KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT FOR CAPE SCHOOLS NEXT WEEK

The Cape Girardeau Public Schools wants to round up every kindergarten-age child in the city and enroll them for school next year. About 300 students are expected to enroll.

The district will hold its annual Kindergarten Spring Round-Up next week. Children who will be 5 years old before July 1 are eligible to register. Enrollment hours, which begin Monday, will be from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. each day.

Parents should bring an official birth certificate, immunization record and their child's social security number when they register, school officials say.

Early registration is necessary for projecting attendance figures for the 1996-97 year. The district can handle about 425 students at its six elementary schools, but only 315 or 320 students are expected to enroll this year, said Dr. Richard Bollwerk, interim superintendent.

Franklin, May Greene, Jefferson, Clippard and Washington Elementary schools each have classroom space for about 50 children. Alma Schrader can accomodate 75 to 100 children in its building.

Class size is limited to 25 children per session. If enrollments exceed that limit, some children will be transfered to another school.

Small class sizes help children learn better, Bollwerk said.

Four elementary schools in the district may be eligible for all-day kindergarten classes, he said. The schools are May Greene, Washington, Jefferson and Franklin Elementary.

However, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education has not made any decision about offering all-day kindergarten for the 1996-97 school year.