Will my child be ready for Kindergarten?
At Spring Valley Academy we uphold the idea that childhood is not a race, and that when it comes to readiness, age is just one piece of the equation.
Is my child required to start school at age 5? What if they will be a young 5 because they have a summer birthday- can I wait and give them more time to develop?
The Ohio state law says that students entering Kindergarten must at minimum turn 5 by September 30th. But you are not required to start your child in school the year that they turn 5. In fact, you are allowed to wait until the year they turn 6 years old.
This is an important detail for parents of children who may be wondering whether or not their child will be ready to start Kindergarten next year, especially those children who have summer or early fall birthdays. If your child’s fifth birthday falls between May and September, we can screen them with our Gesell Developmental Readiness Assessment, if you would like to use that information to help you make a decision on what is best for your child.
Contact Nicole Starkey at nistarkey@springvalleyacademy.org
Abigail Ottinger
My name is Abigail Ottinger, but I go by Abby. I will be teaching Kindergarten this year. I just graduated from Union Adventist University in May. I grew up in Western North Carolina but have been in Ohio for the last three years. As this school year begins, I am most excited to build meaningful relationships with my kindergarten students, teach them, and show them the love of Christ each day. I want to create a classroom where they feel safe, loved, and excited to learn and grow. Outside of work I love reading, doing puzzles, being outside, and traveling. I am excited to be a part of the Spring Valley Academy community and getting to know you all!