Kindergarten Korner

Registration for the 2013-2014 School Year
begins January 27 during our Open House!



More Information

School Day

Students may enroll for a half- (7:50 a.m.-11:30 a.m.) or full-day (7:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) session. Before registering your child, please carefully read over the “Guidelines for Selecting Full-Day or Half-Day Kindergarten.” If a student wishes to change from half-day to full-day after registration, this may be done at the end of any month up until the last day before Christmas break. Full-day tuition will be charged when the switch is made.

If a student changes from a full-day to half-day session after registering, the tuition charge will remain at the full-day rate until that space is filled by another student.

Curriculum

The core curriculum is presented during the hours of 7:50-11:30 a.m. so that the students in the half-day program receive all core content required by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the state of Ohio.

The full-day session runs from 7:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and includes recess and a lunch period as in first grade. The second half of the day (after lunch) includes an extra recess, center time, extension activities related to morning lessons, or extra skills practice. There is no new information introduced in the afternoon.

If or when all students select a full-day session, there may be the opportunity to elaborate on morning topics and include new information in the afternoon (this will allow the opportunity to extend slightly beyond the kindergarten curriculum toward the end of the year).

Registration

All children must be registered prior to the start of school. The $50 registration fee must be included with the registration form.

Children entering kindergarten must be 5 years old by September 30.

Once a child is registered, he/she will be tested by the kindergarten teacher in March.

Children are eligible for early admission testing only if they turn 5 years of age no later than November 1.

Testing will be administered by the St. Al’s kindergarten teacher to determine eligibility for early entrance.

Registration begins in February and will be accepted until the class is full or the school year begins.

Families are encouraged to register during the registration week to ensure a spot in the class.

* A Birth Certificate must be presented at the time of registration as well as a Baptismal Record if the child was not baptized in St. Al’s Parish.

* Medical Records: Before a child may attend any school in the state of Ohio he/she must meet the following vaccination requirements:

• four or more doses of DPT
• one rubella vaccine
• four or more doses of polio vaccine
• one measles vaccine
• the second MMR vaccine

A record of these vaccines must be submitted to St. Al’s School before the child will be admitted to class.

Class openings are filled on a first-come basis according to the following criteria:

1. Children of active/registered parishioners.
2. Children from families who have changed residence and were active, registered participants in another Catholic parish.
3. Children from Catholic families outside the parish.
4. Children of non-Catholic families.

Siblings of current students receive priority in each category.

Kindergarten Tuition (2013-14)
Full-Day  $3,075
Half-Day $2,535

Full-Day or Half-Day Kindergarten?

How to Decide
The “All-Day” versus “Half-Day” decision can be a difficult one for many parents. The following guidelines may be helpful in choosing which would be the more beneficial placement for your child. Our kindergarten teacher is an excellent resource if you wish to consult with her. She can be reached through the school office: (513)574-4035.

Full-Day Kindergarten

May be the right choice if the following apply to your child:

• Attended preschool or day care. This child who has experienced the structure and routines of such a setting will usually adjust more easily to the 6 ½ hour school day. Preschool or day care teachers may have insights and recommendations, which are most helpful.
• Eager to learn. The child has an obvious desire to learn about “school” and its “subjects.”
• Independent child. This child adjusts rapidly to new situations, can care for his/her personal needs, and can entertain himself/herself with activities and interests.
• Alert and active. This child remains alert and physically active all day. This child generally has good health.
• Strong attention span. This child can attend to tasks for longer periods of time. He/she willingly concentrates and remains on task individually or in a group for 20-30 minutes.
• Recognition of letters and numbers. This child has immediate recognition of many letters and numbers from 1 to 10.
• Good development of fine and gross motor skills. This child can use scissors, crayons, manipulate small objects, draw or color beyond scribbling. Gross motor skills include jumping, hopping, balancing, throwing and catching a ball.

Half-Day Kindergarten Session

May be the right choice if the following apply to your child:

• Late birth date. The children with June, July, August and September birthdays are the youngest in the class. Often these children (especially boys) do not demonstrate necessary school readiness, (i.e.) the ability to learn and to cope with the school environment without undue stress, and to sustain that level of learning and coping all day and every day. These children may be ‘’ready to read” but are not ready for the whole day school situation. They manage the academics but at great expense to another part of their being—social, emotional, or physical.
• Play-oriented. This child still needs time during the day for building social relationships with other children and for free play.
• Dependent and shy. This child may be hesitant about his/her abilities, may still cling to parents, does not cooperate freely with others, and is shy about performing for others.
• Becomes tired during the day. This child still requires a nap or rest-time during the morning or afternoon.
• Physical or health problems. Often when a child is coping with or adjusting to frequent problems, he/she has little energy left for learning. Increasing demands for learning are a detriment to this child.

These guidelines are only suggestions for you, the parent, to consider when making this all-day or half-day decision. If you have any questions or concerns you would like to discuss, please feel free to call. We all want our children to be happy and successful in school and life. For most children that depends on getting started on the right foot. Kindergarten is the beginning.