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Kindergarten

This page contains information for new kindergarten students and their parents. Please bookmark this page so you can follow up on all the information provided below as it is updated throughout the spring and summer.

Welcome

If you missed our Parent Welcome and Orientation events in April or just want to review the content, please feel free to review our presentation slides. Keep reading for more information about starting kindergarten at Bear Creek.

First page of the PDF file: KindergartenParentWelcomeandOrientation

Preparing for a New School Year

100 Days of Kindergarten

Tuition Payment

Whether opting for monthly payments or a single annual payment, sign up for a FACTS Tuition Management account no later than April 1, 2026. The first payment is due on May 5. The annual fee for FACTS is $50 per household (waived if tuition and facility fee are paid in full).

If you already have a FACTS account and need to add a new student, please contact Carol Willard, Accounts Receivable Specialist, at 425-898-1720 ext. 304 or cwillard@tbcs.org.

Families receiving tuition assistance, or any other credit, or enrolling late will have their accounts adjusted after the FACTS account is set up. Contact Carol Willard to verify monthly amount due.

Portal Access

Update your contact information and view your billing account on your Parent Portal. 

Portal Login

Kindergarten drama

Immunization Requirement

Washington State law (RCW 28A.210.080) requires that all children enrolled at a public or private school have an official Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) document, proof of initiation of an immunization schedule, or a Certificate of Exemption (COE) document on file to attend school or preschool.  

On or before August 1, all new students and all returning preschool and grade 7 students must have one of the required documents uploaded to the health portal. Children cannot attend school until one of these records is provided. We cannot accept any forms that have been mailed, emailed, or dropped off. For mid-year enrollees, this requirement must be fulfilled and approved prior to the first day of attendance. 

Please follow the instructions on our Health Services page on how to access and upload these documents.

Kindergartener and senior

Summer Reading Program

Students entering grades K – 4 are encouraged to participate in our summer reading program.

Summer Camp

Summer Camp

Register for Summer Camp 2026 which runs for four weeks in June and July. We are offering a selection of sports, arts, and STEM camps for kids who will enter grades K – 12 next fall.

Summer Play Dates

All students, new and returning, are invited to attend our summer play dates on the Redmond Campus playground from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

  • Kindergarten
    • Thursday, July 9
    • Tuesday, August 4
  • Grades 1 and 3
    • Tuesday, July 14
    • Thursday, July 30
  • Grades 2 and 4
    • Thursday, July 16
    • Tuesday, July 28

Watch the school calendar for back-to-school events in August and September.

School Uniforms

Information about uniform guidelines, dress days, and online ordering can be found on the School Uniforms page. Spirit gear may be purchased in the Grizzly Gear Shop, either online or in person.

Back-to-School Registration

Look for email in early July announcing your child's Back-to-School Registration is ready for your attention. Back-to-School Registration is due by August 1, 2026, and must be complete before your child may attend school.

School Supplies

Bear Creek provides most materials for our students; however, there are some school supplies that parents must purchase for their children.

School Starts

  • Teacher assignments are posted in the Parent Portal on Wednesday, August 26.
  • All Lower School students and their families are invited to Cookies at the Creek at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, to meet their teachers, drop off school supplies, and enjoy a cookie!
  • The first day of Lower School is Tuesday, September 1, 2026. It is a dress uniform day, and all parents are invited to attend Parents 'n Pastries immediately following Lower School drop-off.

Early Dismissal

During the first week of school, September 1 – 4, all kindergarten classes are dismissed at noon so that teachers may meet individually with each of their students.

Lunch

See Dining Services for details about how Lower School families will pre-order their child's lunches each week and when family dining accounts for new families will be set up.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Review our campus maps and familiarize yourself with the morning and afternoon routines (subject to change). Families with students in both Lower School and Middle School may sign up for drop-off and pick-up supervision.

After School Programs

Bear Creek Plus offers after school enrichment classes for Lower School students. The fall session catalog will be posted on August 3, and registration will open on August 10.

Mark Your Calendar

On every webpage, you will find a link to the School Calendar which can be filtered according to your child's division (or check out the special Lower School Calendar). Parents may subscribe to the various sub-calendar feeds and/or subscribe to email/text alerts for specific events or calendars.

Inside Bear Creek

As part of your orientation to Bear Creek, please plan to join Patrick Carruth, President and Headmaster, and Mariana Keller, Vice President for Philanthropy and Community Engagement, at Inside Bear Creek in the fall. This gathering will provide you with important practical information about how to get involved in the Bear Creek community as a parent, an understanding of how the school functions beyond the classrooms, and an opportunity to connect with other new families. Look for an email in late summer with more details.

Contacts

By Division

Preschool (P3 – P5)

Lower School (grades K – 4)

Middle School (grades 5 – 8)

Upper School (grades 9 – 12)

By Department

Tuition and Fees

  • Director of Business Operations Kathleen Lewis, klewis@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720, ext. 302

Giving or Volunteering

  • Vice President for Philanthropy and Community Engagement Mariana Keller, mkeller@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 340

Attendance

Health Services

  • Director of Health Services Lela Powell, epowell@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 399

Back-to-School Registration

Athletics

  • Athletics Director Chad Pohlman, cpohlman@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 431 (grades 9 – 12 sports)
  • Middle School Athletics Director Nate Campbell, ncampbell@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 430 (grades 6 – 8 sports)

College and Academic Advising

  • Dean of College and Academic Advising Katie Gomulkiewicz, kgomulkiewicz@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 533 (grades 11 – 12)
  • Dean of Academic Advising Ayoleida Páramo, aparamo@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 535 (grades 9 – 10)
  • Registrar Amanda Hale, registrar@tbcs.org, 425-898-1720 ext. 537

Admissions

Also check out the online directory of faculty and staff.