Registration for Kindergarten for 2024/2025 School Year

School District No. 71 (Comox Valley) will be enrolling Kindergarten students (Neighbourhood, Montessori, French Immersion, Indigenous, Fine Arts and eClasses) in District schools for attendance in September 2024.  To be eligible for enrolment in September 2024, a student must turn five (5) years of age by December 31, 2024.  Each child’s birth certificate and proof of address must be uploaded for registration.  BC Services Cards will not be accepted as proof of birth however your child’s BC Personal Health Number (PHN) is required on the registration form.  A Passport or Landed Immigrant authorization are suitable forms of documentation in lieu of birth certificates.

KINDERGARTEN CHOICES INFORMATION:

For more information about Kindergarten Programs listed below, please check the posted information on the school district website.

• Neighbourhood (the Kindergarten program in your catchment school);
• Montessori (located at Queneesh and Courtenay Elementary);
• Early French Immersion (located at École Puntledge Park and Ecole Robb Road);
• Indigenous (Located at École Puntledge Park);
• Navigate (NIDES) Compass Program;
• Navigate (NIDES) Fine Arts eCadamy (FAe).

Kindergarten Registration:

All our Kindergarten classes are full-day programs.  The following choices are available for Kindergarten Registration:

Neighbourhood School:

Parents are asked to register their children at their current neighbourhood catchment school using the online registration form also located on our district website starting Tuesday, January 23, 2024.  While most, if not all, students living in a school’s local catchment will be accommodated at that school, they cannot be guaranteed placement in the catchment area school and may be required to go to the nearest school having space available.   To determine your neighbourhood catchment school, please visit our district website, click on “Schools” and go to “Schools Locator.”  If you live in an area where busing is provided, please complete a Bus Transportation Registration Form which is located at .  All students travelling on School District No. 71 school buses must carry a bus pass, with the exception of the first couple of weeks of the school year while bus passes are distributed.

Choice programs:  Montessori; Early French Immersion; and Indigenous:  

• Montessori Open House & Information Session will be held at Queneesh Elementary, on Thursday, January 11^th from 6 pm to 7 pm for incoming K-students, as well as parents who may be interested in the Montessori programs at Queneesh Elementary or Courtenay Elementary.
• Expressions of Interest forms for these programs will be available online Tuesday January 16, 2024.
• If you are interested in the Montessori program (Queneesh or Courtenay Elementary), Early French Immersion (Ecole Robb Road or Ecole Puntledge Park), or the Indigenous program (Ecole Puntledge Park) complete the expression of interest form for your program of choice on the SD71 registration page comoxvalleyschools.ca/student-registration.
• Early French Immersion (located at Ecole Puntledge Park and Ecole Robb Road)
• Indigenous (located at Ecole Puntledge Park) 
• Placements into choice programs are on a first come, first serve basis in the order received.  Siblings of current students in the programs will have priority.
• The indicated school of choice will contact you and provide directions about confirmation or wait-listing for placement.  Follow their directions on how to register your child for Kindergarten.

NAVIGATE (NIDES) COMPASS PROGRAM KINDERGARTEN:  ALL REGISTRATION IS COMPLETED ONLINE AT

www.navigatenides.com

Registration for all students for the Navigate (NIDES) Compass Program is completed online and the registration form will be active on Wednesday February 1, 2024.  Inquiries for this program can be forwarded to Meghan McMillen, Vice Principal, at meghan.mcmillen@sd71.bc.ca

NAVIGATE (NIDES) FINE ARTS eCADEMY (FAe) KINDERGARTEN:  ALL REGISTRATION IS COMPLETED ONLINE AT:

www.navigatenides.com

Registration for all students for the Fine Arts eCademy (FAe) Kindergarten at Navigate (NIDES) is completed online and the registration form will be active on Wednesday February 7, 2024.   Program entry is based on a lottery system, not first come first serve.   Inquiries about this program can be forwarded to Meghan McMillen, Vice Principal, at meghan.mcmillen@sd71.bc.ca 

For open house information, please see follow the NIDES website for updated information.  

For questions about Kindergarten in School District 71, please see the District Website – contact the individual school, see the FAQ’s on the district website or email: kindergartenreg@sd71.bc.ca

Kindergartens in SD71 welcome all children into engaging learning environments. Our classrooms encourage play-based, hands-on learning with opportunities for discovery, imagination and conversation. As part of a learning community, children ask questions, investigate their ideas, build new friendships and express their thinking in a variety of ways.

A typical day in kindergarten will include times for stories, songs, and discussion, play-based choice time, snack and lunch time. Students will participate weekly in music class as well as have opportunities to develop gross motor skills in the gym and visit the library.

Often there is outdoor play and exploration, or walks as a class, or even spending time in a nearby forest. Noticing our neighbourhoods and outdoor environments helps children become aware of their community and develop curiosity and care for the natural world. A full day play-based program has long term benefits for children’s academic and social skills.

Our kindergartens all follow the BC curriculum and use the Early Learning Framework to help teachers provide nurturing, challenging and safe places for children to learn, play, and grow. Goals of the program are to support children in their intellectual development, emotional and social development, artistic and aesthetic development, physical development and well-being, and social responsibility.

Every child arrives in kindergarten with different interests and abilities. The transition to kindergarten from home is a major step in your child’s life. We recognize that parents and guardians are the first teachers of children, and family engagement helps children succeed in school and life. Working together we can make kindergarten a positive and happy experience for your child.

We look forward to welcoming our new learners to our schools in September!