Northpinellas: Register new pupils soon, schools ask

Spring registration is not new, but school administrators are especially eager for parents to take advantage of the early registration this year to avoid last-minute mania and help schools prepare for the 2002-2003 school year, which begins Aug. 7.

"We can get this stuff entered into the computer and have more time to greet the parents later on," said Joyce Spencer, principal of Mildred Helms Elementary School.

And when parents are less stressed and schools have a head start on paperwork, the transition is smoother for children as well, said principal Sheila Jaquish of Skycrest Elementary.

On July 24, registration will resume for those who didn't make early registration.

The decision to start school earlier for 2002-2003 was made a couple of years ago, district spokesman Ron Stone said. The change will ensure that students complete the first semester before winter break so that they can start fresh in January. It also will provide a couple of extra weeks of preparation for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, he said.

For spring registration, kindergarteners though fifth-graders new to Pinellas County schools must register at their zoned schools during normal operating hours. Students who already attend Pinellas public schools don't have to register again.

To find out which school your child should attend, call student assignment at 588-6210. If you have questions about kindergarten, call Marianne Easton's office at 588-6098. For other questions, call the elementary education department at 588-6095.

To register children in prekindergarten through fifth grade, parents must bring the following documents:

1. Birth certificate or other proof of birth date. Children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 to attend prekindergarten and 5 on or before Sept. 1 for kindergarten.

2. Florida Certificate of Immunization. Certificates must include specific dates of shots. The hepatitis B series, three doses over a six-month period, is required for prekindergarten through fourth grade. Children in prekindergarten through first grade must have had the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine.

3. Physical examination certificate signed by a licensed examiner within the 12 months before registration. A letter saying the child had a physical is not acceptable.

4. Proof of residency. A utility bill or rental agreement with a parent's or guardian's name and address is acceptable. If the parent or guardian lives with someone else, that person's proof of residency must be submitted along with an affidavit of residency, which is available at schools.

Pinellas only offers prekindergarten to students who are either disabled or from low-income households. Registration for the low-income program, called Prekindergarten Early Intervention, is available starting Monday.

Space is limited and depends on state funding. Students will be selected randomly if the number of registrations exceeds available space. Prekindergarten students are not assigned to schools and may register at any prekindergarten site.

Also, for prekindergarten registration, parents must agree to participate in parent activities and must pay a sliding scale fee for the program. Proof of income is required. Parents must supply a copy of the last two pay stubs of all household members or supply proof of participation in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Pre-K info

For information about the prekindergarten program or to find out if you qualify, call Donna Ripley's office at 588-6106.

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