All About Kindergarten

2020-2021 School Year

Building on a Legacy of Success 2 Robbinsdale Area Schools

Our Mission The mission of Robbinsdale Area Schools is to inspire and educate all learners to develop their unique potential and positively contribute to their community.

Unified District Vision Robbinsdale Area Schools is committed to ensuring every student graduates career and college ready. We believe each student has limitless possibilities and we strive to ignite the potential in every student. We expect high intellectual performance from all our students. We are committed to ensuring an equitable and respectful educational experience for every student, family and staff member, focusing on strengths related to: ● Race ● National Origin ● Age ● Culture ● Socioeconomic Status ● Ability ● Ethnicity ● Gender ● Religion ● Home or First Language ● Sexual Orientation ● Physical Appearance

The Unified District Vision Consists of Four Key Goals: 1. Implement policies and practices that open pathways to academic excellence for all students 2. Utilize culturally responsive teaching and personalized learning for all students 3. Engage family and community members as partners 4. Engage and Empower students by amplifying student voice

Building on a Legacy of Success 3 Elementary Schools

Robbinsdale Area Schools serves approximately 12,000 students in seven communities in the northwest Twin Cities area, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.

Our District has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, two high schools, an alternative high school and a robust Early Childhood and Community Education program that serves learners of all ages.

Building on a Legacy of Success 4 Neighborhood Schools Neighborhood or attendance area schools provide a comprehensive education serving children and families who live in the neighborhood. Neighborhood schools foster a sense of pride in the community and support community partnerships.

Elementary School Sites

Forest PreK-5 Neighborhood School

Lakeview PreK-5 Neighborhood School with a focus on International Baccalaureate

Meadow Lake PreK-5 Neighborhood School with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics

Neill PreK-5 Neighborhood School

Noble PreK-5 Neighborhood School with a focus on Computer Science/Coding

Northport PreK-5 Neighborhood School with a focus on Arts Integration/Dual Spanish Immersion (K-2)

Sonnesyn PreK-5 Neighborhood School

Zachary Lane PreK-5 Neighborhood School Building on a Legacy of Success 5 Magnet Schools Magnet schools provide a comprehensive education with a school-wide focus on a special area of study. Magnet schools draw families from across the district with busing provided. Families must apply through a lottery system in order to attend a magnet school. Magnet school applications will be available December 1, 2020 and are due February 25, 2021.

Elementary Magnet School Sites

FAIR Pilgrim Lane K-4 Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource

Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion K-5 Spanish Immersion

School of Engineering and Arts K-5 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics

Building on a Legacy of Success 6 School Finder

To find your neighborhood school (or school of attendance), please click on our School Finder and enter your address.

Building on a Legacy of Success 7 Kindergarten Enrollment Kindergarten Enrollment Process Children who reach their 5th birthday on or before September 1* are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the school year immediately following their birthday. We offer tuition-free all day kindergarten at all elementary schools (half-day placements are available by request).

*Early entrance to Kindergarten applications are available for parents interested in enrolling children in Kindergarten who turn five between September 2 and October 31 and demonstrate advanced learning needs.

1.) Early Childhood Screening Early Childhood Screening is required for all children before they start kindergarten. Screening can be done when your child is 3-5 years old. • Robbinsdale Area Schools offers free screening at the New Hope Learning Center, 8301 47th Ave. N., New Hope. • To make an appointment, call (763) 504-4180 and visit our webpage or view this Early Childhood screening video for more information.

Building on a Legacy of Success 8 Kindergarten Enrollment 2.) To enroll your child in kindergarten, we will need the following:

● Completed Enrollment Forms Options: English / Spanish / Online* *Please note that the online registration system is not for our Early Education Programs Printed packets are available February 1 at the Enrollment Center. Completed packets may be returned via: ○ 763-504-8081 (fax) [email protected] (email) ○ Drop-off/Mail: 4148 Winnetka Ave N, New Hope, MN 55427 Online registration is preferred - contact the Enrollment Center for assistance ● Completed Immunization Record Form: English / Amharic / Hmong / Karen / Russian / Somali / Spanish / Vietnamese Robbinsdale Area Schools is committed to a healthy and safe learning environment. Minnesota law requires certain immunizations, or written proof of exemption, for students to attend school. Students are not allowed to attend school until they are compliant with Minnesota's Immunization Law. Please see the Minnesota Department of Health's website for more information. ● Birth Certificate or other proof of age document ● Proof of Residency - driver's license, utility bill, lease or purchase agreement

Building on a Legacy of Success 9 Kindergarten Magnet Enrollment

Families interested in enrolling their incoming kindergarten student in a magnet school are required to complete and submit an application. Families who have an older student(s) currently enrolled at RSI, SEA or FAIR School Pilgrim Lane must also complete an application for their incoming kindergarten student; siblings of currently enrolled students, who meet the application deadline, will receive a seat through the sibling preference policy.

If the school has more applicants than space available, new kindergarten students will be selected by lottery.

KINDERGARTEN MAGNET LOTTERY APPLICATION

Family Financial Determination Form A certain number of seats are reserved for families who meet specific income guidelines. If you are unsure of whether you qualify, we encourage you to submit the form.

Please view our webpage or Magnet Lottery FAQ for more information.

Building on a Legacy of Success 10 School Transfer

A school transfer form is required when: ● a resident student wishes to attend a school other than their attendance area school ● a non-resident student who has been accepted for open-enrollment and wishes to attend a different Robbinsdale Area School

School Transfer requests are subject to space availability, date the School Transfer Form is received and priority order. Sibling enrollments, daycare arrangements and circumstances unique to an individual student are considered, but do not guarantee approval of the transfer request. Please see our website for more information.

TRANSFER FORM - ENGLISH / SPANISH ● Print copies are available for pick up at the Enrollment Center

Return completed forms via: ● Fax: 763-504-8081 ● Email: [email protected] ● Drop-off/mail: Enrollment Center, 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope, MN 55427

Bus Transportation Families of students approved for school transfers will need to provide their own transportation to and from any non-magnet school outside of their attendance area.

Building on a Legacy of Success 11 Open Enrollment

Open enrollment is a legal right in the state of Minnesota. An open enrollment application is necessary when a non-resident student living outside the district is interested in enrolling in Robbinsdale Area Schools.

Open enrollment requests are approved based on space availability, in the order they are received and on a priority basis. (The Open Enrollment January 15 deadline is not applicable in our district.)

Families interested in open enrollment should complete a Statewide Enrollment Options Form. Print copies are available for pick up at the Enrollment Center.

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS FORM - ENGLISH / SPANISH / SOMALI

Return completed forms via: ● Fax: 763-504-8081 ● Email: [email protected] ● Drop-off/mail: Enrollment Center, 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope, MN 55427

Bus Transportation Bus transportation is generally not provided for students who enroll through the state open enrollment option. For more information, please contact our Enrollment Center (763-504-8080).

Building on a Legacy of Success 12 Resources

Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten Family Guide Our Early Childhood Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten Family Guide has lots of information about academic standards, school contact information registration timelines, early childhood resources and more.

Kindergarten Readiness Newsletter Families, you are your child's most important teacher! Sign up here to receive Early Childhood monthly newsletters, March-August that include parenting tips, learning games and activities and updates about the start of school.

For more information on enrolling your student, please contact our • Enrollment Center at 763-504-8080 or [email protected]. • The Enrollment Center is in our District Office: 4148 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope, MN 55427

School Age Care School age care is provided through Adventure Club at each of our elementary schools from 6:30 a.m. until school start time and school release time until 6:00 p.m on all regular school days.

Building on a Legacy of Success 13 Kindergarten Registration Timeline*

Nov. 17 & 19, 2020 All About Kindergarten Virtual Open House

Dec. 1, 2020 Magnet School applications available

Jan. 4, 2020 Early Entrance Kindergarten applications due for magnet schools

Jan. 19, 2021 Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (RSI) Information Night, 6:00 - 7:30

Jan. 26, 2021 School of Engineering and Arts (SEA) Information Night, 6:00 - 7:30

Jan. 28, 2021 Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource (FAIR) School Pilgrim Lane Information Night, 6:00 - 7:30

Feb. 1, 2021 Early Entrance Kindergarten applications due for attendance area schools

Feb. 26, 2021 Application deadline for magnet school lotteries (FAIR, RSI, SEA), 4:30 PM

March 1, 2021 Magnet Lotteries occur

March 10, 2021 Families notified - Families decline or accept by March 16, 2021

May 6, 2021 Kindergarten Information and Registration Night at attendance area schools

Aug. - Sept. 2021 School Open Houses

*Subject to change Building on a Legacy of Success 14

All About Kindergarten! Robbinsdale Area Schools will host a virtual “All About Kindergarten” information event the week of November 16th. Virtual Open Houses will be time for families to meet administrators and Kindergarten teacher representatives.

November 16 Website explaining school options and registration processes is available for families to review at their convenience. November 17 Magnet School Virtual Open Houses

5:00 - 5:30 School of Engineering and Arts (SEA)

5:30 - 6:00 Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (RSI)

6:00 - 6:30 FAIR Pilgrim Lane

November 19 Attendance Area (neighborhood) School Virtual Open Houses

5:00 - 5:30 Forest Noble

5:30 - 6:00 Lakeview Northport

6:00 - 6:30 Meadow Lake Sonnesyn

6:30 - 7:00 Neill Zachary Lane Building on a Legacy of Success 15

Building on a Legacy of Success