Residency Requirements
If you need to visit The Joseph Sears School for residency-related purposes, we highly recommend you schedule a time with Registrar Lukasz Sikora. This will ensure someone is available to answer all of your questions.
Students who are residents of Kenilworth School District No. 38 (District Boundaries) may attend Grades K-8 at The Joseph Sears School tuition free (7:60 Students-Student Residency policy).
Parents/guardians are required to prove a student’s identity and age at the time of registration. In addition, the Kenilworth School District No.38 Board of Education requires annual verification of KSD38 residency for students enrolling in kindergarten through eighth grade. Confirmation of KSD38 residency needs to be submitted to the school in the summer. This can be done digitally or during a Residency Confirmation Day.
New Student Grades K-8
- Online Registration Submission
- Birth Certificate
- Student Records from previous schools/services
- Verification of Residency
- Confirm Residency
- Required Medical Forms
Returning Students Grades JK-7/ Rising Students K-8
- Online Registration Submission
- Confirm Residency
- Required Medical Forms
Registration forms can be found on the District Forms page.
Residency Confirmation Day
July 30, 2024 (8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Confirmation of KSD38 residency is a prerequisite of enrollment for new and returning students. Students who have not confirmed residency will not be allowed to attend school. One confirmation of residency can apply to each registered student from the same family/residence. If you cannot attend one of these days, you can submit your confirmation of residency bills/statements digitally.
As the 2024-2025 school year approaches, we want to inform you of our in-person Residency Confirmation Day on July 30, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. This event is optional; you can submit your residency confirmation documents digitally via FileInvite, a new secure digital document portal, to streamline residency confirmation.
You should have already received a FileInvite link for each student registered for enrollment at The Joseph Sears School. If you have not received your FileInvite link, click here for assistance.
2024-2025 Residency Confirmation Day will be in the First and Second Grade Hub. Due to construction, please use the main entrance, Door #1. The schoolhouse, beyond the First and Second Grade Hub, will not be accessible due to construction.
NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR: Based on community feedback, we are introducing FileInvite, a secure digital document portal, to streamline residency confirmation. You can submit your confirmation of residency digitally using the FileInvite link parents/guardians will receive on the morning of July 30, 2024.
REQUIREMENTS TO CONFIRM RESIDENCY:
- Valid Illinois driver’s license or state ID card with current KSD38 address
- TWO August bills or statements from the list below (parent/guardian name and KSD38 address must be on bills):
- Nicor
- ComEd
- Water
- Homeowners, Renters or Auto Insurance
- Mortgage
- Bank
- Credit Card
- Internet
Parents/guardians whose residence has changed during the school year or over Summer Break are required to notify the school office of their student’s new address and may need to submit new proof of residency paperwork.
Additionally, families can meet with our various community partners, including:
- JSSPVA (8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.) - To learn more about the enrichment opportunities they provide for our students in partnership with other local organizations and to purchase Sears spirit wear from our Boosters.
- Wilmette/Winnetka Library (11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) - To sign up for your library card, please remember to bring a valid form of identification. Families will also have the opportunity to learn about various library resources and programming.
- Marla’s Lunch (11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) - To learn more about lunchtime offerings for students new programs and to try lunch samples for students.
- Kenilworth Park District (12:30 - 2:00 p.m.) - To learn more about extracurricular programming, including the Tuesday offerings.
NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR:
PARENTSQUARE: Families can finalize their registration on the ParentSquare communication platform during Residency Confirmation Day if needed. The Joseph Sears School will take a unified approach to communication and begin using ParentSquare for Sears to Home, general school news, emergency communications, and teacher newsletters this year. If you have not registered for ParentSquare yet, please be on the lookout for an email invitation in early August containing instructions on registering. The email should look something like this.
NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: Our school community will also have the opportunity to meet our new assistant principal, Mr. Geoffrey Perlman, during Residency Confirmation Day.