Kalamazoo Public Schools recently issued the following announcement.
Students can begin their journey to becoming Kalamazoo Public Schools scholars with kindergarten and PEEP orientation on March 9.
Each of the district’s 17 elementary schools will offer a virtual orientation at 9:30 a.m. and an in-person option at 5:30 p.m. Because of COVID, all in-person guests must wear masks and the event will be limited to adults.
Enrollment is simple and can begin online. Families that need to check their school attendance area can use the district’s interactive map and street directory on the district website at https://www. kalamazoopublicschools.com/ domain/1075. Simply type in your address, and the service will list all schools associated with that site.
Once families know their school of attendance, they will be able to begin the enrollment process using the kindergarten enrollment portal at www. kalamazoopublicschools.com/ kindergarten. The online enrollment portal will open March 9. That page is also where families can find links to the schools’ virtual orientations. Those also can be found on the schools’ websites.
Incoming students, who will be 5 by Sept. 1, can enroll in kindergarten. Parents also may request kindergarten enrollment waivers for children who will be 5 years old no later than Dec. 1.
Parents will need to gather the incoming child’s birth certificate, immunization record, proof of hearing and vision screening, if available, and two proofs of residency (for example, a utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage agreement). While the enrollment process can begin online, families need to visit their assigned school to complete the process by bringing the documents in for review.
Enrolling in KPS kindergarten is the first step in becoming a Kalamazoo Promise scholar. Students who enroll in KPS as kindergarteners, attend all 12 years of school in KPS, and graduate from KPS, while meeting all residency and enrollment requirements, are eligible for a Kalamazoo Promise scholarship that covers up to 100 percent of tuition and fees at most Michigan colleges and universities. This anonymous gift has awarded more than $165 million in scholarships to almost 9,000 KPS graduates.
Pre-kindergarten students who will be 4 by Dec. 1, can sign up for PEEP, the KPS PreKindergarten Early Education Program. Families must meet state financial eligibility requirements to qualify for PEEP. Applications for PEEP are taken at all schools. The program operates in: Arcadia, Edison, Greenwood, Lincoln, Northeastern, ParkwoodUpjohn, Prairie Ridge, Spring Valley, Washington, Winchell, and Woodward.
Find information on PEEP here.
PEEP is part of the state’s Great Start Readiness initiative. The program offers half-day or full-day pre-kindergarten classes with highly trained teachers and two support paraprofessionals per classroom. Meals are provided, and transportation is provided for students who live more than a mile from the school in their attendance district or for students who attend magnet schools that are outside their attendance district.
Children who need immunizations to complete the application process can visit the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Immunization Clinic, 311 E. Alcott St. During the COVID-19 pandemic, immunizations are by appointment only. The immunization clinic is open 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
For more information and to schedule appointments, call KCHCS at (269) 373-5203. For more information on kindergarten or other enrollment for grades 1-12, call Student Services at (269) 337- 0161. For information on PEEP, call (269) 337-0095.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Kalamazoo Public Schools