DALLAS - It was a chilly night to be outdoors, but parents hoping to get their children into George B. Dealey Montessori School toughed it out in tents in the school's front lawn.
Some parents pitched their tents as early as Saturday morning to be first on the list to register their children Monday for the fall semester.
Julie Martin, who ended up number 21 in line, said she started her camp-out at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
"It was cold," she said. "We went and bought a heater for the tent and we all had a great time. [There are] good people around here with us; so we had a really good time."
The wait was over when the doors of the school opened at 7:30 a.m. Most of the 250 parents who were at the school by noon Monday were applying for one of just 30 coveted pre-kindergarten openings.
"It's really more for the Montessori experience, to continue that," said Chris Peters, who arrived at the school at 5 a.m. Monday. "Again, if it doesn't happen, the elementary school we live by is very good."
As for Martin, her early arrival doesn't guarantee her child a spot. The children are first interviewed and there is also a child observation. If a spot comes down to two children with the same score, the tie goes to the parent who registered first.
The school is accepting registrations through February 12. Parents will be notified if their child is accepted in mid-March.
