Kindergarten orientation- This video provides an overview of kindergarten at werner

1. How old does my student need to be? Kindergarteners must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 1.  

2. Is Half-Day an option?  Our program is built around full-day, but we do offer students the opportunity to do half day.  Students that attend half-day will miss out on some academic standards and social opportunities, but may attend special events when they occur.  Students may also transition into full-day later on in the school year as well.

3. What if Werner is not my neighborhood school, but I would like to attend?  Parents/guardians must must enroll their student in their neighborhood school regardless of your desire to attend another school.  Our first priority is our neighborhood, but parents may apply for School of Choice (SOC).  Depending on our projected enrollment, we may accept additional students.  Applications for first consideration of school choice open on Nov. 4 and close on December 16. Seat offers for first-round are anticipated to be made during the week of January 8, and will be made based on space availability. Seat offers continue until all seats are filled.

4. Am I able to enroll my child in Kindergarten again?  Parents have the right to enroll their child again, or retain them, for Kindergarten as long their child is 5 or 6 years old.  If you have additional questions about this, please email Mr. Camp (hcamp@psdschools.org).

5. What if my child is not 5 years old by Oct. 1?  Younger students shall be accepted if transferring from a public school kindergarten program, and may be accepted if they are determined by the District to be highly advanced gifted children. 

6. Do you offer before/after school care? Yes, our district contracts with AlphaBEST to provide care before and after school.  You can find more information at: https://www.alphabest.org/poudreco/.  

7. Is Full-Day Kindergarten free?  Yes, currently, the state of Colorado funds for all students to attend full-day kindergarten programs for free.

8. Will there be opportunities for my student to see Werner before school begins? We build in transitional activities before school begins to help orient your child and get to know them better. More details will be shared later. If you would like to visit Werner before these opportunities, you may schedule a tour with our office staff (970-488-5550).

9. How is class placement decided? Our teachers will meet and assess students before the school year begins to use this information to build balanced classroom rosters.  We begin the school year with a staggered start to help students adjust to Werner and their new classroom.  

10. How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten? My child is not reading yet. Can they still go to kindergarten? Children do not have to be reading yet to attend kindergarten. In PSD, students learn critical early literacy skills that support them in all learning in kindergarten and beyond. Deciding to send your child to kindergarten can be a difficult decision if you aren't sure if your child is ready. The articles linked below cover school readiness and developmental milestones that help children be more successful in kindergarten. You can also talk with a PSD kindergarten teacher about your child's readiness by contacting the school you plan to attend.

• Is your preschooler ready for kindergarten? (Healthy Children, American Academy of Pediatrics

11. What can I do to prepare my child for kindergarten? The PSD Kindergarten Guide is a helpful resource for families with a new kindergartner. 

• PSD Kindergarten Guide

• عربي Kindergarten Guide

• Español Kindergarten Guide

In this PSD TV video, a PSD kindergarten teacher offers tips on what you can do to get your child ready to start school. 

Cómo preparar a su hijo para kínder (YouTube) 

Preparing your Child for Kindergarten (YouTube)

Our Kindergarten Teacher have also developed some guidance to help with making these decisions. Our team is glad to help process these questions if you would like.