How do you move from private K to 1st grade?

[Anonymous]

DD is in private Kindergarten and we plan to enroll her in our local public school for 1st grade. I've left a few messages with the school but no one has called me back. I'm used to all the information, applications, orientations, tours etc that are involved in private and I'm trying to figure out how you navigate things in public school.

Are there any dates that I need to aware of for registering or orientation?
Do we just show up? How do I know what class she will be in?
Do you sign up for bus service? Is it an issue if your child only takes the bus sometimes?
Do they even have an orientation for 1st grade?
Can you join a PTA over the summer?

Any other advice on starting in 1st would be appreciated. DD is very good with transitions and very social so I think she will be OK but I don't want her to completely lost.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised you haven't gotten calls back. I would e-mail the principal (if it's MCPS, the principal's name and email address would be on the school website) and explain that your child will be attending that school in the fall. There is usually not an orientation for 1st grade, but some schools have a "welcome buddy" program for students new to the school in the fall.

I don't see any reason why the school could not give you this information--contact the principal and s/he will direct it from there. There might be an information packet or at least they would be able to direct you to the resource to answer most of these questions.

I'm talking about all of this from an MCPS perspective but I can't imagine it being that different with other counties.

As far as your questions:
-You can enroll your child at any time, during the school year or over the summer. I would probably wait until May to get started on that, so you have time to get your paperwork, but no need to be super early about it. Definitely try to get things in place before the school year ends.
-If you have enrolled her prior to the start of the school year, she will be assigned a class (classes are generally "made" before the end of the school year, so I would advise making her presence known before summer starts). Some schools send a mailing over the summer to tell students which class they are in, some wait until Open House (generally the week before school starts) and some wait until the very first day.
-You should get bus information over the summer with stops and times. There may be a form for you to let the school know how your child will be coming to/leaving from school, and which days. Or you can send a note on the first day.
-I've never heard of a 1st grade orientation, but you should be able to schedule a "tour" of the school before the year ends, and maybe have your daughter visit a classroom and meet some kids. It depends on the principal, but if you think it would help her transition, I would ask about it.
-PTA depends on the school. The principal can point you in the direction of the PTA person to handle this. Some collect membership over the summer, others might tell you to wait until they send forms home at the beginning of the school.

First and foremost, I would email the principal and express what you've just asked here. The front office may just not have had time to get back to you, or your messages may have just been overlooked. Emails will always find their recipient, and can be addressed when it's convenient, versus leaving messages. Start at the top, and they will get the right person on it.

Welcome to public school!

[Anonymous]

Also, PP here, make sure you are talking about your correctly assigned school. There's a chance it might not be the closest one. For MCPS, put your address in

http://gis.mcpsmd.org/gis/PublicLocator.asp

to double check. I would do this before contacting the principal, just to be sure.

[Anonymous]

When I registered my first grader, I literally went to the school..probably some time late spring. They had all the necessary forms etc. There was a special new family orientation on the open house day right before school started. No need to sign up for the bus. You can use it or not according to your needs though at 1st grade the teacher will want to know what your childs aftterschool plan is. IF you need aftercare, look into that sooner rather than later,those fill up. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I would advise walking into the school and talking to the office staff directly. I know that the office staff at our local elementary school gets so many calls during the day from parents of students calling about various issues that it is hard for them to keep up. Plus, we seem to be constantly getting new kids entering every month. So, unfortunately, someone calling about registering for next fall isn't a priority for them. If you go into talk to them, you will get their full attention plus your face will start to be familiar to them which is a good thing too.

[Anonymous]

ITA w/pp. Just visit the school office (after confirming your local school) during school hours. The secretaries/admins should have enrollment information. But to be honest, unless you want to speak with the prinicpal or visit the school, you can 'enroll' anytime--even the day before the first day. Some schools, though, have a visiting day a day or before first day, so your dc might now want to miss this.

It's very diff. from private school, as we also did private K and public 1st this yr.

[Anonymous]

OP there's no huge reason to rush. You can walk in the fifth day of school and the neighborhood school HAS to take your child -- as long as she has had all her vaccinations, that is. I think that's the only reason they can keep your child out. Very different from private schools. No waitlists, no application.

[Anonymous]

I think that while you COULD walk in on the 5th day of school doesn't mean that's the ideal situation. The OP is clearly looking for the easiest transition for her kid, not to force the school to take her. Obviously you can enroll at any time--students move in and out of the county throughout the school year, and kids aren't forced to wait until the fall to begin.

No need to rush, but I wouldn't say taking care of it before the end of the school year is rushing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that while you COULD walk in on the 5th day of school doesn't mean that's the ideal situation. The OP is clearly looking for the easiest transition for her kid, not to force the school to take her. Obviously you can enroll at any time--students move in and out of the county throughout the school year, and kids aren't forced to wait until the fall to begin.

No need to rush, but I wouldn't say taking care of it before the end of the school year is rushing.

No I was exaggerating about walking in on the 5th day of school. Of course OP wants to get her child all set and registered for school before the start of the school year.

But private schools start thinking about registration now in Feburary, because there's an application process, waitlists, etc.

Public schools right now are thinking about the MSAs which will be occuring in early March. I can pretty much guarantee you that the school principals aren't thinking right now about next year's enrollment, Open Houses for incoming Kindergarteners and older kids, or anything else. Call in May and you will get a much better reception.

[Anonymous]

Also, OP -- at our school you can join the PTA if you are e member of the community -- we even have business members. By all means contact the PTA of your child's neighborhood school and see if you can join now. I know our school would love to have anyone interested in joining and helping out.

[Anonymous]

There is no hurry, but schools would rather know sooner than later because of teacher allocations etc. I would show up with a copy of your real estate tax bill, which you need as proof of residency (or else a lease) and ask to enroll your child for next year. I think the bus info. goes to everyone in early August-- just a list of bus stops and the time the bus starts its route in both directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no hurry, but schools would rather know sooner than later because of teacher allocations etc. I would show up with a copy of your real estate tax bill, which you need as proof of residency (or else a lease) and ask to enroll your child for next year. I think the bus info. goes to everyone in early August-- just a list of bus stops and the time the bus starts its route in both directions.

The allocations usually happen over the summer. May is soon enough to show up at school.