One of the hardest things that I will be dealing with in 2013 is sending my first child off to kindergarten. Of course I’ve been affected by the event that took place in Sandy Hook in December. What parent or human being wasn’t? It turned what was already a scary proposition (sending my little man off into the big world) into something that literally makes me shudder to think about.
I’m not a helicopter parent. I don’t need to be there for my son every minute of every day. And yes, I send him to pre-school, so I get that it’s pretty much the same deal. It just completely overwhelms me to think about my first baby leaving the house every day and fending for himself in an environment that I myself found very intimidating when I was young.
So, like any good parent, I’m researching the heck out of prospective schools. We’ve met with principals; we’re going to open houses. I’ve been knocked down by nostalgia when walking through cafeterias and libraries, and I’ve been generally pleased with the prospective schools that my son may attend.
The process is complicated for parents sending their child off to kindergarten for the first time, so I wanted to share some of the details that I’ve learned so that you don’t over look them.
If you plan to send your child to the school assigned to where you live, there’s not much to sweat. Visit the school and get a tour, then be sure to register your child in CMS. But, if you’re looking into sending your child to a magnet program (public schools with themed programs to promote individual students’ interests, talents and abilities), you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the skinny on the details:
For a list of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Magnet Schools and theme description, click here.For a full list of Open House Dates, check out this calendar.
Here are the forms you need to enroll your child in CMS.
New and future students who enroll between December 10, 2012 and April 12, 2013 will be sent their Student Identification and PIN numbers beginning in mid-March, 2013. This will allow them to have access to their online Magnet Lottery Application form. The online Magnet Lottery Applications for the Second Lottery will be available March 13 until May 3, 2013.
For the most up to date information regarding school options, dates and details, visit: www.cms.k12.nc.us
