BELMONT — Telephone pre-registration for 2024-25 kindergarten students will be held March 1-17.

Parents who have children eligible to attend kindergarten in August should call the elementary school between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the weeks of March 1-15. To be eligible, a child must be 5 years of age on or before Aug. 1. The numbers to call are: 740-782-1384, 740-782-1385 or 740-782-1374.

The pre-registration program is the first step for parents with kindergarten students for next year. Required vaccinations include: 2 MMR, 4 Polio, 5 DPT, Hepatitis B Series, 2 Chicken Pox or date of exposure. These immunizations are available free of charge to those who are underinsured by the Belmont County Health Department. Call for an appointment 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Health Department can be reached at 740-695-1202.

In accordance with state law, all children must successfully complete kindergarten before they will be admitted to the first grade.

Once telephone registration for kindergarten is completed, the parent/guardian will be notified, by letter, as to the date and time for their child’s kindergarten screening, which will be scheduled during the last week of school, May 17, 20, 21, 22 or 23.

Union Local schools also provides a preschool program for children age 4. If you know anyone with a child, birth to 4 years old, have them call the school and get their child on the Little Jets Registry. Parents can call 740-782-1384.