Welcome to Kindergarten!

Is Junior Kindergarten Right for Your Child?

Every child grows and develops at their own pace, and that is something to celebrate. Waterford School District's Junior Kindergarten program is designed for students who would benefit from a little more time to mature and develop socially before entering the more structured Kindergarten environment. If your child has a June, July or August birthday, Junior Kindergarten may be the perfect fit for your family.

A Strong Foundation for Kindergarten Success

Junior Kindergarten at Waterford School District is taught by specialized teachers who understand the unique developmental needs of young learners. Through a nurturing and engaging classroom experience, students build the literacy, math and science skills they will need to thrive in Kindergarten the following year. Students also develop essential social skills, including how to navigate the school environment, build relationships and work cooperatively with others.

Junior Kindergarten students participate in music, physical education, art and the media center, in addition to their core subjects, giving them a well-rounded introduction to elementary school life.

Who Is Eligible?

The State of Michigan has set the Kindergarten entrance date at September 1. If your child turns five between September 2 and December 1, they are welcome to begin their elementary journey through Waterford School District's Junior Kindergarten program.

How to Apply

Applications for Junior Kindergarten are available through your child's school or our Central Enrollment office. Families must submit an application to be considered for the program before enrolling.

Apply for Junior Kindergarten

Starting Kindergarten is an exciting milestone for the whole family. Here are some ways to help your child feel confident and ready across three key areas.

Physical

• Help your child consistently use the bathroom independently
• Work with your child to put on their own clothes
• Help your child hold a pencil or crayon correctly
• Provide opportunities for your child to use scissors and glue
• Work with your child so they can tie their shoes

Social/Emotional

• Introduce your child to other children to help them make new friends
• Help your child take turns when playing with other children
• Work with your child so that they can separate from others easily
• Work with your child so that they can ask for things they might need
• Play with other children to learn to be respectful of one another
• Read books to your child so that they can sit long enough to listen to a story

Academic

• Help your child identify the letters of the alphabet and numbers
• Work with your child to recognize and/or write their name
• Help your child practice writing letters of the alphabet
• Sing songs together to recite the alphabet and numbers
• Introduce your child to new things and experiences
• Help your child use a book correctly (front cover/back cover)
• Work with your child to learn that sentences run left to right

Waterford School District's Kindergarten curriculum is designed to build foundational skills across four core subject areas.

Mathematics

Mathematics is learned through recognizing numbers and understanding the value they represent, using a variety of concrete objects to count, sort, measure, graph and order, recognizing and creating patterns, comparing sizes, distances and quantities, and applying these concepts in the world around them.

Literacy

Literacy instruction includes systematic and explicit instruction in each of the five main pillars of literacy, as well as additional pillars that represent the whole child. Students engage in nine modules centered on an Essential Question that grows their understanding of the world around them. Instruction uses research-aligned foundational skills, resources, lessons and precise language to help students crack the code of reading. Students also have daily opportunities for whole group, small group and individualized literacy instruction.

Social Studies

Social Studies is learned through the lens of "Myself and Others." Students build knowledge by understanding their role within the family, classroom, school and community, investigating the United States and its symbols, distinguishing between past, present and future, using maps and globes to identify places, and researching community helpers and other occupations.

Science

Science engages Kindergarten students in answering these key questions:

• How do we describe weather and how should we prepare for weather events?
• How do different pushes and pulls affect the motion of an object?
• What are the basic needs of living things?
• What impact does the environment have on the needs of living things?

Our Encore program gives Waterford School District Kindergarten students a well-rounded experience through five specialty areas, in addition to their core instruction.

Visual Arts

Students focus on working with colors and understanding how they blend, as well as creating shapes, patterns and textures. Activities focus on improving motor skills while developing an understanding of, and appreciation for, visual arts.

Spanish

Students learn basic conversational Spanish through song, dance and play. Students also learn about Spanish culture. Activities support communication and promote an appreciation of cultural diversity.

Media Center

Students learn appreciation for what a media center offers, as well as respect and care for books. They learn the basic operation of a library as part of a media center.

Physical Education

Students focus on large muscle activities that build coordination, cooperation through team activities and self-confidence. Gym shoes are required for class.

Music

Students develop musical awareness and techniques through singing, playing instruments, dramatic play and body movements. Activities promote an appreciation for music.

Extracurricular Activities

Waterford School District offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students, including Destination Imagination, STEM Cardboard Challenge, Girl Scouts/Brownies, Game Club, Student Light House, Team Lego Club, Running Club, Hour of Code, Chess Club, Math Olympiad, VEX Robotics, CS Google and Girls Who Code.

Waterford School District is a one-to-one (1:1) student device district, which means each Kindergarten through 12th grade student will be issued a district Chromebook that can be used in and outside of the classroom throughout the school year. Your child will begin to learn technology skills through all curricular areas including literacy, mathematics, project-based learning and more. Your child will also have access to many instructional programs through their device, including Lexia Core5 and Amira for literacy and DreamBox Learning for mathematics.

Lexia

Each Waterford School District elementary student is able to grow and learn with the Lexia Core5 blended learning program. The program uses innovative technology to support each learner at an individual level to develop their reading, writing and speaking skills and confidence.

DreamBox

Each Waterford School District elementary and middle school student is able to move their mathematics skill learning and retention forward with DreamBox. DreamBox provides personalized math learning to ensure students at every level stay motivated and receive the right instruction at the right time.

Amira

Amira is an artificial intelligence (AI) reading assistant that listens to, assesses and tutors students as they read. With Amira's capabilities, Kindergarten through 5th grade students have effective reading practice opportunities with customized, in-the-moment feedback to enhance their literacy growth.

Waterford School District takes the mission of transporting students very seriously. Our staff is the first and last representative of the district that many students encounter each day, and we understand how important it is for children to have a positive start and end to their school day.

In addition to providing transportation to and from school, the Transportation Department supports school field trips, athletics and shuttles to technical campuses. We have over 30 buses daily traversing the 40 square miles that make up Waterford School District. Our buses range in size from 58 to 77 passengers, including buses outfitted with wheelchair lifts.

The Transportation Department also runs a Safe Bus Rider Program that visits each elementary school at the beginning of the school year to teach students about safe bus riding rules and habits. The program is taught by our drivers and helps build positive relationships with our students.

Important Rules for Kindergarten Bus Riders

1. Someone must be at the stop to receive your child after school. Whether it is you, a grandparent, aunt, neighbor or an older sibling, the bus driver will not leave your Kindergarten or pre-K student at the stop unless there is someone to receive them.
2. Bus tags are provided for all Kindergarten students and attach to their backpack. Bus tags help identify your child and locate their bus stop information.

Visit the Transportation Page

Breakfast and Lunch

Waterford School District participates in the State of Michigan's "Healthy School Meals For All" and the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) programs, which allow the district to offer one breakfast and one lunch per student each school day at no cost for the full year. Participating in both programs increases breakfast and lunch participation, which is proven to translate to better grades and test scores, plus improved nutrition. Students have the option to purchase additional meals if they choose.

Our breakfast and lunches are planned with three things in mind: nutrition for growing bodies, foods students love for healthy appetites and prices that are of value to families. Our breakfast offerings align with the National School Breakfast Program guidelines. For lunch, at least two entree selections are offered daily, including our Fresh Choice Salad Bar. Fresh fruits and vegetables and 1% white and chocolate milk are available with all meals. Monthly menus are available online.

View Current Menus

Payment

Waterford School District Food and Nutrition Services uses the computerized point of sale system Meal Magic. An account is established for every student using their student identification number. Parents have online access to their child's account, including the Education Benefits Form, money deposits, account balances and purchase history, through the Family Portal. There is a minimum $1 deposit, and all deposits made online will be credited to accounts within minutes. Payments can also be made by cash or check at the school.

Access the Family Portal

Waterford School District's licensed Child Care program offers before and after school care in each of our elementary buildings (Kindergarten through 5th grade), as well as our Stepanski Early Childhood Center. Our programs are staffed by qualified, experienced professionals who receive continual training in the child care field.

Learn More About the Child Care Program

Required Documentation

Proof of Parentage Parents enrolling the student must be listed on both the birth certificate and residency documentation.

• Original birth certificate with official translation, if not in English
• Photo identification for the enrolling parent, who must be listed on the birth certificate
• Custody or divorce documents, if applicable
• Legal guardianship or foster care placement documents, if applicable

Residency Requirements Select the option that applies to your living situation:

If you own a home:

• Mortgage or property tax statement, two current and different utility bills and your photo identification

If you lease a home:

• Lease with the enrolling parent listed as an occupant, two current and different utility bills and your photo identification

If you are living with a Waterford School District resident:

• Notarized Central Enrollment Affidavit for housing completed by both the homeowner and the parent staying at the residence (for homestead only)
• Homeowner's mortgage or property tax statement
• Two current and different utility bills
• Homeowner's photo identification
• Two pieces of mail addressed to you at that location

If you are staying with someone who is renting an apartment:

• Enrolling parent must be added to the lease as an occupant
• Two current and different utility bills
• Renter's photo identification
• Two pieces of mail addressed to you at that location

Ready to join the Waterford School District family? Visit our Central Enrollment portal to begin the enrollment process. A member of our team will follow up with you once your submission has been received.

Begin the Enrollment Process Today