Ottawa Carleton District School Board

Will your child be 4 years old by December 31, 2021?

If so, we’re ready to help your child explore and discover as they begin Kindergarten in September. 

At the OCDSB, every child is welcome, regardless of faith, race, language, gender or background.

There is a school near you. The OCDSB is the largest school board in Eastern Ontario, with 113 elementary schools in neighbourhoods from Woodlawn to North Gower to Navan and all across Ottawa.  

Kindergarten at the OCDSB

• Full-day kindergarten
• Fully bilingual program for all children with 50% instruction in French and 50% in English
• An emphasis on play-based learning for a fun way to help children learn and discover
• Each class has a teacher and early childhood educators
• Extended day programs available for children before and after school
• Bus transportation available for students who live more than 800m from school
• Additional supports for families new to Canada through our Family Reception Centre

Kindergarten during COVID-19

Our number one priority is the health and safety of your child. While we do not know what the situation will be in September 2021, we’re ready and have procedures in place to keep children safe and also allow students to learn and have fun.

This is done through an emphasis on handwashing, organizing children in small groups, and encouraging children to maintain a safe distance. While masks are not mandatory for Kindergarten students, most children do wear them and have done a wonderful job keeping them on through the day. We also ask parents and guardians to screen children for possible symptoms and keep them home if they are sick. Together, these steps have proven effective in preventing the spread of the virus.

The following items were produced ahead of the 2020 school year and provide general information for parents about our response to COVID-19:

Kindergarten in the COVID Context - parent summary

Registration is now open for Kindergarten 2021. It’s easy to register. Visit our Registration page to register online anytime.

Your local school will be holding a virtual parent information session. You will learn about our Kindergarten program, meet the principal and staff, and we’ll offer some useful tips to ease your concerns and help your child prepare for their learning adventure.

Dates of Kindergarten Information Nights - NOW AVAILABLE