The research is clear: Kids participating in extracurricular activities have better school attendance, perform better academically and have positive social developments.

At Spokane Public Schools, we offer more than 400 opportunities for students to be involved, whether that's through sports, school clubs or the arts. And that includes kindergarteners!

Thanks to valuable partnerships with Hoopfest and Active4Youth, kindergarten students can participate in basketball and elementary cross country.

The Hooptown Youth League is for kids in grades K-6. Kids practice and play games with their classmates at their neighborhood school gyms. Keep your eyes out for registration information this fall.

Active4Youth helps manage our elementary cross country program for grades K-5. Kids register each fall through their feeder pattern, practice with their school classmates and compete in two meets each fall. The season culminates with the All-City meet in October for those who qualify.

(Also: Keep your eye on this newsletter for more information on a partnership with Spokane Indians Youth Baseball coming this fall for preschool through first grade.)

If basketball and cross county aren't your kindergarten student's interest, there are countless school clubs available throughout the district. School clubs differ from school to school, and new clubs are forming each year.

Getting your kindergarten student involved immensely helps their development, both socially and academically. We hope to see you and your kindergarten student involved this fall!

We know many parents are eager to learn about their school between now and the first day of school. If you have questions about how you can prepare for kindergarten, how to ride the bus, what school supplies you'll need, what time school starts, or anything else kindergarten- and school-related, please don't hesitate to call your school. You can find phone numbers to all elementary schools on the SPS website.

You can also submit a question through our Let's Talk platform. Your question will be routed to the school's principal.

There are 180 days of school each year, and while each one might look a little different, kindergarten students generally participate in a morning meeting, learn letters and sounds through Word Work, rotate through literacy centers, work in small groups for guided reading, learn numbers during Math Investigations, and much more.

Logan Elementary preschoolers enjoyed center time.

Ridgeview Elementary kindergarteners enjoyed time at the LEGO Club after school.

Wilson Elementary kindergarten students got to go on a field trip to the downtown library.

Preschool students at Stevens Elementary celebrated Dr. Seuss.

Families new to Spokane Public Schools often have all sorts of questions as they prepare to send their child to one of our schools. To mitigate worry and anxiety, SPS has put together a web page with information families need to know as they prepare for the 2024-25 school year that includes items on resources for students and families, bus transportation, before and after school care, school supply lists and more.

Please know this page will be updated as the 2024-25 school year approaches.

Watch all of our video stories on YouTube!

Every Kid, Every Day: Education Club at Scott Elementary

SPS High Schoolers: Why I work at Express School Age Childcare

Audubon received grant for 2nd graders to swim for free at the YMCA

Every Kid, Every Day: EWU Reading Club at Grant Elementary