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UPDATED: Preschool, Kindergarten Registrations Scheduled Around County

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Berkshire County schools are scheduling and re-scheduling preschool and kindergarten registration dates and procedures for the 2021-22 school year. Schools can send their information to info@iberkshires.com to be included on this list.

All students, regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or homelessness, have equal access to the general education program and the full range of any occupational, vocational programs offered by public school districts.

 

Clarksburg

Clarksburg parents can now begin to register their youngsters for kindergarten. Children must be 5 years old as of Aug. 31, 2021. Call the school office at 413-663-8735 as soon as possible if your child is eligible.

Dates for Kindergarten screenings have yet to be determined. Please call the school (663-8735) to register.

According to the “Child-Find” Legislation, any parent that has a child who is 3 to 5 years old and has any questions concerning special needs may call the director of special education at 413-664-4655.

Parents of any student attending private school who may have special concerns regarding their child's needs and eligibility for assessment and services may also contact the Director of Pupil Services Stephanie Pare' at 664-4655.

 

Florida/Monroe

The Gabriel Abbott Memorial School has begun the process of registering students for the 2021-2022 kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classes.

Children must be 5 years old as of Aug. 31, 2021. Call the school office at 664-6023 if your child is eligible. Dates for Kindergarten screenings have yet to be determined.

Students need to be legal residents of the school district and reside with parents or guardians within the school district at the time of the opening day of school. Parents will need to provide a copy of the student's birth certificate, updated immunization form and proof of residence.
 
Students must be 5 years of age or older on Aug. 31 to register for kindergarten. Students must be 3 years or older to register for pre-kindergarten. Contact the school by email to register.
 
The Abbot Memorial School is projecting to have openings in their 3 and 4 year old preschool programs in the upcoming school year. The tuition rate for preschool is $150 per week for non residents.
 

Hancock 

Hancock Elementary School kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year is open. Children must be 5 years old as of Sept. 1, 2021, to enter kindergarten. Parents should call the school office at 413-738-5676 or email Jay Merselis, Principal, at jmerselis@hancockschool.org as soon as possible if interested or to learn more. Screening and registration requires parents to bring their child and his/her birth certificate along with proof of residency to the school.

Hancock Elementary School is accepting applications for preschool for the 2021-2022 school year. Children who are 3 years old as of Sept. 1, 2021 are eligible to attend the preschool program. Parents should call the school office at 413-738-5676 or email Jay Merselis, Principal, at jmerselis@hancockschool.org as soon as possible if interested or to learn more.

Parents who suspect their child may have special needs and are 3 years old or older should call the Special Education Director Dr. Rebecca Phillips at 413-738-5676 to schedule an evaluation.

Hoosac Valley

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration is currently open for the 2021-22 school year for the Hoosac Valley Regional School District. Information is posted on the district website.  

Parents will have to upload:

  • Child’s birth certificate
  • Proof of address (utility bill or rental/lease agreement)
  • Child’s immunization records
  • Copy of the child’s last doctor’s physical exam record
  • Parent or Guardian’s photo ID
If you cannot upload, documents can be dropped off at the school office to complete the process. Please call the school ahead of time to make an appointment at 413-743-0876.
 
Families can also register through a paper registration. A registration form can be found on the district's website or picked up at the main office of Hoosac Valley Elementary School. Please call the school ahead of time to make an appointment at 413-743-0876. 
 
Once complete, bring your documentation to Hoosac Valley Elementary School, 14 Commercial Street, Adams. Items to bring are as follows:
  • Child’s birth certificate
  • Proof of address (utility bill or rental/lease agreement)
  • Child’s immunization records
  • Copy of the child’s last doctor’s physical exam record
  • Parent or Guardian’s photo ID
 
Any questions can be directed to Paula Ciskowski at pciskowski@hoosacvalley.org or by calling (413) 743-0876.  Additionally, required documents can be faxed to (413) 743-8406.
 

New: Lanesborough

Child Find: Screenings for Preschool Age Children are being offered at Lanesborough Elementary School, 188 Summer Street on Monday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 11, 2021 between 8:45-11:30 and 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.  Screenings are open to all children who reside in Lanesborough and are between 2 years, 9 months and 4 years old.  Screenings will be administered by Certified Teachers and Speech and Language Pathologist.  There is no charge for the screenings.
 
Please call Ashley at 413-443-0027 Ext. 100 to make an appointment beginning on Monday, April 26, 2021
 

North Adams

Families can register for pre-k online.
 
CURRENT North Adams Public Schools Pre-K students DO NOT need to register for their 2nd year of PreK in the Fall.
 
PLEASE NOTE that Pre-K registration is done by lottery if we are over our mandated number of students per class/session at each school - it is NOT first come, first served. New daycare waiver requests cannot be approved until mid-August.
 
Families can register for kindergarten online.
 
CURRENT North Adams Public Schools Pre-K students DO NOT need to register for Kindergarten in the Fall.
 
PLEASE NOTE that new Kindergarten daycare waiver requests cannot be approved until mid-August.
 
If you have any questions, trouble with the form, or if it's more convenient for you to contact NAPS directly, please call Bobbi Tassone at 413-776-1666 or email at btassone@napsk12.org.  
 
All North Adams Public Schools parents/guardians of students in grades PreK through 12, must complete the on-line enrollment commitment form by March 19 at 5:00 pm.
 

Pittsfield 

Children who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2021, may be registered to enter kindergarten in the Pittsfield Public Schools in the fall. Parents and guardians should go to the website and choose 2021-22 Online Registration Now Open from the District Home Page.
  • Start at the Family and Community tab (on top) / Registration / Online Registration.
  • Follow each step of the online registration process.
  • Once you have completed the forms, please watch your email inbox for instructions on how to complete the registration process. All communication will take place via email.
Registration Dates 
Please follow the steps above on the following dates:
  • Last names beginning A-M   March 8-12    Online or Dropbox Registration Only  
  • Last names beginning N-Z    March 15-19  Online or Dropbox Registration Only

 

Rowe

Rowe parents can now begin to register their youngsters for kindergarten. Children must be 5 years old as of Aug. 31, 2021. Call the school office at 512-5100 to register your child. 

Dates for Kindergarten screenings have yet to be determined. 

According to the “Child-Find” Legislation, any parent that has a child who is 3 to 5 years old and has any questions concerning special needs may call the director of special education at 413-664-4655.

Parents of any student attending private school who may have special concerns regarding their child's needs and eligibility for assessment and services may also contact the Director of Pupil Services Stephanie Pare' at 664-4655.

 

Savoy

Parents and guardians can register their child for kindergarten. Children must be 5 years old as of Aug. 31. Call the school at 413-743-1992, ext. 5501, or email Tracey Tierney at ttierney@savoyelementary.com to  register your child.

Dates for Kindergarten screenings have yet to be determined.

Parents and guardians of 3- and 4-year-old who have a special concern about their children can also make an appointment to have their child screen. Call the Director of Pupil Services Stephanie Pare' at 413-664-4655 to discuss individual concerns.

 

New: Williamstown

Child Find:  Screenings for Preschool Age Children are being offered at Williamstown Elementary School, 115 Church Street on Wednesday, May 12 and Thursday, May 13, 2021 between 8:45-11:25 and 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.  Screenings are open to all children who reside in Williamstown and are between 2 years, 9 months and 4 years old.  Screenings will be administered by Certified Teachers and Speech and Language Pathologist.  There is no charge for the screenings.
 
Please call Eli at 413-458-5707 Ext. 301 to make an appointment beginning on Monday, April 26, 2021.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
 
For children who live in Williamstown and will be five years old on or before Sep. 1, 2021, a parent or guardian is asked to visit our website (wlschools.org - Williamstown Elementary page) to fill out a Pre-Registration Questionnaire found on our Registration page under the About tab. Please complete this initial step by April 15, 2021.
 
Once completed, a Registration Packet will be sent to you either through email, regular mail, or you may stop by the office to pick up a hard copy. If needed, you may call to request a copy of our Registration Packet, but will be asked to answer the screener questions over the phone at that time.
 
All Kindergarten Enrollment Packets should be completed and submitted by June 1, 2021
 
What is needed to enroll:
 
  • Proof of residency- 2 items needed:
    • 1. lease agreement & record of rental agreement or deed & record of most recent mortgage payment;
    • 2. utility bill or work order dated within past 60 days
  • A copy of your child's birth certificate
  • A copy of your child's most recent physical with vision test
  • A copy of your child's immunization records to date

Tags: kindergarten,   preschool,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Community Hero: Noelle Howland

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Noelle Howland is committed to keeping alive the late Pittsfield ACO Eleanor Sonsini's mission of helping animals ... albeit farther north in North Adams.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — No Paws Left Behind Executive Director Noelle Howland has been selected as the November Community Hero of the Month. 
 
The Community Hero of the Month series honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact in their community. The series sponsor, Haddad Auto, has extended this initiative for one more month.
 
Howland breathed new life into the mission of the former Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter, which closed in August 2023. 
 
The shelter in Pittsfield operated under the mission established by Eleanor Sonsini, a local animal rights activist and longtime animal control officer in Pittsfield, to be a no-kill shelter committed to finding surrendered and abandoned pets new forever homes. 
 
Howland's love for animals, dedication to their well-being, and expertise in animal behavior and training and shelter management brought this mission to new heights at No Paws Left Behind, a new shelter for dogs located at 69 Hodges Cross Road. 
 
"I want people to understand that I know it's hard to surrender. So, my biggest thing is [making sure] people know that, of course, we're not judging you. We're here to help you," Howland said. 
 
When Sonsini announced its closing, Howland, who was the shelter's manager, worked to save it, launching fundraising initiatives. However, the previous board decided to close the shelter down and agreed to let Howland open her own shelter using their mission. 
 
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