Kindergarten

Kindergarten is the start of an exciting adventure for your child. CBE schools are open to all children and are committed to embracing every student in a safe and welcoming environment.

Most of our kindergarten programs are half-day, offered either in the morning or afternoon, with hours of operation varying from school to school.

If you are looking to register your child in a CBE school, you'll find everything you need to know to get started below. You can also check out the links on the right for some great kindergarten resources.

Registration for the 2019-20 school year will begin on Jan. 14, 2019.

When can my child begin kindergarten?

Use our kindergarten calculator to see when your child is eligible to attend kindergarten. Under our current School Act regulations, children must be at least four years old on or before March 1 to start kindergarten in September of the same calendar year.

2020: Children can start kindergarten in the fall of 2020 if they turn 5 years old on or before Dec. 31, 2020. This change is the result of amendments to the School Act made by the provincial government in Dec. 2017 that requires a common age of entry for all Alberta school boards effective for the 2020-21 school year.

Note: If your child is born between Jan. 1 and Mar. 1 2016 they will be eligible to start kindergarten in 2021.

Children must start Grade 1 if they are six years of age or older on Sep. 1.​

Kindergarten begins in the fall of each school year.

Choosing the Right School

Once you've found out when your child will start kindergarten, the next step is finding a school. Every child in Calgary has a designated school at the CBE. You can find yours by using our find a school tool.

We also have a variety of alternative programs available to our students. Visit our Program Options to find out what we offer.

Registering for Kindergarten

After you have chosen a school for your child, it's time to look at registration. You have to register in person at your school with proof of residence, your child's name, date of birth and citizenship. Parents of new kindergarten registrants must complete a CBE registration form at each alternative program or school in which they are expressing an interest.

You may submit a registration package at multiple schools while you decide on a program or location. Once your child has been accepted to a program and you have confirmed where your child will attend, please contact the other schools and ask them to remove your child’s name from their list. This will ensure our schools have accurate registration and/or wait lists. Your child can be enrolled in only one kindergarten program.

Visit our Registration page for more information and for the forms you'll need.

Non-Canadian Citizens

If your child isn't a Canadian citizen, you will need to register at the admissions office at Kingsland Centre, 7430 5 Street S.W. Phone 403-777-7373, then press 1 to make an appointment.

You will need legal proof of your child's name, date of birth and citizenship status in Canada, as well as proof of your address. Acceptable documents include:

• Permanent resident card
• Confirmation of permanent residence
• Record of landing
• Parent's valid work permit or study permit and child's birth certificate

Transportation

Two-way transportation is arranged for children in kindergarten who attend their designated school and live within the transportation service area. Bus maps are available from your school three days before classes start.

For more information on busing eligibility, fees and routes, visit our Transportation page.

My 1st Ride

The CBE offers a school bus orientation program for first-time riders and their parents, called My 1st Ride. Registration begins in April each year.

Additional Supports

Based on classroom needs, each kindergarten classroom will also be supported by an enhanced supports team that will support teachers to optimize your child’s learning experience. The team may consist of:

• Early learning strategists
• Speech-language pathologists (SLP) and assistants (SLA)
• Occupational and physical therapists (OT/PT)
• Education assistants (EA)
• Early childhood practitioners (ECP)
• Family-oriented programming facilitators (FOP)
• School family liaison (SFL)
• Behaviour analyst
• Psychologist

Supporting Your Child

As your child's first and most important teacher, you play an on-going role in his or her education. Consider volunteering in the classroom or becoming a member of the school council. Research shows that if parents are involved in the school, children learn better. Most importantly, you can support your child at home by talking about the school day and displaying his or her work.

Full-day Kindergarten

Most CBE schools offer half-day kindergarten programs; however full-day kindergarten programs are offered in a few schools where data identifies children who would most benefit from additional time spent in a kindergarten program.

Registrations for full-day kindergarten can be accepted only for children living in the school’s designated area.

For 2019-20, the following schools will offer full-day kindergarten:

The data used to determine full-day kindergarten schools is updated every year. This means that schools that offer full-day kindergarten may change slightly from year to year. ​