Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Wedgwood unique?

We are a school community in which all members take pride in their uniqueness and accomplishments, as well as take responsibility for creating and maintaining a learning environment that is stimulating, respectful, and caring. Review the latest available Wedgwood Elementary School Annual Report, including WASL scores. If you have additional questions or concerns, contact our front office at 206.252.5670 or principal Denise Espania at dyespania@seattleschools.org.


What is Pay4K and what does it cost?
The district pays for half-day AM kindergarten which includes all required core subjects. Optional Pay4K extends our program to a full day and pays for remaining salaries and support needed to do so. Tuition for the full-day Kindergarten program in 2010-2011 is $207 per month, with the exception of those who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program and those with IEPs (Individual Education Plans) as defined by federal law. For more information about payments for all day kindergarten, please visit the SPS Fees For Full Day Kindergarten page.


What are regular school hours in 2010-11?
The first bell rings at 9:05 am and classes begin at 9:10 am. Children are dismissed at 3:15 pm daily except on early release days when the day ends two hours early. If your child is absent for any reason or prior to a planned absence, families are asked to notify the office at 206.252.5670.

What enrichment programs and clubs are offered?
Many 8-week after-school enrichment classes and clubs are offered at least twice a year or are ongoing and start several weeks after school begins. You will receive a list of the programs being offered, costs, schedules and registration information.

Who will be my child's teacher? When can we meet them?
Class assignments will be posted Thursday, September 2 after 3:00 pm for the 2010-2011 school year. The night before school starts, Wedgwood PTA hosts a family Back-to-School BBQ on the playground, which includes a full introduction of the school staff. That night, (only) the kindergarten classrooms are open for 30 minutes for children to visit his or her classroom and meet the teacher. Parents of all grades will have the opportunity to visit classrooms during their Curriculum Night in the first weeks of school where you will get a full overview from our teachers.

How can we contact and get together with other children?
The PTA hosts a number of kindergarten summer play dates at local playgrounds for an opportunity to get acquainted. A list of these dates and locations will be in your welcome letter from the principal in early summer. Our website will also post this information.

After school begins we start to compile an All-School and Classroom Roster which has traditionally been distributed late-first quarter. Listing your information in the Roster is optional but allows families the ability to contact one another during the school year.

What is the best way to get information about what is happening at Wedgwood?
There are several good ways to get information.

The Weekly
The Weekly PTA newsletter is distributed every week via email with hardcopies available in the front office. Here you will find important calendar items, an informative principal's column, lists of volunteer opportunities, detail on after-school activities and family events, and more.

Our Website
Wedgwoodelementary.org is intended to be a resource for parents whether they are looking for The Weekly, a downloadable form, or links to classroom, educational or Seattle School District websites.

Kid Mail
To get things from classroom to home and home to classroom, a sturdy dual-pocket folder will have one side labeled for items to keep and the other side labeled for items to be returned. Transported back and forth in your child's backpack, parents should check this folder frequently as individual mail comes home throughout the week with one day designated for all-school communications.

What supplies do we need for the first day?
In general, every day your child will need a backpack, a lunchbox if you are sending a lunch, and a refillable water bottle. Please label these items with your child's name and class as well as on any coats or sweatshirts your child brings to school. Year-round, a Lost and Found bin is maintained either inside or just outside of the lunchroom. Unclaimed items are donated to a local shelter twice a year.

At some point in the summer, back-to-school information and a common supply list will be posted on our website and in your welcome letter. Due to some teachers or grades requiring class-specific items, after school starts you may receive a list of additional items to bring.

What are the First Day Packets?
On the first day of school every child comes home with what we call First Day Packets. The packets are full of important information as well as forms to be filled out and returned right away. Please return all forms to your child's teacher as quickly as possible.

Where do we meet our teacher on the first day?
The first few weeks of school can be hectic. Teachers are getting to know their students and new students are learning their way around school.

Kindergarten parents doing drop-offs are asked to meet teachers on the playground. When the bell rings, students line up behind their classroom number indicated on the hard court. Teachers ask that parents say good-bye on the playground before students are escorted into the building. This helps begin the important routine of getting students on-track for taking care of their own coats, backpacks and lunches which fosters independence and self-sufficiency.

On the first day of school, parents are encouraged to join the principal and other parents at the PTA-hosted First Day Reception.

What are school drop-off procedures?
Children who ride the buses are met and escorted onto school grounds. Parents doing vehicle drop-offs are asked to join the moving drop-off procedure on NE 85th St in front of Wedgwood Elementary during morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups. This procedure will be explained in detail at the beginning of the year. Parents are also welcome to park and walk their children to the playground. Kindergarten drop-off is on the playground as this is where students will meet their teachers.

In order to provide your child a safe environment, we stress that there are NO SCHOOL DROP-OFFS BEFORE SCHOOL HOURS as there is no drop-off supervision during this time.

How will my child learn about taking the bus home?
If your child is riding the bus home, she or he will be escorted to the bus for the first week by a teacher. This helps young children learn the bus routine. Regularly there are bus monitors who supervise groups of students getting off and onto buses. Please notify the school as soon as possible if there are concerns related to busing.

Seattle District Transportation information will be sent to families in late August. Questions regarding school buses can be directed to the Transportation Department at 206.252.0900 or please visit the SPS Transportation Page.

What happens if my child gets hurt, sick or needs specific medications during the school day?
Wedgwood School was designated as a Medically Fragile Site in September 1999 and Anita Huntley was assigned as its full-time School Nurse. She is available for all of the above instances and a further information is available here on the website. You can reach Nurse Huntley at 206.252.5712.

For information about immunization requirements and recording please visit the Washington State Department of Health's Immunization page.

Does Wedgwood have a full-time P.E. teacher?
Yes, we are very lucky to have Jessica Jansen to both energize and teach our kids. She offers 16-17 two-week comprehensive units on various activities, games and skills including:

  • Cooperative games (focusing on working together in social situations)

  • Dance

  • Yoga

  • Fitness (focusing on the components of fitness—muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility—as well as personal goal-setting)

  • Nutrition

  • Circus arts (unicycles, stilts, Hula-Hoops, juggling)

  • Jump rope

  • Volleyball

  • Tennis

  • Archery

  • Gymnastics

  • Cosmic bowling

  • Golf

  • Soccer

  • Orienteering (including our rock climbing wall)

  • Multicultural games (Tinikling, Chinese jump rope, Diablos, bocce ball and Sepak Takraw)


Ms. Jansen has also been instrumental in helping start our composting program and educating students to be personally and environmentally responsible.

What other services do you offer students at Wedgwood?

How and when will parents be able to help in the classroom?
There are many volunteer opportunities at Wedgwood in the classroom as well as around school—the strength of our parent volunteers is one of our community's greatest assets. In the classroom, each teacher uses volunteers differently. They may need extra help on specific days with activities, including small groups, reading circles, science lab, computer lab and field trips. Teachers will explain their classrooms’ specific needs at Curriculum Night in September, though many slots will not begin until after the first three weeks of school in order to get students acclimated to the learning environment and routine with the teachers only.

PTA opportunities are year-round and some begin right away. Over the summer the PTA organizes the Back-to-school BBQ and the First Day Reception. At these events you will have the opportunity to hear about the many school and family programs hosted during the year. There will be sign ups for volunteer opportunities with immediate needs, including PTA Room Parent representatives. Generally, this parent or two helps distribute important PTA communications, recruit volunteers, and may assist the teacher with classroom parties and special events. Updated volunteer needs will be sent out via The Weekly, Kid Mail and email, and posted on our Volunteering page. We encourage everyone to JOIN IN!

What are my before- or after-school options?
Wedgwood is fortunate to have many before- and after-school programs available for its families, including those listed below.

Kids Time On-site Childcare
Apryl Leptich, Director
206.729.1726
Apryl.Leptich@seattle.gov
Kids Time is our only on-site before- and after- school child day care. This popular program is coordinated through Seattle Parks and Recreation. Care is professional and licensed. Contact them directly for information.

KidsPlay at Wedgwood
Kevin and Cate Oyama
206.524.PLAY
KDOyama@comcast.net
www.kidsplayfitness.com
This on-site daily program offers before- and after-school classes with scheduling flexibility. With a focus on active fun for mind and body, activities include physical play and exercise, creative play, reading and writing play, and homework help. They also offer off-site drop-in day camps over early dismissal days and school breaks. Contact them directly for information.

Offsite Programs
Other programs offer off-site care (including University Family YMCA and Meadowbrook Community Center MOOSE), some with bus service. Look for a complete listing and contact information in First Day Packets.