Kindergarten screening goes digital

COLFAX–Kindergarten enrollment in Colfax this year is being done without the perspective student stepping into the building.

With the school building closed except for a few staffers, Jennings Elementary has changed how it screens and enrolls incoming kindergarteners. Previously, the screenings happened on select days in April. The student and parent would set up a time to come to the school. They would check in and the child would go with one of the kindergarten teachers for screening while the parent filled out paperwork. The process took about 20 to 30 minutes.

The new online enrollment opened April 22 and is being set up through Skyward, a statewide school database. Families new to the district must complete an enrollment application at http://www.csd300.org/enroll to receive a temporary Skyward account. Families with students already enrolled in the Colfax School District can use their existing Skyward account to access new student online enrollment. The student will be sent a packet of papers to fill out to assess their readiness and parents must mail or email a copy of immunizations and birth certificate. All kindergarteners need to be enrolled and screened, regardless if older siblings are already in the school.

How the child does on the readiness forms help the school determine how to spilt the students between the two kindergarten classes at Jennings so the classes are balance. The drawback to the mail-in format is the teachers will not have the chance to see individual personalities.

The online enrollment goes through May 8 so the school can have an idea of enrollment numbers for fall semester for budgeting and other purposes.

This is the first time Colfax has used the Skyward platform for setting up kindergarten screenings. The service was made free to schools in the state because of the shutdown and future use of the system will be up to the district.

Those without access to computer or internet can call the Jennings office to enroll.

Enrollment is free for all students.