All About Kindergarten

Our district's Early Childhood Screening is required by the state and should be completed prior to a child turning five years old. The screening is free and includes a developmental check of vision and hearing, height and weight, immunization status, large and small muscles skills/development, thinking, language and communication skills and social and emotional development. 

If your student has not yet been screened, please be sure to schedule an appointment prior to the beginning of the school year. If your student has been screened in another district, that is sufficient to satisfy this requirement.

Early Childhood Screenings are offered at:

• Arbor View Early Childhood Center: 9401 Fernbrook Ln. N, Maple Grove
• Willow Lane Early Childhood Center: 7020 Perry Ave. N, Brooklyn Center

Learn more and schedule a screening

Students who are bus riders will be picked up by their teacher for the first few weeks of school and walked to their classroom.
Students who are dropped off by parents or who start the day in daycare will be walked to the classroom by another adult in the building and brought to their classroom. This is the same protocol for the end of day of dismissal. Bus students will be walked out by their teacher (entire school year), and those being picked up by parents/daycare vans or brought to Kidstop will be brought to their destination by another adult in the building.

Class lists are put together in late August as enrollments are finalized. You will have a chance to meet the teacher at Open House in September the week before school starts.  Depending on COVID-19 protocols for Open House, you may have an opportunity to meet the teacher, see the classroom, and ask questions.

Class sizes vary from year to year according to enrollments. Typically, class sizes vary from 20 - 26 students. There are Educational Support Professionals that help to support lunch and recess. At this time, there is no extra classroom support in the regular classroom. Some children will receive extra support as learning assessments are completed. 

The main areas of daily curriculum in kindergarten are phonics, math, reading, and writing. On a rotating basis, your child will also learn about social studies, art, and science. All kindergarteners have a rotational schedule of physical education and music. 

Each parent is given a ParentVUE account that you will gain access to in the fall. You can pay for school lunches in this app. You can also fill out an application for free and reduced-price lunch according to your income.

We look forward to partnering with parents to set up a successful year. Each child will have a folder that comes home daily. Please check that folder for any classroom information, homework, or communication. There will be schoolwide information and classroom-specific information given. Email is used often to relay information as well. 

We will work on many academic and social skills in kindergarten. It is helpful for children to practice writing their names, practice scissor skills, listen to and engage in reading, start letter and sound recognition (no mastery needed), and practice independent skills like going to the bathroom, zipping, and putting on shoes. Please also expose your child to other children their age in play-based settings so they get used to interaction. 

For instructions on how to create a ParentVue account if you are not in our system already please visit our step-by-step guide.

* Kindergarten online enrollment is only available to families choosing to enroll into the home boundary school and living within those boundaries. 

• Email: EnrollmentCenter@district279.org
• U.S. mail: Osseo Enrollment Center, 7051 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN 55429

• In person: Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 7051 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
• Lobby drop box: only available during non-business hours

• Schedule your child’s Early Childhood screening (call 763-391-8777 or schedule online).
• Required documents needed when enrolling
  • Proofs of Residency (two forms)
  • Photo ID of Parent/legal guardian
  • Birth Certificate or Passport
  • Updated child’s required immunizations