School News

Registration Opens for Kindergarten and French Immersion January 16

Kindergarten Registration

Families with children who turn four or five in 2026 can register for Kindergarten beginning January 16. 

Through exploration, play and inquiry, Kindergarten helps children develop the academic, critical thinking and social skills they need to thrive in Grade 1 and beyond. Skilled and caring teams of certified teachers and early childhood educators work together to support every child in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

All schools offer before and after care programs. Check your school’s website or our before and after care directory for details. Contact providers early to secure your spot. 

Families can register online, in person or by mail or phone. Learn more about Kindergarten programs and how to register at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten or contact your local school. 

French Immersion Registration

French Immersion registration takes place from January 16 - February 9, 2026.

French Immersion is an optional program, designed for children whose first language is not French. In Grades 1, 2 and 3, all subjects are taught in French. Starting in Grade 4, time is shared equally between French and English instruction.

Information sessions for French Immersion will take place in French Immersion schools on January 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. 

Program locations and additional information is available on the school board website. If families are unable to attend the information session, they can hear about the French Immersion program on the Tune In YRDSB: French Immersion Podcast or watch this short video about French Immersion.  

Charlton Public School Buddy Program Builds Connections and Community

The Buddy Program at Charlton PS pairs younger students with older ones to build a sense of school community and strengthen connections between students. 

Funded through an experiential learning grant, the program pairs “Little Buddies” in Kindergarten to Grade 3 with “Big Buddies” in Grades 4 to 8. Once a month, students engage with their buddies in monthly activities focused on kindness and positivity.

“We wanted to create a project that fosters community within the school,” said Julie Bortnick, Multilingual Learner Teacher, Charlton PS. “The school has only 350 students, so we wanted to do a project where students interact with each other more on a personal basis.” 

The program started with activities that helped buddies get to know each other better. Most recently, students worked with their buddies to paint rocks with messages of kindness for a school rock garden. In the future, they’re planning to make a schoolwide mural, engage in STEM activities and have a buddy picnic.

“It’s a really great opportunity to get to know the people in our school more,” said Jini, a Grade 7 student and “Big Buddy.”

“We do activities and laugh and have fun,” said Jesse, a Grade 1 student and “Little Buddy.” 

Watch the video to learn more.