Cedar Park Elementary School

• Opening Date: September 6, 2017
• Curricular Focus: Expeditionary Learning
• Bell Times: 7:55 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.
• School Capacity: 250-280 (about 2 classes at each grade level)
• Number of classrooms: 18 (2 classrooms per grade level, 2 Preschool classrooms, 2 rooms for specialists, 1 library, 1 resource room)

After School Care

Is after school care available onsite?

KidsCo will be providing afterschool care and enrichment programs for Preschool – 5th grade. For more information, visit the KidsCo website.

Boundaries and Transportation

What will be the boundaries of Cedar Park Elementary?

Anyone can apply to attend any option school. However, students who live within the geozone are given priority in the school assignment process.

Cedar Park geozone marked in yellow on the attached map

Which students can get transportation to Cedar Park?

• Students who live in the “walk zone” of the school are not eligible for bus transportation.
• Students who live outside of the “walk zone” AND live in the Jane Addams Middle School assignment area are eligible for transportation.
• Students who live on the west side of Lake City Way are eligible for bus service, given the dangers of small children crossing Lake City Way.

Cedar Park “walk zone” marked in pink on the attached map

Enrollment

When can students enroll in Cedar Park?

If you are planning on having your student start school mid-year of the current academic year, click here to learn about the online enrollment process and how to access enrollment support.

Open enrollment for the next academic year will open on January 1st. The School Choice window will open February 1st. Learn more about School Choice and Assignment Area vs. Option Schools.

Kindergarten

What is WaKids?

WaKids is a state-supported program for kindergarten students and families that rethinks how we develop the school-home relationship. WaKids takes a more holistic approach in giving time to learn more deeply about a student’s academic, social-emotional, fine and gross motor skills, and lets schools support students and families in a more personal way.

Along with a Family Connect meeting (see below), Kindergarten teachers will administer the WaKids Gold assessment in the fall that will gather observational and formative assessment data on a student’s skills entering kindergarten and take a whole-child approach in setting learning goals with families at conferences.

Preschool

Cedar Park has two full-day classrooms for the Seattle Preschool Program Plus. This program is funded by a city levy. Learn more about Seattle Preschool Program here.

Our Preschool classrooms operate on the same bell schedule and calendar as the K-5 program, during school hours 7:55 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.

Each classroom has a full-day Certificated teacher and two full-day Instructional Assistants. Both classrooms share a full-day Certificated Special Education teacher. Classrooms have their own restrooms, sinks and access to a dedicated outdoor playground with equipment safety-rated for ages 3-5. Snack and lunch are eaten in the classroom, but students have access to school lunch if their family chooses. Preschool classes have dedicated library time once a week, including book check-out and movement and music specialists several times a week. Students also participate in lessons in the Art Studio provided by the Art Docent program several times throughout the year.

Program Information

What is an option school?

An option school is a school that uses a specific teaching model or focus in addition to the basic common core curriculum (reading writing, math). Students must opt-in to an option school by completing paperwork with the school district. If applications exceed enrollment, preference goes to students with siblings already at the option school and students who live nearest the school.

What is Expeditionary Learning (EL)?

Expeditionary Learning is student-driven, deep and engaging learning connected to the real world that embeds grade level skills and competencies. EL is a project -based, student-led learning model.

Instead of having each subject as a separate entity, this model allows students to dive deeply into an expedition/project and the teacher to integrate skills and standards into the expedition.

Additionally, expeditions have connections to real-world learning. In order to enhance this real-world connection, classes participate in field trips or invite experts to come in and teach them more about their chosen expedition.

Cedar Park’s EL Learning Model is called IDEA Time. This program is unique to Cedar Park and is in continual development, making every year’s sessions more powerful, impactful and fun. Learn more about IDEA Time here.

How is Expeditionary Learning SIMILAR to a traditional school model?

• EL schools held to the same curricula/Common Core State Standards.
• EL schools use District adopted core curricula such as the Center for the Collaborative Classroom (English Language Arts curriculum) and enVision Math (Math curriculum).
• EL schools participate in standardized testing.