Kindergarten
We welcome your child and your family along with journey with an invitation to a family conference during the first three days of school for 1st - 5th grades. Kindergartners will start on the 4th day of school so that every family will have a chance to meet with their child's teacher to share about their child's interests, needs and culture. Additionally, in the first two months of school, students are observed by their teachers through a variety of natural and intentional interactions in order to gather information for the WA Kids State Assessment.
This observational assessment helps us get to know your child and provides diagnostic developmental data about your child's social/emotional, cognitive, language, physical, literacy, and mathematics skills. This will be shared with you at November conferences and will help us work together to facilitate your child's growth throughout the rest of the school year. Throughout the year, students will learn additional skills in each of the components above through literacy-rich experiences, exploratory math and science content, social skills lessons and social studies activities, along with engaging in many opportunities for purposeful play, choice, and community development.
At Kenmore, we are focused on creating positive learning experiences for our students and our goal is to grow the whole child through our daily interactions in the classroom and around the school. We look forward to meeting you all soon!
To enter kindergarten, your student must be five years old on or before August 31.
As of July 28, 2019, a new state law removes the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the MMR vaccine required for school and child care attendance. Learn more...
Registration
Kindergarten registration begins at your local school. Enrollment packets are available in mid to late January in the front office. We may also hold special parent tours, an orientation, or an open house in the spring or late summer before school begins. Additional information on registering for kindergarten and forms can be found on the Register for Kindergarten page.
District Orientation
A districtwide kindergarten information night is provided in March. Teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists present parents with information about the Northshore School District's kindergarten program. The evening is intended for parents only and does not require registration to attend.
Kindergarten information night for students entering the 2020-21 school year is Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at the Northshore Performing Arts Center on the Bothell High School campus at 7:00 PM. A livestream of the event will take place with translators available in Spanish, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese in the Black Box Theater adjacent to the main auditorium.
Philosophy
The kindergarten program in the Northshore School District provides children a foundation for academic success and develops an enthusiasm for life-long learning. Student outcomes are standards-based and focus on the whole child: academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
Before school begins, kindergarten teachers will meet with families to get to know the students, their families, and their stories. Additionally, teachers evaluate students in many areas to determine students' strengths. This helps teachers plan a program based on the needs of the children.
The developmentally appropriate learning environment provides substantial opportunities to learn through purposeful play that honors student choice and provides teacher-guided, interactive small-group, and large group experiences. The kindergarten school year is an important time to provide students with rich, relevant learning experiences that allow them to reach goals that are both challenging and achievable regardless of their varied experiences and backgrounds upon entering kindergarten.
Kindergarten Readiness
Resources to help your kindergarten student:
Highly Capable Process for Kindergarten
The kindergarten eligibility process incorporates two steps--screening AND assessment. All kindergarten students will be automatically screened for potential highly capable eligibility.
Students meeting the criteria threshold on the screening tool will move on to assessment. Parents of students moving on to the assessment level will be notified. Per Washington state law, parent permission is required to assess a student. Assessments will occur during the school day and will be administered by trained proctors.
Visit the Highly Capable web page to learn more.
Early Entrance to Kindergarten
Although Northshore does not encourage early entry for the vast majority of students, application for testing for early entrance is available at parent expense for students who turn 5 between September 1 and November 30. Students who turn 5 on December 1 and beyond will enter kindergarten age appropriately.
- Please read the Early Entrance to Kindergarten FAQs before completing the application.
- The application window for early entrance for the 2019-20 school year has now passed. Applications for 2020-2021 will be available February 1, 2020 and will be accepted through June 28. Late applications are not accepted.
- Additional early entrance information is available through the Office of Elementary Education, 425.408.7705.
Contact the main office:
(424) 408-4800