Kindergarten: a special place for your child

Kindergarten at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools is a special place. At our schools in Saskatoon, Humboldt, Biggar and Viscount, children are encouraged to be the best they can be in a safe, welcoming and faith-filled environment.

Registration

You may register your child to begin kindergarten in September 2012 if he or she will be five years old by January 31, 2013. Contact your neighbourhood school to learn its registration procedures. Principals are available to answer questions about their school, its programs and special services. For phone numbers, go to the Our Schools page.

Check out the following links to learn more about our French, Cree and Ukrainian language programs.

• Bishop Filevich Ukrainian Bilingual School
• French language programming
• nêhiyawak Cree bilingual program

Fine Arts programming is available at Georges Vanier Catholic Elementary School.

A transportation service is provided for designated programs or in cases where students are required to leave their home area to attend a regular program.

2012 Parent information evenings

Many schools host information evenings so that parents and caregivers may learn more about the school and its program. A list of scheduled evenings is available below, with schools listed alphabetically. Dates will continue to be added, so please check back often.

Other schools will hold orientations and teas in spring to introduce parents and children to their school’s kindergarten. You are always welcome to call a school directly to set up a visit. For phone numbers and links to each school's website, check out the Our Schools page on this site.

In partnership with parents

We recognize that parents and guardians are the first teachers and primary source of faith and hope in their child’s life. Kindergarten at Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools serves to strengthen the teaching already begun in the home, the church and the community.

For students to feel supported and to see the real connections between home and school, parents and guardians are encouraged to become involved in school programs and activities. By taking advantage of these opportunities you will become more aware of each phase of your child’s growth, development and progress.

Open communication

An atmosphere of open communication between home and school is vital to the success of every child. It is especially important that parents and guardians talk to school staff about the type of experiences and the educational goals they have in mind for their child.

Communication may be through informal gatherings, classroom projects, phone calls, meetings, newsletters, school council activities, parent-teacher conferences, religious celebrations and special events. Each type of communication works to bring the home and school closer together in support of the child.

Full-day kindergarten

Our school division currently offers full-day kindergarten at seven of our schools. They are: Bishop Klein (1121 Northumberland Ave.), Pope John Paul II (3035 Arlington Ave.) St. Maria Goretti Community School (301 Ave. O North), St. Volodymyr (302 Kellough Rd.), St. George (748 Redberry Road), St. Philip (1901 Haultain Avenue) and St. Mary Community School (337 Avenue O South).

Research suggests positive learning outcomes for children as a result of full-day, everyday kindergarten. Initial surveys of parents whose children are in the program this year indicated parents were pleased with full-day Kindergarten and the opportunities it offers their children. They also reported that their children were enjoying the program.

Schools offering full-day kindergarten programs continue to offer half-day programs as well. Parents who enroll their children in full-day Kindergarten have the option of moving their child to the half-day program at their school at any time. As well, children who start out with half-days may be moved to the full-day program after the Christmas break.

Parents with questions about full-day kindergarten may call the principal at any of the schools offering the program or considering its implementation.

• Bishop Klein, Massey Place and Westview, 659-7150
• Bishop Roborecki, Confederation Park, 659-7180
• Pope John Paul II, Eastview, 659-7460
• St. George, Lawson Heights, 659-7320
• St. Frances, Queen Elizabeth, 659-7310
• St. Mark, Fairhaven, 659-7390
• St. Maria Goretti Community School, Mount Royal, 659-7340
• St. Mary Community School, Pleasant Hill, 659-7400
• St. Michael, Kelsey-Woodlawn, Mayfair, 659-7420
• St. Philip, Haultain, 659-7450
• St. Volodymyr, Forest Grove, 659-7470

Principals are available to answer questions about their school, its programs and special services. For more information, please visit or call any Catholic elementary school.