Kindergarten Screening & Registration | 2024-2025
Table of Contents
Parent Orientation Night
Parent Orientation Night is an informational meeting for parent/guardian(s) of children who live in the Pierre School District and plan to enroll their child in Kindergarten at Buchanan, Jefferson, or Kennedy Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year. Parent/Guardian(s) are encouraged to attend the meeting to gain knowledge of Kindergarten readiness, immunization requirements, and to meet Elementary Principals.
Please see the School District Boundary Maps below to determine which school Parent Orientation Night you should attend.
The meeting is for parents only.
The meeting will last approximately 1 hour.
Buchanan Elementary School Parent Orientation Night
Date: Tuesday, February 27th
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Buchanan Elementary Commons @ 100 N. Buchanan Ave, Pierre SD
Jefferson Elementary School Parent Orientation Night
Date: Tuesday, February 27th
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Jefferson Elementary Library @ 900 North Poplar Ave, Pierre SD
Kennedy Elementary School Parent Orientation Night
Date: Thursday, February 29th
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Kennedy Elementary Cafeteria @ 2306 Brookstone Loop, Pierre SD
St. Joseph School Parent Orientation Night
Date: Monday, February 26th
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: St. Joseph School @ 210 E. Broadway Ave, Pierre SD
Kindergarten Screening
A child must be FIVE YEARS OF AGE ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 to be eligible to attend Kindergarten in the upcoming school year. The screening process allows the district to gauge a child's readiness for Kindergarten and provide guidance to parent/guardian(s). Screening sessions will last approximately 90 MINUTES.
Kindergarten Screening Dates: April 3rd, 4th, & 5th
Times: By Appointment Online Only
Location: Jefferson Elementary School Gym (enter at N. Gym Entrance)
Address: 900 N. Poplar Avenue, Pierre SD
Documents Needed at Screening:
Child's Official Certified Copy of Birth Record
Immunization Records
Screening Scheduler
The Screening Scheduler will be open on February 12th, and closed at 12PM on March 31st. Please use this Screening Scheduler to book a time for your Kindergarten student's screening. If an email address and cell phone number are provided, you will receive an email and text confirmation of your screening date and time. You will also receive an email reminder 24 hours before your child's scheduled screening.
Screening Scheduler Tutorial
The video will walk parents through the process of using the Screening Scheduler to schedule a time for your child's screening.
If you have further questions regarding scheduling a time for your Kindergarten student's screening, please call or email:
Juanita Hunt
Pierre School District Administrative Assistant
605-773-7300
Juanita.Hunt@k12.sd.us
Kindergarten Student Registration
Online Registration CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE STUDENT REGISTRATION
The Pierre School District has implemented an online registration for parents/guardians with students that are new to the district. The registration works best on a tablet or on a computer. If you do not have access to one, you can complete the registration at your child's school.
Parents/guardians that complete online registration of their child this Spring will still need to go through the online student verification through Infinite Campus Parent Portal this summer when it opens up July 1st. You will simply be verifying your census data, and making any necessary changes, at that time.
Student Registration Tutorial - Click Here
The video will walk parents through the process of registering your child for Kindergarten through our online registration system.
If you have any further questions regarding Online Registration for Kindergarten, please call or email:
Jeff Hegge
Pierre School District Infinite Campus Specialist
605-773-7305
jeff.hegge@k12.sd.us
Immunization Requirements for School Attendance
South Dakota Codified Law 13-28-7.1 (Rev. 2016) requires that any pupil entering school or an early childhood program in this state shall, prior to admission, be required to present to school authorities certification from a licensed physician that the child has received, or is in the process of receiving, adequate immunization against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, rubeola (measles), rubella, mumps, tetanus, meningitis and varicella (chickenpox), according to the recommendations of the State Department of Health.
This law applies to ALL children entering a South Dakota school district for the first time. This would include children in early intervention programs, preschool, as well as kindergarten through twelfth grade. Children under 4 need to be age-appropriately immunized.
For more information, or questions, on minimum immunization requirements for kindergarten through twelth grade students, please visist the South Dakota Department of Health's website.
We will need a copy of your child's immunization record on file at his or her school. Please bring their immunization card with you on screening day. If you do not have a record at home please request a copy of your child's immunization records from your doctor, or contact the South Dakota Department of Health, Immunization Program by phone at 1-800-592-1861, and bring it in on screening day. Failure to comply with this will result in exclusion from school until immunization requirements are met.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
The Pierre School District offers parents the option to sign up for access to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Access allows parents to complete their child's annual school registration online, and monitor their child's school records.
Please reach out to your child's school and work with the School Registrar to gain access to Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Signing up for SchoolMessenger Notifications
Opt-In Instructions:
To opt-in to SMS text message notifications from SchoolMessenger (which is highly recommended), simply send a "Y" or "YES" to short code 67587.
Parents and guardians must elect to opt-in to receive SMS text message communications from the Pierre School District.
The Pierre School District utilizes SchoolMessenger for phone, SMS, and email notifications to families. Such communications may be for emergency, parental outreach, and student attendance notifications. SchoolMessenger does not replace modes of communication between families and staff. Administrations, teachers, and advisors across the district utilize multiple forms of communication with students and families.
When completing student registration, parents are encouraged to ensure all telephone and email information is up-to-date. If at any time contact information changes, parents are advised to notify the school immediately.
School Lunch EZ Pay Account Setup
The EZ School Pay system is a great way to manage your child's school meal purchases. The Pierre School District encourages all parents and guardians to sign up for the EZ School Pay system. There are options for setting low balance notifications. Families can deposit funds electronically into their child's account for school lunch, or breakfast, without the need to send cash or checks to school. There are no fees for the EZ School Pay service.
Select the following link for step by step instructions for EZ School Pay account setup: EZ School Pay Account Setup Instructions
You will need to reach out to your child's school to get your child's STUDENT ID # to complete the account setup.
If you have any further questions please call or email:
Steven McClelland
Pierre School District Food Service Director
605-773-7337
steven.mcclelland@k12.sd.us
School District Boundary Maps
SD DOE Map of Pierre School District
Click Map Image to Enlarge
2024-2025 Entire District Map
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2024-2025 City View District Map
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The ABC's of Kindergarten
A - ATTITUDE - Help me develop a positive attitude toward school.
B - BREAKFAST - I need breakfast to get me off to a good start.
C - CRYING - If you leave me crying, don't worry, I'll go from a frown to a smile in 5 minutes.
D - DISASTERS - My teachers will take care of me, but make sure she has a number to reach you if necessary.
E - EXCITEMENT - I'll be excited about my new experience, so listen to me.
F - FACT - Learning is fun!
G - GROWING - This year I'll be growing emotionally, physically, and mentally.
H - HELP - Help me review and use the things I learn at school.
I - ILLNESS - Keep me at home if I'm running a fever or feel nauseated.
J - JUST being present daily greatly increases my growth in many skills.
K - KICK, JUMP, RUN - We spend part of each day on motor development.
L - LOVE - Now I'll find it in two places...home and school.
M - ME - The most important person.
N - NEATNESS - I'll learn to keep our room neat and do neat work.
O - OPEN - My school room door is always open, please visit.
P - PARENTS - Are important, be part of our class.
Q - QUESTIONS - Feel free to ask them. My teacher will try to answer them.
R - READINESS - For first grade...that's what Kindergarten is all about.
S - SUPPORT - Support me, my teacher, my school, they are important.
T - TIRED - What I'll be unless I get a good night's sleep. Insist on going to bed early.
U - UNDERSTANDING - If I'm having a problem, my teacher will let you know. Please do the same for her.
V - VOLUNTEER - If you have special skills, hobbies, or just want to help my teacher.
W - WET PANTS - Sometimes accidents do happen. A phone call will keep me from being too upset.
XYZ - XTRA special YEAR filled with ZIPPY events.
I'M GONNA LOVE IT!!!
Help Your Child Get Ready for Kindergarten
Kindle excitement about Kindergarten. Visit your school and meet your child’s teacher.
Invite new school friends home to play and help your child build strong friendships.
Never forget safety. Teach your child safety rules-whether walking or taking the bus.
Discuss what your child will be learning in school colors, numbers, shapes and letters.
Explore your neighborhood together. Talk about the world you live in.
Review the good behavior expected of your child, such as following rules and taking turns.
Get involved at your child’s school. Join the PTA or PTO. Volunteer in the classroom.
Answer your child’s questions about school. Reassure your child that school is fun!
Read to your child daily. Visit the library together.
Turn every day into a learning experience. Let your child help with everyday chores.
Encourage your child to eat well, get enough sleep, bathe daily, and brush teeth two times a day.
Notice the new things your child is learning to do. Reinforce your child’s progress with praise.
Guides for School Readiness
Children are ready to do different things at different ages. Part of being ready to do things comes from their growing older, but in some ways, parents can help children to be ready. Being ready for elementary school is very important because children will do better in school all along if they get a good start.
Does your child show physical readiness?
Can he/she use eyes and hands together? Is his/her eyesight good?
Does he/she hear well?
Is the speech understandable to others? Does the child know enough words to express himself/herself well?
Is his/her general health good?
Does he/she have good physical coordination of large and small muscles
Does your child show mental readiness?
Can he/she memorize short poems, songs, fingerplays, tell you about pictures, rhyming words or other things?
Has he/she been read to and is there an interest shown in books and stories?
Has he/she some idea of likeness and differences?
Does he/she look at books, etc. from left to right?
How large is his/her vocabulary?
Does he/she get the main idea of a story-can the child retell it?
Does he/she know his/her full name and address, know colors, have some idea of numbers up to 10, have some beginning ideas of time?
Does your child show emotional readiness for school?
Is he/she happy and well-adjusted with other children?
Can he/she wait his/her turn and share materials, follow directions, accept limits and routines, accept new things, people, places, accept reasonable adult authority, stick to a task until it is completed, do things in a group?
How is his/her attention span?
Is he/she usually shy, fearful, or hostile?
Has he/she had chances to see and do things
Is your child growing in independence?
Can he/she handle temporary separation from home, put away toys
Does he/she help clean up, dress independently, and take care of toilet needs?
Has he/she carried out small jobs around the home?
Does he/she get up at a reasonably early hour, wash and dress right away?