The week of May 12-16 will be Registration Week for children in grades 1-8, between the hours of 7:30 and 3:30.

On Tuesday, May 13, all K-8 schools will be open until 6:00 to help accommodate parents’ schedules.

July 24 is the first day of school, and our goal is to have our children in classrooms meeting teacher/pupil ratio compliance guidelines when school starts.

Historically, Registration Day and the first day of school have been on the same day, and as our population has grown, we are met with overcrowded classrooms and not enough furniture and books before the bell dismisses the students at the end of the first day of school.

Kindergarten registration was held on April 10 in each elementary school.

Parents who missed that opportunity, but who plan to enroll their children in Putnam County Schools’ kindergarten program may do so at any elementary school.

Children must be five by September 30, 2008 in order to enroll in kindergarten.

Coinciding with registration this year is the implementation of the School Board’s new Priority Registration Policy:

- First priority will be for students living outside the bus zone who were enrolled the previous year in a school (this does not include pre-k students), teachers’ children, and children of fulltime non-certified staff in that school;

- second priority is for students living in the current bus zone;

- third priority addresses those who are siblings of students currently enrolled in that school; and,

- the fourth priority addresses those students living outside the bus zone.

Parents who are unsure of the bus zone in which they are living may contact Putnam County Schools Transportation Department at 526-9342.

Because we are following the priority registration procedures, students who, according to the new guidelines fall into Priority 4, will be placed after July 15.

The time between May’s Registration Week and July 15 will allow an opportunity for new students moving into the district to be placed in their appropriate bus zoned schools before students living outside the zone are allowed to enroll in the requested school.

Preschool programs:

Applications are on the Putnam County Schools website (putnamcountyschools.com) or may be picked up at the Central Office. Criteria used for accepting children into public preschool programs is determined by the state and includes: children who are four (4) years old by September 30 and who qualify for free/reduced price meals, have a documented disability, and/or are in state or foster care. Other children will be placed on a waiting list and will be permitted to enroll as space allows.

Required Enrollment Information:

To register your child for school during Registration Week, please bring two verifications of proof of residence (utility bill, property tax receipt/bill, voter registration card, and/or a letter from landlord). When school begins on July 24, these items are to be in each student’s file:

Documentation of Social Security Card, original birth certificate, and current immunization records. Preschool and kindergarten students must have documentation of a recent physical exam. Additional questions may be directed to your child’s school, and additional information is available at putnamcountyschools.com as well as at the School Board Office, 1400 E. Spring St.