Wednesday concluded a new, more convenient way to register kids for kindergarten — nighttime at the Seymour Public Library.
Judging from the reaction of parents — it worked.
“I think it’s excellent and I appreciate the convenience,” said Florcita Britt, who registered her son, Jazz. “Because of the hours I work, it worked out perfectly.“
Children walked around looking at books, toys and games while their parents sat at small tables filling out forms.
Usually parents have to make arrangements to register their children during the day — not easy if you’re working during the day.
The evening registration was a collaboration between the Kindergarten Transition Institute and the Seymour School Readiness Council, said Carol Ralston, director of the Seymour Public Library.
“The community expects the local library will offer services they need and we want to do our best to meet their expectations,” Ralston said. “I think this is a good indication we our doing our job because people are not surprised that we are doing it.”
Families registered between 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. It was the third week the library offered registration. On Wednesday, a total of 49 families registered 50 children for the three available kindergartens in Seymour.
Seventeen children were registered for Bungay Elementary School, 13 for Paul E. Chatfield Elementary School and 20 for Anna LoPresti Elementary School.
Angela Dorais, of Seymour, registered her daughter, Miranda.
“Oh, I love it,” Dorais said. “I work in a daycare. I was planning on registering her in the morning but I got called into work.”
Mary Sue Feige, principal of Bungay Elementary School, attended the final night registration and helped parents. Fiege said that the night registration was part of a larger initiative developed during seminars hosted by the Kindergarten Transitional Institute.
Fiege said that parents of kindergarten children will also have a welcome wagon committee to call them to follow-up if they have questions. There will also be an orientation in March and bus orientation in June.
