During this Easter Season, I better understand how truly blessed I am to have the opportunity to work with a compassionate staff, outstanding students, a caring board and wonderful community members who make up Avery County. When school board members, county commissioners, parents and community members work together, our students benefit. We are very fortunate this happens in our community.
The time in which we welcome our new class of kindergarteners and have the opportunity to get to work with another group of parents and students is just around the corner. As a school system, we are very excited to announce our schedule for the 2016 kindergarten and Pre-K registration. The registration process is designed to provide necessary information for parents and to answer any questions they might have.
A child is eligible for Kindergarten in North Carolina if he/she will be (5) five years old on or before August 31, 2016. A child is eligible for Pre-Kindergarten in North Carolina if he/she will be (4) four years old on or before August 31, 2016 and meets the NC Pre-K guidelines for eligibility. Please contact your local elementary school to put your child’s name on the upcoming kindergarten or Pre-K lists.
At kindergarten and Pre-K registration children and parents will explore the classrooms, meet teachers and administrators, make new friends and enjoy a short ride on a school bus while learning about school bus safety. All registering children and parents are invited to have lunch in the school cafeteria compliments of a local business.
Also at registration, each child will have the opportunity to receive a dental screening, vision screening and fingerprinting. For children with medication requirements or special health considerations, a school nurse will be available to meet with parents to discuss medication or health needs.
Kindergarten Registration begins at 8:30am at all the elementary schools on the following dates:
- April 5 Banner Elk Elementary School
- April 7 Crossnore Elementary School
- April 21 Freedom Trail Elementary
- April 26 Newland Elementary School
- April 28 Riverside Elementary School
Pre-Kindergarten Registration begins at 8:30am at all the elementary schools on the following dates:
- May 3 at Banner Elk Elementary School
- May 4 at Crossnore Elementary School
- May 12 at Newland Elementary School
- May 16 at Freedom Trail Elementary School
- May 20 at Riverside Elementary School
During the kindergarten registration dates at the respective schools, currently enrolled pre-k and kindergarten students will not be attending school. This allows our kindergarten staff to meet with parents to welcome the class of 2029.
- Items to bring to registration
- Birth certificate
- Current up to date Immunization record
- Current kindergarten health assessment. Must be current within one year
- Proof of residence
- (Complete any forms that are mailed to you by your school principal)
- Immunization Information
Students entering Avery County Schools for the first time must be up to date with the required immunizations for North Carolina. For most children this will be the 4 year old shots. Please visit www.immunizenc.org for a list of immunizations required for public school entry. Note that the 30th calendar day for 2016-2017 will tentatively be September 20, 2016 therefore, any student who is not up to date with the required immunizations will be excluded from school until the immunizations are up to date or the proper exemption statements are in place. These are not considered to be excused absences. (NC Immunization Law General Statues of NC Chapter 130A, Article 6)
Kindergarten Health Assessment
http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dph/wch/doc/aboutus/KHA_1-11.pdf
NC Kindergarten Health Assessment must be completed by a health care provider on first time admission to Kindergarten in North Carolina. If this is not on file by the 30th calendar day of school the student will be excluded until this KHA is current.
Child Nutrition Services
For information on the school lunch program, free and reduced applications, or if your child has a food allergy, refer to http://www.averyschools.net//Domain/15.
A very special thank you to our school nurses, Twila Ingwerson, Dawn Hicks and Andrea Buchanan, along with Angela Vitale, Renee Banner and a wonderful team of kindergarten teachers and teacher assistants who have developed and refined this process.
Don’t hesitate to let us know if we can answer any questions or assist you in any way.
Sincerely,
David Burleson
Superintendent
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