This day has been five years in the making, and now it’s time for parents to register their children for kindergarten for the 2009-10 school year.

The Jefferson city school system will be holding its "kindergarten roundup" from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School, 415 Hoschton St.

"Kindergarten registration gives us a baseline to begin planning for the 2009-2010 school year," said Diane Oliver, Jefferson Elementary School principal.

In order to register a student for the upcoming school year, the child must be 5 years old by Sept. 1.

Parents will need to bring a copy of their child’s immunization record, birth certificate, Social Security card and proof of residency such as a lease agreement or utility bill in the parent’s name.

Parents need to bring their child to the registration, as students must go through a basic screening process.

If a parent can’t make it to today’s roundup, they still will be able to register their child for kindergarten from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on week days, Oliver said.

"While most parents do register their child on the day set aside for the kindergarten roundup, we will still have some parents new to the community who register their child throughout the summer months and we will adjust accordingly," she said.

"But we encourage parents (to register their child) as soon as possible."

The Hall and Jackson county school systems already have held their kindergarten registration days for the 2009-10 school year.