Norwood Public Schools Kindergarten Program

Welcome Class of 2035 to the Norwood Public Schools Kindergarten Program

Hello families,

My name is Stephen Billhardt and I am happy to lead our kindergarten program as the Willett Early Childhood Center. Our school consists of 13 classes of only Kindergarten students. Each classroom has a teacher and an instructional aide. We believe that our schools are stronger when there is a partnership between our educators, staff and our families. Please know that we are here to support you through not only the registration process but through your child’s year at the WIllett School and into 2035 when they graduate from high school. That seems like a long time away, but that day will come!

Please follow the instructions below that will guide you through the registration process, to the screening process in early May and leading up to the kindergarten parent and student orientation events in September of 2022.

Sincerely, Stephen Billhardt

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for Fall of 2022

Dr. David Thomson, Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce that the Norwood Public Schools Kindergarten Registration will soon open. Kindergarten registration will be ONLINE through the Norwood Public Schools page. View the translated forms.

Registration will be open for enrollment on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. It is very important that parents/guardians register their child at this time and that every field is filled out as completely as possible.

On the main page, go to Our Schools
Choose the Willett ECC
Choose Kindergarten on the left side tab
Click on the Instructions for Online Registration which will bring you to the Registration Process. Please begin by watching both videos which include step by step instructions to upload your documents.

Your child must turn five (5) on or before August 31, 2022 in order to be eligible for kindergarten in September 2022.

Next you need to upload the following documents.

A copy of the child’s Birth certificate or original passport or visa
Proof of residency: must include a copy of your mortgage statement or lease/rental agreement. (Handwritten documents from a landlord or a completed affidavit must be filled out and notarized) and a bill with the same name and Norwood address as the mortgage/lease/rental copy.
Parent/Guardian valid photo Identification (copy of driver’s license/state IDor passport)
Copy of your child’s physical exam between September 2021-September 2022. (A physical is valid for one year from the date it was done, it must be updated before the start of school). Your child’s immunization record and a lead test need to be included.
Call the Central Registration office if you need any assistance at 781-487-1351.
We will begin processing registrations on Monday, February 21, 2022. Once completed we will notify you of your screening date and time.

Screening: This year’s screening dates are:

Thursday, May 5th and Friday, May 6th
Screening takes approximately 30-45 minutes

What is Kindergarten Screening?

In accordance with Massachusetts Special Education Law (603, CMR 28), all students entering kindergarten must be screened to assist in identifying any issues that may require special education services. Students registering for school in August will be screening during school hours in September.

An educator will work with your child during the screening. Areas on the screening instrument include visual motor, language and cognition, speech development and fine and gross motor development.

Results of the kindergarten screening are sent home approximately one month after your child has been screened. If there are concerns after the screening process is completed, staff may re-screen your child once school starts in the fall, or the staff may refer your child for a special education evaluation.

Please call the school with any questions.

(781) 440-5902 or email dhorton@norwood.k12.ma.us

Kindergarten Bus Information

Kindergarten students ride the school bus without charge. Color-coded bus tags will be given out to students on Orientation Day in September. Please make sure to attach this tag to your child's back pack, regardless of whether he or she rides the bus.
Students residing in a bus district may take the school bus from the neighborhood to the elementary school in your district. A Willett aide will meet that bus when it arrives at the elementary school. She will assist the students onto the kindergarten bus and travel to the school with the children.
Students who do not live in a bus district may board the bus at the elementary school which serves your neighborhood.
Parents may prefer to drive students directly to the Willett. Student drop-off is behind the building at Door 4 beginning at 8:45 am.

Neighborhood Schools Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for Willett Students

Supervision begins at 8:25. Buses will leave the school at 8:40. Parents will be responsible for transporting late arriving students to the Willett.

Balch School—

Morning Arrival
All kindergarten students will meet in the gym beginning at 8:25am. Please enter the school through the side entrance by cafeteria.

Afternoon Dismissal
During afternoon dismissal, Vehicle Pick-ups and Walkers will be dismissed directly from the bus in the bus circle. Bus students will wait in the school until their bus is called.

Cleveland School—

Morning Arrival.
Children should be walked to the gymnasium no earlier than 8:25 and no later than 8:35.
Bus students will exit their bus and will be directed to a designated area of the Gym.

Afternoon Dismissal
Kindergarten students will be dismissed from the buses. Please wait for the instructional aide to dismiss your student.

Oldham School—

Morning Arrival
Bus students will exit their bus and will be directed to a designated area of the library.
Walkers or car riders will be directed to a designated area of the library.

Afternoon Dismissal
All students will exit the bus and will be directed to designated spot to await parents or the neighborhood bus, if provided.

Callahan School—

Morning Arrival
Kindergarten students will meet our aide on the front sidewalk, to the right of the main school door. School buses will pick up and drop off students in the lot to the right of the building. In inclement weather, all kindergarten students will enter the Gym and sit in front of the stage.

Afternoon Dismissal
The aide will dismiss walkers to their parent from the bus lot. Please do not leave with your child until notifying our aides. Bus district students will be placed directly on their bus for the ride home.

Prescott School—

Morning Arrival
All students meet our instructional aide in front of the building. During inclement weather, students meet our aide in the auditorium and wait on the steps of the stage.

Afternoon Dismissal
The students are dismissed from the bus at the front of the school to parents or caregivers. Students who change to the neighborhood bus are led into the auditorium until the next bus arrives.