Northshore School District kindergarten registration for the 2016-17 school year begins the week of Jan. 19. Specific registration dates, hours and locations vary by school and are available on the district website at www.nsd.org/kindergarten. Children must be five years old on or before August 31, to enter kindergarten in September 2016.

Families are encouraged to register their child(ren) for kindergarten and to urge friends with incoming kindergarteners to register early. Parents should bring proof of residency, their child’s birth certificate or other proof of birthdate, immunization records and names and phone numbers of emergency contacts when registering their child.

The district will expand optional state-funded full-day kindergarten to all students at nine elementary schools and will eliminate parent-paid tuition for full-day kindergarten at all other schools for the 2016-17 school year. At those schools without classroom space to provide full-day kindergarten to all students at the school, state funding regulations require that the district prioritize students from low income families and consider other students who would likely receive the greatest benefit from a full-day kindergarten program. As in past years, families who desire a full-day kindergarten program that cannot be accommodated at their neighborhood school will have the option of enrolling in a full-day kindergarten at another school that may have room, again with the elimination of any parent-paid tuition.

Kindergarten orientations will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 29 and March 1 at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, 9130 N.E. 180th St., Bothell. There will also be a bi-lingual kindergarten orientation at 7 p.m. on March 9 in the Woodmoor Elementary School library. The orientations will provide parents with information about the district, specifics of the kindergarten program, and what is needed to register for school. The orientations are intended for parents only and do not require registration to attend.

Detailed information on Northshore’s kindergarten program, including each elementary school’s registration kick-off date and times, kindergarten orientations, forms, how to register for kindergarten and required forms and immunizations is available at www.nsd.org/kindergarten.