Dozens of families attended the Malverne School District’s informational session on Feb. 4, learning how to register their children for kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year.
“Mission Kindergarten: A Portrait of Discovery” highlighted the programs and processes available for parents and students at Maurice W. Downing Primary School, which houses students in kindergarten through the second grade, at 55 Acorn Way.
“I want to have your children here at Downing because it’s a beautiful place to learn and grow,” Erik Walter, Downing’s principal, told parents. “Ultimately, the goal is to graduate your children in 2039 from Malverne High School.”
The district opened kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year on Feb. 9.
Rebecca Gottesman, the district’s director of counseling, explained the registration process for families. She advised parents to contact the district with questions or schedule an appointment for assistance with completing registration forms.
Families enrolling their children in the school district for the first time must register through the email verification process on Infinite Campus, the districts online portal. Parents who have at least one child already enrolled in the district can register another through the existing Infinite Campus portal by adding a new student in the online registration tab. Those students currently enrolled in the district’s universal pre-kindergarten program are automatically enrolled for kindergarten.
Malverne’s website includes videos in English and Spanish with instructions on the registration process. Early registration is important, allowing the district to prepare the classrooms and organize programs.
After registration, parents will receive a letter with contact information to schedule an in-person screening in early May, during which Downing staff will meet with the children and learn about their education. For students enrolled with the district’s UPK, screening will occur at the pre-K site.
During the summer, the district will hold a kindergarten orientation for parents and students. At that time, parents could bring in the school supplies their children will need, which will help teachers begin to set up for the new school year.
In August, the Parent Teacher Association will organize a kindergarten play date, when the students will have the opportunity to gather, play and get to know one another before the first day of school in September.
“These time lines are in place so that we can have your children feeling comfortable about coming into the building, so it’s not a strange space for them,” Maria Rianna, the district’s superintendent, told parents.
“We all work together as a team,” Walter said. “We all want to do everything possible to make this experience for you and for your children as seamless as possible coming into our building in kindergarten.”
Walter highlighted several aspects of the education provided at Downing, with the staff working to instill the values of the district’s “Portrait of a Graduate,” at a young age, encouraging digital fluency, cultural responsibility, and collaboration.
Downing also offers its “Essentials of Learning” online, a resource that outlines what Downing students are learning, including content, programs and standards. In addition, tips are available on how parents can support their children’s learning at home. “I want parents to be included in the education of their child and the experiences that they have at Downing,” Walter said.
He explained Downing has an inclusion classroom for kindergarten, first and second grades, so children with different learning needs are able to learn together with the same curriculums and expectations, but teachers can provide support for those who need it. “All of our teachers have such a high level of training when it comes to differentiation in instruction, meeting the individual needs of your children where they are in order to help them learn and grow,” Walter said.
For more information or to begin the registration process visit https://mwd.malverneschools.org/68423?articleID=51254.
