Optional Attendance Deadline February 11

Students who reside within the City of Toronto have the right to attend a school which is designated to serve their residential address. The "Find Your School" section of the website identifies the designated schools for each residential address.

Students also have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their residential address by applying on optional attendance. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability. The procedures, conditions and timelines relating to optional attendance are described in the Optional Attendance Policy and the Optional Attendance Operational Procedure. Families can access the Optional Attendance: Application for an Elementary Program at a School Outside the Resident Area or the Optional Attendance: Application for a Secondary Program at a School Out of Area online. Given the current pandemic, scanned or faxed forms will be accepted.

Each year in November, schools are classified as limited or closed to optional attendance based on the space they have available for the upcoming school year.

A school classified as limited can accept students on optional attendance. A limited school is not obliged to accept all students who apply on optional attendance. Acceptance is conditional upon space being available in the appropriate grade and program.

A school classified as closed cannot accept any students on optional attendance. Only students residing within the school's attendance area will be accepted.

If a school is classified as limited, and you are interested in applying to that school, please contact the school's principal.

To find a particular school's optional attendance status, click on the first letter in a school's name below to go to the appropriate table. (For example, click the S link in the Elementary section for the table containing Sir Adam Beck Public School).

Please note that Optional Attendance status is updated every November for admission in September of the coming school year. Many schools that are limited have their available spaces filled through the Optional Attendance process.

February Is Kindergarten Registration Month

Come Learn With Us!

Starting school is an exciting time. Our schools provide a rich learning environment for all children to learn and grow.

In the Kindergarten program, your child will develop their skills and abilities through inquiry and intentional play-based learning that includes math, science and literacy. Teachers and early childhood educators plan learning experiences where children are actively engaged in learning and thinking creatively.

Children who will be four by December 31, 2022, can start Junior Kindergarten in September 2022.

Learn more about Kindergarten at the TDSB, Before- and After-School Programs and Extended Day Programs.

How to Register

Registration for all TDSB Kindergarten programs begins in February. We look forward to welcoming you and your child! You may choose to register using the online registration system or by booking a virtual face-to-face meeting directly with your school.

Only parents or legal guardians can register a child.
There is a separate process to apply for optional attendance. Please contact alternative schools or elementary academies directly for more information about requirements and the registration process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can attend Kindergarten?

Every child who lives in Toronto is welcome to attend a TDSB school. To attend Junior Kindergarten in September, children must be age four by December 31 of that year. If you have any questions about which grade to register your child in, please contact the school Principal.

Who can register a child for Kindergarten?

Only a parent or legal guardian can register a child for Kindergarten.

When do I register my child for Kindergarten?

Registration for Kindergarten begins in February and continues throughout the school year. Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten for more information about registration options and requirements. Please note: the application process from French Immersion takes place in January of the year your child is in Junior Kindergarten.

Which school should my child attend?

To find out which school your child should attend, please call 416.394.7526 or visit Find Your School.

What if I want my child to attend a school that is different than the one designated my home school by address?

You can apply to out-of-area schools through the Optional Attendance Policy . Please note that many schools are closed to optional attendance due to space limitations. You may want to contact your school of choice first to see if they are open to optional attendance applications.

How do I register my child in French Immersion?

Early French Immersion begins in Junior Kindergarten. *Please note for September 2022 only, children may enter in both JK and SK.

If you are interested in French Immersion, please visit the French Immersion page for more information and to learn about Early French Immersion programs. The application process for Early French Immersion takes place in November.

What information do I need to bring to register my child for Kindergarten?

To register your child for Kindergarten, please bring proof of:

age (a birth certificate or baptismal record or passport)
Proof of address (including any two of the following current documents: Utility bill (e.g. hydro, gas, water), cable TV, internet, or home phone bill, insurance policy (home, tenant, auto or life), mortgage statement, rental or lease agreement or deed, current purchase and sale agreement, property tax bill or notice of tax assessment. Original correspondence from a government agency or legal clinic may be accepted as a second proof of address document).
immunizations (the card that shows a list of needles your child has received)
you can also begin the registration process through the online registration system at www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.

What if my child was born outside of Canada?

If your child was born outside of Canada, verification of date of arrival is required. Families who are permanent residents and refugee claimants may register directly at the school. All other families should come to the International Students and Admissions Office, 5050 Yonge Street (first floor), for a School Admission Letter.

Children without immigration status are welcome in our schools and information will not be shared with immigration authorities, as per TDSB Policy P.061 SCH .

What if I don’t have all of the above documents?

Please contact the International Students and Admissions Office in-person, or by phone/email — 5050 Yonge Street (first floor), 416.395.8120 or admissions@tdsb.on.ca.

What if my child has special education needs?

If your child has special education needs and will be entering school for the first time, please call your local school to set up an appointment with the principal and a representative from the TDSB’s Special Education Department . At this meeting, you will be able to share any needs, relevant documentation, and discuss supports that are available in the school for your child. By working together, we can determine the supports and resources your child will need for a successful transition to school.

What other information will my child’s school need?

To help make school a safe and happy environment for your child, your school needs to know:

the name your child is called, if it’s different from official documentation
any allergies and/or other medical concerns
current phone numbers (home, work, cell) for parent(s)/guardian(s) with whom the child resides and of the person picking up the child from school
name and phone number of child care provider
emergency contact name and phone number
names of brothers and/or sisters attending the school
language(s) spoken in the home
any legal or personal circumstances that may impact your child

It is important that this information be kept current. Please let the school know of any changes to the above information during the school year.

As part of the process of registering for school, you will be asked to complete a Developmental History Form. This form is used to collect important information about your child’s interests and development. It will help the teacher in planning a program to meet your child’s needs.

A series of voluntary questions from the Ministry will be asked to determine child care experiences

What do children learn in Kindergarten?

In Kindergarten, children learn in a play-based learning environment with a team of responsive educators who plan learning experiences that promote inquiry and higher order thinking in language, mathematics, science and technology, personal and social development, health and physical activity, and the arts.

Children learn through the integration of the four frames: belonging and contributing, self-regulation and well-being, demonstrating literacy and mathematics behaviour, and problem solving and innovating.

Over the course of a two-year program, children develop self-regulation, and build literacy and numeracy skills while developing positive attitudes toward learning and school. Opportunities exist throughout the Kindergarten day for children to explore learning centres that include drama, writing, math, reading, writing, painting and visual arts, and working with materials such as sand, water, and construction blocks

How can I get involved in my child’s education?

There are many ways you can actively participate in your child’s education and help your child be successful in school.

Talk to your child about school every day.
Read to your child.
- Praise your child’s work to help build confidence.
- Note your child’s strengths and areas they may need to improve. Share this information with the teacher and early childhood educator (ECE).
- Attend parent-teacher conferences.
- Become involved in school activities and the school council.
- Support the classroom program by volunteering.

Palmerston Avenue Junior Public School