What a day in Mukilteo kindergarten looks like — schedules, assessments and readiness tips

Katie Pence, principal at Picnic Point Elementary, described a typical kindergarten day and teaching priorities: a morning welcome that includes hearing each student’s name, social-emotional learning, daily play-to-learn centers, 45-minute content-area specialist rotations (music, physical education or library), lunch and recess (minimum 20-minute lunch and 30-minute recess), and a closing circle before dismissal. Pence said play-to-learn activities help students practice planning, problem-solving and social skills and encouraged families to develop independence skills—putting on coats and shoes, packing backpacks, and independent toileting—before school starts.

Pence explained the WA Kids inventory and fall assessments teachers use to plan instruction: beginning with family connection meetings in September, teachers assess social-emotional skills, gross and fine motor development, problem solving, language and communication, and early literacy and numeracy through play-based and individual assessments. The assessments are used to tailor instruction, not as pass/fail gatekeepers.

Judy Hemminger and other staff also described the district’s early-entry testing process for children whose birthdays fall Sept. 1–Oct. 31: district-provided testing is available at no cost to families who qualify for free-lunch status (testing scheduled in early August); otherwise the family must obtain assessment by a licensed Washington psychologist at family expense. The district said early-entry approval requires meeting the district’s stated thresholds in each tested area (a standard score of 120 or approximately 91%) and a two-month trial period following principal approval.

Staff repeatedly noted that some operational details—class sizes and specific teacher assignments—were not yet finalized and will be provided before the school year begins.