Kindergarten Frequently Asked Questions for 2025-2026
All final information regarding the start of school will be mailed at the end of August.
Where is the Kindergarten Center located?
109 Sylvan Street. Students enter through the lobby entrance doors.
How do I register my child for Kindergarten?
Parents/Guardians must complete the online registration. Upon submission, please email registration@rutherfordschools.org or call 201-438-7675 Ext. 1112 to continue the registration process. Only fully registered students will receive information directly from the Kindergarten Center such as orientation information or student visits to the Kindergarten Center.
What medical paperwork is required for my child to start kindergarten?
Every child is required to provide the school with:
Immunization record
Physical form (completed after September 2024)
Incomplete medical paperwork will delay your child’s start of school and information regarding submission of paperwork will be shared after you speak with the BOE office.
What if I have questions regarding my child’s medical paperwork?
Should you have any questions regarding medical forms or immunizations please email efarrell@rutherfordschools.org. Please note in the subject line, Kindergarten Registration 2025-2026.
Is there a Parent Orientation?
Yes. This event is not intended for parents who have previously had a child attend the Kindergarten Center. This informative session will review some of the procedural information regarding the Kindergarten Center and provide you with a peek inside the day of a kindergartener. This is an adult only event.
What are the hours of the Kindergarten Center?
School hours are 8:45 a.m.-2:35 p.m. The lobby entrance doors open at 8:30 a.m. Classes begin promptly at 8:45 a.m.
Are before and after care programs available?
Bulldog Care is available to students grades K-6. Information regarding this program can be found at https://sites.google.com/rutherfordschools.org/bulldog-care/home. Registration is limited.
Does the Kindergarten Center have an attendance policy?
Yes. Daily attendance is a requirement for every grade. Students who are absent more than 18 days can be retained and an appeals process will be made available to parents at that time. The 18 days include ALL absences including medical and planned absences. The school will notify parents when a child has accumulated 10 absences.
Can I walk my child into school on the first day of school?
Parents are encouraged to walk their child to the front of the school for the first few days of school. Parents may not enter the building and an area for drop off will be posted. The Kindergarten Center staff will be ready to help your child enter the building and find their classroom. Please be sure your child wears the name tag that was mailed directly to parents.
What do I need for the first day of school?
Children will need to wear the name tag that was mailed via USPS to parents for the first week of school. All supplies are asked to be brought to the Sneak-a-Peek held prior to the start of the school year.
What does my child need for kindergarten?
A supply list will be posted on the school webpage no later than July 1, 2025. In addition to school supplies, children need a lunch and water on a daily basis. A change of clothing (labeled in a ziplock bag) will be sent and kept in school in the event it is needed.
What are the options for lunch?
Students remain in school for lunch. Students may bring lunch to school on a daily basis. Suggestions include a sandwich or thermos meal, a small snack, and a drink. Lunch is not heated and utensils are not provided. Glass containers are not permitted. Ordering lunch is an alternative to bringing in lunch. Information regarding the district’s option to purchase lunch will be provided in the Welcome to Kindergarten Information Packet. In the past, the PTA sponsored lunch options as well. This information will be sent home after the start of the school year from the PTA.
What does a typical day look like for a kindergartener?
Kindergarten students are engaged in exciting learning opportunities throughout the day as well as opportunities for play and social exploration.
How do I know about events at the Kindergarten Center during the school year?
Information is shared electronically through email blasts, our school calendar and school/teacher websites. School-Home folders are sent between home and school on a daily basis as well. Parents are encouraged to check daily.
When do I find out specific information about my child’s start to kindergarten?
The Welcome to Kindergarten Information Packet is sent via Connect 5 to all registered students in late August. This information includes:
Welcome Letter with procedures
Sneak-A-Peek information *Students can sneak-a-peek of their classroom and their teacher the day before school. This is just a peek and parents will have time to hear from their child’s classroom teacher at Back to School Night
Lunch Order information
Parent Portal Letter mailed via USPS
Teacher Welcome Letter and Name Tag mailed via USPS
How can I prepare my child for Kindergarten?
Foster your child’s ability to positively engage within a group. Practice introducing themselves and greeting familiar and unfamiliar people. Practice turn-taking, sharing, communicating likes and dislikes and how to react when you lose a game or something doesn’t go their way.
Empower your child to be independent. Practice opening and closing lunch boxes, snack containers, and placing straws into their juice boxes. Encourage your child to be able to dress independently by ensuring they can put on and take off sweatshirts and jackets.
Engage them in opportunities for learning. Sing the ABCs, count the swings at the park, and model your love of reading by reading with them, talking about the story and using the characters’ names when you share. Talk with your child about their day and have them share what is important to them. Complete the summer calendar. A summer calendar of daily activities has been created by the kindergarten teachers for parents and students. The calendars for July and August will be available in late June on our website.
Kindergarten is the next step in your child’s journey and we look forward to being a part of it with you and your child!