Registration Guide - GSACRD

Explore Our Pre-K & Kindergarten Programs

“Great beginnings start here!”

Registration Guide

Greater St. Albert Catholic SchoolsFaith in Our Students

Welcome toGREATER ST. ALBERT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

What an exciting time for you and your family! Kindergarten is the beginning of a new world of learning, discovery and friendship for you and your child. We know that having a child enter kindergarten is a milestone that is met with many emotions including excitement, anticipation, trepidation, and perhaps a few tears. It is our hope that we can support you in your child’s educational journey beginning with making his/her first days with us memorable. There are many options and choices for kindergarten. We are pleased to offer full day, progressive and half day programming. You can also choose between our English and our French Immersion programs which is one of the largest in the province. In this guide there are some tips on how you can prepare your child for their first day of school and gather the necessary information to register them for school and our transportation service.

Our Pre-Kindergarten program is an outstanding option to prepare children of all abilities for success in Kindergarten. A complimentary screening is provided for all families to ensure we understand developmentally how your child can be best supported. We are an inclusive district where children of all abilities will be supported and successful in our classrooms. Success means that children perform academically, thrive socially and become contributing members in their communities. As a Catholic School District, we know that every child has their own unique God-given gifts and talents. We look forward to exploring your child’s talents and developing their strengths. Great beginnings start here!

Why Attend aCATHOLIC SCHOOL?We respect students as gifts from God and welcome students from all religious backgrounds who wish to participate in a Catholic school environment. Prayer is an integral part of our environment. Many parents of non-Catholic Christian denominations, or no particular faith, are very satisfied with our programs.

A commitment to a Christ-centered education is reflected in our schools. The uniqueness of our Catholic tradition has been integrated into the curriculum and is evident in the spirit of our schools.

Our school district continues to provide a heritage of excellence rooted in and centered on the gospel. In this environment, an individual can develop his/her potential to the maximum. This development includes:

▪ Christian Attitudes ▪ Liturgical Formation ▪ Academic Skills ▪ Service Opportunities

Our greatest assets are our well-trained dedicated teachers and staff who provide the model and example for our children.

Families of All Faiths Are Welcome

Pre-K & Kindergarten Registration Guide · 1

Half-Day Kindergarten Many of our schools offer morning and/or afternoon options for children. Be sure to register early to reserve your preferred time of day.

Progressive KindergartenSome schools have children attend half day classes until the end of March. For the remainder of the year children attend full day which provides an excellent transition to grade one.

PRE-KINDERGARTENGreater St. Albert Catholic Schools Pre-Kindergarten (formally “Preschool”) program offers learning opportunities in all areas of early childhood development. Our staff includes certified teachers, educational assistants and specialists/therapists who help children of all abilities become confident learners. Your child will gain skills through play, inquiry, creativity, problem solving, social interaction as well as early literacy, language and numeracy activities. The following is some important information regarding our program:

▪ Pre-Kindergarten is conveniently located in your local elementary school.

▪ Class sizes are small (14-18 children). ▪ Extra programming, support and therapy

services are available for eligible children who have additional needs in any area of development (PUF*, mild-moderate needs or English Language Learners).

▪ Children attend the year prior to Kindergarten ▪ Exception: Children eligible for PUF

funding can attend up to two years prior to Kindergarten.

Kindergarten is the beginning of a new world of learning, discovery and friendship for you and your child.

KINDERGARTENKindergarten is truly a place for your child to grow and learn. Our faith-based kindergarten programs nurture the physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual needs of your child.

To begin, your child must be 5 years old before March 1st of the school year in which he/she is enrolled to attend kindergarten. We offer a range of program options depending upon the needs of your child and your family. The following are descriptions of the options. Contact your school of choice regarding the programs they offer.

French Immersion Getting an early start gives your child more time to become comfortable with a French language classroom before moving to more academically focused grade levels. Early immersion compliments young children who love to mimic, memorize and repeat words.

Full-Day KindergartenA convenient choice for families. Whether your child attends full-day every day or alternating days, they will experience a rich learning environment. Fees may apply. Visit our website.

Contact our schools to discuss the option(s) best suited for your child and family.

Inclusive EducationOur schools are inclusive. The diverse learning needs of students are met within the context of the regular classroom and Alberta Education’s Program of Studies to the greatest extent possible. Specialized programming is provided to those students who need a modified curriculum or who require a more structured setting. Every school has a learning team that includes the principal, vice principal, counselor, learning support facilitator and therapists who have responsibility to ensure the success of every student in the school. We are proud of our program and recently received provincial recognition for our success in providing inclusive education. For more information on inclusion in our schools please visit our website.

▪ Children attend three half days a week (there are morning and afternoon options). ▪ Exception: Children eligible for PUF funding

attend four half days a week and receive family-oriented sessions.

Pre-ScreeningAs part of the registration process for the Pre-Kindergarten program all children must sign up for one of our Pre-Kindergarten screening sessions. This is a mandatory session regardless of developmental concerns for your child.

* Please phone 780-459-7711 to book your screen. Screening is done by an occupational therapist and speech-language pathologist to help determine eligibility for a funded spot in Pre-Kindergarten. If a child is not eligible for funding through Alberta Education, there are non-funded spots available with a monthly fee. Information on monthly fees can be found on the website or by calling the District office.

Note: if an assessment has already been done, a pre-screen may not be required.

2 · Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools Pre-K & Kindergarten Registration Guide · 3

Say Oui to

FRENCH IMMERSIONK to 12French Immersion is known all over the world as the“Great Canadian Invention” that worked. FrenchImmersion enrolments are on the rise across the country!The French Immersion program, designed for childrenwhose parents do not usually speak French, is impactful.

Students in French Immersion programs are:

• Superior on divergent thinking tasks and with memory ability.• Higher achievers in reading, language and mathematics.• Stronger in their first language skills• Superior with cross-cultural skills• Are key to economic well being; their ability to connect with markets, governments and people around the world is sought after.• Attractive to employers for their extensive communication, critical thinking, problem solving, and global and cultural citizenship skills.

Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools is proud of its French Immersion programs. Many parents and students consider a proficiency of more than one language a valuable investment in the future.More than 1,300 students are enrolled in this program and have the option of two program structures.

Schools that offer dual-track French Immersionprovide parallel English and French Immersionclasses. Several schools in the District offer a single-track approach which features an environment dedicated entirely to French Immersion.

The French Immersion experience is a success story which enriches students lives and allows them to achieve higher nationally and internationally. Our students receive thousands of scholarship dollars, and are ranked at the top provincially for academics.

In addition, student engagement in social justice awareness and service, along with placement in highly rated post-secondary contribute to fulfilling career paths.

Sports

ACADEMY

Before and After School Childcare Many of our schools have daycare operators on site to provide a convenient option for working families. Contact the school to find out more about this service.

Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools offers a variety of alternative programming options for your child throughout their educational journey.

Sports Academy 4 to 12 Athletics, Academics, Advantage! The Greater St. Albert Sports Academy is based on the philosophy that students can learn through sport to maintain or improve academic standing and improve sports skills at the same time.

The Academy currently offers any grade 4 to 12 boy or girl who has a desire to commit to the program, an outstanding opportunity to receive specialized skill and fitness training in hockey or soccer as well as an enhanced physical education program.

The Academy provides all its students individual attention in a Christ-centered environment. At the elementary level, students have an option for French Immersion instruction as well.

For more information, visit www.sportsacademy.gsacrd.ab.ca.


French Immersion Elementary & English Junior High Boundaries

École Marie Poburan and Richard S. Fowler Catholic Junior High

École Father Jan and Vincent J. Maloney Catholic Junior High

There are no attendance boundaries

for Junior High French or Senior High (English and French)

School Locations in Morinville and Legal

School Locations in St. Albert

A. École Notre Dame Elementary School Pre-K to 4 English K to 4 French Immersion

B. École Georges H. Primeau 5 to 8 English/French Immersion

C. Morinville Community High School 9 to 12 English & French Immersion

D. Legal School Pre-K to 9 English

E. NEW! St. Kateri Tekakwitha Academy K-6 School Westwinds Development Expected Opening 2018

For school contact information please visit www.gsacrd.ab.ca.

Attendance Boundaries* &

SCHOOL LISTINGS

School Locations

1. Albert Lacombe Catholic School Pre-K-6

2. Bertha Kennedy Catholic School Pre-K-6

3. J.J. Nearing Catholic Elementary School K-6

4. Neil M. Ross Catholic School K-6

9. Richard S. Fowler Catholic Junior High School 7-12

10. Vincent J. Maloney Catholic Junior High School 7-9

11. St. Albert Catholic High School (No boundaries) 10-12

5. Vital Grandin Catholic School Pre-K-6

6. École Father Jan K-67. École Marie Poburan K-68. École Secondaire Sainte

Marguerite d’Youville (No boundaries) 7-12

12. St. Gabriel High School (No boundaries) 9-12

13. NEW! Sister Alphonse Academy - K-9 Jensen Lakes Development Expected Opening 2018

* Boundary Attendance Review in Progress.

English Elementary Boundaries

Albert Lacombe Catholic School

Bertha Kennedy Catholic School

J.J. Nearing Catholic Elementary School

Neil M. Ross Catholic School

Vital Grandin Catholic School

NEW! Schools Opening in Morinville and St. Albert in 2018!

Attendance area includes parts of Sturgeon County:

Cunningham (west of St. Albert) and Guilbault (east of St. Albert)

Please see our website for designated schools.


Engaging ParentsGreater St. Albert Catholic Schools encourages and welcomes the involvement of parents in our school communities. We recognize and support parents in their role as the, “ first educators of their children.” There are many ways for parents to volunteer in our schools and we encourage you to explore the range of opportunities with your child’s teacher or principal. Some of the opportunities include:

▪ Attend school events ▪ Volunteer ▪ Join School Council ▪ Connect with your child’s teacher

School Councils

Each school has a School Council that everyone is a member of and they generally meet monthly. In addition, the District has a Council of Councils, a collaborative group of Chairs, Vice-Chairs, and designated members of the Board. The purpose of the Council is to collaborate and receive professional development on issues and topics of common interest to parents. For information on school councils, please visit the schools’ websites.

Student SupportsOur students come to school with strengths, interests and diverse learning needs. Our District is committed to creating a learning environment that is inclusive, flexible and responsive to the strengths and needs of students and their families.

Preparing for

SCHOOL

Parent Support &

INVOLVEMENT

How Can Parents and Children Get Ready for Kindergarten?

▪ Read stories out loud with your child. ▪ Listen and encourage your child to ask

questions and share ideas. ▪ Share your memories of kindergarten. ▪ Model respect for others, taking turns

and sharing. ▪ Promote healthy, active living. ▪ Encourage independence in dressing. ▪ Do crafts with your child to develop

cutting and drawing skills. ▪ Encourage make-believe: follow your

child’s lead in play. ▪ Attend our District’s Kindergarten EXPO

and school open houses to learn more.

What do Children Learn in Kindergarten?

Our approach in all of our kindergarten classrooms is to provide a learning environment that balances a focus on discovery and play with teacher instruction to develop your child as a confident learner going into grade one.

Children will develop their literacy and numeracy skills while learning about the world around them and the people in their world. We develop and enhance your child’s social skills and spark their creative talents through music and art.


Registrations are ongoing at Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools. For planning and funding purposes, student registration is encouraged by the end of March for the upcoming school year. We ask that all new students register at the school they will be attending as soon as possible to ensure a space in their program of choice. For registration during the summer months, please contact the District Office, as school offices are closed until the end of August. Registrations are accepted until September 30th. For more information, please contact your school of choice or visit our website: gsacrd.ab.ca/parents/registration-information.

In most cases, students attend the designated school within the attendance boundary of where they live (see attendance areas on pages 6 and 7). While we try to accommodate all students wishing to attend Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, there are occasions when non-resident students are not accepted to the school of their choice. This is often the result of a school being at or over capacity or where additional student supports are required.

Registration DocumentsFor Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, and for students new to Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools (including home schooling and cyber school), legal proof of the student’s name will be required when you register. Here are examples of which documents can be used:

▪ Birth Certificate (Canadian) ▪ Alberta Government Identification Card

▪ Valid Passport ▪ Immigration Papers (including Refugee) ▪ Treaty Card (Number) ▪ Permanent Resident Card ▪ Adoption Papers ▪ Temporary Resident Papers ▪ Legal Guardianship (Court Order) ▪ Valid Parent Work or Study Permit ▪ Parent’s Citizenship

*Please provide the school with a photocopy of the document you use. This will be placed in your child’s Alberta Education record file and will eliminate the need to provide proof in future years.

First Nations, Métis, Inuit Parent Information If your child(ren) are of First Nations, Métis or Inuit heritage, please visit our website to find out why it is beneficial to self-identify your child(ren) on the registration form when enrolling your child at your school of choice.

Close to half of our student population in the District ride a bus to and from school. Children ride buses under a bus-pass system. School bus walk-boundaries determine eligibility to ride. Drivers and buses contracted by Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools are all licensed and inspected to meet the standards set by Alberta Transportation.

Transportation

INFORMATIONRegistration

INFORMATION The District requests the support of parents and the cooperation of students to ensure that riding on school buses is a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Tips for Parents

▪ make sure children know where to get on ▪ and get off of the bus. ▪ label clothing and backpacks for easy ▪ identification. ▪ develop a plan for children to follow if they

miss the bus. ▪ ensure children are dressed appropriately

for weather conditions in case the bus is delayed.

* A parent/guardian is required to escort Kindergarten lease visit our website.

Important Information Regarding Busing for the Upcoming School Year

▪ Bus applications open online beginning in April. ▪ We recommend you apply for busing by early June. ▪ Newly registered students will be issued their bus

passes by mail in mid-August. ▪ Routing information will be available online at

https://www.transportation.gsacrd.ab.ca at the end of August.

All information regarding fees and the application process can be found at: www.gsacrd.ab.ca/parents/transportation


Schools

DIRECTORY

Additional

NOTES

ST. ALBERT Albert Lacombe Catholic SchoolPre-K to 6 English50 Gainsborough Ave.780-459-4478Charlene Kushniruk, Principal

Bertha KennedyCatholic SchoolPre-K to 6 English175 Larose Drive 780-458-6101Scott Johnston, Principal

J.J. Nearing CatholicElementary SchoolK to 6 English 196 Deer Ridge Drive 780-418-6330Jan Maslyk, Principal

Neil M. Ross Catholic SchoolK to 6 English 60 Woodlands Road780-459-1244Sandy Cimino, Principal

Vital Grandin Catholic SchoolPre-K to 6 English39 Sunset Boulevard 780-459-7734Cheryl LaBuick, Principal

École Father JanK to 6 French Immersion15 Mission Ave. 780-458-3300Marlene Pelletier, Principal

École Marie PoburanK to 6 French Immersion100 Sir Winston Churchill Ave.780-458-1112Tawnya Schile, Principal

Richard S. FowlerCatholic Junior High School7 to 9 English65 Sir Winston Churchill Ave.780-459-2644Heather Chyzowski, Principal

Vincent J. Maloney Catholic Junior High School7 to 9 English20 Mont Clare Place 780-458-1113Greg Lamer, Principal

École SecondaireSainte Marguerite d’Youville7 to 12 French Immersion51 Boudreau Road 780-459-5702Penny Baragar-Brcic, Principal

St. Albert Catholic High School10 to 12 English/French Immersion33 Malmo Ave.780-459-7781Susan Coates, Principal

St. Gabriel High School9 to 12 English#202 Mission Hill Plaza 398 St. Albert Road780-459-6616David Feist, Principal

Greater St. Albert Sports Academy4 to 12 English/French Immersion50 Gainsborough Ave.780-459-4478Geoff Giacobbo, Coordinator

NEW! Sister Alphonse Academy Jensen Lakes Development Expected Opening 2017-2018

MORINVILLE

École Notre Dame Elementary SchoolPre-K to 4 English/ French Immersion9717 Morinville Drive 780-939-4020Raymonde Roulston, Principal

École Georges H. Primeau5 to 8 English/French Immersion811 Grandin Drive 780-939-3593Allan Menduk, Principal

Morinville Community High School9 to 12 English/ French Immersion9506 –100 Ave.780-939-6891Don Hinks, Principal NEW! Sister Kateri Tekakwitha Expected Opening 2017-2018

LEGAL

Legal SchoolPre-K to 9 English5122– 46 St. 780-961-3791Shelby Moser, Principal

12 · Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools

Superintendent: David Keohane

[email protected]

Associate Superintendent of Student Services:

Barb Brochu [email protected]

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Nixon

[email protected]

District Principal:Marina Lotoski

[email protected]

Transportation: Lauri-Ann Turnbull

[email protected]

Learning Consultant - Religious Education:

Colin Loiselle [email protected]

For more information:6 St. Vital Ave, St. Albert, AB T8N 1K2Phone: 780-459-7711 | Fax: 780-458-3213 www.gsacrd.ab.ca

Greater St. AlbertCatholic SchoolsFaith in Our Students