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Readiness Activities:

Download the Placement Poster 
  • Visit your child’s new school. Be sure to attend the school orientation to get a tour and meet staff, but also visit the playground when school is not in session. The more your child gets used to going to the school, the easier it will be for him or her to separate from you on the first day.
  • Walk the route to school together before the big day. It’s a great opportunity to point out cross walks, looking both ways before crossing streets, and other safety strategies.
  • Schedule your child’s annual physical. LPS requires at the time of registration a completed physical (dated in the last 12 months), up-to-date vaccinations, a TB test or low risk assessment, and for kindergarteners only: a vision screening (including stereopsis) and lead test results.
  • Make an appointment to see a dentist. Kids can’t learn if their teeth hurt. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to set up a schedule of regular cleanings and care.
  • Create routines such as setting a bedtime and wake-up time, and sticking to them. This helps children know what to expect, and ensures they get enough rest.
  • Read books together about going to school as well as about topics that interest your child. Sign up for a library card at the Lawrence Public Library, where you can borrow books to enjoy at home.
  • Make the most out of down time together. For example, when walking, driving or taking the bus, ask questions about what you see: How many cars are over there? What color is that sign? What letter does ‘bus’ start with? How many steps do you think it will take us to reach the doorway?
  • Encourage independence by allowing your child to make limited choices such as “Do you want to wear your purple shirt or the yellow one?” Encourage your child to dress him or herself, learn to button and zip clothes, and put on his or her own shoes. Learning how to open juice boxes and food containers are also skills that will help make the transition into the classroom a little easier.
  • Don’t forget: Lawrence Public Schools has a uniform policy. Uniforms can be purchased from a number of retailers in Lawrence and include many styles of shirts, pants, shorts, skirts and jumpers.