Reed City hosts kindergarten roundup

Sally Barber | Cadillac News Marissa Adams, 4, participates in a hearing screening conducted by Brenda Packer during the Norman Elementary kindergarten Roundup. Next yearŐs kindergarten students will be the graduating class of 2020.

REED CITY — The Reed City Area Public Schools’ Class of 2020 took the first steps in their school career Tuesday at Norman Elementary’s Kindergarten Roundup.

About 80 students and their parents proceeded through the spring registration and orientation process. For the first time, the school combined the registration and classroom visit experience.

“Parents are often nervous and excited, as well as the child,” said Principal Sharon Moritz.

The updated Roundup process is aimed to increase comfort levels and allow parents to complete all steps of the registration process in a single visit. Children and parents visited the classrooms, met teachers and administrators, took care of paperwork and completed health screenings. The district’s transportation director was on hand to introduce children and parents to the bus system.

“We have the parents fill out the transportation request and our transportation supervisor will be there to assign the bus they will be riding on up front. They know their bus and route,” Moritz said. “This also helps the transportation supervisor plot the route.”

While most children entering Norman’s kindergarten have previously undergone hearing, speech and vision screenings in preschool situations, students not already screened were tested during Roundup.

“If we know a child needs help with something, we can help them right away,” Moritz said.

Roundup welcomed families into the renovated Norman building, opened in 2005 to educate the district’s kindergarten through fifth graders.

“We have a new computer room and an art room — no more art on the cart — and the way our building is designed with three wings, people can’t believe we have 720 students,” Moritz said.

By the time school begins in the fall, administrators anticipate registering up to 120 kindergartners. But enrollment concerns are on their minds and the amenities the district offers may help it attract and retain students.

“With schools of choice, it’s a parent’s decision,” Moritz said. “Some parents base it on jobs. Parents may find it more convenient to go to another district. Our main concern is the Michigan economy.”

Michigan’s troubled economy has resulted in declining student populations as greater numbers of families relocate for work reasons. The Reed City district expects overall fall enrollment to drop by about 20 students, according to Superintendent Steve Westhoff.

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