Moms Talk: Kindergarten Registration is Upon Us!

Kindergarten registration for Manassas City Public Schools is Wednesday, May 4th and Thursday, May 5th. Registration for Manassas Park City Schools begins May 7 and will be held every Wednesday beginning on May 11.

According to the school system's website, students who turn 5 on or before the last day of September 2011 are eligible to register for Kindergarten.  The same goes for children who will be attending Cougar Elementary in Manassas Park. Parents should register their child at the school they will be attending. Attendance is determined by where you live, so if you are unsure of your school, please call one of the elementary schools listed below and they will assist you.

• Baldwin Elementary School: 571-377-6100

• George C. Round Elementary School:  571-377-6400

• R. C. Haydon Elementary School: 571-377-6200

• Weems Elementary School: 571-377-6500

• Jennie Dean Elementary School:  571-377-6300
• Cougar Elementary School: 703-392-1317

To register your little learner, you will need the following things:

DOCUMENTATION:  The following documents are required for registration:

• Child’s original birth certificate
• Child’s social security number (requested but not required)
• Parent/guardian’s proof of residency
  • Copy of settlement papers or current lease plus two of the following:
    • Driver’s license
    • Home telephone bill
    • Utility bill
    • Car registration
    • City property tax bill/information
    • Car insurance documentation

 IMMUNIZATIONS/PHYSICAL: Before your child may begin school in September a complete Virginia State Physical and current immunizations MUST be on file in the school office. This is not required at the time of registration in May.   The physical must have been done within twelve months of starting school in September. Start date for the 2011/2012 school year is September 7, 2011.  

Complete and current immunizations are as follows:

• 4 DTaP or DTaP – at least one dose of DTaP or DTP on or after 4^th birthday
• 4 Polio – at least one dose on or after 4^th birthday
• MMR – a minimum of 2 measles, 2 mumps and 1 rubella with the first dose given on/after the child’s 1^st birthday
• Hep B – 3 doses required
• 2 Varicella – one dose on/after 12 months of age and the second dose before starting kindergarten

(A 4-day grace period may be applied to all vaccines.)  

A tuberculosis screening is required for children who have been out of the country for a period of three or more consecutive months within the past five years. 

Immunizations may be completed through your private physician or at the local Health Department located at 9301 Lee Avenue, Manassas.  Information can be obtained by calling 703-792-6300.  

When you go to register your child at their designated school, you will be given an appointment time for your child to take the pre-assessment test.

According to MCPS, all children are required to participate in a Kindergarten Pre-Assessment, which will allow school officials to see what your child knows when it comes to counting, shape, color, number and letter recognition and phonics. It will also be noted how much English the child knows. The assessment will help school officials group children according to their knowledge of the above test items.

Now, with just one week until registration, I have to gather my child's immunization records and latest physical information,  and decide whether or not the local public elementary school will be the best place for my daughter.

In case my husband and I decide the public school is not the best fit for our daughter, what other Kindergarten options are there in Manassas or at least nearby? Any suggestions? We don't mind dishing out the extra money for a private education, but what are our options?