Parents are invited to visit the nearest school to register their children. Families who are new to the country are invited to fill out the registration form online and participate in an informal family interview with an ESL/ELD teacher. 

Newcomer families are encouraged to fill out a referral form with Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) to help learn about and navigate the Ontario school system and ensure their children access all the supports in the school and community to experience success and reach their post-secondary goals.  

Families will be provided a time for the school principal or staff member to get to know your family better and to answer questions about the school, church community or local community services that may be helpful to your family.   SWIS will be invited to be part of this initial meeting and tour of the school.

Soon after your child has started classes he or she will participate in an initial language assessment and a mathematics assessment.  The assessments will not effect the grade placement of students.  Students are placed according to their birthday.  A report regarding the initial language assessment is provided to the classroom teacher/guidance counsellor and parents.  The report outlines strategies to support your child's English language development while he or she participates in the regular classroom/course program. 



Newcomer parents and students are invited to watch the following videos to learn more about schools in Ontario:


Reception and Orientation Process 

This video features 9 newcomer parents talking about how they helped their children be successful in school and the importance of parent involvement in the Ontario education system.  For parents with elementary or secondary students.  Available in 17 languages.

 Reception and Orientation Process

New Moves: An Orientation Video for Newcomer Students features 14 youth (intermediate or senior students) talking about their adjustment to school in Canada and what helped them be successful. You can listen to the youth talk about the differences they found in behaviour expectations, teaching methods and communicating with teachers and other students. Comments from the school administrators and images of life in Canadian schools are also included.   Available in 17 languages.