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Kindergarten

Families with a child who will be five-years-old on or by August 31, 2024, are welcome to enroll their scholar online when Kindergarten registration opens on January 16, 2024.

Online Kindergarten enrollment can be found here: Enrolling in Kindergarten. Contact your child’s school for assistance.

Families can also register in person at the child’s school during regular hours. The following documents are required at the time of registration:

  • Your child’s birth certificate
  • Proof of your address (rental agreement, purchase agreement, or utility bill)
  • Your child’s immunization records for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, and varicella (chickenpox)

If your child has life threatening conditions such as allergies, asthma, diabetes, and seizure disorders, a meeting will be scheduled with the school nurse to confirm that all medications, medical supplies, and health care provider orders are in place prior to the first day of school.

It is also suggested that parents provide:

  • Two emergency contacts, including addresses and phone numbers
  • Physician, dentist, and child care addresses and phone numbers

If you miss the registration period, it’s NOT too late to enroll your child. Just go to your neighborhood school during regular school hours.

The First Six Days of Kindergarten

The start of school is different for kindergarten scholars this year to allow all kindergarten scholars a successful and solid transition to school. With this shift, scholars will have an opportunity to get to know their school building, learn routines and expectations, and build relationships.

Here's what you need to know about The First Six Days of Kindergarten:

  • Kindergarten scholars will attend school on a half-day schedule. From Wednesday, August 30 through Thursday, September 7, the kindergarten school day will end 3.5 hours early.
  • K-Camp, which previously occurred during summer in August, will happen during the first two (2) days of school. During this time, students will be assigned a temporary classroom and meet all kindergarten teachers.
  • Kindergarten scholars meet with their assigned class and regular teacher on the third day of school on Friday, September 1.
  • WaKIDS Family Connection Meetings will take place during the afternoons, starting Friday, September 1.
  • WaKIDS Family Connection Meeting will take place with your child's final assigned teacher.
  • Full-time kindergarten will begin on Friday, September 8.
  • If your child rides the bus, this means your child’s bus will arrive at their normal stop approximately 3.5 hours earlier than normal.  As an important reminder, parents or guardians must be present to pick up their child from the bus stop when the bus arrives.

To view more information and start and end times of kindergarten for your scholar, click here.

Kindergarten Jump Start

All elementary schools hold Kindergarten Jump Start in the spring. Jump Start is an evening event that allows families to meet their kindergarten teachers, building administrators and staff, while getting an overview of the full-day kindergarten program and becoming familiar with the school building. It is a wonderful time to welcome new and returning families.

Jump Start dates for all elementary schools below!

Kindergarten Choice

Parents who wish to enroll their kindergarten-aged student at a school outside of their neighborhood, but within Federal Way, should fill out a Choice Enrollment form during the choice lottery window.

These forms are available at all elementary schools or at the Educational Service Center, Business Services Office, 33330 8th Ave South, Federal Way.

Learn more about Kindergarten Choice enrollment

All-day Kindergarten Programs at All Schools

All elementary schools offer all-day kindergarten programs.

Research shows that students who attend kindergarten for a full day consistently make greater academic progress, especially in key areas such as literacy and math, as well as social and emotional growth.

All-day kindergarten students are better prepared to meet the academic demands of future grade levels, and are less likely to eventually need intervention or future additional assistance.

Contact Us

FWPS Early Learning Department
253.945.5875

Kim Erickson
Director of Early Learning

kiericks@fwps.org

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Release of directory information should be filled out and returned to school ONLY if you wish to prohibit or restrict the sharing of some or all of your students’ information as described by the Federal law known as FERPA.