Starting school is an exciting time, for both children and parents. Although exciting, it can also be daunting if you don’t have the information you need. To help, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) has put together an online toolkit to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

Eligibility 
Registration
Find My Designated School
Boundary exemption requests
Important dates
Kindergarten Information Nights 
Programming options
Fees
Student Transportation
How to prepare
Ways to be involved 

When Can My Child Start Kindergarten?

To register for Kindergarten in the 2016–2017 school year, your child must be five years old on or before December 31, 2016. 

To register for Kindergarten in the 2017–2018 school year, your child must be five years old on or before December 31, 2017. 

Important Dates

To avoid any potential hurdles for your child’s enrolment, make sure to add these dates to your calendar.

Jan. 16, 2017
Kindergarten registration opens for children enrolling at a designated school

Feb. 1, 2017
Kindergarten applications open for children enrolling at a school other than their designated school (through the boundary exemption request process)
(Families will be notified of their application status after the boundary exemption request process closes on April 7, 2017 and no later than April 12, 2017)

April 7, 2017
Last day to apply for Kindergarten if it’s not their designated school (as per the boundary exemption request process)

April 30, 2017
To assist in our planning for next year, we encourage families to register their new Kindergarteners, and make busing arrangements if needed, by the end of April. 

  
Kindergarten Information Nights
In the spring, all EIPS schools with a Kindergarten program host a Kindergarten Information Night. It's an opportunity for parents and children to tour the school, meet the teachers, and learn more about the program. See the Kindergarten Information Night dates and times for all elementary schools. 

Programming Options

Our Kindergarten classrooms provide literacy-rich, play-based programming and are staffed by dedicated early childhood teachers and qualified educational assistants.

Many schools offer half-day Kindergarten programs, either in the morning or afternoon, with hours of operations varying from school to school. Others offer a full-day Kindergarten program, operating on alternating days. For specific details on EIPS schools offering half-day programs and full-day programs, see the Kindergarten Programming & Services page.

In addition, all of our early learners have access to an enhanced supports team, which consists of: speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, educational assistants, and consultants and specialists.

Second-Language Programs
To build skills for an increasingly global world, EIPS offers three second-language programs, two of which start in Kindergarten:

• French Immersion
• German Bilingual
• Ukrainian Bilingual (starts in Grade 1)

Alternative Programs
EIPS also offers a Kindergarten Alternative Christian program at various schools. The program offers students a Christ-centred, biblically directed education based on the Alberta Program of Studies (K-12).

Student Transportation

Find information about registering for busing services, transportation fees, paying fees online, and the Little Elk Island Adventure for first-time bus riders. For more information about Student Transportation, read EIPS’ school bus facts and frequently asked questions. Alternatively, you can contact EIPS Student Transportation directly.

How to Prepare

If you have a child starting Kindergarten in the near future, check out these helpful resources:

• Kindergarten FAQ 
• What to expect in Kindergarten 
• How to prepare for Kindergarten 
• Learnalberta.ca
• Book an eye assessment/exam before your child starts kindergarten to diagnose any vision or eye-health problems:
  • Parent Brochure (En)
  • Parent Brochure (Fr)

Parent Involvement

Parent involvement is a key component in the success of a child's education. If you are a parent or guardian of an EIPS Kindergarten child, there are many ways you can get involved in your school community such as joining the School Council at your school, volunteering at your child’s school, and by staying in touch with your child’s teacher. Read more on how you can be involved.