Welcome, new families!
The Glens Falls City School District has a vibrant academic program for our youngest students, designed to foster a love of learning that carries them all the way to graduation and beyond. We welcome new families into this educational journey, and look forward to partnering with parents to help our children succeed.
Kindergarten Registration in the time of COVID-19
Registration for new Kindergarten students will be held at Kindergarten Round-Up events at each elementary school the final week of June to limit the number of people in the schools and potential for spreading COVID-19. If you aren’t sure which elementary school your child will attend, see the MAP of elementary school boundaries.
Kindergarten Round-Up and screening appointments will be held on the following days:
- Big Cross Street School: June 28, 2021 – call Patty Farrell at 518-792-2619 to make your appointment
- Kensington Road School: June 29, 2021 – call Assunta Moore at 518-793-5151 to make your appointment
- Jackson Heights School: June 30, 2021 – call Stacy Frandsen at 518-792-1071 to make your appointment
Kindergarten students must be five years old by December 1, 2021 in order to start school in September. Certain immunizations, proof of residence and an original birth certificate are required for admission. Click HERE for more details about the paperwork you need to register, and to download registration forms in advance of your appointment.
At your Round-Up appointment, a registered nurse will be present to meet with families and review children’s medical information. State law requires every child entering school to have had the following vaccines:
• 4 to 5 doses of diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DPT, DTaP, Tetra, DT or Td) age appropriate
• 3 to 4 doses of polio virus vaccine (OPV or IVP) age appropriate
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B, except for those students who receive 2 doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine
• 2 doses of measles vaccine, age appropriate
• 1 dose of rubella vaccine, age appropriate
• 2 dose mumps vaccine, age appropriate
• 2 doses varicella (chicken pox) vaccine
Each of these immunizations may be administered by a family physician or through a public health clinic. For public health information, families can call the Warren County Public Health department at 518-761-6580. Clinics will issue a card for immunizations given. Private physicians will issue a certificate for immunizations given. In order for your child to enter school in September, the district must have a signed immunization certificate from your doctor or the clinic.
A pre-school physical examination by your family physician is also required, and the report should be brought in at registration or before school starts in September. The physical exam report is due no later than opening day in September.
Questions can be directed to Trent Clay, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at 518-792-0107.
STUDENT PLACEMENT WITHIN THE THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Our mission is to provide a safe, positive and stimulating environment — and for elementary students, their most fundamental environment is usually their individual classroom. Our intent within the district’s student placement procedures is to place each student within their “home” elementary school — and most of the time, that’s what happens.
But when elementary class sizes at a particular building have reached an upper limit, the superintendent has occasionally assigned families registering after the school year has started to the building and classroom with the fewest students, instead of their “home” elementary school. This flexibility in initial student assignment is designed to provide the best balance in class size for ALL district children.
Usually, this procedure is not considered until after the school year has begun, and when new families are entering the district for the first time. Administrators determine each school’s number of class sections in the springtime, based on expected enrollment for the start of school in September. But as new students enroll and classes become full, those new students and/or families may be placed in another building.
Class sizes have long been a focus area as our Board of Education, our school community members, our families, and our staff members have discussed and prioritized district goals and objectives. Having equalized class sizes across each elementary grade level optimizes the use of our facilities and staff, and balances teacher attention to student educational needs. The district’s general procedures allow the superintendent to assign incoming students to specific elementary buildings, if necessary, so that class sizes will be as balanced as possible across the district.
The following points may help you understand the parameters of this procedure:
- Generally speaking, if a family lives within a mile of two elementary schools, the Superintendent may assign that family to either school upon registration.
- Once a student/family is assigned to an elementary school, they will stay in that school through fourth grade (i.e. they would not be re-assigned after their initial entry).
- If older siblings in a family are already attending an elementary school, the incoming student will be assigned to the same school. Assignments will not change for established students & families.
- Students/families will not generally be assigned to an elementary school more than one mile away from their residence.
Whether a family enrolls in Big Cross, Jackson Heights, or Kensington Road elementary school, they will find the same great educational experience that has defined Glens Falls through the years.