Kindergarten kids could face school lotteries
New facilities may not be enough to solve CBE’s ongoing capacity challenges
Despite the opening of two new public schools over the last year, some parents hoping to have their child start kindergarten in the fall may still have to win a lottery to get into the school of their choice.
Kindergarten registration kicked off this week at the Calgary Board of Education, with parents being asked to sign up and begin preparing their kids early, from reading every day to starting healthy routines.
But as CBE officials start tallying enrolment numbers for kindergarten from now until mid-February, the lottery process may have to kick in at that time for schools that are at or near capacity, giving priority to students with siblings already in the school or to those living within the walk zone.
“Ultimately, any CBE school that receives more registrations than available capacity could be in a lottery situation, including community schools and alternative program schools,” said CBE spokeswoman Megan Geyer.
“We won’t know which schools will require lotteries until we see the registration numbers. If parents have questions about whether their school is anticipating a lottery, they should call the school office directly.”
Last year, 28 schools, all of which offered alternative programming, held lotteries. Of those, 19 were unable to accommodate all who applied, ultimately forcing students to attend elsewhere. No schools offering regular programming held lotteries.
This year, CBE opened two new elementary schools, including Manmeet Singh Bhullar School in the far northeast community of Martindale and Ron Southern School in Silverado on the city’s southern edge. And while Griffith Woods School in Discovery Ridge was also expected to start this year, its opening date is still uncertain.
But questions remain as to whether the new schools will be enough to solve the CBE’s ongoing capacity challenges, especially with the district’s three-year capital plan projecting enrolment to go from this year’s 119,147 students to as many as 130,405 by 2021.
The city’s deep south is expected to face the most growth pressures, with an increase of as many as 28,510 people by 2021 in that area. The second-most growth is projected in the city’s northeast quadrant, with an additional 14,520 expected by 2021.
But Barb Silva, spokeswoman for the Support Our Students advocacy group, said access to community schools is becoming more difficult than ever as the CBE moves toward more alternative programs offering French-immersion, Spanish-bilingual or traditional learning programs.
“It’s difficult because the school in your community may not even be your designated school,” said Silva, explaining that as schools specialize, students who simply want to access regular programming may have to go much farther than their own neighbourhood.
“We’re seeing students from multiple communities being bused to go to a program of choice. Then those schools become overcrowded, and then the people who actually live in those communities are pushed out.”
Officials at Silver Springs School on Monday already welcomed 20 new students on the first day of kindergarten registration.
Kindergarten teacher Meredith Wilkes said it’s critical parents start preparing youngsters for school as soon as possible, by reading to children every day and following up by engaging them in meaningful conversation to grow confidence and social skills.
“It’s really important to be reading to kids every day,” said Wilkes.
“Make it a positive part of your everyday routine, have a hot chocolate while you read, or snuggle up together just before bed.”
Wilkes added that in addition to reading, parents need to engage in meaningful conversations with their children, like going for walks, talking about what they observe and asking questions.
“When you have these conversations, it becomes clear to your child that their opinion is valued, and that they are valued.”
That builds critical self-esteem and a love of learning, Wilkes said, that can then be taken into the classroom.