BRSSD explains TK, kindergarten eligibility, enrollment steps and daily routines

Dan Degora, superintendent of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, opened the transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten information night and told families that enrollment is currently live online at brssd.org.

"TK is open to all students whose fourth birthday ... occurs by September 1, and [kindergarten] whose fifth birthday occurs by September 1," Degora said, adding that the district will offer full-year TK and kindergarten. He said the district follows California's birthdate cutoffs and enrolls based on birth date.

Gloria Higgins, principal of Sandpiper School, walked families through a sample TK day: campus opens about 8:20 a.m., instruction begins around 8:25 a.m., a mid-morning recess begins near 9:45–10:00 a.m., and TK dismissal is generally around noon; kindergarten dismissal is typically about 1 p.m., though times vary by site.

"We're very pleased to be able to offer universal meals for all of our students," Higgins said, explaining that both breakfast and lunch are free and that breakfast is part of instructional minutes. She advised families to apply for the federal free and reduced-price meal program even though meals are free, because that eligibility can make students eligible for other services such as the district's Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP).

Susan Nichols, a veteran classroom teacher, summarized the district's core classroom programs: the phonemic-awareness program Heggerty in TK; Math Expressions for many elementary grades; Twig Science; social-emotional curricula such as Second Steps and Wayfinder; TCI for history and social sciences; and the early-reading program Super Kids. Nichols said TK students are not assigned homework beyond reading and that teachers do not use one-to-one devices in TK.

"In TK, we don't use screens," Nichols said, noting occasional short instructional videos but no regular individual iPad or computer use for TK students.

Higgins described the online enrollment process and paperwork families must upload: parent identification (driver's license or passport), the student's original birth certificate or passport if applicable, proof of residency (property tax bill, lease) and two household bills in the parent or caregiver name. Immunizations must be current; families with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans are encouraged to upload those documents at registration.

The district said assignments for TK and kindergarten will be mailed in two notification waves: the first group will receive letters around April 10 and the second group around June 30. Degora said families already past the Feb. 13 window should focus on the current and upcoming enrollment windows and that families who need help with the online portal can schedule an appointment with district staff.

Before- and after-school care is available through outside providers at school sites (examples: Champions, Sandpiper Youth Club, San Carlos Belmont after-care, Footsteps); families must register directly with those providers. Higgins also noted that some sites do not offer TK (Central and Nesbit) and that the district prioritizes placement so those home-school families are considered appropriately for kindergarten.

Degora highlighted parent fundraising and partnerships that supplement district funding, saying Schoolforce, the district foundation, raised about $3,000,000 last year to support counselors, specialists and other programs.

The session closed with instructions to watch ParentSquare and district communications for placement notices and outreach, and with a reminder to contact Jocelyn at the district office for individualized help with enrollment.