Countdown to Kindergarten Town Hall

Countdown to Kindergarten - Introduction

As a parent myself, I still remember the emotions that came with sending my children to kindergarten for the first time—wondering if they’d make friends, get on the right bus, or feel safe and cared for in their classroom. It’s completely normal to feel nervous, excited, and maybe even a little overwhelmed.

That’s why we’ve created Countdown to Kindergarten, a weekly video series designed to support you and answer your questions as we get closer to the first day of school. From routines to safety, lunch to learning we’ll cover it all, with the help of our educators and staff. You are not alone in this journey. We’re here for you, and we can’t wait to welcome your child and your entire family into the CCSD community.

If you have Kindergarten questions about the 2025–2026 school year, feel free to submit them through the form linked below. A member of our early learning team will respond to help guide you.

The series will be organized into four key topics: Academics, Transportation, Volunteering and Visitors, and Testing and Parent Conferences

To wrap up the series, I’ll be hosting a special town hall event on July 30 with 25–30 incoming kindergarten parents. If you’re interested in attending in person, please let us know at the bottom of the form—space is limited!
Smiles,
Anita 

What to Expect

Kindergarten has a very important role in our scholars’ academic journey. Kindergarten sets the foundation for future academic success; teaches valuable life skills: sharing, working as a team, problem solving, and more; and last, but certainly not least, helps students develop a love for learning.

So, if your child’s first official year of school is this important, the question is: what can you do to help them prepare?

Watch as Laurel Hill Primary principal, Jason Sims, and kindergarten teacher, Carling Shalloo provide some insight on what to expect this year!

Nutrition Services

Charleston County Schools Nutrition Services manages the federal programs for breakfast, lunch, and summer meals. In addition to the federal programs, it coordinates the Mid-Morning Snack Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Head Start and Early Head Start Meals Program, as well as one of the largest supper programs in the state.

Many CCSD schools have qualified for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for School Year 2025-2026. That means students at these schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge.

For a complete list of participating schools, please visit:

https://www.ccsdschools.com/.../operat.../nutrition-services

Nursing Services

We are excited to have your child join us at CCSD!

We look forward to keeping all our students happy and healthy.

Watch this video to get ready for the school year.

For more information, visit the Nursing Services webpage: https://www.ccsdschools.com/departments/operations/nursing-services

Crossing Guard Safety

CCSD proudly supports 57 different crossing locations at 30 schools —all with a dedicated team of just 45 crossing guards.
These individuals show up every day, rain or shine, to protect the most precious members of our community: our kids.
Our crossing guards are more than just traffic monitors—they are watchful eyes, friendly faces, and trusted adults helping children get to school safely and return home to their families.

Transportation

For transportation information, please visit: ccsdschools.com/transportation

Parent Information

In this video, Memminger Elementary School principal, Michael Antonelli, provides some tips about how to get involved in your student's academic journey.

Testing and Parent Conferences

In kindergarten, your child will participate in a few different assessments throughout the year that provide valuable insights into their learning and development.

One important assessment is the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, or KRA. This assessment helps us understand your child's readiness for kindergarten in various domains, including social foundations, language and literacy, mathematics, and physical well-being. It provides a snapshot of their skills as they enter school, helping us to meet them where they are.