Transition to Kindergarten
Transition to Kindergarten is a free, full day early entrance kindergarten program for 4-year-old children who do not have access to high-quality early learning experiences prior to kindergarten and have been deemed by a school district, through a screening process, to be in need of additional preparation to be successful in kindergarten the following year. The program uses play-based strategies that focus on basic academic and social skills to help qualifying students get a jump start towards success in school. Submission for attendance starts in the spring for the following start of the school year.
Children must be 4 years old prior to September 1 of the current school year in order to be eligible for the transition to kindergarten program.
Program dates and times, 2024-2025:
Open enrollment for 2024-2025 school year begins April 22, 2024.
Screening: You will be contacted to set up your screening appointment. Appointments will be available on June 4 and 5.
Family conference: The first week of the school year in the fall, August 28 to August 30, 2024 by appointment.
Start of School: September 3, 2024
Transition to kindergarten students attend Monday through Friday from 8:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and follow the district calendar.
What is the Transition to Kindergarten screening?
The screening is an assessment used to determine your child’s development.
What happens during a Transition to Kindergarten screening?
During the screening your child may draw, count, name colors, jump, and have fun! We look at your child's motor skills (skipping, jumping, cutting, writing), conceptual skills (knowledge of colors, counting), and language skills (knowledge of letters and words, ability to solve problems). Following the screening, you will have an opportunity to talk about the results and to ask any questions about your child’s development. The screening process usually takes about 1 hour.
For more information, please contact the Beacon Elementary School office at 360-249-4528.
Enrollment
To enroll your child in our Transition to Kindergarten program, fill out a screening request and then complete the online enrollment portion.