Welcome to the Ridgefield Public Schools. We are excited to participate in this milestone experience with your family.
Below you will find information to help you register your child for kindergarten. Please note: children must be pre-registered in order to attend the Mini K** and Orientation events (see below).
ELIGIBILITY:
- All children who reach the age of five (5) on or before September 1, 2024 are eligible for enrollment.
- Under Connecticut State Statutes, the mandatory age for children to start school is five. Any parent who chooses to exempt his/her child from kindergarten must meet with your local school principal to complete an exemption form.
According to the statute, a child who is not five years old on or before September 1 of the school year may be admitted:
- Upon written request by the child’s parent or guardian to the school principal, and;
- After the principal and an appropriate certified staff member conduct an assessment of the child to ensure that admitting the child to kindergarten is developmentally appropriate.
RPS is allowing parents to request admittance to students turning five years old between September 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. Click here to read the Memo from the Superintendent to the Board of Education for more information.
HOW TO REGISTER:
Please visit our Registration page: www.ridgefield.org/Registration_and_Immunizations, where you will be provided with complete instructions - please review and when ready to start the online registration, scroll down to click on the NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION tab to complete a short Registration Request form and SUBMIT. Once approved, expect an email from PowerSchool (check spam) with further instructions to complete the online registration. It is strongly recommended to register early for school planning purposes and for families to get the maximum benefit of the transition process.
REGISTRATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED to have ready to upload online:
- A copy of the student’s birth certificate (certification seal) or current passport.
- Parent/guardian photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID card).
- Proof of residence (copy of a warranty deed, mortgage statement, tax bill, or lease agreement and two utility bills). Please refer to the registration page on the District website for additional details on acceptable proof of residency.
HEALTH INFORMATION
The Connecticut State Department of Health requires proof of immunizations (needed for Registering) and a complete physical examination within one year of entry. This information should be recorded on the Connecticut Health Assessment Record.
- Proof of the following immunizations with specific dates signed and stamped by your physician: DTaP, Polio, MMR, Hep B, Varicella, Hib, Pneumococcal, Hepatitis A. The detailed schedule of immunization requirements for enrolled students in Connecticut schools can be found on the RPS website, immunization requirements.
- The Kindergarten Medical History Form documents your child’s history and is also on the RPS website. If medical needs require additional documentation, the school nurse will communicate with you individually.
On completion of registration, you will receive a confirmation email from the registrar. This confirms that your child has been pre-registered as a kindergarten student for the upcoming school year. You will receive further communication from your home school with details of their upcoming Orientation and Mini-Kindergarten events. Designated dates are listed below for each school:
Orientation (Pre-registered Students)
Branchville - 5/16/2024
Barlow Mountain - 5/31/2024
Farmingville - 6/5/2024
Ridgebury - 5/21/2024
Scotland - 5/28/2024
Veterans Park - 5/30/2024
Mini-Kindergarten (Pre-registered Students)
Branchville - 5/30/2024
Barlow Mountain - 5/31/2024
Farmingville - 6/5/2024
Ridgebury - 5/21/2024
Scotland - 5/28/2024
Veterans Park - 5/30/2024
In the spring, schools traditionally hold a one-hour Mini-Kindergarten** experience for all incoming students, along with a kindergarten parent Orientation to present the kindergarten experience (dates listed above). More information on these special transition events will be communicated to families of -registered students. Registering your child early ensures that you will be included in any/all communications.
We are looking forward to going on this journey together and to the partnership we will form along the way. Any registration questions may be directed to our District Registrar bclancy@ridgefieldps.net. If you need to speak with someone at your school, the main office numbers for the elementary schools are listed below:
Barlow Mountain Elementary School
894-5800
Branchville Elementary School
894-5850
Farmingville Elementary School
894-5570
Ridgebury Elementary School
894-5875
Scotland Elementary School
894-5825
Veterans Park Elementary School
894-5525