Kindergarten Registration Debacle!

I went to register my twins for Kindergarten this week and it was such a DISASTER! I have never had an experience that left me quite so steaming mad. So, we get this flyer in the mail that tells when registration is held - it's held over about a week's time, everyday, with varying time slots to accommodate many schedules. We arrive a little before the alloted time and it is already packed. They were also doing an 'assessment' of all incoming Kindergartners, so I had my twins and my 15 month old with me, as well. First, we have to wait in a line to have the ONE nurse check over the immunizations. This line took 45 minutes. Once the nurse has okayed the shots, you receive a packet with a TON of forms to fill out. At this time, the different people assessing the children take them to another part of the room to do the assessment. Then, after the children are assessed and the packet of forms are filled out, you have to stand in another line, so someone else (again, just one person) checks all the forms to make sure they are complete and correct. We get to this line and learn that the nurse missed something on our shots - in MA and IL, the places we've lived before moving here, the Hep A shot is not required and my twins have not received it. Soooooooooo, after hanging out at the District office for TWO HOURS, I learn they need one more shot to be able to register. I end up leaving, calling the pediatrician, and taking my boys in right then so they can get the shot they need. Then I go BACK to the District office, have to stand in the line again, and finally give her all the paperwork, etc.... for the twins to be registered. All in all, what should have taken 30-60 minutes TOPS took me a total of FIVE hours and a total waste of my entire day. I was so grumpy! There are so many ways it could have been handled better - make specific appointments, OR pick up forms beforehand, so they can be complete before you arrive, OR give everyone a number so they can be filling out the packet while they are waiting to speak with the nurse, OR go to the individual schools and complete registration there, OR assign different days/times to different schools so it's not a hodgepodge of random people showing up at any time. Anything would have been better and more efficient than the reality of what happened. I left so frustrated! I am thinking about emailing the Superintendent and letting him know how frustrating and inefficient the whole process was. I've had two older boys begin K in different states and I can't even remember registering them. I know I must have, but I also know it just wasn't a big deal at all.

 

Oh you poor thing!! I remember K registration, it and the screening were two different days. Registration was by school and had certain days and times for each school. I was able to print all the forms off the school website and complete them before going in (unfortunately I did miss one form but thankfully it was a very short affidavit that took no time at all). Basically registration consisted of yes, I am here, here are more forms, thanks for my screening time. A couple weeks later was the screening and we had an assigned time. I don't think it would be a bad thing to write in to the school committee with some suggestions!

 

Yikes, that sounds hideous! I think you should write to the superintendant, there's got to be a better way to organise it.

 

That's sounds like no fun. We called the school when we saw the signs for an upcoming meeting. They mailed us the forms to do at home. We turned them in at the parent meeting. The kids will have a day in a kindergarten class in May. They won't even do screening until the first 2 days of school. They have the parents bring them up to the school those days for screening and final paperwork check. The kindergarten kids don't actually start till the third day of the school year.

Marissa

 

Not fun! Wow! I'm sorry it was such a pain :hug: I am so glad mine is so easy...I didn't realize how easy until I read yours.

 

We could fill out the paperwork there or take it home and send it in later. They told me in advance what shots I needed, and our state has a "green sheet" that the dr's office has to fill out with all the shot/check-up info. All I had to do was let the nurses at the ped know, and then pick it up later. Easy as pie. I did fill my paperwork out at the orientation, but that was because DH was there to take the girls on the tour of the school and practice bus ride. Otherwise I would have taken it home and turned it in later. You should definitely write and suggest better ways to streamline. It's not like it's the week before the new school year and you have to have to turn it in right now!

eta: Our Kindergartners only attend school 2 days in the first two weeks, and screening happens then, not at registration.

 

We actually mailed our paperwork in. Then, everything is checked as it comes in, and if there is a problem, they will call you. Around the beginning of June, they bring in most of the incoming Kindergarteners for screening--I say most, because if they attended preschool in the building, they don't get screened. Then, at the end of the regular school year, they bring incoming students and parents in for orientation. They take the kids one place with the K teachers, and talk to the parents about the school. It is very easy!

I am sorry you had such a horrendous experience!

 

I am so sorry that your kindergarten sign ups went so badly. For us we just had to go down and sign them up at the school they would be attending. We got the dr forms then and the kids had to bring them in on the day of their orientation. That was it. The girls went about two weeks or so before school and got to meet their teachers and then the nurse. We had no child screenings or anything since there is no requirements other than age to go to kindergarten here.

 

Oh that sounds so terribly painful. I would think that they definitely need to organize it better. I am sorry it took so much time out of your day, when it should have been quite quick. Maybe a letter to the superintendent of schools to suggest some type of organization for the future?

 

Boy that is alot I just went last week, I had a lot of paperwork and was in line alot but we had only 2 days to do this 8am to 7pm.

Our school doesnt do testing before unless you want,,,,mine were tested this year with parents as teachers but that was when this school year started.

I am so sorry, I would of b een so mad also, I prob would of walked out and went back at a differ time, before I got to angry LOL!

 

That sounds terrible!

QUOTE
Registration was by school and had certain days and times for each school. I was able to print all the forms off the school website and complete them before going in (unfortunately I did miss one form but thankfully it was a very short affidavit that took no time at all). Basically registration consisted of yes, I am here, here are more forms, thanks for my screening time. A couple weeks later was the screening and we had an assigned time


This is how our district is handled, as well.

 

I would be fuming also.

I think you should take some time and write a letter out sharing what your experience was and how it compared to what you experienced when registering your other children in other states. That was horrible

 

That would have driven me crazy as well!

 

Sorry it went so bad for you. At least you did get it all done in 1 day. It took us about 4 days all together to get ours done.

 

That sounds ridiculous!!!! We mailed our registration in and then went to an orientation the Spring before they started school. They staggered the childrens' starts and we got to go in with the girls to meet their teacher ahead of time. I remember thinking what an organized system this all was. What a nightmare you had to go through. There has to be a better way!