ACADEMICS / PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

Registration Requirements
As you get ready to have your children registered for school, there are a number of things to prepare and to consider.

Documents to Gather
Please gather the following documents to register your children for school.
Must enter school by 6 years old
✓ Proof of child’s age – a birth certificate or passport.
✓ Proof of address – copy of a bank statement, telephone or electrical bill or apartment lease with your name and address.
✓ Proof of guardianship – required if the child is under 18 years of age and is not living with the parent.
✓ Immunization record – proof that your children have been immunized, according to the recommended immunization schedule in Ontario, or an exemption from immunization form due to medical, religious or conscience reasons.

Contact the Public Health Department in your community for immunization information in many different languages.
http://health.gov.on.ca/

Attending School
The School Year: When Schools Open and Close School Year: School usually runs from the first Tuesday after Labour Day (a Canadian holiday celebrated in September) until the end of June. This is known as the ‘school year’23. These dates might change and each school will have a calendar with details for that year. Vacations during the School Year: Each year there is a two-week vacation from school (when school shuts down) near the end of December and a one-week vacation in the middle of March (called March Break). Schools are closed during these periods. Schools are also shut down for one Monday in October, in honour of the Christian holiday known as Thanksgiving. On the third Monday in the month of February schools are closed for Family Day, which is a day when families are encouraged to spend time together. In April, there is a holiday that takes place in honour of the Christian holiday known as Easter. Normally during Easter, schools shut down on both Friday and Monday, so that there is a four-day weekend. The dates for Easter holiday vary from year to year. (For example, Easter can sometimes take place in March.) In May, schools are also closed on what is known as Queen Victoria Day. This is a legal holiday in Canada, and takes place on the third Monday of May of each year. Professional Activity Days: Schools also close down during Professional Activity (PA) Days. These are scheduled throughout the school year to allow school staff with opportunities to increase their knowledge and upgrade their skills. Students do not attend school on PA Days. 

Ontario Ministry of Education

A wealth of information about public education in Toronto and surrounding areas is available from the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Ontario Ministry of Education
800-387-5514
https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-education