School District 59 will kick off its kindergarten and new student registration for the 2015/2016 school year on Thursday, February 26, 2015, with a special evening registration from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at all of the district’s elementary sites. Registration will continue at each school from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on days that school is in session.

Choice program options are offered at Salt Creek School and at Ridge Family Center for Learning. Salt Creek offers a dual language (Spanish/English) program and Ridge Family Center for Learning offers a balanced calendar program. Both programs are open to all District 59 residents. The registration deadline for these choice programs is Friday, March 13. Please contact the schools directly for dates of selection lotteries for their special kindergarten options.

A child whose fifth birthday falls on or before September 1, 2015, is eligible to attend kindergarten starting in the 2015/2016 school year. Parents should bring their child’s certified birth certificate when registering their child for kindergarten. A birth certificate or other reliable proof, as determined by the Illinois Department of State Police, of the student’s identity is required by state law to show proof of a child’s identity and age. If no birth certificate is submitted at the time of registration, a parent must fill out an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate and must provide the birth certificate within 30 days of the start of school. Birth certificate request forms are available at all District 59 elementary schools.

Additional information needed at the time of registration includes: parent/guardian home telephone number, work number(s), cell phone number(s) and the name and telephone number of someone to contact in the event of an emergency. We also ask parents to provide their email addresses. A parent will also be required to complete a form verifying residency within School District 59. Parents will need to provide multiple forms of verification for proof of residency, including items such as: most recent real estate tax bill, signed lease for residence, driver’s license, gas or electric bill, voter’s registration card or other documents verifying residence in School District 59.

At registration, parents or guardians will be given physical examination forms and information to be completed and filed with the school before the start of the 2015/2016 school year. Dental forms will be distributed and must be returned by May 15, 2016.

An instructional materials fee will be invoiced prior to the start of the school year. This fee is charged to offset some of the cost of instructional materials and supplies for the 2015/2016 school year.

Parents who have questions regarding new student registration should contact the School District office at (847) 593-4300.