Kindergarten Information

On March 15, 2023 the Cultural and Family Partnerships team hosted "Welcome ISD Kindergarten Families" event.

This event will be held again in March 2024.

Presentation Transcripts

English

2023-2024 Incoming Kindergarten Registration (click here for link to ppt)

It is an exciting time of year as the Issaquah School District begins to reach out to our community in preparation of welcoming the incoming Kindergartens for the 23-24 school year at their neighborhood school. The Issaquah School District offers full day Kindergarten at no cost to all students. If you have a child who will be a kindergartener for the 2023-2024, USE THIS LINK -> please visit the ISD New Student Enrollment website. Students who are turning 5 years old by August 31, 2023, are eligible for enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year.

* Your child must be 5 years old by August 31, 2023 to be eligible to enroll. Students with summer birthdays (2023) MAY wait and enroll in Kindergarten in 2024 based on parent preference.

Schools plan to meet with incoming Kindergarten families in January 2023. Schools will share this information in their electronic bulletins and on their website. Connect with your neighborhood school for more details about that meeting. This meeting will prepare families to complete the online registration. Registration begins February 1, 2023. Please visit the ISD New Student Enrollment website to begin registration after February 1, 2023. Once the online portion is complete, you will work with your neighborhood school to completed the enrollment process. If you cannot access the online application, please call or visit your neighborhood school for assistance.

Please Note: Students in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program, SLP Program, and those previously evaluated by Special Services (ex. Childfind) must still complete the online kindergarten enrollment process to register for kindergarten. Please start the process as though you are a new student to the Issaquah School District.

School offices are open from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to assist you. Please note for your convenience, arrival and dismissal times are very high traffic times for the school office. Picking up or submitting required documents at this time may result in longer wait times.

All incoming kindergartners are registering at their neighborhood school. The Issaquah School District doesn't allow for families to choose the school their students attend. Your neighborhood school is determined by your home address.

Don't know your neighborhood school? The ISD Transportation Department will be able to assist you in identifying your neighborhood school. Contact Transportation (email) Transportation-Enews@issaquah.wednet.edu or (phone) 425-837-6330.

For more information about kindergarten, visit our Kindergarten FAQ webpage.

New Student Enrollment website

Registration

Ongoing registration for Kindergarten

Most of the registration is online.
When you have submitted your online application, the school registrar will email you with more information.
Documents will either be fillable online documents, or you can go to the school and pick up paper documents (depending on the school) (Be sure to check Junk mail)
Once the application has been approved, you will receive an automated email from the district with confirmation.
Email or call school registrars with any questions.
Email the Family Partnership Liaisons for help in completing the application forms if needed. (Interpreters available)
*YOU still need to complete EVP in August to confirm that your child will be attending school in September

New Student Enrollment is available for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.

The Issaquah School District utilizes an online application process to enroll new students. This process is for students not currently enrolled in an ISD school; students in grades K-12 transferring between schools within the district do not need to complete an enrollment application. Prior to using the online application process, families are advised to have the required documents available to upload into the application. You may save as you go and do not have to complete it all in one sitting. The completed application, once submitted online, will be available to the school for approval. Submitted applications will not be approved until all required documents are received by the school.

New Families: Create an Enrollment User Account

Current Families: If you have an active Family Access account, Log in to your Family Access Account and select New Student Online Enrollment from the left menu

Returning Families: If you have ever had a Family Access account with the Issaquah School District but currently do not have any students enrolled in an ISD school, you can log in to Enrollment Access using your old Family Access Login ID and Password. Please note that this is different than Family Access; make sure that the Login Area on the Skyward login page says Enrollment Access, not Family/Student Access. This will only work for the Primary Guardians listed in a student's family, so if there are two guardians living at the same address and it doesn't work for one of you, try the other person's account. If you do not remember your Login ID and/or Password, click on Forgot your Login/Password.

Visit our Enrollment Forms page for downloadable and translated copies of the Enrollment forms that are filled out during New Student Enrollment.

The Issaquah School District doesn't allow for families to choose the school their students attend. Your neighborhood school is determined by your home address.

What is your home school?
It is determined by your address see Attendance Maps
Use ISD Attendance Map or contact the ISD Transportation department.

Screenshot of Attendance Map

Screenshot of Example: Cedar Trails Attendance Map

Screenshot for Kinder - Cedar Trails Attendance Map

Students follow their feeder pattern school

Feeder pattern system – elementary schools students attend specific middle schools and then high schools.
Some elementary school boundaries split students to two different middle schools
If your family moves out of the school boundary area during the year, your child will have to change schools.

Screenshot of School Feeder Patterns

Screenshot of ISD School Feeder Patterns

2023-2024 School Calendar and Kindergarten Timeline

First day of school for Kindergarten – September 1st (Friday) (before Labor Day)
First day for students 1-12th grade – August 29th (before Labor Day)
Family Connections Meeting with K teacher – Required meeting August 29, 30 and 31
- First three days of school (before K starts but 1-5 has begun).
- School staff will contact you regarding your appointment day and time.
- Meeting with each family separately, child and teacher can also connect.
"Meet the Teacher" on August 28th (separate event than the Family Connections meeting)
- Casual visit to the classroom (usually based on last name - 2 time slots so classroom and the school is not as crowded)
- Opportunity to drop school supplies at child's desk
- Opportunity to see other students in the class before school begins
- PTSA often has popsicles or kids play on the playground with parent supervision.

Kindergarten - Full Day at all schools

The Issaquah School District offers Full Day Kindergarten at no cost to all students.
Students in K follow the same bell times as the rest of the students at school.
Most schools begins at 9:15 and ends at 3:40 (Check your child’s school’s bell schedule)
Students will ride the bus with others grades 1-5 (unless walking distance) to and from school. (K students ride in the front of the bus.)
Same teacher and classroom all day except for Specialist classes (PE, Music and Library)
Students with ELL services and Special education services integrated in class (additional teacher in class or students work outside the classroom in small groups).

Option - Half Day Kindergarten (offered at all elementary schools)

Students attend three hours in the morning. (No PM option)
Students start at same time and parent pick-up at school at end of the three-hour day session.
Morning transportation by bus only (unless lives in walking distance) with the regular bus pick-up schedule for the neighborhood.
Check with teacher regarding what school and learning activities occur in the afternoon for that classroom.

Early Entrance into Kindergarten

A child must be five years of age on or before November 30 of the year of entry.
Early Entrance Assessment performed by professional and submitted by July 14, 2023 (District forms and handwritten signature required)
A child must meet standards in all 7 categories in assessment
30 day trial period in kindergarten – reviewed by principal and teacher for permanent placement
Parents may choose to delay having their child start Kindergarten (late spring or summer birthdays till following year depending on readiness of child).

The Issaquah School District does not conduct the early entrance test for entrance into first grade. See website for more details.

ISD can accept a child into first grade who is younger than six years old by August 31 if one of these two conditions is met:

Completion of a State certified private kindergarten program of no less than 1,000 hours per year with a state certificated teacher providing the classroom instruction. We also need a written statement from the teacher on school letterhead indicating the child’s readiness to enter first grade.
The child has completed a kindergarten program in another state's public school system that may use a date later than Washington State's August 31 deadline for school admission.

Early-Entrance for ISD Kindergarten and First Grade

Applications are available through the Elementary Education Department / Bethany Rogers - (425-837-7025). Applications are due July 14, 2023

The Issaquah School District is willing to work with families if they believe their child is ready for school early. To be considered for early entrance into kindergarten, a child must be five (5) years of age on or before November 30 of the year of entry. In addition, an assessment report indicating the child has met all the requirements stated below must be received by the District office no later than July 14, 2023:

Mental ability
Gross motor skills
Fine motor skills
Visual discrimination
Auditory discrimination
Emotional/social development
Language development

A student must score at or above the 90th percentile in all seven categories above as outlined in the Early Entrance Assessment Results form before they can be invited to participate in kindergarten on a probationary basis. For more information, refer to the following:

The District does not perform the early entrance testing. A list of professionals who other Issaquah School District families have accessed is available in the Early Entrance packet. To request an Early Entrance packet contact Bethany Rogers / Elementary Education Department at 425-837-7025 or email rogersb@issaquah.wednet.edu .

Parents who choose to have their child privately tested for early entrance into kindergarten will need to provide their chosen assessor with the required district forms. In order for a child to be considered for early entrance, all required forms and assessment results must be submitted to the Executive Directors of Elementary Education Department at the ISD Administration office by July 14, 2023. Assessment results must be submitted on district-provided forms, sent directly from the assessor with the handwritten signature of the assessor.

Dual Language Program

ISD Dual Language Program
At Issaquah Valley Elementary
Process for registration
New students to IVE will automatically be asked if they would like to be considered for the DL program when they register
If your child is a native Spanish speaker, we encourage you to apply.
Program contact DualLanguage@Issaquah.wednet.edu or call 425-837-7120
Kindergarten registration forms received after the lottery deadline of March 10, 2023 will be dated in the order received. Students will be placed on the corresponding waiting list in sequential order following the lottery.
Program lotteries will take place March 22nd at 1:00 pm at the ISD Administration Building

Highly Capable Program

ALL ISD Kindergarten and 2nd grade students are screened/tested to determine if they are eligible for the highly capable test.

2023-2024 Kindergarten students will all take a placement test next year – usually in winter to determine eligibility.

Specific testing dates will be shared by the school next fall.

Check website for more details.

PRIMARY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (PEP) |K-2

The Primary Enrichment Program (PEP) is offered at each elementary school. PEP services may include, pull-out or push in model, and/or differentiated instruction within the classroom. SAGE/PEP teachers provide support for these services. Students work on special enrichment projects that incorporate a high level of cognitive demand. One time a week for 30 minutes in Kindergarten. One hour a week in 1st and 2nd grade.

MLL/ELL Program

More than 1,400 students receive MLL/ELL services K-12 in the ISD.
Multilingual/English Language Learners certificated teacher support for students.
Student support in their regular classroom or pulled out for a short time to work in small groups with ELL teacher.
Eligibility based on an English Language proficiency assessment (WIDA screener) that students take in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Students are exited from the program when they meet requirements
Program designed to support students develop English Academic Language proficiency to be successful in learning and engaging in school content.

Kindergarten Preparedness

Children progress at different paces. Contact school principal, child’s pediatrician or Preschool if you have any questions.
Assessment in March is for placement in the classroom (balance the class and identify students for Kindergarten summer school) not for admittance to school or for highly capable program.
Assessment in September (Three days before K students start school, usually during the Family Connections meeting)
Independence vs. Interdependence
Make sure your child can go to the bathroom by themselves (washes hands)
Packs backpack and puts on coat and shoes independently.
Eats independently – open jars/lunch containers, stay focused on eating
Clearing workspace and putting things back (follows directions with multi steps)
Teach your child their full name and practice writing their first name.
Use everyday situations to practice taking turns, sharing, and following routines.

Kindergarten Readiness Guide - click on the Kindergarten Readiness TAB above for the documents.

504 Plan and Students with Disabilities

Section 504 requires public schools to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to every student with a disability—regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section 504, schools must provide students with disabilities the accommodations, aids, and services they need to access and benefit from education equally with their peers.

504 plans for asthma, diabetes, vision, hearing

Talk to your child’s school counselor (or pediatrician now) to see if you child may qualify for a 504 plan.

If your child already has a 504 plan, it will follow your child to Kindergarten. Check with the school counselor, they are the 504 case manager.

Screenshot of Section 504 Students' Rights Information Sheet from OSPI

IEPs and Special Education Program

Schools have special education programs to best serve and support students. It is not a stigma to be in the program.
All elementary schools have special education programs at school – LRC (Learning Resource Centers)
If your child already has an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) from pre-school (ISD ECE (Early Childhood Education program), the IEP will follow them to the new school.
Children who enter with an IEP – their IEP comes with them to the school. The school case manager will contact you.
Please communicate with your school if you have any concerns about your child's academic, behavior or social/emotional growth. Better if you can start the conversation and be proactive especially if you or your pediatrician have concerns.
Schools are your partner in your child development.

School Counselors - Elementary School

(School Counselor contact list at all elementary schools)

An elementary school counselor typically performs the following duties:
- Fosters good relationships with peers, parents, teachers, and other important people in the child’s life
- Not a stigma to see or talk to a counselor, social and emotional development of a child is part of the US educational focus.
- Encourages young learners to adopt a more positive attitude towards school and the learning process
- Peer group meeting (usually at lunch) and work with students on friendship issues.
- Improves the communication skills of young learners, and helps them successfully develop effective decision-making strategies
- Addresses developmental tasks, personal concerns, crises, peer conflicts, dysfunctional home environments, ill health, and physical disabilities, and offers helpful solutions

Source

Behaviors and Social Skills in US Elementary Schools

Walking feet
Space bubble (Hand and feet to yourself)
Voice level
No touching or rough play at recess
Cleaning up after an activity

“Soft” skills or behaviors taught at elementary schools.

Behavior expectations taught and reviewed.
Schools will review routines and school procedures.

Screenshot of Voice Levels

School Nurse and the Health Room Specialist

Each building in the Issaquah School District has a School Nurse.
Health room specialist also at each building (not school nurse but a paraeducator))
Each school has a Health Room
Please be sure the school is informed about life-threatening condition for your child (Per Washington State law an emergency care plan needs to be in place with the school before the child can attend school)
Examples: severe allergy (Epipen has been prescribed), diabetes, severe asthma, seizure disorder, cardiac condition, adrenal insufficiency)
If your child feels ill or gets hurt at school, they may be sent to the health room. Health room specialist will contact you.

Screenshot of Elementary Health Room

Immunization

Which immunizations do they need to have? (ISD411.org – Health)
All incoming K students need to have a medically verified immunization record before the first day of school. (See school website for questions) Your student may register for school, but MAY NOT attend school until provider-verified immunizations have been received and validated by the school nurse.
Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) printed from the WAIIS or physical copy of the WA State CIS form with a healthcare provider signature needs to be submitted to the school before the first day of attendance (Forms and Regulations) (forms submitted electronically). Link to print CIS
State law - students are required to submit a completed Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS), or Certificate of Exemption (COE), that demonstrates a compliant immunization status according to state law before starting.
ISD and Department of Public Health Required Immunizations:
2 doses of MMRs, 5 doses of DTaP, 2 doses of varicella , 4 doses of polio (IPV), 3 doses of Hepatitis B
Vaccines against COVID-19 are not required for school attendance.
The child must have all immunizations they are eligible to receive prior to starting school or there is a Certificate of Exemption on file signed by the parent AND the licensed healthcare provider.

Specialist Teacher

Specialist Teacher - Certificated Teacher

Students go to a “specialist” teacher for class in music, P.E. and library
2 PE, 2 Music and 1 Library each week – PE, Library or Music
Weekly schedule set at the beginning of the year and shared with families within first couple weeks.

Para-Educators (Paraprofessionals)

non-certificated staff

Non-certificated teacher/school aide in school
May work with your child in the classroom, playground, lunchroom or health room.

Screenshot of Immunization Certificate (CIS)

Specialist School Schedule

School Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 9:15 AM - 3:40 PM

Wednesday: 9:15 AM - 1:30 PM

Specialist Days:

Monday: Music: 3:05 PM - 3:35 PM

Tuesday: P.E.: 3:05 PM - 3:35 PM

Thursday: Music: 3:05 PM - 3:35 PM

Friday: Library: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM P.E.: 3:05 PM - 3:35 PM

Screenshot of Elementary Lunch Area

Elementary School Libraries in the ISD

Students visit the library with their class 1x a week.
Students will check out books – their choice.
Librarian teaches them library skills, care of book, check out procedures, etc.
Librarian does lessons with students and/or reads to students.
Parent/Community volunteers in the library to help students check out books and shelve books.

Screenshot of Elementary Library

School Book Fair

Schools host a book fair to help families see current books available.
Books are listed by grade or reading level.
Fundraiser - provides schools some additional dollars for teachers or school libraries to get additional books for classroom or school library.
Flyers will be sent home with book titles.

Elementary School Gym

All classes do P.E. twice a week with a PE teacher.
Students learn how to play various sports and games.

Music

Each elementary school has a music teacher (or two depending on size of school) that does music lessons with students.
Students will sing and learn some songs.
Usually there is a music concert by grade level 2 or 3 times a year depending on school (pre-COVID).

Playground for Recess

Two recesses and one lunch during the day
Wednesday – most schools – one recess and one lunch
In addition, time for purposeful play provided as part of WAKids in Kindergarten.
Para-educators - assists to monitor lunch and recess

Lunchroom

Students sit in lunchroom based by class group
Allergy tables at each school
Meatless options
Menu on school website – can print or access digital menu with more details
If families need financial assistance, please apply for Free and Reduced Lunch Program

Lunch Menu:

Whole grain corndogs with peas and mandarin oranges.
Baked potato bar (option always – meatless option)
Yogurt lunch (option always – meatless option)
Chocolate or regular milk

Screenshot of School Lunches

Screenshot of School Lunch options

Kindergarten Transportation

Full day kindergarten students will ride the same bus as the other students attending their neighborhood school (or school of attendance).
Half day kindergarten students will ride the same bus in the morning as the other students in their neighborhood (or school of attendance). Mid-day transportation will not be provided by the district. Parents/guardians will be responsible for picking their child up at the end of the three-hour half day morning session
Release Form – Kindergarten students must always be released to their parent/guardian or designee (up to 6) Proof of Id required.
Camera on bus
Preferential seating for K students
Route Information: New students registered in the ISD by August 1st will be able get route information by the end of August. Go to the online bus system at
Login - Tyler's Versatrans eLink (tylertech.com)
Ride the Big Yellow School Bus – Kindergarten Ride Along

Screenshot of Buses

Screenshot of Kindergarten Activities

Screenshot of Kindergarten desks

Screenshot of School Cubbies

Screenshot of Daily Schedule

Screenshot of Elementary Kinder Schedule

Bathrooms

Teachers teach students the procedures regarding bathroom visits during class, recess and lunch.
Schools have a change of clothes in case of accident
Each classroom teacher will teach the students how to ask to go to the bathroom, teach them how to find or where the bathrooms are located. Teachers can give you more information at the Family Connections meeting before school starts.

Screenshot of Bathrooms

Before and After School Care (BASC)*

Before and After School Care

Sites at all sixteen elementary schools across the Issaquah School District.
Waitlist – most years program fills up fast so be sure to put your name on Waitlist if interested.
To get on the waiting list: Visit BASC site and click on Join The Wait List to submit form.
Incoming K students not eligible for summer camp (2023)

Registration Information

School Age Care

All School Age Care (elementary) locations currently have a waiting list. If you are interested in adding your child's name to our waiting list for the school of your choice, please click the wait list button below.

SCHOOL AGE CARE WAIT LIST

Additional Registration Information

Break Services
Summer Camp
Preschool Academy

SCHOOL AGE CARE BREAK INFORMATION

Full day services are available during Winter, Mid-Winter, and Spring Breaks for children who are currently enrolled in the BASC School Age Care Program.

Please Note: Break services require and additional registration and fee.

What's Next?

March-August – K registration, pre-assessment/screening (March to June)
August 8-13, 2023 – Enrollment Verification Process (Required - All incoming K-12 grade students need to complete the forms in this process)
August 10, 2023 – Ride The Big Yellow School Bu s (optional opportunity for K students to ride a school bus)
August 24 - ISD District optional event – Tips and Resouces for Elementary Families New to the US Public School System Register for event
- (Presentation will cover – School expectation, Communicating with schools, Attendance, Transportation, Lunch, School Supplies, etc)
August 28* – Meet the Teacher (Date to be verified by each school, check school website for detail in late August)
August 29, 30 and 31 – Family Connections meeting (1:1 meeting with parent/guardian and the classroom teacher)
September 1st - First day of school for Kindergarteners

Note- Please consider signing up for school and ISD weekly bulletins

Screenshot of QR Code for 8-24-23 Tips & Resources Presentation

Click below for Kindergarten Readiness Guide:

English (translatable) Espanol Chinese (中文)

Japanese 日本 Korean 한국인 Russian Русский Vietnamese Tiếng Việt

Screenshot of Kindergarten Readiness Guide

First page of the PDF file: English_KReadiness_UPDATED12222