- Please note we are not accepting kindergarten registration requests for September 2026 until November 3, 2025.
- Families may book their Kindergarten registration appointments starting October 20.
2025 kindergarten info session
Registering for kindergarten
Regular kindergarten registration runs from November to January, but we accept applications year-round. Children are eligible for kindergarten on the year they turn five years old. Four-year-old students may apply if they turn five on the year school starts.
- E.G. Children born in 2020 may start kindergarten in September 2025.
- Learn how to register
- Watch our 2024 kindergarten info session presentation
- Download our Welcome to Kindergarten brochure
After your child is registered, schools will contact you each spring to offer families a chance to connect. Families typically tour the school and meet staff and local community service providers. Each family will also receive a “Welcome to Kindergarten” bag.
Getting ready for kindergarten
Is my child ready for kindergarten?
Yes!
Children develop at their own place and attending kindergarten helps them pick up valuable learning and social skills.
We expect every student to show up on their first day with diverse physical, emotional, social, and mental development levels and interests. Our teachers will help them grow, regardless of where their journey begins.
Getting ready to learn
- Make sure your child gets nine to 10 hours of sleep at night. Try for an 8 p.m. bedtime.
- Prepare a healthy breakfast for your child along with nutritious snacks for the day.
- Ready daily with parents/caregivers and other family members.
- Prepare your child to use crayons, pencils, paper, glue, and scissors.
- Help your child recognize their own name.
- Have conversations with your child about their day, their likes, and interests.
- Ask your child questions and explore their ideas.
- Sit for 10-15 minutes to listen to a story or join a group discussion.
- Take part in daily physical activity (e.g. walks, biking, playground visits).
- Spent no more than an hour a day on electronic devices (e.g. computers, tablets, or television).
Getting ready for independence
- Help your child get accustomed to using the washroom on their own and washing and drying their hands.
- Help your child get used to using the buttons and zippers on their clothing.
- Teach your child how to hang up their coat and put on and take off their shoes.
- Help your child learn how to open and close food containers and eat independently.
- Teach your child how to clean up after themselves and how to be responsible for their own materials.
- Teach your child how to zip and unzip their backpack and to carry their own things.
Getting ready to socialize
- Social and emotional well-being lead to success in kindergarten.
- Help your child learn how to play cooperatively through turn-taking and sharing.
- Teach your child the names of feelings and emotions like sad, happy, and angry.
- Help your child understand terms like “safe” and “unsafe” and “friendly” and “unfriendly”.
- Let your child experience playing with others of the same age through playdates or school teams.
- Teach your child to wait for their turn, listen to others, and speak clearly.
- Help your child understand and follow simple, multi-step directions.
- Teach your child to be respectful towards others, including peers, siblings, and adults in the family, school, and the community.
- Teach your child to show compassion and empathy by being nurturing towards others.
- Help your child understand their unique and special role in the family and make them feel appreciated and loved.
Children with disabilities or diverse needs
Starting school is an exciting and sometimes challenging time for children with disabilities or diverse needs. New Westminster Schools believes every student deserves equal access to learning and opportunities to succeed.
To make sure your child gets the support they need, reach out to the principal of their new school before the school year begins. This will give staff time to work with you on your child’s educational plan.
When you contact your school:
- Share information about your child’s disability and specific learning needs.
- Ask about available support options.
- Be the link between staff and the professionals who may be working with your child.
What to expect
Depending on your child’s needs, you can expect to work together with the school’s team consisting of administrators, teachers, and support staff to develop a plan for your child.
Parent and caregiver resources
Other resources
- Support the Transition to Kindergarten
- Play Today BC Handbook – English | French
- British Columbia Early Learning Framework Guide for Families