Students who turn 3 years old on or before September 15 are eligible for 3-year-old preschool.  Students who turn 4 years old on or before September 15 are eligible for 4-year-old preschool.  All preschool students will attend Pickwick Early Childhood Center.  

Students who turn 5 on or before September 15 are eligible to enroll in Kindergarten.

If your student attended preschool at Pickwick Early Childhood Center or Seton Montessori, your student(s) are considered continuing students. See the instructions below. If you have not attended one of the mentioned preschools, please follow the instructions below for new students. 

A continuing student is one who was actively enrolled in Ottumwa Schools on the last day of the previous school year. The annual update of information for continuing students opens the second Wednesday of July yearly.  Forgot your PowerSchool username or password?  Use the “Forgot Username or Password”  link on the sign-in page of your parent account. For additional assistance, contact welcome@ottumwaschools.com.

HOW TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD

1. Log into your PowerSchool account (web browser or mobile app) and select your child. 

2. Click on FORMS (click MORE in the app to locate the FORMS link).

3. Click on the name of the first form listed in the ANNUAL STUDENT UPDATE category.  Review and update as needed.

4. Click SUBMIT on the bottom right of each form when finished.

Do this for each child you are registering.

VIEW: Instructions on how to use Forms.

You can upload documents (or pictures of documents if readable)  in your PowerSchool account, such as athletic physicals, 9th-grade dental screeners, or immunization records.  Use the Upload Documents feature on the Student Demographics form.

A new or returning student registration means the child you are registering is not currently an active student in the Ottumwa Community School District.  Active students include those enrolled at Pickwick Early Childhood Center or Seton Montessori.  New and returning student registration is open year-round.

HOW TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD

1. Complete the initial registration form.  
2. Once submitted, this form goes to school personnel for approval.
3. After it is approved, an email will be sent to you at the email address you provided.
4. The email contains the information and instructions you need to set up a PowerSchool account or add the student to your already existing account.
5. If you do not receive an email or need assistance, please contact the Welcome Center.
6. Sign into your account, click on the name of the student, and then click FORMS on the left menu bar to get started. View Instructions.
7. Click on the name of each form in the NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION and ANNUAL STUDENT UPDATE categories to complete the required information and submit.  
8. Click on the name of the student, and then click HOME LANGUAGE SURVEY on the left menu bar.  Complete the information and submit.
9. Provide the following items:
   • Proof of age and legal name (birth certificate or other legal supporting document)
   • Proof of residency (purchase or rental agreement, utility bill, property tax statement, vehicle registration, DHS paperwork, shelter stay verification, etc.)
   • Immunization Record

You can upload documents to your PowerSchool account (pictures of the documents are fine if readable) or submit them to the Welcome Center. Use the Upload Documents feature on the Student Demographics form.

• VIEW: Immunization and Screening Requirements.

We cannot accept an uploaded copy of a Birth Certificate per Iowa Code 144.45.  Please upload an alternate source of proof of age or visit the Welcome Center.

DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP

Download the free "PowerSchool" app to complete the annual update from your mobile device. Use the code: QPDD

SCHOOL FEES

Fees are payable online through your parent Powerschool or by cash or check at your child’s school building. 

• All families are asked to pay required fees such as textbook fees.  
• Fees not paid for the previous year(s) will show up as a current school year's Start of Year (SOY) balance.
• Students whose families meet the income guidelines for free and reduced-priced lunch, the Family Investment Program (FIP), or transportation assistance under open enrollment, or who are in foster care are eligible to have their student fees waived or partially waived.  
• Students whose families are experiencing temporary financial difficulty may be eligible for a temporary waiver of student fees. 

If you meet any of the guidelines mentioned you can access the fee waiver form on the Free & Reduced Fee Waiver form on your parent PowerSchool account.  A completed form is required to be on file yearly in order for us to waive fees.

Required yearly fees will be available to pay online through your parent account during registration and beyond. Optional fees such as yearbooks, band, etc. will be available to select in your parent account. Cash or check is also accepted at each building.

LUNCH INFORMATION

Free and reduced meal applications will not be collected this year as all students will receive breakfast and lunch meals at no charge. If your student needs to utilize the income survey for a fee waiver, please contact your school secretary.

ASSISTANCE

Parent Account & Registration Assistance:

• How to Use Forms for Continuing Students
• Enroll a New Student
• Create a PowerSchool Parent Account

If you need access to the internet:

Wi-Fi is available the Welcome Center as well as several locations throughout Ottumwa. Available Wi-Fi Options List 
Mobile hot spots are available through the Ottumwa Public Library.

If you need access to a device:

Visit the Welcome Center for device use.

Schedule a time to use a computer at the Ottumwa Public Library at (641) 682-7563.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act:

The Ottumwa Community School District makes robocalls or sends automated texts to student family wireless phones regarding the health and safety of students and faculty, including unexcused absences, weather closures, and incidents of threats or imminent danger to the school, pursuant to the “emergency purpose” exception to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act's consent requirement. The district also uses this form of communication to send non-emergency messaging such as notifications. Parents who do not wish to receive non-emergency messages can opt-out by sending a written request to the district's Technology Director at Ottumwa Community Schools, Technology Director, 115 N Ferry Street, Ottumwa, IA 52501