A parent orientation meeting for the parents of all children eligible to enter kindergarten has been scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Center School cafeteria. All parents of kindergarten-aged children are asked to attend this informational meeting. This meeting is for parents only. Kids will be invited to visit the school at a later date. Any child born before Sept. 1, 2009 is eligible for enrollment in the 2014-2015 school year.

At the meeting, kindergarten teachers will be present and will highlight the program and curriculum, discuss the orientation program on the first day of school, give a classroom tour and share other information regarding kids’ transition to Center School.

In addition, school registration packets will be available to take home to complete. Mattapoisett offers a free full-day Kindergarten program. Any questions parents have will be addressed at this meeting.

Kindergarten registration dates are Wednesday, Feb.12 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. or on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 8:45 to 11 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Registration is for parents only. On these dates parents will meet individually with the school secretary, nurse and principal. In order to have the registration process proceed in a timely manner, parents are asked to bring completed registration packets with them when they attend registration. Parents should bring a birth certificate or a notarized memorandum of birth with them on registration day.

The Old Rochester Regional School District’s policy states that children must turn 5 years old on or before Aug. 31 of the year they enroll in kindergarten.

A doctor’s memorandum showing the following immunizations is required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for school entrance into kindergarten:

• 3 doses of Hep B
• 5 doses of DTaP/DTP
• 4 doses of Polio
• 2 doses of MMR
• 2 doses of Varicella
• Lead testing must be done at the discretion of the child’s pediatrician prior to the entrance into kindergarten.

If the required immunizations are incomplete for medical and/or religious reasons, a statement from a doctor or church official stating the reasons for exemption should be presented at the time of registration. All required immunizations must be completed prior to the start of school. A physical examination is required for entrance to school and must be completed by Dec. 31, 2014. Vision and hearing screenings for all children entering kindergarten will be conducted during the school year.

In addition, the school requests that if a parent has an outstanding court order or decree regarding the legal custody of a child, that a copy of the order be presented at registration time.

Parents with a child of kindergarten age who will not enroll their child are asked to notify the office at Center School at 508-758-2521.