For the first time ever, incoming kindergarten students within the Hanover School Division can be registered online.

Assistant Superintendent Colin Campbell says this new method of doing things began on January 7th and has already been met by overwhelming parent approval.

“It has been fantastic, to be honest, after the first week we already had 260 children registered for kindergarten for next year.” Typically, Hanover expects roughly 700 registrations between now and September, so this is already a large percentage of students.

In previous years, Campbell indicates that the division had a designated registration week in which parents would either have to phone in or come in person to register their children. The new online system simplifies this process.

“At the end of the day, we wanted things to be convenient for parents and feel like its an easy process. If they can provide us with information we need from the comfort of their own home were happy to take it.”

If parents do not have access to their own computer, Campbell says laptops are provided in all elementary school offices for them to come and fill out the forms as needed.

On the topic of kindergarten Campbell says he often gets asked what parents can do to prepare kids for their first year in school. He says the division has a couple of great opportunities.

“One program we offer is called ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll’ where young kids and their parents can come to the school and participate in movement, coordination, and listening exercises.”

Meanwhile, Campbell adds that a number of elementary schools in the region offer free parent and child community programs filled with crafts, story times, and snacks.

Campbell says these programs have been ongoing for the past several years but are still largely unknown throughout the division. He encourages parents to consider checking out these activities with their kids in order to ease their transition into Kindergarten.