Transitional Kindergarten

Holy Family Catholic Schools offers transitional kindergarten (TK) at Resurrection and St. Columbkille campuses. TK offers a kindergarten curriculum for students who may benefit from extra time for social-emotional development and a more gradual approach to the academic rigor of today’s kindergarten classroom.

TK classrooms welcome pre-K students from any Holy Family pre-K site.

TK Admissions Criteria

TK students must be five years old by Sept. 15 of the academic year.

Due to limited enrollment capacity, placement in the TK program is based on various factors, including age/maturity, social-emotional skills, academic skills, and pre-K program recommendation.

Families interested in enrolling in the TK program will apply using the kindergarten enrollment application. Placement in the program will be finalized no later than spring conferences.

Enrollment Options

Current pre-K families may choose one of three options to continue their child's Holy Family education:

Kindergarten: This is the next step for the majority of pre-K students. Students enrolling in kindergarten will enroll in first grade the following year.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK): If you and your child's teacher feel that your child may benefit from additional time and practice to develop kindergarten skills, you may consider TK. Space is limited, and placement is based on various factors of kindergarten readiness.

Pre-K Year Two: Parents may still choose to enroll their child in a second year of pre-K. This option may be best for families who prefer a play-based curriculum with a shorter instructional day. Five-year-old pre-K students will not qualify for the State of Iowa free pre-K grant.

Note: All students enrolling in kindergarten programming, including TK, are eligible for an education savings account (ESA) to be used toward Holy Family tuition fees as long as the family resides in Iowa.

Is TK Right for My Child?

If reading through the following questions, you find yourself answering "no," TK may be a good fit for your child.

Can my child hold/use pencils, crayons, and scissors?
Does my child initiate conversations with others?
Does my child follow 2-3 step directions?
Can my child easily accept "no" and be redirected to another task?
Can my child keep his/her hands to him/herself?
Can my child sit attentively while read to?
Can my child identify numbers 0-10?
Can my child identify the letters in his/her name?
Can my child name 10-20 upper and lowercase letters, names, and sounds?

Frequently Asked Questions

How is TK different than kindergarten?

TK is a kindergarten program. It utilizes the Iowa Core Kindergarten Standards and follows kindergarten reporting requirements. TK also aligns with Resurrection's school calendar and schedule. Students are required to participate in state-wide kindergarten assessments. The TK teacher is a certified teacher, and students have access to school lunch and busing (if eligible through Dubuque Community School District). TK students also have the opportunity to participate in art, P.E., and music specialist classes.

TK differs from kindergarten in that the pace is modified to meet the students where they are, understanding that they may need time and practice developing the skills to be successful in a traditional kindergarten setting. Additionally, more focus may be placed on social-emotional activities and skills.

What are the hours of the TK program?

TK follows the K-5 school calendar of the its campus and runs from 8:15 a.m. until 3:15 p.m., five days a week. Breakfast is available for TK students, and students are eligible for wrap-around care from 6:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

TK students participate in specialist courses such as P.E., music, and art. They also have access to the same K-5 support instruction as any other K-5 student.

Does my child need to attend Resurrection or St. Columbkille to enroll in TK?

TK is open to any eligible five-year-old, regardless of where they attended pre-K or their preferred Holy Family school of enrollment. However, due to limited space, TK placement will be offered to students based on demonstrated academic or social-emotional needs as recommended by the student's pre-K program. Enrollment will also follow Holy Family's established kindergarten admissions policies.

Will my child enter kindergarten or first grade after TK?

Learn More about Transitional Kindergarten

Contact Rebecca Mueller
Admissions & Tuition Services Manager
rmueller@holyfamilydbq.org
563-582-5456