Preparing for Kindergarten

KindergartenSouth Kitsap School District shares with you the thrill of beginning this new phase in your child’s life, and we welcome all children and their families to the South Kitsap School District, where children learn every day.
 
Check out our All Day Kindergarten programs available at both Olalla and Manchester Elementary Schools.
 
All you need to know about Kindergarten is available in our Kindergarten Brochure.
 
 
2013
Planning on sending your child to kindergarten next year?  Then mark your calendars for the week of April 15 - 19, 2013 for South Kitsap School District’s “Kindergarten Registration Round-Up Week”.  Children must be the age of five by August 31 of any given year to enroll in kindergarten. Parents need to bring in a proof of birth and immunization records. Parents are asked to call their neighborhood elementary school for more information.

If your child turns five between September 1 and September 15 of any given year, South Kitsap School District offers Early Entrance Kindergarten testing. If your child meets the criteria and you are interested in having your child tested, please call 360-874-7064 for more information.

Summer Program
The district also offers a summer program called Calling All Kindergarteners. It's four days of pre-kindergarten activities designed to help prepare your child for the kindergarten experience! More information coming soon for 2013.
 
Readiness Skills
Kindergarten is a very important part of a child's educational career. This is a time of developing a readiness to learn and laying the foundation of a successful school experience. While one of the joys of education is that every child is different, it is helpful to recognize some of the readiness skills most kindergarteners come to school knowing. Here are some of those skills.

Language & Literacy
· I can name letters
· I can say the sounds of letters
· I can recite ABC/Numbers Songs & 8 or more nursery rhymes
· I know how to handle books  (Orients book correctly. Front to back)
· I speak in complete sentences (4-6 words)
· I can write the letters in my first name
· I can recognize my written name

Math & Reasoning
· I can count orally to 20
· I can identify random numbers
· I can identify 4 shapes
· I can identify colors
· I can sort by color, shape & size

Social/Emotional
· I am able to take turns and function appropriately in groups
· I can focus on a task for at least 5 minutes
· I can follow 2 step directions
· I can work independently
· I take care of my own hygiene needs
· I express emotions appropriately and respect the feelings of others

Fine Motor Skills
· I can use scissors
· I can use writing tools

Cartoon of kids The South Kitsap Kindergarten Readiness Skills Checklist was created in a professional learning community in the South Kitsap
School District.

The purpose is to provide a readiness checklist, filled out in the spring by a childcare provider, and given to the South Kitsap kindergarten teachers for fall 2012. 
 
                                       Click here to download the Readiness Skills checklist
                              
 
Last Modified on May 9, 2013