Allendale-Fairfax Elementary opens summer registration for 3K through kindergarten

Allendale-Fairfax Elementary School is moving families from the last days of school straight into next year’s planning, with summer registration now open for 3K, 4K and kindergarten and set to stay open all summer. Parents who are enrolling children in 3K through 5K must register in person and bring the required packet, even if the child is already enrolled in Pre-K. School leaders said having the proper documents will help the process move more smoothly.

That matters in Allendale County, where every early enrollment decision affects more than paperwork. Allendale County Schools serves more than 900 students in rural Allendale County and says its mission is to prepare every student to graduate college-, career- and life-ready. With approved calendars already posted for both the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, the district is signaling that classroom planning is happening well ahead of the first bell, and the size of those early grade classes will shape staffing and student support going into the fall.

The school also reminded families that classes and district offices were closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. At the same time, administrators were trying to keep the final stretch of the year orderly by laying out clear rules for awards and promotion ceremonies. Balloons, poppers and loud noisemakers are not allowed, flowers are permitted, and the district’s clear bag policy remains in effect.

That safety approach is not limited to the elementary campus. Allendale County Schools previously announced a clear bag policy for football and basketball games, saying it would be enforced with help from the Allendale County Sheriff’s Department. The overlap between school events and districtwide security measures shows how seriously leaders are treating crowd control as families gather for ceremonies, games and end-of-year celebrations across the county.

The district is also trying to build out its summer learning network at the same time it recruits staff. Allendale County Schools said it is seeking educators and support staff for summer school, adding that positions are limited. District leaders have described the summer learning program as a way to keep scholars from losing academic ground during the summer months, and the program is open to students from 3K through 12th grade.

Families looking for extra academic support also have another option through the Allendale Hampton Jasper Regional Library System’s summer learning challenge. Together, the registration push, safety rules and staffing call show a district under pressure to close one school year cleanly while making sure the next one starts with enough staff, enough seats and enough preparation for children in Allendale and Fairfax. Audrey Patterson is principal of Allendale-Fairfax Elementary, with Miguel Lawerence serving as assistant principal.