Kindergarten

Kindergarten is an awesome right of passage for your children. While it may seem like the first day of Kindergarten is right around the corner and will happen abruptly, please know that Kindergarten is considered a powerful transition year for students to develop their readiness for first grade.

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!
 

Kenmore Elementary Kindergarten Tours

Tuesday, March 8th @ 2:15-3:00pm
Wednesday, March 9th @ 10:00-10:45am
Wednesday, March 9th @ 10:45-11:30am
 

Bring your student and tour the campus with Principal Geetha George-Shapiro and Assistant Principal Elizabeth Cano.

Spanish interpretation will be available.

Please call the main office to RSVP. 

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. Additional information on registering for kindergarten and forms can be found on the Register for Kindergarten page.

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.
  • Additional early entrance information is available through the Office of Elementary Education, 425.408.7705.

Contact the main office:
(424) 408-4800

District Kindergarten Page