|
Parent Links
|
|
Parents – Get Ready for
Kindergarten
When can my child start kindergarten?
(Back to Top)
Any child who is five years old on or before
September 30 can enroll in kindergarten. Children must go to kindergarten before first grade.
When can I register?
(Back to Top)
Akron residents who wish to enroll their child in kindergarten
classes may register at their assigned school during spring registration or
during the two weeks prior to the start of school in the fall. If you do not
know your assigned school, call 330/761-2735.
What do I need to register?
(Back to Top)
- Child's birth certificate;
- Child's Social Security card;
- Immunization records;
- Proof of residency; and
- Proof of custody (if parents are divorced/separated).
Required immunizations
New kindergartners must have the following vaccinations:
- Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertusis;
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella;
- Poliomyelitis; and
- Hepatitis B.
Where can I get shots?
(Back to Top)
You may schedule immunizations with your family physician. The
Akron Health Department also offers a walk-in clinic:
- Merriman Clinic (66 Merriman Road) – Mondays, Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointment is
necessary, and shots cost $7 each.
No one will be denied services due to an inability to pay.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bring your
child's immunization record with you.
Pre-kindergarten activities
(Back to Top)
Read book with your child.
- Ask your child to point to pictures or name things on the pages.
- Share new words.
- Talk about the story.
- Ask questions about what happened before, what is happening now and what
might happen on the next page.
- Ask questions and pause frequently to let your child talk.
- Have your child tell the story in his or her own words.
Play rhyming games.
- What rhymes with dog? frog? or cat?
- Share familiar nursery rhymes.
- Sing songs together, like the ABC song.
Talk with your child every day.
- Listen and ask questions about what he or she is interested in.
Practice recognizing words that your child sees every day.
- His or her first name and names of people in the family, friends; and
- Words on traffic signs and in stores.
Look for shapes, sizes and colors.
- Group objects that are alike.
- Count sets of pennies, toys or other household items.
Provide opportunities for your child to:
- Make choices;
- Play well with others;
- Develop motor skills; jump, skip and color; and
- Cut and paste or string beads.
What books can I read?
(Back to Top)
- "ABC" by John Burningham
- "Colors" by Jan Pienkowski
- "I See" by Helen Oxenbury
- "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle
- "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats
- "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Joffe Numeroff
- "Read Aloud Rhymes For the Very Young" by Jack Prelutsky
- "Frog and Toad Series" by Arnold Lobel
Types of
books to read?
(Back to Top)
- Books on topics your child is interested in, like dinosaurs,
animals, ballerinas, pets, etc.;
- Picture books with nursery rhymes;
- Stories about simple, everyday activities; and
- Picture books with one or two sentences per page.
Benefits of all-day kindergarten
(Back
to Top)
As a parent, you are your child's first and most important
teacher. When it comes time to enroll your child for the first day of school,
make the smart choice – choose Akron Public Schools all-day kindergarten!
All-day kindergarten is a unique option not offered at other districts in the
area. There are a variety of benefits to all-day kindergarten.
Benefits for students
- Better grades;
- More originality, independent learning, classroom involvement and
productivity;
- A more individualized learning environment; and
- More interaction with the teacher than in half-day programs.
Benefits for parents
- Chance to enroll children in a high-quality, early education program;
- Less difficulty scheduling child care and transportation, especially
when more than one child is enrolled in the same school;
- Reduced child-care costs – APS all-day kindergarten is free; and
- More opportunities to be involved in your children's education.
Benefits for teachers
- More time to spend with students individually and in small groups;
- More time to get to know and communicate with parents;
- More time to assess students and individualize instruction to specific
needs and
- Small class sizes.
Kindergarten standards
Educational standards are outlined in easy-to-use checklists called "I Can"
statements. At every grade level, parents know what teachers are teaching and
students are learning. The expectation is that children exiting kindergarten and
moving on to first grade will have mastered a variety of skills and concepts.
For questions about kindergarten, call your school or Barb Rickenbacker,
elementary learning specialist, at 330/761-3139. Tune in to Ask Gilby®
(Back
to Top)
Children are naturally curious about the world
around them. Now they have a special friend to help them explore
their curiosities! Gilby is a
curious puppy who fetches answers to questions from boys and
girls. As they get to know their new pal, they'll learn the
basics for entering Akron Public Schools.
Ask Gilby® airs
Monday through Friday at 7 a.m., 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on
APS 15 TV (Time Warner Cable channel
15). Ask Gilby®
also airs Monday-Thursday at 7:30 a.m. on WOAC 67 in Cleveland.
Log on to the
Ask Gilby®
Web site for more information.
|
