Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What age should my child be to attend
KCP?
A: Class age cut-offs are as follows:
Group I: Children must be 2 by February 28th.
Group II: Children must be 3 by February 28th.
Group III: Children must be 4 by May 31st.
Dates given are for the calendar year in which the school year begins.
Thus, for example, children entering Group I in the fall of 2011 must be
2 years old by the end of February of that year.
Q: How much does it cost to attend?
A: Tuition costs are as follows:
Group I: $75.00 per month.
Group II: $110.00 per month.
Group III: $140.00 per month.
Q: What do parents have to do
as members of KCP?
A: In order for KCP to function as a nonprofit co-op, and to maintain
its affiliation with Lake Washington Technical College, we have several
membership requirements:
1. One parent from each family must work in the classroom once per week
for each child enrolled at the preschool. Certain exceptions apply for
parents of multiples or those with newborn babies.
2. At least one parent per family must attend the monthly evening parent
meeting.
3. A parent from each family is required to serve on a committee or hold
a board position.
4. Each family is asked to meet a $25 fundraising commitment per
school year.
5. We ask that each family fill out and return all the required forms
prior to attending their first day of school.
6. Registration, tuition and insurance fees are the responsibility of
each family to pay to KCP in a timely fashion. Registration fees are to
be paid per class enrolled (twins will only pay one registration fee),
while tuition and insurance fees are to be paid per child enrolled in
the school. If KCP tuition payment becomes too great a burden on a
family, the school has a scholarship program.
7. For Groups I and II, each family will rotate through Snack/Quiet room
parent duties. This job requires the family to provide snack for the
whole class while they are assigned that job for that month. In Group
III, each child will bring his or her own snack to school.
8. Per our contract with the church that houses us, the preschool space
must be thoroughly cleaned each weekend and prepared for the church's
Sunday school classes. Two KCP members will be assigned to clean each
week. Families usually clean two or three times during the school year.
Q: What can I do with my other child(ren)
during my workday?
A: Due to insurance requirements, siblings of KCP students may not be in
attendance while school is in session. The only two exceptions to this
are when a class goes on an outing and when a family is just
returning from maternity leave.
KCP does not offer sibling childcare services. However, Lake Washington
Technical College does have an onsite Early Learning Center which serves
LWTC students and state employees. Since KCP parents are registered
students, they are eligible for discounted rates and flexible childcare
schedules. For more information, please call the Early Learning Center
at (425) 739-8117.
Q: When does the KCP school year begin and
end?
A: The first day of school is the third Monday of September, and the
last day of school every year is the final Thursday of May. Graduation
for those going to kindergarten will also occur in the last week in May.
Q: When does registration begin for the next
school year?
A: Current and former KCP families get first priority to sign their children up for
the following school year. This priority registration period begins on
January 1st, and open registration for the general public begins on
February 1st. Alumni of KCP are welcome to register their children
beginning on January 1st.
Q: How will I know if the preschool is
closed for snow or other bad weather? What about spring break and the
winter holidays?
A: KCP follows the Lake Washington School District calendar. When they
go on vacation, so do we. On half days and conference days for the Lake
Washington School District, KCP families will attend class as usual. On
the days when the school district has a late start, or has cancelled
school because of snow, there will be no preschool.
Q: Does KCP require children to be toilet trained before they
can attend?
A: No. As a co-op, we're able to maintain a very low child/adult ratio
of 4:1 or better. We always have enough parents helping in the classroom
so that someone can take a moment to change a diaper if needed.
Many children will be more motivated to use the toilet independently
when they see peers demonstrate their toilet mastery at preschool.
Q: What other services does KCP offer to its
families and the community?
A: In its over sixty years of operation, Kirkland Co-op Preschool has
developed several traditions of service to the community and to our
families:
1. Each year KCP adopts a needy family for the holidays. In early
November there will be a food drive and then in early December a gift
drive. It is a loving and generous philanthropic thing that the school
gets to do for another member of our community.
2. Each year KCP organizes a Mom's Retreat. This is a chance for moms
only to have a great time shopping, laughing, talking and being
together.
3.Every year just prior to the end of school the board generates a
summer park schedule. Families that wish to participate gather at a park
in Kirkland on a weekly basis, generally on a weekday morning. This
enables new, returning and past families to come together during the
long summer break from school.