REDMOND, OR -- Kindergarten registration is taking place across the region, for kids turning five on or before September first. Redmond Early Learning Center (RELC) Principal Desiree Margo says there’s one big but simple step parents can take now to make sure young kids are ready to start school in the fall, "Spending time with your child. I mean, one of the best things you can do is just read books to them on a daily basis, have conversations, think out loud – so, you’re getting ready to make dinner and you’re just talking about what you’re doing. What we find is there’s just less of that with so many devices, and I just have to say, we are noticing a change in children."
RELC is hosting a kindergarten registration event Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. "They get to find out about breakfast and lunch from our nutrition team, lots of community resources and partners will be there, and really just get their questions answered," Margo tells KBND News, "New families, especially if it’s their first child entering kindergarten, there are just so many questions." She says the event is not required for incoming families, since registration can occur at any time, "We call it rolling registration; families can come in, pick up a packet and get the ball rolling. And, even if they have already done that – and we have quite a few families who have already registered their child for next year – we still want them to come to this event because, registration is an important part of it, but there’s so much more." Make sure to bring the child’s birth certificate, immunization records and proof of address.
RELC opened in the fall of 2016, and houses kindergarten classes for Redmond's in-town student. Families in Tumalo and Terrebonne should contact their community school for kindergarten registration information.
