Question about year round calendar and tracks (daycare, middle school)

[mcfamilyof4]

How do you know which track you child will start in when you are a new comer? Do you just start on the next one coming up that is closest to your move? Or do you have the option to skip that one and start on the next track?

My kids will be at Jones Dairy in WF and from the calendar it looks like the first track that starts aftert our moved date is Track 1 starting July 9. Do we automatically get put into that one or is there an option to wait until track 4 starts in late august.

I think i would rather have them start earlier just because I work and then i wont have to find daycare/camps for the whole summer. But I was just wondering.

thanks

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by mcfamilyof4

How do you know which track you child will start in when you are a new comer? Do you just start on the next one coming up that is closest to your move? Or do you have the option to skip that one and start on the next track?

My kids will be at Jones Dairy in WF and from the calendar it looks like the first track that starts aftert our moved date is Track 1 starting July 9. Do we automatically get put into that one or is there an option to wait until track 4 starts in late august.

I think i would rather have them start earlier just because I work and then i wont have to find daycare/camps for the whole summer. But I was just wondering.

thanks

I doubt you will have a problem getting them into a track other then 4. That is the most popular one. I would call the school and see what their policy is though.

My friend's daughter is starting Kindergarden at Jones Dairy in August. WHen they registered, they were told track 4 was pretty filled at most grade levels.

[leighbhe]

Originally Posted by mcfamilyof4

How do you know which track you child will start in when you are a new comer? Do you just start on the next one coming up that is closest to your move? Or do you have the option to skip that one and start on the next track?

My kids will be at Jones Dairy in WF and from the calendar it looks like the first track that starts aftert our moved date is Track 1 starting July 9. Do we automatically get put into that one or is there an option to wait until track 4 starts in late august.

I think i would rather have them start earlier just because I work and then i wont have to find daycare/camps for the whole summer. But I was just wondering.

thanks

From what I understand, you need to register with the school (tell them you are moving, when your close date is, etc) and call the school directly as you will get the most accurate information for that particular school. I believe they will put you where they have space. We are on track 4 for north forest pines, and it starts july 30th, the other tracks start july 9th. Definitely call and ask at jones dairy.

I think tracks 1 and 4 are relatively popular, so I don't know how available they will be.

Leigh

[mommy3RD]

I have three kids who will be in K, 1st, 4th for next year. How likely would it be to get all three kids in the same track? I really have no problem with the year round schedule, but not having them be on the same tracks would be hell-ish!!

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by mommy3RD

I have three kids who will be in K, 1st, 4th for next year. How likely would it be to get all three kids in the same track? I really have no problem with the year round schedule, but not having them be on the same tracks would be hell-ish!!

I hear it's not guaranteed, but I do know families that have kids on the same track, so it's not impossible either.

I don't know how they are addressing this (most of my friends have only children) or it's the same at each school. Have you talked to the specific school?

[NYer]

Jones Dairy/Heritge MS puts them all on the same track, unless you request otherwise.

[mommy3RD]

No, we haven't even decided if we are definitely moving yet. We are planning our first visit late June/early July. That was just a main concern of mine to get them all on the same track. I do understand that come middle school they may go back to a regular schedule. But it would be great to have them on the same schedule for as long as we can.

Are the class sizes generally kept to a reasonable level? With all this growth that would be a concern. Do they add in aides if the classes get too big?

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by mommy3RD

No, we haven't even decided if we are definitely moving yet. We are planning our first visit late June/early July. That was just a main concern of mine to get them all on the same track. I do understand that come middle school they may go back to a regular schedule. But it would be great to have them on the same schedule for as long as we can.

Are the class sizes generally kept to a reasonable level? With all this growth that would be a concern. Do they add in aides if the classes get too big?

Lower grades have smaller classes...higher grades seem to be around 28 students max (we've never had more then that - often smaller). There seemed to be plenty of aides, but they often are shared amoung teachers.

[mommy3RD]

My son's kindergarten class this year has 28 kids. I was HORRIFIED!!! They do get an aide everyday, but still that is more like crowd control than a classroom especially for kindergarten. I can see larger classes like that in the higher grades, but not that young! My daughter's classes were never this large. She is in 3rd grade now and has never had a class bigger than 22.

BTW they tried to get year round schooling up here and the teachers union shot it down quickly. Now instead they are lengthening the school day by almost 2 hours. So now they will start their day at 7:45a and end at 3:35p. Which means my kids will get the bus at 7:15am and get off at 4:00pm. Keep in mind we have full day kindergarten so even the young ones will be on this schedule. This is the result of MCAS testing gearing our curriculum and scheduling.

[jgmarie]

Originally Posted by mcfamilyof4

How do you know which track you child will start in when you are a new comer? Do you just start on the next one coming up that is closest to your move? Or do you have the option to skip that one and start on the next track?

You will be assigned a track when you register them for their school. You can tell them which one you want, but, it is not guaranteed you will get it. I know they do try and keep siblings on the same track.

But, what I wanted to add: is that once you are on a track, it can be hard to change--I know the school my son attends, does not like when someone wants a track change, they had to have a good reason in writing (which they won't accept until I think Feb.) So, I guess I'm saying....try and pick the track best for your family.