Getting Ready for Kindergarten FAQ

When should I register and enroll my student?
The sooner we have data on the incoming classes, the better we are able to budget staffing and materials accordingly, so please register now. We are strongly urging all families to enroll their children before February 27, 2008, to assist in that budget process. Of course, we welcome all legal residents whenever they come to our doors.

How do I register my student?
Call 313/432-3083 today to make a registration and enrollment appointment. All forms are available on the district website or at the Central Administration Building at 389 St. Clair Avenue, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230. You may also pick up enrollment packets at your local elementary building, but you must complete registration by making an appointment at 389 St. Clair before your child will be officially enrolled.

What documents should I bring to my enrollment appointment?
There is a checklist on the district website that outlines all the materials you will need. Click here to access that list. Essentially, these are basic pieces of information that will be easy for legal residents to provide. You should also complete your enrollment forms before coming to your appointment if possible to ensure you have everything you need in one visit. Call 313/432-3083 if you have questions. We are happy to assist you in this process.

How do I get more information about my local school?
Each local school is hosting kindergarten information nights in January or February. All of these are being held at 7 p.m. There will also be meetings later in the spring for those with incoming new students (whether in kindergarten or any grade level) to attend. The dates are listed below for the information nights. You can also set up a time to visit your local school by calling the school office.
Defer - February 5, 313/432-4000
Ferry - January 31, 432-4100
Kerby - January 22, 432-4200
Maire - January 24, 432-4300
Mason - January 22, 432-4400
Monteith - January 31, 432-4500
Poupard - January 23, 432-4800
Richard - January 31, 432-4900
Trombly - January 24, 432-5000

A district-wide Extended Day Kindergarten (EDK) Information Night will be held at Barnes School at 7p.m., Tuesday, January 29, 432-3800.

How do I get information about Extended Day Kindergarten (EDK)?
There is a district-wide EDK night scheduled for 7 p.m., January 29 at Barnes School, 20090 Morningside. There is also information about EDK in the registration and enrollment packets. The EDK deadline for registration is February 27, so you must register and enroll your child before then. The lottery for EDK placement will be held March 4. Only sites that fill the classes will run the program.

What are the Extended Day Kindergarten sites this year?
In response to growing interest, the district is expanding the list of possible EDK sites this year. The sites are: Barnes, Defer, Ferry, Kerby, Monteith, Richard, and Trombly. Maire and Mason Elementary simply did not have the additional classroom space this year to offer EDK. Parents may rank order their top four location choices on the EDK application.

How do I contact my local school?
The addresses and phone numbers for each school are listed below. You can also access each school website by using the dropdown menu in the upper right corner of the district website’s front page.
Elementary Schools
Defer 313/432-4000 15423 Kercheval, GPP
Ferry 432-4100 748 Roslyn, GPW
Kerby 432-4200 285 Kerby, GPF
Maire 432-4300 740 Cadieux, GP
Mason 432-4400 1640 Vernier, GPW
Monteith 432-4500 1275 Cook, GPW
Poupard 432-4800 20655 Lennon, HW
Richard 432-4900 176 McKinley, GPC
Trombly 432-5000 820 Beaconsfield, GPP

Barnes School 432-3800 20090 Morningside, GPW

How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?
Your child must be five years old on or before December 1, 2008, to go to kindergarten. Even with that date in mind, parents often ask if their child is ready for kindergarten and what type of program best meets their child’s needs. The district can provide information that may be useful in helping you make this decision. Staff members at your local school can answer questions. The kindergarten orientations are also helpful. Some parents enroll their children early but use the spring to assess developing skills and finalize their decision in late spring.

While gaining more information about developmental milestones and your child’s abilities is important, ultimately the decision to begin kindergarten is a decision best left to you, as you know your child better than anyone.

Elaine Middlekauff, Principal at Mason, cautions parents against using kindergarten exit criteria as the basis for deciding whether their child is ready to start school in the fall. “Children don’t have to be able to read in order to go to kindergarten,” Middlekauff states. “Our staff is trained to meet children coming in at a variety of levels and we have many support resources to wrap around individual students so the learning environment is specialized for them.”

Thank you for considering GPPSS for your child’s kindergarten experience.