Issaquah Highland Schools - Grand Ridge Elementary (Seattle, Sammamish: day care, home)

[Indian Scout]

Hi.

Relocating to the greater Seattle area for work. Originally from Seattle, however, haven't lived here in ages! Still have a home to sell where we're coming from so we have rented a town home in the Issaquah Highlands within walking distance of the Grand Ridge Elementary School.

I have two daughters age 2 (three at the end of August) and 5. The 5 year old will be going into kindergarten this fall. We'll miss school registration tomorrow but will be there on Aug. 10th for the next session.

With the administrative office closed otherwise, I'm trying to get some idea of the following:

My wife and I will both be working and I understand the kindergarten is only half day. Is there a before and after school program there at the school?

If not, is there busing to any day care facilities (we're familar with Le Petite and Kindercare) in the immediate area?

The two aforementioned child care facilties are costly (at least to me they are). Are there any other options in the area that other parents are using?

I appreciate the help! Thanks!

[VeronikaW]

I was just looking into this recently (we live in the Highlands as well), and I'm pretty sure Grand Ridge has a full day kindergarten, but it's hard to get into (I think there's a waiting list), and there might be extra fees associated with it. I could be wrong about that, we researched a lot of schools.

There's a Montessori school up here in the highlands Lakeside Montessori you could look into. Lakeside Montessori: Building Intellect, Creativity & Character — Issaquah and Sammamish, WA

I've been recently looking for childcare, and part time is upwards of $1,000/month at established preschools, so childcare is super costly up here.

V. =)

[texastrigirl]

Grand Ridge's full day kindergarten is currently being serviced at Sunny Hills Elementary for the 2009-2010 school year. They will be bused there. IH has a lot of young families so it is possible that GR will always have an issue with having enough space in full day K. That being said, Elem 15 is set to open for the 2010-2011 school year and that should alleviate crowding the Plateau as many GR families will be re-routed to Sunny Hills, though I don't know if it will impact GR K needs that much due to the demographics of the immediate area. BTW, Sunny Hills is a terrific elem school on the Plateau...one of the best among best...so it's not an issue from that standpoint of having to go there.

Don't know much about childcare other than it is expensive for full day. My friend whose son was at GR in half day did have a program he went to after his morning K just to extend his day a bit so I know there are options...it's just pieced together and I don't believe it was offered through the school.

You also could consider the full day Kindergarten program at Sammamish Christian School. Great K program and would be less expensive than day care. Maybe about $600 per month?