Your little rug rat is about to embark on a new adventure: kindergarten! But before you can walk your child into a classroom for the first time, you need to figure out registration. Our step-by-step guide will help you through the process.
Kindergarten, also known as preschool, is a very important stage in a child’s schooling. Through classroom games and activities, kids are exposed to new experiences that help them learn to do the following:
Kindergarten for 4-year-olds currently remains optional, while kindergarten for 5-year-olds is part of the standard school system.
Children usually attend the school in their local district. In Quebec, however, parents are allowed to enrol their child in the school of their choice, provided certain parameters are respected. For example, the school must meet the following criteria:
On registration day, you’ll need to provide the school representative with certain official documents. Most schools ask for the following:
The list of required documents can vary slightly between schools. For example, some kindergartens ask parents to fill out a questionnaire about their child. It’s a good idea to check with the school you’ve chosen for an exact list of requested documentation.
Registration usually takes place in February or March (dates vary from school to school) for all children who turn 4 or 5 before October 1 of the upcoming school year. The process is simple:
In Quebec, public school is free. However, students who are not Quebec residents are sometimes required to pay tuition fees and make an additional financial contribution.
You’ll soon need to think about how your child will get to and from school. As you go through the registration process, ask yourself the following questions:
If your child will be going to school on foot, consider walking the route with them a few times before their first day. You can also look into Trottibus walking school bus programs in your area.
All schools offer a daycare service for a certain fee. It’s not too early to start thinking about whether and when you’ll need to take advantage of it:
In kindergarten, meals are usually provided by the daycare service. Don’t hesitate to ask about the food services at your child’s future school:
There are a number of things you can do to prepare your child for kindergarten that will also stimulate their interest in learning. Here are a few examples:
Rewriting: The Alloprof Parents’ team
