by Joseph Zavarella

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: April 16, 2012

This article is more of an "Introduction To Preparing Your Child For Entering Kindergarten in the Public Schools." In my sixteen years of experience as an elementary principal I have seen that parents show much angst in taking that plunge into public school largely because they have had little if any real preparation for the event. Except for the one day orientation for kindergarten parents held some time in the latter part of August there is little to prepare the parents, but the kids get more attention by giving them an orientation run on the school bus.

You've given birth to the pride and joy of your life and survived that experience. Then you read all the books in order year by year and followed the instructions given. You chose the appropriate pre-school programs based on the discussions you've had with neighbors, friends and family members. All that went reasonably well with very few glitches. Now, you are looking forward to starting kindergarten in the local public school system. In your heart you know this is no different than the separation trauma you and your child felt when you dropped it off at the day care facility and later at the nursery school, but nonetheless this is a much more daunting feeling. You felt you had more control over events in those programs. You have heard your neighbors talk about some of the issues involved with the public school system and you have already discussed the possibility of home schooling and private school alternatives with your partner. However, you have both agreed that for many reasons the public schools would be best and so you've decided to register your child for kindergarten in the local public elementary school.

What follows is a bare essentials guide to preparing parents for what can be an extremely frustrating experience; registering your first child for kindergarten in the public schools. I have the background to provide this kind of information on the basis of my work experience as an elementary school teacher and later as an elementary school principal. As principal I had the opportunity and pleasure to organize and provide the necessary supports for parents over a period of sixteen years. From that experience as principal I have learned that the first impression, good or bad, you will get from entering into the process for the first time is one that will last a long while. My hope is that parents will find this very modest guide to be helpful as you prepare to enroll your first child in the public

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