Frequently Asked Questions

Children are eligible to start Kindergarten in the school year they turn four. For example, if your child turns 4 in 2026, they are ready to begin Kindergarten in September 2026!

Use our School Locator tool to identify your child’s home school and explore DSBN school options based on your home address.

You can register your child for Kindergarten online or in person at your home school. Families are encouraged to register as early as possible, even if you are still gathering documents. Supporting documents can be submitted to your child’s school after registration to finalize enrollment. Required documents include proof of age, proof of address, family and emergency contact information, and immunization records. If you are new to Canada, the DSBN Welcome Centre can assist you with the registration process and help connect you with available supports. Visit the Kindergarten Registration page for more information.

Absolutely! Families who register for Kindergarten are invited to attend a DSBN Kindergarten Open House at their child’s home school. Open Houses take place in elementary schools across the DSBN in the Spring and provide an opportunity for families and future students to explore the school, visit Kindergarten classrooms, and learn more about the Kindergarten experience. Families can meet school staff, including principals and educators, ask questions, and begin building connections within their school community. Many families share that attending an Open House helps them feel more confident and excited about starting Kindergarten in a welcoming, caring, and engaging environment.

For any questions you may have that are specific to your child’s learning needs or school, please contact your child’s home school at any time by email or phone. You can find your school’s contact information and website by clicking here. If you need to find your home school, you can find it here by using our School Locator Tool.

In Kindergarten, children follow what we call a ‘flow of the day.’

The Kindergarten day includes:

• short instructional periods
• large blocks of uninterrupted play
• small group learning
• opportunities for library or gym

Students also have multiple opportunities for snacks, meals, and movement.

The classroom environment is carefully designed to support learning and engagement. Materials are selected intentionally to align with learning goals and encourage exploration.

Educators play an active role in the classroom by modeling play, working with small groups of students, and observing and documenting learning throughout the day.

The flow of the day can vary based on the children, the season, and what’s happening in the classroom. Consistent routines provide comfort, while flexibility supports curiosity and engagement.

Kindergarten classrooms are supported by a team that includes a teacher and a designated early childhood educator, each bringing complementary expertise. Early childhood educators focus on child development and hands-on learning, while teachers support curriculum and assessment. These educators work together to plan and implement your child’s Kindergarten program. They make a variety of learning tools available to encourage children to explore their interests, collaborate, ask questions, and communicate their learning in lots of different ways. If you have specific questions about your child’s school or educators, you are more than welcome to contact your school at any time! They will happily answer your questions.

Kindergarten students at the DSBN follow the Ontario Ministry of Education Kindergarten curriculum. Families can learn more about the curriculum here.

The Kindergarten program is a full-day program. If a family feels concerned about the length of the day, they can reach out to their home school principal to discuss their child’s needs and ways to smooth the transition. But rest assured, experience tells us that even our youngest Kindergarten students adapt to the full day of learning in no time!

Ongoing, clear and meaningful communication between families, their child and the Kindergarten educator team is vital to your child’s growth in learning. DSBN carefully monitors and formally communicates the progress of Kindergarten students three times over the course of the school year through an Initial Observations Report in the fall, and Communication of Learning Reports in the winter and spring. These documents celebrate your child’s key learning, growth in learning, and provide next steps to continue to support your child. Additional communication supports such as translators and Settlement Workers in Schools are available to support families with technology and communication between home and school.

Your child’s educators will share with you the many ways that they will be communicating with you throughout the school year. And at any point during the school year, if you have a question or want to know more about your child’s learning, you can contact your child’s teacher.

Every child is unique, and that means they all adjust differently. Kindergarten educators are understanding, caring, and they value developing relationships of trust with the children and their parents/guardians. There are some children who feel unsure about coming in, but once they see their friends and the wonderful learning spaces in the classroom, they become more comfortable each day. If you are concerned or worried about your child’s adjustment, share this with your child’s educators and they will support you throughout this transition time.

At DSBN, making sure every child feels like they belong is very important to us. In Kindergarten, teachers take time to get to know your child so they feel safe and welcomed from the start.

We learn about your child’s skills, culture, and interests, and we invite families to share what is important to them. Our classrooms include books and activities that reflect many identities so children can see themselves and their families in their learning.

Our goal is for every child to feel proud of who they are and excited to come to school.

There are many simple ways to help your child feel ready and confident for their first day of school. Here are some tips from DSBN Kindergarten teachers and Early Years Consultants:

• Encourage your child to practice routines independently, such as doing up zippers, putting on shoes, opening lunch containers, and taking off coats.
• Build oral language skills by having conversations together, telling stories, singing songs, asking questions, and encouraging curiosity and wonder. Invite your child to “tell you more!”
• Provide opportunities to practise social skills like sharing, turn-taking, communication, problem-solving, and learning about emotions and empathy.
• Read together often and talk about words you see in everyday life, such as signs, labels, and packaging. Sharing stories, songs, and conversations together can help build a love of reading and learning over time. Children do not need to know how to read before starting Kindergarten, as literacy skills develop gradually through play, exploration, and classroom experiences.
• Explore numbers, patterns, and shapes together in your everyday environment. It is helpful to play with numbers at home, but children do not need to know all their numbers before starting school.
• Encourage drawing and writing. Even scribbles are an important part of early communication and writing development.
• Talk positively about school and practise short goodbyes to help build confidence and ease separation anxiety. This adjustment is very common, and educators are there to support children as they settle into their new environment.
• If your child is shy or unsure about asking adults for help, that is okay. Educators work closely with children to help them feel safe, comfortable, and supported at school.
• If your child is still developing toileting independence, that is okay. For some children, especially those who are away from home for the first time, adjusting to new routines can take time. Kindergarten educators are understanding and supportive, and will help children as they become more comfortable with their new environment and daily routines.
• Visit EarlyON Child & Family Centres to participate in learning experiences together as a family.

You can also learn more about getting ready for Kindergarten here.

Your child’s school will provide you with ideas and suggested items that your child may need for school. This list may include:

• A backpack and lunch bag (please reach out to your child’s home school if support with these items would be helpful)
• Outdoor clothing suited to the season (lots of outdoor play!)
• Spare clothing
• Nut-free snacks and lunch

It’s also a helpful idea to label your child’s belongings so they can be returned

Please note: We will supply your child with essential learning materials.

You will hear from your school closer to the first day of school in September, or you are welcome to reach out at any time to ask!

Kindergarten students who live more than 800 metres from their home school are eligible for transportation to and from their home school. You can check your eligibility for transportation by visiting the Niagara Student Transportation Services website here.

You can find your home school by using our School Locator Tool here.

• Children who arrive at school on the bus will be greeted by staff and walked to and from the bus at arrival and dismissal times.
• For families who will be dropping off their child, a designated drop off and pick up area will be set by the school.
• If your child attends before and after school care, the child care provider will share the information for this routine with you before the start of school.

You are welcome to contact your school if you have specific questions or review the school’s bell times on their website. You can find your school’s website here.

DSBN’s Safe Arrival Program helps families and schools communicate to support student safety. If your child will be absent due to illness, an appointment, or another reason, families are asked to report the absence before bell time. Absences can be reported by phone, through the SchoolMessenger Parent Portal, or by using the SchoolMessenger app. If you are unable to access the app or portal, you can also contact your child’s school directly. You can learn more about the Safe Arrival Program here.

We work closely with several community partners to provide before and after school child care options. Many child care partners are located inside our schools or close by:

• View a list of DSBN’s child care partners here, organized by school
• Register for child care by visiting the Niagara Region Child Care Registry here

The Kindergarten program is designed to continually assess your child’s learning and to set up activities that will guide them towards their next steps. This means educators in your child’s classroom will be aware of your child’s strengths and learning needs. Additionally, each school has a Special Education team who meet regularly to discuss strategies that will support the specific children in their classrooms.

The DSBN also works with community agencies through a thorough preschool transition program. If your child has been supported in a child care centre, or through the Niagara Children’s Centre, the school team will be connected with these experts who already know your child well. Strategies are shared even before the school year begins so your child can get off to the best possible start. To support a successful transition and/or if you have concerns, please contact your school principal.

If your child is starting Kindergarten and doesn’t speak English yet, please don’t worry. In the DSBN, our schools’ welcome children from many language backgrounds.

Kindergarten classrooms are designed to support English language learners through play, conversation, and daily interactions. Your child will be included, supported, and encouraged every step of the way.

We also value and celebrate your child’s first language, we encourage you to continue to speak your home language at home which will strengthen learning and identity.

If you are new to Canada, the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program through the YMCA provides free support to newcomer families. SWIS workers can:

• Help you understand the school registration process
• Assist with required documents
• Connect you with language supports and community services

This service is especially helpful if English is not your first language. The school will help you connect with a SWIS worker. 

For more information, please visit our Welcome Centre here.

French Immersion begins at the DSBN in Grade 1. We offer English programming for Kindergarten to ensure all our students get a solid foundation in English-language literacy skills. Families will receive information about French Immersion when their child is in SK for a Grade 1 start. French Immersion programs are offered across the DSBN in Grades 1 through 12. You can find out your home French Immersion school by using our School Locator Tool here.