Pre-K Troubles

I called Valley View School District last summer trying to get Asher into thier Pre-K program for the 09-10 school year. Because of the new birthday cut off date (September 1st), Asher was not allowed to sign up for that school year, so we went ahead and put her on the list for 2010-11 school year. I called today to check on the status and see if I needed to do anything and they can not find her name on thier list. I was so upset. I called pre-K schools all morning and this late in the year, they were all full. I put Asher's name on several waiting lists. Technically, we are in Jonesboro School District. When I called the Jonesboro Pre-K Center they will not put Asher's name on the list until I go get an application, fill it out completely and return it with a copy of her birth certificate, SS card, updated immunization records, a physical (we called the Dr to get her appt for a physical and the 1st available was June 17th) and proof of income (which I don't understand why that is any of thier business). When they receive it all, they will make her a file and then allow us to put her name on the waiting list. They accept 180 kids each year in that one school. You can't tell me every pre-k is full when there are a million schools around here: Valley View, Jonesboro, Nettleton, Westside, Brookland, Montessori School, Concordia, just to name a few.

I was pretty upset all morning. I just kept thinking, my baby is going to be 5 years old in September and they are trying to tell me I still can't start her in Pre-K? SO FRUSTRATING!!! Then someone suggested for me to call Ridgefield Christian. I have heard how expensive the private Christian school is and didn't think there was a chance we could afford to send Asher there. I called anyways because I was desparate and wanted to get Asher's name on as many waiting lists as possible. I was so relieved and excited to know they have registration on March 29th and they do have opening available at this time. That doesn't mean she has gotten in, but there is a chance. The more Jacob and I talked about it, I am pretty excited. I love the idea of Asher going to a private Christian school. She will have smaller classes, she will get to wear cute little uniforms and it very reasonably cost compared to the other pre-k schools. I had heard it was $5-6K a year, but the pre-k is only $33oo/school year. Yippy!!!

Everything happens for a reason, and I hope that Valley View losing Asher's name was God's way of saying that Asher needs to go to Ridgefield Christian. Now let's pray hard that on March 29th, I can get her in. :)