Saturday, March 14, 2009

Now I know Why

Now I know why there are bathrooms in master bedrooms...for pregnant moms (it only took me how many pregnancies to figure this out?)!! Anyway, moving on.

Aly had Kindergarten sign-ups this past Thursday. What a complete mess! Not me or her, the process. I called the school a few months ago to obtain the date and any pertinent info we would need (i.e. what I need to bring, screenings, etc.). Last Friday I decided to be SMART and call the school to confirm that sign ups were Monday since Corey had taken the day off work, WRONG-O, the lady told me that they were on Thursday ( I seriously think they changed the date although the lady at the school denied it). I was so hacked off at that point that I didn't think to reconfirm the items that we would need to bring. I call the school on Monday, no answer, just voicemail. I call the school on Tuesday, same song and dance but this time I left a message. No return phone call. I call the school on Thursday right before we leave and get a laundry list of items. I gather all the items together and we head up to the school.

It was a complete madhouse of MOMS...SOME CRAZY MOMS! It's complete ciaos and one Mom had to tell us where we needed to go. I go to the first table to pick up this ridiculously huge packet of paperwork to fill out and the lady asked me, "are you here for Kindergarten screening as well". WHAT?!?! I asked about this a few months ago and was told they weren't going to be doing screenings at this time. "That's okay" the lady says "they'll give you a piece a of paper with a number on it and you can call to schedule your screening". Whatever, so AFTER you fill out the paperwork you get to stand in a line that's an hour long...seriously, 1 hour. Thankfully Corey came with me, I sent him to stand in line and entertain the girls while I filled out paperwork. Finally we get to the front of the line only to find out that in addition to our utility bills as proof of residency we also need our tax bill. The lady on the phone said utility OR tax bills, not both! Fortunately they let me sign her up and I can drop a copy of the bill by later on.

In conclusion, Corey and I came up with what they should've done:
1. Posted the date of sign ups on the online school calendar at the beginning of the year (for proactive and moms who like to plan)
2. Posted a list on the web of the items you need to bring with you (i.e. birth certificate, immunizations, TAX BILL, etc.)
3. Had all of the forms available to be downloaded and printed off at home so you can fill them out ahead of time and bring them with you
Corey also thought you should take this one step further and have the forms online but be able to be submitted electronically. Have laptops there, pull up the info...etc. You get it, the mind of a software engineer.

Now we are on to our relaxing weekend. I think we are going to a St. Patrick's Day Parade today and then Grandma is going to take the girls for a couple of hours so that we can go see "He's Just Not That Into You". Yeah, I know, 2 movies, 2 weekends in a row...we are living large now, well some of us pregnant ones are anyway.

3 comments:

Kim Dampier said...

I feel your pain in the Kindergarten reg. Tho it sounds like your process was much worse and chaotic than it was here! At least we did have the forms online to fill out ahead of time and we didn't have to wait in line a hour! Wait until meet the teacher night, or the whatever they call it right before school starts!! Just think you will be toting 3 to that one!! :)

Constance said...

Hallelujah, I am DONE with this stuff! yesterday, the Bub took his SAT. In Denton, which is living in the ice age, you have to re-register your kids every year! The SAME stupid paperwork! It's not like they do this stuff at the end of the school year, sending it home for you to confirm the information. Registration was ALWAYS when we were on vacation! They won't let you do it early either. One year, we got home from our 2 week vacation and the kids started school the VERY next day which meant I had to go in and register 3 kids, at 3 different schools (elem, Jr High & High school) the first day of school. I don't believe there is a more archaic school system in America than Denton, Texas! Now you know why I am thrilled to be done with this cr*p!
Love, Mom

PS
If MOD doesn't pan put you should see about organizing things for the school better! Ha Ha!

Constance said...

Oh yeah, I told dad,
"Don't EVER do that to me again!"
Mom