April 12, 2021 – Amarillo ISD invites parents and kids to the Pre-K and Kindergarten Safari, a kindergarten roundup-style event designed to introduce families to the District’s Pre-K and Kindergarten programs at their neighborhood elementary school.
The Pre-K and Kindergarten Safari is for families with children who will be 3, 4 or 5-years-old by September 1, 2021 and who are not already enrolled in an AISD Pre-K or Kindergarten program. The event will take place Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. at each of AISD’s 35 neighborhood elementary school campuses and at George Washington Carver Early Childhood Academy. Families can locate their neighborhood elementary school by accessing the District’s campus locator map.
The Safari event will feature a scavenger hunt to help parents and kids explore and learn about their school, and kids will have the opportunity to interact with teachers in the classrooms and take home some new books.
One of the most important benefits for parents who attend is the opportunity to ask questions they have about sending their young child to school. AISD educators believe that early childhood education is essential for strong futures for both children and their communities.
“We want parents to know we’re ready for their little one when they’re ready, and this event will give families the opportunity to come and get comfortable with the school and the teachers, and ask us anything they want to learn more about,” said Brittany Hinz, Amarillo ISD Early Childhood Education Coordinator. “This may help ease a parent’s mind about choosing to take this important step and enrolling their child in Pre-K or Kindergarten. Kids will get to have some fun around the campus and work out any jitters they might have about starting school.”
Along with the obvious educational and social benefits of early education programs, children get a boost in other important ways. Those who attend Pre-K or Kindergarten in AISD can apply to receive free breakfast and lunch at school. They also have access to basic school supplies and technology like Chromebooks, physical education, vision and hearing screenings, teachers and counselors who support their emotional and academic growth and access to dual language and ESL programs.
Families can register their child for the 2021-2022 school year in the coming months, but those who are ready can begin the registration process at the Safari event. For speedy registration, they should bring the following documents: their child’s birth certificate, social security card (if available), immunization records, proof of residence (current utility bill, rental or home ownership documentation), and proof of income (for Pre-K only).
Learn more about the District’s early education programs and the state’s Pre-Kindergarten eligibility requirements.
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