government issued identification (i.e. driver’s license); current documents issued by federal, state or local agencies (for instance, local social services agency, Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement); current evidence of custody of the child/children, including, but not limited to judicial custody orders or guardianship papers

About the programs

The Mount Vernon Pre-Kindergarten Program offers a well-implemented, evidence-based curriculum taught by highly qualified Pre-K teachers and teaching assistants who are specially trained to utilize developmentally appropriate activities, implement standards-based instruction, and build a nurturing classroom environment for all young learners. Mount Vernon pre-K provides regular assessments of a child’s learning that are built into the curriculum, so teachers will ensure a child is on track for success in kindergarten.

Children will engage in growth and educational experiences, such as field trips, activities about families, digital communications, computer coding and iPad usage. The robust curriculum includes reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Students will learn in whole groups and small groups and develop social and emotional skills.

To learn more about the kindergarten program at each of the schools, parents and guardians are encouraged to attend a scheduled open house:

April 30, 9-10 a.m.: Graham School, 421 East 5th Street
June 2, 9-10 a.m.: Grimes School, 58 South 10th Avenue
June 2, 9-10:30 a.m.: Hamilton School, 20 Oak Street
June 3, 9-10 a.m.: Parker School, 461 South 6th Avenue
June 4, 9-11 a.m.: Traphagen School, 72 Lexington Avenue
June 4, 11 a.m.-noon: Edward Williams School, 9 Union Lane
June 4, 9-10 a.m.: Pennington School, 20 Fairway
June 5, 9-10 a.m.: William H. Holmes School, 195 North Columbus Avenue
June 5, noon-1 p.m.: Lincoln School, 170 East Lincoln Avenue
June 5, 9-10 a.m.: Columbus School, 455 North High Street
June 5, 9-10 a.m.: Rebecca Turner School, 625 South 4th Avenue

Late registration

Registration for pre-k and kindergarten will be allowed during the summer, as well, for anyone moving into the district or relocating within the district: July 27-August 21.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding registration, address updates, and lease updates call (914) 358-2380.