MARYSVILLE — The Marysville School District’s fifth annual kindergarten registration and information fair took place Jan. 24 in the Totem Middle School cafeteria, and school staff worked to make it a one-stop shop for parents of kindergarten through middle school students.

First-time parents Brad Alme and Jasmin Mattern found the paperwork for kindergarten registration complicated, especially since they aren’t married. That being said, Alme understands the necessity of such forms.

“They need to know who you are and where you come from,” said Alme, who moved to Marysville shortly after Mattern, roughly two years ago, because they preferred the schools in Marysville. “There was too much crime in Everett.”

Mattern explained that one of the hardest parts of preparing for their daughter, Tatyana, to start kindergarten has been coordinating transportation to day-care after school.

“When both parents are working or looking for jobs, it’s not like it was in the good old days, when only one person had to work,” Alme said. “The school staff have been really helpful, though. They needed a copy of our parenting plan and we didn’t have one, so I guess we’ll be getting one.”

Dan Deschaine has lived in Marysville all his life, but this year marked the first kindergarten registration for him, his wife Erica, and their twins, Dylynn and Dekoda. While Erica stood in line and filled out forms, Dan kept the kids entertained by reading them stories, from a pile of books on a carpeted corner of the cafeteria.

“It’s been pretty simple,” Dan said. “When we walked in, it looked like there were long lines everywhere, but there weren’t. We got rolling right away.”

“With twins, we’ve got double the paperwork,” said Erica, who also complimented the school staff for their support. “I’m applying for tuition-free kindergarten. If we don’t get it, it’ll be the choice between all-day and part-time kindergarten.”

Mary Gadwa, a secretary at Pinewood Elementary, was one of the school staff members who assisted parents like Alme, Mattern and Deschaine, and her advice to parents was to remember to bring their children’s birth certificates and immunization records.

Marysville School District Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland praised information fair organizer Michelle Gurnee, principal of Marshall Elementary, along with the rest of the school staff who contributed their time and services. He anticipates that the event might need to expand into a gymnasium next year, to accommodate the growing crowds.

“What we hear from parents each year helps us get better,” Gurnee said. “If a family is interested in a group like the YMCA, we can refer them to those folks on the spot. All these community resources come together here for families.”

For older students, the Marysville School District’s Smaller Learning Communities information fairs will take place Feb. 10, 18 and 26 from 5-8 p.m. at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. For more information, call 360-653-0800 or e-mail Superintendents_Office@msvl.k12.wa.us.