Happy New Year from Danbury Public Schools

As we turn the page from 2024 to 2025, we want to talk about happenings in our schools.
Each year, when cold winter nights start to end, it is the ramp-up season for kindergarten registration. If your child turns five by September 1, they are eligible to register for kindergarten. The process begins with a parent or guardian going to www.danbury.k12.ct.us, looking for “register my child for school,” and choosing the 2025-2026 school year. After you complete the online form and submit it, you will receive an automated response listing the items you need to bring to the Family and Community Engagement Center at 49 Osborne St. to complete the process. The Center is open Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information and for FAQs, visit https://www.danbury.k12.ct.us/central-registration/.
Now is also a great time to think about formal preschool for any child turning three years old. Enrollment in a part-day or full-time program for working parents is available, made possible by the CT School Readiness Funding. Danbury has 11 exceptional programs that offer a play-based curriculum following the CT Early Childhood Developmental Guidelines. Programs are licensed by the Office of Early Childhood and accredited by NAEYC or Head Start. All programs are overseen by a talented team from the local Danbury School Readiness Council, which provides high-quality professional development for teachers and teaching assistants, onsite consultation for programs, and services for families. All programs are priced according to a sliding scale and provide developmental age-appropriate programs for all children. Children learn the social-emotional, cognitive, and self-help skills needed to be successful in school. For more information on the Danbury programs, reach out to https://www.danburysr.org/.
Children and their families can partake in many activities throughout Danbury during the winter and early spring months. The Danbury Library offers an array of different programs for all ages, including bilingual story times, technology, adult health and wellness, a sensory room, multiple clubs, Legos, art, and celebrations. To read about all the wonderful programming and to obtain a free library card, visit https://danburylibrary.org/.
Danbury Schools offers free weekly Play to Learn Playgroups at the Sacred Heart Learning Center, 17 Cottage Street, on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am, and on Thursday mornings at 10:00 am at the Morris Street School. Families participate in creative art and building activities, snacks, sensory play, music, and story time. The program is led by an experienced parent educator, who can answer your questions about your child’s growth and development, and activities to do at home, and she will also provide free resources for you. Families with children from infant through five years old are invited to come experience a Play Group!! The DPS School Readiness programs and the Danbury Family Learning Center, Inc. sponsor these programs.
DPS sponsors the CT Food Bank Mobile Pantry on January 15 and 29, February 12 and 26 at 4:00 pm at Ellsworth Ave. School. Families get to choose fresh vegetables/fruits, bread, dairy, and more. No sign-up is necessary.
We want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!
Anne E. Mead, Ed. D. is the director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships for Danbury Public Schools. She can be reached at 203-830-6508 or by email at meadan@danburyu.k12.ct.us.