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Free Developmental Screenings for Watauga County’s 4-Year-Old Children Offered at WCS April 4-5

March 10, 2014. Parents of Watauga County children that will be 4 years old on August 31 of this year are urged to bring their child to a free developmental screening available April 4 to 5 by appointment.

Every child in Watauga County who will be four years old on or before August 31st is eligible for the free screening.  Appointments are required and can be scheduled by contacting Renee Battle at 828 264-7190 between now and April 2nd.   On April 4, appointments will be offered from 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. at four schools: Cove Creek, Green Valley, Hardin Park, and Parkway.  On April 5, appointments are available only at Hardin Park School and the hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

 “We really want to encourage all parents with a four year old child to make an appointment and bring their child to one of these free screenings,” said WCS Director of Elementary Education Tamara Stamey.  “It will provide helpful information for every family, regardless of what setting the child will be in next fall.”

Parents with Friday appointments should report to the school office with their child and will be given directions to the classroom where the screening will take place.  Parents with Saturday appointments should report to the gym at Hardin Park School.

A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child to their screening. When parents arrive, they will sign a form giving permission for their child to be assessed. While the child is being assessed, parents will fill out a questionnaire about their child. Screenings take approximately an hour and 15 minute to complete.

Parents will receive a letter by the end of June that states whether the screening results indicate a potential developmental delay. If a potential delay is indicated, personnel from the Watauga County Schools Exceptional Children’s Program will follow up with the parents between July and September.

Results from the screening will be reviewed for those parents who wish to apply for the NC PRE K Program in Watauga County. Applications for the Watauga County NC PRE K program will be available on the parent links page of the WCS website and on request from the WCS central office beginning April 7.  To find the application online, please go to www.watauga.k12.nc.us, choose the Parent Links heading, and then click on “forms, menus & other WCS information.”   Applications will be accepted April 8th through May 16th and must be delivered in person to Renee Battle in the Watauga County Schools central office at 175 Pioneer Trail in Boone.