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
Kindergarten Calendars
Find My Designated School
Kindergarten Information Nights 
Programming 
Fees
Student Transportation
How to prepare
Ways to be involved 

When Can My Child Start Kindergarten?

To register for kindergarten in the 2018-19 school year, your child must be five years old on or before December 31, 2018. 

Programming

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

For the 2018-19 school year, all EIPS schools are offering one kindergarten option, alternating full-day programming. Children will attend two full-days a week—and occasionally, three days a week so that EIPS meets the required 475 instructional hours. For schedule details at each EIPS school, see the Kindergarten Programming & Services page.

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

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

• French Immersion
• German Bilingual
• Ukrainian Bilingual

Alternative Programs
EIPS also provides 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.