Yes. The Early Learning Kindergarten Program (Years 1 and 2 - formally known as Junior and Senior Kindergarten) is a full-day, everyday program.

If your child turns 4 by December 31, they can register for Year 1 of Kindergarten

If your child turns 5 by December 31, they are eligible for Year 2 of Kindergarten

Parents/Guardians are asked to show proof of birthdate for the child they are registering and proof of address for the home residence. The registration form also asks for the child’s health card number. You may also choose to bring proof of immunization.

We highly recommend you register your child for school right now because it will help us plan for September by ensuring we have a professional education team in place to teach your child.

We have also found that registering early helps families transition to getting ready for school. Parents/Guardians and little ones can talk about what school might look like in the fall. Families can use this time to prepare their children for school. In addition, once students are registered, they will be invited to visit the Kindergarten space and engage in activities to help with their transition to school prior to their actual attendance in the Fall.

Upon registration in one of our schools, you will receive a phone call sometime prior to entry from the school to schedule a meeting date with you to complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).

This screening tool provides a quick look at how children are doing in important areas, such as communication, physical ability, social skills, and problem-solving skills.

As a parent or caregiver, you are the best source of information about your child. Your answers help us to learn about your child’s – strengths and areas that may benefit from a little more support.

This screening tool is not a test but instead supports young children’s growth and development. By partnering with us and completing the ASQ screening tool, you are making sure your child is off to the best possible start.

Students and their caregivers do not have to be Catholic in order to register. At SNCDSB, we respect the uniqueness of our students, staff, and their families, and we value every person as a child of God, perfectly made, just as they are. We are committed to an equitable education system that upholds and reflects the principles of inclusive education, which permeates all policies, programs, practices, and operations.

The Church reminds us that you, as the parent/guardian, are your child’s first teacher of the faith. By your example of prayer and daily living, you have set your child on the road to knowing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.

The Kindergarten Religion Program, Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ, creates strong links between home, school and parish. The classroom experience helps students deepen their love of God and their neighbours. The resources have been developed with an understanding of early childhood faith and intellectual development, and these resources present important truths in a way that children can grasp and appreciate. This will help them today and will prepare them for tomorrow as they grow and mature and make significant contributions to our society as faith-filled Catholics who radiate the joy of believing.

Your child is beginning the journey toward graduation today. Everything that happens between now and graduation is designed to prepare your child to take his or her place as a witness to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in the local and global community.

As your child journeys through the school years in Superior North Catholic District School Board, we promise to do our part in cultivating the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations.

All students enrolled in Kindergarten (Year 1 and Year 2) are eligible for bus transportation.

The bus lines will contact the school that your child has been registered at, and the school will inform families of the bus stop and an estimated time for drop off and pick up.

Each year Superior North Catholic District School Board, in collaboration with the Transportation Consortium and the bus company, organizes a First Riders program for families to participate in at their designated school prior to the start of the school year.

There will always be staff greeting students when the bus arrives at school. If, for some reason, your child does not arrive on the bus, you will receive a call from our School Administrative Assistant through the Safe Arrival Program. Rest assured that the bus drivers also do a “sweep” to ensure that all students are off the bus.

Staff are assigned to ensure that students are on the correct bus at dismissal time

Before registration, the Superior North Catholic District School Board liaises with community child care and clinical programs to facilitate the student’s entry into the school environment. Consultation with parent(s) and guardian(s) is integral to this process.
The Special Needs Transition Plan allows the Superior North Catholic District School Board to collect transition information in order to prepare for a successful entry.
When they register, families should share any documentation and formal assessments they are comfortable sharing with the school.

For children with significant special education needs, the appropriate staff from the school and the Board will review the reports and meet with the parents to discuss options, programming needs, and transitions and ensure the appropriate supports are in place to assist with a successful transition to the school setting. The school team may develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to formalize any required programming.

If your child requires an Individual Education Plan (IEP), the school team will meet and collaborate with you to develop an IEP for your child. This written plan outlines the special education program or services your child will need to learn and demonstrate they are learning. Your child’s IEP is a working document that will be reviewed and adjusted throughout the year.

There are supports available to families with children who have special needs. If possible, it is encouraged to have your child formally assessed for Autism prior to Kindergarten so that students can be registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). Once a student officially begins school, they are no longer eligible to participate in the Entry to Kindergarten Program through OAP.

Learn about the Ontario Autism Program and support for children with autism. Find out how to register for the program and get information about funding and service options.

It is the expectation of our Catholic schools that your child attends to his/her own toileting needs before starting school. As children learn and grow, considerations will be made for children with medical or developmental conditions that interfere with regular toilet training. In our Superior North Catholic District Schools, partnership with families is essential to supporting parents/guardians as they prepare their children with skills for Kindergarten success. Our belief that every child is capable and ready to learn is enhanced by encouraging a positive self-image and pride in mastery of these skills. While building relationships and supporting you as a family, here are some resources which will provide strategies and ideas as you strive to toilet train your child.

Please see the links below to access websites/books that may support you and your child with their training:

How to Potty Train Your Child in Just Three Days

Toilet Learning

The 15 Best Potty Training Books for Kids and Parents

Parents and guardians can support this transition to Kindergarten by:

• Speaking positively about starting school.
• Talk about school as a fun, safe place. Let your child know that the educators are there to take care of them and help them.
• Offer your child time to explore with crayons, markers, puzzles, play dough or clay.
• Read stories to your child and allow opportunities for them to talk about the pictures and turn the pages of the book.
• Provide a language-rich environment with opportunities to speak well, listen attentively, and read aloud every day.
• Encourage your child to be an active learner who initiates and responds during oral language interactions.
• Singing and playing rhyming games together.
• Playing listening games, such as “Simon Says”.
• Encourage dramatic play where your child takes on imaginary roles.
• Encourage and support your child with self-care skills, such as fastening zippers and buttons, taking shoes on and off, and dressing themselves(educators will be there to help when school starts). Please click on this link for further information to promote independence. Teaching Your Child to: Become Independent with Daily Routines.
• Teaching Your Child to Cooperate with Requests.pdf
• Visit and play in the schoolyard and playground.
• Encourage and practice washroom routines like flushing, dressing and washing hands.
• Invite your child to select and help prepare snacks based on foods they like to eat.
• Have your child participate in the scheduled visits that each school invites each new kindergarten registrant to in the spring.
• Bring your child to the local Early ON centre to participate in a variety of activities and provide your child with the opportunity to interact with other children.

The majority of our Kindergarten classrooms have a team of two educators – a Kindergarten teacher and an Early Childhood Educator. They work together to plan activities, document student progress and create a welcoming, positive, and fun learning environment. Students will also have the opportunity to interact with either a second language teacher, a prep teacher, or other educators who supervise the students during nutrition breaks and/or outdoor play.

Class sizes vary depending on how many children have registered at a school.

Not all schools have the same start time, so arrival time varies. Each school’s hours are posted on their individual School Page on the board website. All schools offer 15 minutes of yard supervision prior to the start of the school day.

More information about arrival and start times will be provided by your child’s school.

Your child will need to bring a backpack, lunch bag, water bottle, pair of indoor running shoes (preferably velcro) and, if possible, an extra set of clothes in a ziplock bag that can be left at school. Your child may also choose to bring a pencil case and colouring tools. Please label your child’s personal items with their name or initials.

Students at our schools have two Nutrition Breaks during the day where they have time to eat a healthy snack/lunch and follow the alternative day (balanced day) schedule. Here are a few links to the Thunder Bay District Health Unit that will help with packing snacks and lunch suggestions.

• Packing Lunches - A Handy Guide for Grownups
• Balanced School Day Lunches

If a student has a food allergy, then the parents/guardians are responsible for informing the school and completing the appropriate documentation so that a plan of care can be created.

Parents and guardians are asked to inform the school of any prevalent medical conditions so that the necessary documentation is completed by the caregiver so that a plan of care is created for the student.

Absolutely! If your child is ill and reports the illness to one of the educators, or if the educators notice a change in how the student is feeling, a staff member from the school will call and make you aware.

Each day, your child will jump, run, walk, bounce, stretch, crouch, bend and sit on the floor. Please choose clothes that will be comfortable each day.

Select clothes, jackets, shoes, or boots that are easy to put on, take off, and fasten.

Outdoor play is an essential part of the Kindergarten program. Students will need to ensure outdoor clothing for all types of weather.

This is completely normal.

The school environment is new, and so are many of the faces your child is encountering. We expect some mixed emotions. Our staff is there to support and help your child work through their various emotions. We also use two different programs, Zones of Regulation and Second Step, to help teach children about all emotions and how to self-regulate. It is important that children learn what different emotions look like and feel like. They also learn about many self-regulation strategies. A large part of the Kindergarten program focuses on allowing the children to practice and build on these self-regulation skills.

There are many strategies that educators can use to help children cope with their sensory needs, from quiet areas to noise-cancelling headphones, comfort items from home and self-regulation strategies. Rest/quiet time is an essential part of the day and an opportunity for children to decompress and process learning. If your child has specific needs, educators are happy to collaborate with families to adapt or incorporate appropriate strategies used at home when possible.

The Superior North Catholic District School Board (SNCDSB) uses the SchoolMessenger platform to communicate with our families. If you are new to SNCDSB or have not yet set up your account, we highly recommend you do so as soon as possible. School Messenger is an effective communication tool that is used in case of emergencies as well as to communicate important school and Board information. To set up your account, visit our parent page on our Board website and follow the instructions to Opt-In in two easy steps.

Our schools welcome all caregivers and recognize the importance of parent/guardian involvement and engagement. Parents and Guardians can get involved by becoming a member of the School Council at your child’s school, the Catholic Parent Involvement Committee (CPIC) and/or the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). Please talk to the school principal for more information and various volunteer opportunities that may also be available at the school