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Howard Elementary School

Kindergarten Round-Up and Enrollment 2026-2027

April 16, 2026

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Welcome!

Welcome to Howard Elementary!

Meet The Kindergarten Team:

Allison Fine
Amy Smart
Shadia Sobh
Manal Baydoun-ECS
Marika Anthony-IC

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3 HOWARD HABITS

BE RESPECTFUL
BE RESPONSIBLE
BE SAFE

Howard PBIS/SEL Matrix

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Communication is Key

THE BEST WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED AND UP TO DATE ARE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SCHOOL BLOG, DOWNLOAD THE PARENT SQUARE APP, READ OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!

Subscribe to our school blog @ https://howard.dearbornschools.org/

Instagram:@howard_dragons

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Howard Kids Club

To

We offer the following program here at Howard:

Kids Club Before and After School Program

Please visit the link below to learn more about Kid’s Club

Kid's Club Information

You will find pages for Registration forms, Prices

and Registration Packets.

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Getting Ready for Kindergarten Registration

How do I register my kindergarten student?

Please click HERE for a step by step guide to registering your child including all of the documentation needed.
Direct link HERE

What if I prefer the paper/pencil process?

If you would like a paper/pencil packet instead, you may pick up a packet on your way out.

When does the paperwork have to be turned in for registration?

Drop off completed packets in the main office Monday April 27th, or Wednesday April 29th 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., and/or 1:30 - 3:00 pm

Who do I call if I need assistance in the registration process?

Howard main office 313-827-6350
Student Services office 313-827-3005

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Registration continued…

Your child should be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2026. (please see Preschool & Elementary School Information page for more information and required forms).

Children born between September 2nd and December 1st can either:

Register for the Young Five program *Highly recommended for children who turn 5 after September 1st start date.
Register for Kindergarten with a Waiver Request
Kindergarten Waiver Request: if applying for Young Five/Kindergarten, the child must be at least 5 years of age by September 1, 2025. The waiver is applicable for students with birth dates from September 2 through December 1 of the school year of enrollment. Please visit our Preschool and Elementary School Information page, cited above, for more information.
The State of Michigan mandates that all children must be 5 years of age or older no later than December 1st in order to be eligible for enrollment.

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Information from Our District Nurses

State of MI requires all Kindergarteners to have immunizations up-to-date. A copy of these immunizations needs to be provided for enrollment. The immunizations required are described here: Vaccinations required for school entry.

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Each child entering Kindergarten needs to have a physical exam. This is the form the physician should complete: Health Appraisal Form.

NEW REQUIREMENT for 26/27 school year: All children in Michigan enrolled in their first year of school, either kindergarten or 1st

grade, are now required to receive an oral health assessment (dental screening) by November .

Dental Assessment Form.

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Information from Our District Nurses

If a child requires medication at school, a Medication Authorization Form needs to be signed by the parent and physician.

Please contact the school nurse with any medical conditions that may impact education or may require emergency medications. (for example: Asthma, Food Allergies, Type One Diabetes, Seizures, etc.) Health Forms can be found @ Medications at School.
When enrolling, please make sure all contact numbers are correct and the health information section is filled out completely.
For more information, please visit the School Nurse Website @ School Nurses or contact Student Services at (313) 827-3005.

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Howard PTA

PTA- (Parent-Teacher Association) helps make the school a better place for students, teachers, and families.

The PTA hosts the following events (and many more!)

• Plan fun events like welcome back picnic, book fairs, family fun nights, field day, assemblies and seasonal celebrations.

• Raise money through fundraising to buy things the school needs like playground equipment, books, classroom supplies as well as help pay for busses and field trip admissions.

• Support teachers by helping with classroom projects or organizing teacher and staff appreciation days.

• Help families stay informed by sharing news and updates about school events and activities.

• Build a school community by bringing parents, teachers, and students together to work as a team.

PTA Contact info-

Instagram: howarddragonspta email: howardpta17@gmail.com

membership: https://howard.memberhub.com/

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Instructional Content

Specials/lunch/transitions throughout the day

Subject	ELA	Math	Science	Social Studies

*** It is very important to have students come to school on time and allow them to stay for the entire school day, so they do not miss out on content. This also allows them to get used to routines and procedures much faster***

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Please work with your child on the following:

Recognize, say and write their first and last name
Use the bathroom independently
knows how to hold a pencil and crayon properly
Know if they are a packer or buyer for lunch
Be able to dress themselves including zipping or buttoning coats and pants and put on their own shoes
Basic ability to color, cut and glue
Count, recognize, and write numbers to 10
Practice recognition of ALL letters of the alphabet by sight out of order (uppercase and lowercase)
Listen and Follow one-to-two step directions
Able to play with other children following agreed upon rules
Can resolve basic conflict by using their words and getting adult if needed

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Kindergarten Screening

Students will need to come in for a brief screener of some academic and social skills
Please sign up for a timeslot using the QR code or the link below.
The dates for the screener are June 2, 3, 4, 9

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Soft Start

Kindergarteners attend half day sessions the first week of school. This half day schedule allows for:

A gradual transition to school and will include lunch.
Student assessments will be scheduled and administered in the afternoon.
This will guide your child’s differentiated instruction.
Half days - Monday, August 24 to Thursday, August 27, 2026 �Soft start flier 2026.pdf

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Lunch and Snack

Kindergarteners will have a full day of school beginning at 8:55-3:55 with the exception of Tuesdays. Every Tuesday is an early release day, students are dismissed at 2:25pm (except for the first and last Tuesday of the school year 8/25/26 and 6/8/27).
Breakfast is available from 8:30-8:55 (free for all students) for those that choose to attend.
Lunch will be served daily on full days (free for all students). Lunch time will be for 40 min and will include recess.
Snack will be 10 min. Please provide a healthy snack.

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Next Steps

What are the things that you need right now to register your child?

Make a doctor’s appointment for physical and bring physical form
Make a dentist appointment for your child’s oral screening
Locate your child’s birth certificate
Locate proof of residency
Refer to teacher’s supply lists at the beginning of the year

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What is Young 5s Kindergarten?

A bridge between preschool and kindergarten.
FREE, full-day program that gives young learners a head start and provides them with an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs.

Entering kindergarten is an exciting time for children! This new chapter

sets the tone for a child’s future. Kindergarten standards and curriculum

have changed over the years, and many of the skills children were once

taught in first grade are now expected in kindergarten. This is just one

reason why states, including Michigan, have a September 1st cutoff date

for school enrollment. Educators and researchers know that these few

months make a huge difference in what a child is ready to learn.

The good news is that Young 5s Kindergarten sets children up for the

opportunity to learn in a hands-on, interactive way that supports their

development while still maintaining the rigor and high standards of

success.

Young 5s Kindergarten is offered for children who need the time and

opportunity to continue building their skills and abilities. Their time in

Young 5s Kindergarten will help them succeed in kindergarten, become

leaders in the classroom, and confidently navigate the school day rou-

tine.and provides them with an opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs.

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Young 5s is encouraged for…

Children with birthdays that fall between June 15th & December 1st

Children who would benefit from an additional year of growth between preschool and kindergarten.

Manal

Young 5s Kindergarten is for any child who would benefit from having

the gift of time to strengthen their confidence as a learner while promot-

ing their individual academic development to be a successful student

with the school readiness and social skill necessary for kindergarten.

Young 5s Kindergarten is for children whose birthdays occur between

June 15th and December 1st. Young 5s is encouraged for students who

would benefit from an additional year of growth between preschool and

kindergarten.

Young 5’s is not holding your child back from kindergarten, it is preparing them for kindergarten.

Kindergarten is a rigorous grade level (kid of like 1st grade when we were kids), it is always beneficial to allow students the time to make sure that they are prepared both socially and emotionally and academically. This will set them up for success for the rest of their life.

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What Happens in a Young 5s Kindergarten Classroom?

✴ Classroom: 19 or fewer students

✴ Length of school day: Full day of school, five days a week

✴ Shared activities: They participate in all kindergarten activities

✴ Curriculum and learning: Academic and social skills that build on previous learning

✴ Learning environment: Children will build a strong language base

In Young 5s Kindergarten, teachers help children develop through a

thematic, hands-on approach. They expose children to reading and

math in an exciting, interactive way by using educational games to

teach children about words and sentences and help them understand

mathematical concepts like counting and patterns.

✴ Classroom: Young 5s Kindergarteners have their own classroom

with their own teacher in a class setting of 19 or fewer students.

✴ Length of school day: They attend a full day of school, five days a

week.

✴ Shared activities: They participate in all kindergarten activities

including music, art, and gym throughout the year.

✴ Curriculum and learning: They learn important new academic and

social skills that build on previous learning that will help them adjust to the elementary school environment.

✴ Learning environment: Children will build a strong language base

by rhyming, patterning, playing with words, listening to stories, etc.

Young 5s Kindergarten students are saturated with these concepts

in a fun yet challenging way that will enhance your child’s fine

motor control, independent problem solving and communication

skills. Our aim is that your child develops a love of learning and a

love for school!

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Students that attended Dearborn Public Schools’ Young 5s program showed higher student achievement in

kindergarten and first grade compared to similarly-aged students that did not attend Young 5s.

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Enrollment Procedure

Attend kindergarten roundup & enrollment paperwork at your home school.
If there are no Young 5s classrooms at your home school, administrators will refer families to buildings with the Young 5s program.
Parents will be notified of slot availability by the final day of this school year.

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Intervention Rates for Waiver-Enrolled Students

Nearly half of the students who entered kindergarten via the waiver process required intensive intervention services from an Early Childhood Specialist.

2025-26 Grade Level	% of students with waivers who receive ECS services (9/2 to 12/1 birthdates who did NOT attend Young 5s)
K	42%
1st	44%

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Young 5s Students have Higher Achievement

20 to 25% of students who qualify for Y5 and skip it are retained.

Y5 Students are more likely to be performing at grade level

Kindergarten i-Ready Placement

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The ELC of Dearborn

The Early Learning Coalition of Dearborn is a collaborative network of community partners dedicated to helping parents and caregivers raise healthy, happy, and well-prepared children. We serve as a central resource hub, connecting families with the tools they need to make the most of their child’s early years through educational videos, a directory of local services, and a calendar of free family events. Our mission is to empower families and foster lifelong learning by supporting every stage of a child’s physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. We invite you to explore our resources and join our community to help your family thrive.

Dearborn Summer Market

Save the Dates!

June 12th & Aug 14th

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Hip Hip Hurray for K!

We are so very excited to welcome your child to the wonderful world of Kindergarten!

Thank you for joining us!