It is time to pre-enroll students for the 2008-09 Linton-Stockton kindergarten classes.

During the month of April the school needs to know the names of those students who will be taking the kindergarten screening in May. Children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1, 2008, may take the screening which will be given in the kindergarten rooms in the elementary school on May 16, 19, and 20.

As pre-enrollment information is received, each child will be given an appointment to come in on one of those days for screening. Anyone who needs a pre-enrollment form should contact the elementary school office. The phone number is 847-6039.

Just because a child happens to be 5 years old before Aug. 1, 2008, don't assume he/she is ready for kindergarten. Many children mature at a slower rate and perhaps in every aspect except age, they are not ready to start school.

The results of the screening can be indicators that a child is not ready. It is far better to start later than to start anyway and be behind from the very beginning of school. The whole purpose of the school's screening program is early prevention of school failure.

The early identification and remediation of problems which interfere with children's learning will help to prevent school failure.

Required immunizations for school enrollment are:

* Five doses of DTaP/DTP/DT

* Four doses of polio

* Two doses MMR

* Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine

* One dose of Varicella, or date of chickenpox disease