Ready for Kindergarten!

Getting off to a strong start at Kindergarten helps a child feel good about school, and about himself. Here are some traits and skills that you can help your child develop before he or she gets to Kindergarten:

• Enjoys being read to; can retell a story.
• Speaks in complete sentences.
• Prints first name.
• Knows numbers and quantities to five.
• Names and sorts items by color, shape and size.
• Understands concepts such as more, less, same, above, below, big and small.
• “Settles in” to new groups or situations.
• Can concentrate for five minutes.
• Follows simple directions
• Shows kindness and concern for others.

Give your child fun, no-stress opportunities to practice these skills with you before he gets to Kindergarten. For more activity ideas, go to http://www.fwps.org/cur/piap/ For more information about Kindergarten readiness, please contact your neighborhood school.

Kindergarten Facts

• In Federal Way Schools, Kindergarten registration is held each year from May 1 through 15.
• Children must be five years old by August 31 and proof of immunization and a birth certificate are needed at the time of registration.
• To register, parents should take their child to their neighborhood school during school hours or during the scheduled Kindergarten Roundup.
• Parents who wish to enroll their Kindergarten-aged student at a school outside of the neighborhood, but within Federal Way, should fill out a choice enrollment form. These forms are available at all elementary schools or at the Educational Service Center, 31405 18th Ave. S, Federal Way. For more information, go to http://www.fwps.org/info/choice/.
• Kindergarten classes are held in the morning or afternoon. Parents are asked for their preference of morning or afternoon at the time of registration.
• Many Federal Way elementary schools also offer a fullday Kindergarten option at a cost of $230 per month. More information, a Round- Up schedule and required forms are available at http://www.fwps.org/info/enrollment/.