Area schools begin estimating their kindergarten enrollments this month. In early spring, area schools designate specific dates when they hold screenings and register students for the following school year.

Parents hoping to register their child for kindergarten must provide updated immunization records, a birth certificate and a Social Security card to prove state requirements are being met.

Missouri law requires students entering kindergarten to be at least 5 years old before Aug. 1 of the school year. Immunizations against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; polio; measles, mumps and rubella; and haemophilus influenza b also must be completed or under way before Aug 1.

Proof that a series of three immunizations against hepatitis B is completed or in progress is also required.

Besides the state requirements for enrollment, parents of Cape Girardeau students also must provide proof of residency and proof of guardianship, if the child lives with someone other than a natural parent.

Area administrators said the pre-registration is a good way to get a head count of incoming students prior to the beginning of the school year. Enrollment growth is fairly stable from year to year, but pre-registration lets the students become familiar with their schools and, in some cases, their teachers and classrooms before the first day of school.

Jackson R-II was the only local district anticipating significant growth in enrollment for the next school year. The early registration ensures that all bus routs and classroom assignments are covered.

The Cape Girardeau school district canceled its pre-registration for kindergarteners. Instead, parents were allowed to begin registering their children Feb. 5 at the elementary school in their residency area, said assistant superintendent David Giles.

Without a pre-registration clinic, parents don't have to rush to enroll their child by a specific date. It also creates a more relaxed environment to introduce students to the school, Giles said.

Because there has not been any real change in the average kindergarten class enrollment, the district opted to cancel the pre-enrollment. By adding full-day kindergarten in all district schools, administrators don't need to track enrollment in morning and afternoon sessions, Giles said.

Eliminating pre-enrollment means that students who are pre-enrolled won't have to be moved later because of overcrowding. Last year, many of the pre-enrolled students at Clippard Elementary School were chosen to be moved to another school because class sizes were too large. The Board of Education eventually added a mobile classroom to the school instead of transporting the students.

"There will be adequate facilities for the next school year -- every child will have a place to sit," said Giles. "Class loadings will be about the same. We don't expect any significant change over what we had this year."

Kindergarten enrollments

Cape Girardeau

Contact schools to make appointments.

Jackson

Primary Annex

Friday, April 3

8:15 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Nell Holcomb

Wednesday, April 1

Call 334-3644 to schedule an appointment.

Oak Ridge

Thursday, April 2

Call 266-3232 to schedule an appointment.

Thomas W. Kelly Elementary

March 24-25

Call 545-3544 to schedule an appointment.

Oran

March 25-26

Call 262-3435 to schedule an appointment.

Chaffee

April 1-2

Call 887-3244 to schedule an appointment.