Kindergarten

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Kindergarten Orientation Schedule for 2010-2011 (posted 1/2010)

Kindergarten Registration Schedule for 2010-2011 (posted 1/14/10)

Kindergarten Brochure for 2010-2011
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Northshore is committed to providing students with a strong education and learning experience that prepares them for life in the 21st century. Our schools emphasize the basics with a strong language, mathematics and science curricula. The basics are complemented by gifted, alternative, vocational/career education and an award-winning music and arts programs. Special needs are met through integrated learning, Head Start and English Language Learners programs.

The resources in the district are among the best available in technology, computers, community and government support. The schools all have extensive computer systems and most can access the internet through the district's network. We pride ourselves on having one of the best and most highly trained staff in the state. Northshore, known for its college-prep program, boasts a close to 80% college entrance rate and Running Start and International Baccalaureate programs.

Northshore schools enjoy a very active and award winning Parent Teacher Association. More than 900 parents and community volunteers are active in helping the district. The district works in partnership with its community, where citizens are invited and encouraged to participate in improving education. Using volunteers and business partners, Northshore continues to expand its already wide range of parent and community involvement. In addition, we work with the National Alliance on School Reform which provides tools and assistance to help students achieve high academic and applied learning standards.

Northshore is the tenth largest district in the state with 20 elementaries, six junior highs, three high schools, an alternative high school, a home school program and an early childhood center. All schools are among the top in the state. Northshore is a district filled with pride and accomplishments; the students and their successes are the proof.

Kindergarten at Northshore

Starting kindergarten is like opening a door to a wealth of experiences and knowledge. It is Northshore's goal to develop the uniqueness of each child by providing a variety of activities within the school day. Exposure to a rich and varied curriculum encourages children to grow and develop as well-rounded individuals.

To enter kindergarten in Northshore, children must be five years old on or before August 31 of the school year. Although Northshore does not encourage early entry for the vast majority of students, application for testing for early entrance is available at parent expense. Information is available through the Office of Elementary Education, (425) 408-7705.

Kindergarten orientation and registration are held during March. Information about school registration dates and times are published online on Northshore's website (www.nsd.org), in neighborhood school newsletters, in local newspapers or are available through your local school. A list of registration dates is available at the school district kindergarten orientation each spring.

Is My Child Ready?

There are no easy answers to this question, but there are some guidelines to support parents in making this decision. The list of skills and characteristics outlined here may be useful in determining whether or not your child is ready to enter school.

Please keep in mind that children will most likely not have all of these skills or characteristics. If, however, your child lacks many of them, you may wish to consult your school's principal or kindergarten teacher prior to registering.

The skills and characteristics can be divided into four categories: social, emotional, intellectual/academic, and physical. Many parents tend to focus first on a child's intellectual/academic readiness for kindergarten. For a child to experience maximum success in school, it is essential that the child be socially and emotionally ready for larger group activities and relationships.

Most entering kindergartners exhibit a balance of these skills and characteristics:

Social

• Communicates thoughts and feelings with words rather than through actions
• Functions well in a peer group
• Plays cooperatively with others
• Interacts with minimal supervision
• Demonstrates appropriate behavior in a variety of situations
• Starts own play activity
• Works things out alone
• Participates actively in a conversation
• Respects others

Emotional

• Separates easily from parents
• Adjusts to change in routine
• Responds to redirection, making changes in a positive way
• Shows confidence, rather than hesitation
• Verbalizes needs to an adult or teacher
• Accepts minor disappointments without tears
• Listens without interrupting
• Is relaxed, rather than nervous
• Offers to help others
• Attempts a task without constant reassurance
• Intellectual/Academic
• Demonstrates curiosity and inquisitiveness about the environment
• Demonstrates a child-initiated (not parent-initiated) interest in numbers, letters, and books
• Follows simple directions
• Listens attentively for a short period of time
• Recalls information given by someone else
• Speech is understood by other children and adults
• Talks in complete sentences
• Demonstrates a sense of responsibility
• Initiates and completes a simple task independently
• Makes choices
• Takes academic risks
• Contributes ideas and information to a group

Physical

• Can dress self (shoe tying, zippers, snaps and buttons)
• Can take care of self-help skills and toilet needs
• Can manipulate materials such as pencils, scissors, paint brushes, and crayons
• Demonstrates strength in muscles of fingers and hands
• Can control finger movements within a space
• Exhibits control over body in active play situations
• Has generally good health

When reviewing these skills and characteristics, please consider how often your child does or does not exhibit them. Is the skill one you observe frequently, occasionally, or seldom? These guidelines may help show areas of strength or those that need growth. You may also wish to get opinions from others who frequently see your child: daycare providers, preschool teachers, Sunday School teachers, or relatives. Their opinions give you added insights about your child, especially in unfamiliar situations. Their perceptions also serve as a check to determine how accurately you see your child and his/her abilities.

Nuts and Bolts of Registration
 
Kindergarten registration takes place in each school in March. A list of days for individual schools is available at Orientation, from each school office, or on Northshore's website.

2010-11 Kindergarten Registration Schedule

What to bring

• Proof of residency (rental agreement, utility bill, mortgage)
• Your child's birth certificate or other proof of birthdate
• Immunization records
• Names and phone numbers of emergency contacts

By all means, bring your child if he/she wants to come to registration. It's a good preview of school life.

Immunizations

Washington state law requires full immunization of all students enrolled in the school district. On or before the first day of attendance, all students must present or have on file proof of the following immunizations:

 
Classroom Choices
Northshore offers two options for incoming Kindergarten students -- the traditional Half-Day Program and the Full-Day Program. Half-Day classes are offered at every Northshore school. Full-day classes are available at schools where enough parents indicate an interest in having such a program to create a full class. Currently all Northshore schools offer Full-Day Programs. Tuition is charged for Full-day classes and is payable through monthly auto-withdrawal from a checking account. Parents who are interested in the Full-Day Program should register early in the process so the district will be better able to plan the appropriate number of classes.

2010-11 Full Day Kindergarten Costs
Deposit: $125.00
Monthly: $300 per month for 10 months

Half-Day Program
Possible advantages for the child:

• The most gradual orientation to school
• Child who has difficulty being separated from parents may have problems adapting
  
• Allows time for families to participate in extra-curricular activities
• More unstructured time outside the school day

Possible disadvantages for the child:

• More limited instructional time
• Quicker classroom pacing
• Assignment to morning or afternoon group may be problematic for the child/family

Possible advantages for the parent

• Half-day of opportunities for classroom and school volunteer activities
• More time for family activities, enrichment opportunities, music/dance/art lessons, and sports activities

Full-Day Program
Possible advantages for the child:

• Increased opportunity to participate in total school experience i.e. assemblies, Music, PE, Library, and lunch
• More contact with teachers
• More instructional time
• Extra time and support for remedial activities
• More time/opportunity for early interventions and/or specialist interactions including Occupational/Physical Therapists and Speech and Language Pathologists

Possible disadvantages for the child:

• Some children may not be ready for the structure of a full-day learning environment.
• Less mature children may be frustrated handling the multip transitions in a full day.
• Adjustment to school may be more difficult due to the length of the day.
• If it is determined (in rare situations) that a child is not ready for a full-day program, he or she would need to adjust to a new teacher, peers, and class in a half-day program.
• Less time with child at home; less time for extra-curricular activities
• The child may not have the stamina for additional lessons or activities outside the home in addition to a full day of school.

Getting Started
Be sure to attend one of the school district Kindergarten Orientations scheduled in February. At these sessions, curriculum specialists and kindergarten teachers present parents with information about the Northshore School District's kindergarten program. Your neighborhood school may also hold an orientation or open house the week before school starts. Watch your local newspaper and the mail for Back-to-School registration details, school calendar, bus routes, and pick-up times.

Parent volunteers sometimes ride the kindergarten buses the first week to help children feel comfortable with the experience and to recognize their own bus stop. The bus drivers also make every effort to ensure a safe and comfortable ride for these new students.

During the fall, kindergarten teachers may evaluate students to determine their academic strengths and weaknesses. This helps teachers plan a program based on the needs of the children. Your child's progress will be discussed during the Parent-Teacher Conference in November.
Curriculum

Class Assignment  
With input from Northshore's Transportation Department, the incoming kindergarten students are divided into AM and PM  sessions based on enrollment information; i.e. numbers of students,  home address. Parents who register in March will be informed of their child's tentative placement by mail during the month of June. This placement, however, is subject to change if enrollment numbers do not match June projections. Parents registering after March will be notified of their child's placement in mid-August.

In August, all families receive information regarding start-up and transportation procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child learn phonics?

The Northshore School District's reading program includes a strong phonetic component. Each child is helped to understand the relationship between sounds and letters. This is done primarily in the context of what children are actually reading and writing rather than through isolated worksheets and drills.

What is invented spelling?

Just as with oral language, children learn to spell by progressing through specific stages, from letter-like scribbles to strings of letters. Strings of letters soon become recognizable words (kam (came) and apl (apple)) as children develop their understanding of letter-sound relationships and progress to conventional spelling. Teachers encourage these initial "inventive spelling" efforts while setting appropriate expectations for final written products (versus rough drafts) to include correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

I know cooperative learning is important, but I am concerned about my child learning to work independently.

Teachers recognize that students need a chance to work in a variety of situations - in small groups, in pairs, and independently depending on the kind of tasks and learning that is planned. Those working on a major social studies project, for example, might benefit from collaborative problem-solving and the work of a group; those editing a report might benefit from another reader's feedback while those composing a letter to a favorite author might work best independently.

What should I do if I think my child is having a problem in reading (writing, spelling etc.)? Or if I am not comfortable with some aspect of my child's instruction?

If questions or concerns arise, it is important that you make an appointment to talk to your child's teacher. The clearer you can be about your perceptions of the problem(s), the more effective you and the teacher will be in reaching resolution. Each of you has relevant information that will contribute to effective problem solving. The Northshore School District believes that students' learning depends on clear communication between home and school. Teachers make every effort to work with parents in identifying individual student needs, setting goals and providing regular feedback on progress.

How can I find out what's going on in my child's classroom?

There are two primary ways to learn about classroom activities. One is through your child and the other is through the school. First, ask your child to share information about daily activities and look for work he/she brings home to share with you. For more information, see the section in this booklet titled "Parent's Role." The second way is to attend parent curriculum nights which provide an overview of curriculum expectations and classroom procedures. Curriculum nights can help reduce confusion and assist you in supporting your child's success.