École Elmwood School will be hosting a Kindergarten Information Night to give local families a view of the Kindergarten program and help them through the registration process.
Principal Scott Hiebert says the Feb. 21 event is intended for Altona area families with children born in 2019.
“We have moved it earlier in the school year to try to encourage families to get registrations in as early as possible. Those early registrations give us a better concept of student numbers and help us plan for the next year in a more concrete way. Enrollment does fluctuate each year.”
The event includes a tour of the Kindergarten classrooms and school facilities.
“Afterwards, we’ll talk about what the Kindergarten program is like,” Hiebert says. “We’ll also discuss the French immersion program and talk about school readiness, and what the start of the school year is like.
“We’ll also introduce parents to our Journey to Kindergarten program, which is our strategy for getting kids and families into the school in late spring before they start in September.”
The program includes four visits to the school over the course of four weeks.
“It’s a joint program between the school and the Altona and Area Family Resource Centre,” Wiebe explains. ‘There are sessions about basic preschool skills and opportunities for families to learn more about how our school works, meet the staff, and ask questions in a smaller group.
“It helps caregivers and the kids become more comfortable in the school building and with the staff, which we find helps get September off to a much smoother start. When the adults know what to expect, the kids also know what to expect.”
Parents will also be able to complete the registration forms and make copies of documents at the Information Night, which runs from 6-7:30 p.m.
“They can also go to the Border Land School Division website to register or pick up forms from the school,” notes Wiebe. “They don’t have to wait for the evening to register.”
