Boise-Eliot/Humboldt Elementary School

(Photo by Beth Conyers)

(Photo by Beth Conyers)

CLOSE

For parents about to send a child to school for the first time, kindergarten can seem like a daunting challenge. But if you have a child who will attend kindergarten in Portland Public Schools in the fall, our Connect to Kindergarten events can help ease the transition.

Connect to Kindergarten, which got underway last month, is a series of open houses for families of kindergartners-to-be, where parents and guardians can explore classrooms, meet teachers, get your questions answered and register for school.

Visit the Connect to Kindergarten webpage for dates, times and other information, such as if childcare will be available. Dates are available for your neighborhood school, and also focus option and dual language immersion schools. Please note that if you would like your child to attend a focus option or DLI school, you will have to apply to enter a lottery by March 5 to be considered. Please register your child for kindergarten by May 4.

In addition to the open houses, families can apply to take part in the Early Kindergarten Transition program this summer. EKT is a school-based, family-oriented summer program in 14 schools, designed to help families have a successful start to school. The program will be held at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt, César Chávez, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harrison Park, James John, Kelly, Jason Lee, Lent, Rigler, Scott, Sitton, Vestal, Whitman and Woodmere.

Applications for EKT will soon be available at the program's webpage. There are limited spaces available, and families are prioritized based on eligibility factors such as income and preschool experience. To participate in EKT, students must be attending the school in the fall.

For questions about any kindergarten matters, contact Nancy Hauth at nhauth@pps.net.