We are excited to welcome your children to the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) for the 2024-2025 school year! As you prepare for the start of the school year, we want to ensure you are well-informed about two critical aspects: Early Reading Screening and the Kindergarten Orientation Schedule. In the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, all OCSB schools will conduct annual early reading screenings for students from Year 2 of Kindergarten to Grade 2. This new requirement is mandated by the Ministry of Education. Please note that students entering Year 1 for the first time will not be screened; this screening is specifically for students entering Year 2 of Kindergarten to Grade 2.
Developing strong reading skills is essential for academic and everyday success. The early reading screening is specifically created to pinpoint students who may need extra help with their basic reading skills so that they can get the support they need to improve. This strategy provides them with the greatest opportunity for success.”The goals of the early reading screening are to:
- Monitor your child’s development in early reading skills
- Identify children who need extra support
- Guide classroom instruction
We aim to help every child become a confident and proficient reader by focusing on these areas.
Kindergarten Year 1 Orientation Schedule
Understanding the first week of school can be confusing, especially for new Kindergarten parents. We have outlined the orientation schedule for Year 1 students below:
| Date | Year 1 Students |
| Tuesday, September 3, 2024 | No school for Year 1 Kindergarten students EDP is closed |
| Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | Year 1 Kindergarten students enrolled in EDP will have an orientation visit and return the following day for their first full day of schoolEDP is closed |
| Thursday, September 5, 2024 | Students not enrolled in EDP will have an orientation visit and return for their first full school day the following day.EDP is open |
| Friday, September 6, 2024 | All Kindergarten students at school |
| Please note this is a sample schedule. Your school will contact you with their specific schedule. | |
Kindergarten Year 2 Orientation Schedule
If your child is entering Year 2 of Kindergarten, they will have a designated time to arrive on Tuesday, September 3rd, for a screening orientation visit. The screening will take approximately 10 minutes. After the screening, your child will return home for the rest of the day. Please note that the Extended Day Program (EDP) will not be available for Kindergarten students on September 3rd.
| Date | Year 2 Students |
| Tuesday, September 3, 2024 | Year 2 Kindergarten students arrive at school by appointment only for screening orientation EDP is closed |
| Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | All Year 2 Kindergarten students attend schoolEDP is open |
Extended Day Program
Parents who have enrolled in the Extended Day Program (EDP) will receive an adjustment of fees to reflect no EDP being offered on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
Questions
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school Principal. Your school will contact you in the last week of August to confirm your child’s orientation schedule and appointment.
