It is that time of year again, the time when parents are frantically checking out school open houses to register their children for Kindergarten. Just take a deep breath!! There are many wonderful schools to choose from. Are you wondering where to enroll, what do do, and when to start? If your child will be 5 years old by March 2, 2016 they are eligible to register for Kindergarten.
We often get asked if a child is ready for kindergarten. Generally, if your child can follow directions, can sit for a 15 – 20 minute learning time and plays with others easily they are probably ready. For those amazing children born between January 1 and March 2 it is often a personal choice. Sometimes they are ready academically but still are a bit shy or have difficulty talking to their peers, or they are just small for their age, then we have had parents wait that extra year to register them for Kindergarten and they have done well, we have also had parents register them as soon as they are eligible and they have gone on to succeed as well. One comment that I often get from the children when they are in Out of School Care is if they are born in January or later and start school when they are 4 years old, is that they don’t get to play sports with their friends as sports are often based on birth year. Just something to think about!
If you are still unsure if your child is ready talk to your current child care provider, they usually complete progress reports or developmental checklists a few times a year and can give you a better idea of what your child has accomplished.
So if you feel your child is ready for Kindergarten here is what you need to do:
Step 1 is to check the websites for Edmonton Public Schools at www.epsb.net and Edmonton Catholic Schools at www.ecsd.net, here you are able to look up your designated school. Yes, you have a designated school based on your home address, this is the school that serves your neighborhood.
Step 2, attend the open house to get more information about the school and the programs they offer. Do they offer French Immersion, Is there bussing, Do they have child care options onsite or is there busing to your current childcare option? These are just a few of the things to consider.
Step 3, complete the registration form for the school and wait to see if your child is accepted.
Step 4, Once your child has been accepted, the school will often tell you if your child is in AM or PM Kindergarten and may even give you a staggered entry day. This is a day when a small group of the class go in and have class with the Teacher to help them transition to Kindergarten! We also recommend talking to your child in the days/weeks leading up to school so they kn0w what to expect. Take them shopping for a new backpack, school clothes or supplies for Kindergarten, this is always very exciting.
I hope this helps you 🙂