Kindergarten Discussion at TCS

At today’s parent lunch bunch, facilitators Cecily Maguire and Lisa Hagan gave us a great overview about all things kindergarten. Cecily has two children in Seattle public schools, and Lisa’s daughter goes to Catholic school.

Because most of the attendees were planning on public school, the discussion focused on Seattle public schools.

Public schools

One important note: Seattle kindergarten is not free. The district offers full-day kindergarten, but the state only pays for half a day. For this school year, the fees are $272 per month, which will presumably increase next year.

If you want to find out or confirm what your attendance-area (i.e. neighborhood) school is, you can use Seattle Public Schools’ address lookup tool, at http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=5333510764b73611fc579578d641ba38&pageid=172265&sessionid=5333510764b73611fc579578d641ba38

There you can find your reference elementary school (as well as current reference middle and high schools), and your “option schools” with transportation. Currently, you are guaranteed a seat for your child at your reference school.

If you plan to attend your neighborhood school, you can enroll early now and avoid lines during the busier spring enrollment season.  You will need to download and complete a brief application, available at http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=39ec5b06dbadc164a7374588e0d04da2&pageid=192380&sessionid&sessionid=39ec5b06dbadc164a7374588e0d04da2

And bring the following:

·         Two documents verifying address. Must be dated within the past 60 days and include the parent’s name. Examples of documentation include telephone, utility, or cable bills; mortgage statement; insurance documents; DSHS or court documents; or residential leases (must include property address and the signatures of the parent and landlord).

·         Certificate of Immunization Status

·         Birth certificate, passport, or other legal document verifying the student’s date of birth

·         Photo ID of the parent or guardian

You can bring your paperwork to the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (2445 3rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134) any weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are also several weekend and evening enrollment opportunities. (See http://www.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=280541&sessionid=bb036d9ec44f6e503ee91f57825dea5a for details) One evening enrollment that might be convenient for TCS families is 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at Nathan Hale High School, Library, 10750 30th Ave. N.E., Seattle, WA  98125.

Whatever you choose, parents who have been through the process suggest that you request a stamped copy of your submitted application, because it’s not unheard of for the district to lose paperwork.

If you want to apply to a different school, you can submit an application during an “Open Enrollment” period in the spring. According to the SPS website, Open Enrollment information for the 2013-2014 school year will be available after the 2012 winter holiday break.

There are a number of “option schools” the offer different curriculums and educational methods. They don’t have geographical boundaries and admission is by application only. One local option school is Jane Addams, which offers an E-STEM curriculum, with a focus on environmental science as well as science, technology, engineering and math. Another is Thornton Creek, which offers an “expeditionary learning” model and uses a project and theme-based curriculum. For example, one recent school year students learned many academic subjects through coverage of the Silk Road.

Another option school is Pinehurst. We did not discuss that as much, as the program is in a state of flux and apparently is threatened with closure every few years.

Cecily mentioned it can be very difficult to get into a “choice” elementary school – particularly the language immersion schools such as McDonald, which offer half-day instruction in Spanish or Japanese. But many of the neighborhood schools, particularly those in the northeast cluster, are high quality.

However, many of the schools are very overcrowded. Some of the parents mentioned that some classes are having 28 to 30 students in kindergarten and first grade classes. What happens with capital improvements will be determined in part by a levy subject to the vote in February 2013, the Building Excellence (BEX IV) capital levy. The school board will vote on a list of recommended projects for the BEX IV levy in November and is taking comments now.

We discussed the advanced learning opportunities with the public schools. My understanding is that these programs don’t start until first grade, so while they are something to think about parents don’t need to worry about it right now.

 For an overview of the different advanced learning options, see http://district.seattleschools.org/modules/cms/pages.phtml?sessionid=72d8240ef19ca141cd13b18a331703e4&sessionid=614ad551bce35f9e3cc6e2608fd24d59&pageid=230101&sessionid=72d8240ef19ca141cd13b18a331703e4#app

Very briefly, those opportunities include:

·         APP, or Accelerated Progress Program, for academically highly gifted students (98/99th percentile range in cognitive ability and the 95th percentile range or above in both reading and math achievement). In this program, students would work at a grade level two grades or more above their current assignment. The program is offered at a limited number of sites.

·         Spectrum and ALO programs that provide advanced learning opportunities within more schools, and typically has students working at one grade level or more above their current assignment in reading and mathematics. Spectrum is offered at 10 elementary schools, including Wedgwood and View Ridge locally, and ALO is offered at many more schools. Seattle Public Schools’ advanced learning page has a list of program sites.

Cecily mentioned that one site to learn more about the workings of Seattle Public Schools from an activist/opinion perspective is the Seattle Schools Community Forum at http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/

Catholic schools

Lisa mentioned that Catholic school is an alternative that is less expensive than private schools, and is open to students of all faiths. Catholic schools may or may not have openings in a particular year. If openings are limited, in general, parishioners would be admitted before non-parishioners. A number of Catholic schools are providing information now. For example, Assumption-St. Bridget School in Bryant is holding a Kindergarten Information Night on Wednesday, October 24th at 7:00 pm in the Assumption Parish Social Hall. See http://www.asbschool09.org/Admissions/Default.htm for details.

Thank you to Deirdre C for this wonderful and helpful information!!