Hello Kindergarten Parents!

We are so excited to see you and your incoming kindergarten student on Monday morning, August 21 @9:00 AM for Kindergarten Jumpstart! A few last minute logistics:

• We start promptly each day at 9:00 AM and release at 12:00 Noon.
• You will be signing your student IN and OUT each day. Please bring a picture ID with you. Students should be checked in/out by a parent or guardian who was listed by you on your registration documents.
• Please meet us in the main courtyard no earlier than 8:45 AM for check in.
• After students have been escorted to their classroom by their teacher, we will have a lovely time together in the café. During our time together, we will learn more about Kindergarten, there will be time for questions and then we will go on a tour of our brand new beautiful Spruce.
• Once our meeting and tour are over, you are then welcome to go about your day and we will see you at 12:00 Noon.
• Remember that Kindergarten Jumpstart is Monday through Thursday the week of August 21-24.

I can't wait to meet you!

Emily Moore

Do you know a family with a Kindergarten age child? If they have not yet registered, please send them our way to get them registered! Our office is open for in person registrations on August 14 and beyond. We will be holding special office hours for Kindergarten Registration on Monday, August 14 from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

At that time, we can accept completed registration packets, answer questions and provide information. We look forward to meeting our new Kindergarten families there!

For the 2023-2024 school year, the Edmonds School District is planning to expand the Dual Language Program to Spruce Elementary School. The Edmonds School District Dual Language program is in place at College Place Elementary and Cedar Valley Community School, currently in grades K-1. In this program, students develop academic skills in Spanish and English. A dual language education promotes bilingualism and biliteracy; all students will learn how to read, write, listen, and speak in both Spanish and English. This program will be open, but not required, to all incoming kindergarten students at our school. If you would like more information, please access the Dual Language Website here.

Para el año escolar 2023-2024, el distrito escolar de Edmonds está planificando abrir un programa bilingüe de lenguaje dual en Spruce Elementary School, empezando con dos clases de kinder. En la actualidad el programa dual en Edmonds existe en las escuelas College Place Elementary y Cedar Valley Community Schools, con clases de kinder y primer grado. En el programa, los estudiantes desarrollan habilidades académicas en español e inglés. En el programa bilingüe, todos los estudiantes aprenderán cómo leer, escribir, escuchar, y hablar en los dos idiomas. El programa es opcional, no es obligatorio, abierto a todos los estudientes entrando a kinder en nuestra escuela. Si desea más información, haga clic en el enlace para el sitio web del programa dual.

New Spruce!

All K-6 Spruce students WILL attend NEW Spruce this Fall 2022. Our address for the 2022/23 school year and beyond will be our old address 17405 Spruce Way, Lynnwood, WA. 98037. Our Kindergartners and their families will be the first to see our new building with a tour during our Kindergarten Jumpstart Meeting on August 21 @9:30 AM. I am excited to welcome ALL of our families to tour New Spruce on Thursday, September 1 in the evening. Stay tuned for more information about this event and more!

Jumpstart Information

All students who are enrolled at Spruce as a Kindergartner for the 2023/24 school year are eligible and should plan on attending Kindergarten Jumpstart. No registration is needed, just come to Spruce and you are automatically included.

Dates: August 21-24

Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Supplies: Please don't send students to jumpstart with a backpack, please wait for the first day of Kindergarten. Please DO have your students bring a filled water bottle, water fountains and filling stations are available. Snack will be provided.

If you have any questions about this, please reach out to our office at 425-431-7720. Please remember that our office is closed currently closed for summer and will reopen to our community on August 14.

Please keep the following timeline in mind as we transition from our current temporary site here at Former Alderwood Middle School to our New Spruce Elementary School!

August 21-24: Kindergarten Jumpstart (9AM to 12PM Monday-Thursday)

August 21 @9:30 AM Kindergarten Parent Meeting

August 31 6:30-8: Spruce Family Orientation Night

September 6: School starts for 1st-6th

September 6-8: Family Connection Meetings for Kindergarten

September 11: First Day of Kindergarten!

THE GOALS OF JUMPSTART

• To give students a chance to experience “school” before the big kids show up.
• To give parents an opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers and other school staff.
• To begin the home/school connection that is vital to the success of our kids.

WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN DOING DURING THIS PROGRAM?

• Learning school routines for the playground, lunchroom, bathrooms and more.
• Learning classroom routines like story time, sharing supplies, using tools correctly, taking turns, academic skills and more.
• Meeting Spruce people like new friends, teachers, principal and support staff.

Here are some ways that you can START getting ready for Kindergarten:

S - Set routines and limits

• Bedtime should be consistent every night

• Chores

• Screen time should be limited

T – Talk with your child

• Listen to your child

• Expand your child’s language

• Tell your own stories

A - Arrange quality time with your child

• Experiences together

• Puzzles/board games

• Undivided attention

R – Read to your child

• Read in your home language

• Ask questions/make predictions

• Make up stories from wordless books

T – Teach independence

• Self-help skills – shoes, buttons, zippers, jackets, blowing nose, bathroom

• Provide opportunities for your child to be separated from you

• Practice using serving spoons and salad tongs, carrying trays, and opening milk cartons

• Public restrooms/eating a sack lunch

At Spruce Elementary School, Learning Comes First. We focus on both academics and social-emotional learning and skills.

ACADEMIC AREAS OF FOCUS

• Literacy: Phonemic Awareness, Letters & Sounds, Putting the Sounds Together & Comprehension
• Math: Numbers & Counting, Patterns, Grouping Objects

• Social Studies & Science

• Arts & Crafts

• Specialists

• PE

• Music

• Library

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AREAS OF FOCUS

• We use PLAY TO LEARN to work on the following skills: teamwork, taking turns, imagination, positive talk, problem-solving, building and creating.

All Breakfast and lunches are free for all Spruce students for the 2023/24 school year. We DO ask that you complete a free and reduced lunch form and submit to the office as Spruce may be eligible to receive more funding to provide supports to students based on the number of families who qualify. Free and Reduced qualification doesn't help just with lunches but can also help with other costs for things like sports and ASB cards at the secondary level.

• 1st-6th grade students start school on September 6.

• Kindergarten students do not come to school until September 11!

• SEPTEMBER 6, 7, 8 Kindergarten students and their families attend a 30- minute in-person OR ZOOM meeting with their teacher during one of these days. They will use this time to get to know your family and your student.

• Your child must attend the Family Connection Meeting with you or they will be counted as absent for all three days!

• Teacher Assignments will be available in Skyward QMLATIVE on or before September 1!

Please be certain to adjust your calendars NOW that each Friday during the school year (except September 8 and the Friday half day of conference week) will be an Early Release Friday with school finishing at 2:45 PM. Similar to many of our surrounding districts, the staff of Spruce Elementary and the Edmonds School District will use this time for important activities related to teaching and learning including professional development and collaboration.