Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) will hold its annual Kindergarten Kickoff event on Wednesday for incoming kindergarten students and their families to learn more about the school they will be attending in the fall.

According to an ACPS press release, doors at all the district’s elementary or K-8 schools that serve kindergarten will open at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, minus Oak View Middle School in Newberry.

Oak View, which is expanding into a Pre-K-8 school in the fall under a right-sizing plan approved by the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) in March, will hold its Kindergarten Kickoff at 3:30 p.m.

During the districtwide event, children and their families will have the opportunity to talk to teachers and staff and tour the building.

The first day of school for students at most ACPS schools will be Monday, Aug. 10. Under Florida law, the release states that children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible to enroll in kindergarten.

The release notes that recently completed changes to the school attendance boundaries – also part of the approved right-sizing plan – may affect where some students attend school this upcoming year. Families are encouraged to visit alachuaschools.net/ourschoolsfutureready to find the new school boundary maps. Instructions for accessing the maps and the address look-up system can also be found on the website.

Parents or guardians can start the online registration process for their incoming kindergarten student(s) – and any student who will be new to ACPS – on Wednesday by visiting alachuaschools.net/enrollment.

Prior to the start of the school year, families will need to provide several required documents to their student’s zoned school, the release said. This includes a birth certificate, proof of a recent physical exam, immunization records and two proofs of residence in the parent or guardian’s name. Some examples of a proof of residence include a lease agreement, a property tax statement, a utility bill or other documents.

While schools will be open during the summer months to help families with enrollment, the district encourages parents to complete the process as soon as they can to avoid the last-minute rush.

For more information about Kindergarten Kick-Off, visit alachuaschools.net/kindergartenkickoff.