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Q. At what age can students enrol in Junior or Senior Kindergarten? - Top
If your child will be four (4) years of age by December 31 of this year, he/she may attend Junior Kindergarten starting in September of this year. Children turning five (5) by December 31 of this year may attend Senior Kindergarten starting in September of this year. Please contact your local public school to determine when they are accepting enrolment registration. Please view How to Enrol to find out about documentation/information you will be asked to provide.
Q. Are there day care facilities within the Board? - Top
The Umbrella Family and Child Centres operate at 26 school sites in our system with all day or before and after school programs for children ranging in age from 2.5 to 12 years of age. Centres operate between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please contact Executive Director Janis Webster at 905.312.9836 for further information. The Community Information Service Hamilton-Wentworth has Child Care Information available by clicking here or by phone at 905.528.0591.
Q. Can I enrol my child in Junior Kindergarten at a school offering French Immersion programming? - Top
If your intent is to place your child in the French Immersion program, you may register your child in Junior Kindergarten at the FI site, however, FI programming is not offered until Senior Kindergarten. If your child does not enter the FI program in Senior Kindergarten they will have to return to their local/home school.
Q. Does my child qualify for transportation? - Top
The Board has a transportation policy that outlines the distances at which point students may qualify for transportation. Out-of-cachement students and French Immersion students are not eligible for transportation. Our School Seeker can provide you with a tentative estimate, however, your school can confirm. Our transportation department may also provide assistance at 905-527-9849 relative to bus routes and times.
Q. Does my home school offer JK and SK programming on a half day-every day basis, full day-alternative day basis, or both? - Top
Please contact your home school for this information. In general, full day, alternate day programming is offered at the more rural schools with large numbers of students being bused between their homes and schools. A few schools offer both. Click here to see the school listings page.
Q. How do adult students access information about credit programs available at the Board? - Top
Our Community and Continuing Education Department has a number of programs available to assist students in the pursuit of their education and are outlined on the department’s website.
Q. How do I find out about employment opportunities with the board? - Top
The Board’s Human Resources Department is located on the sixth floor of the Education Centre. Call the Job Posting Hot Line at 905.521.2505 or click here.
Q. How do I find out information about PA days or holidays? - Top
Check out either the Elementary Calendar or Secondary Calendar for information re PA days, statutory holidays, World Cycling closures, exam dates, etc. The Ministry of Education has a Web site that provides information relative to Winter Break, March Break and statutory holidays in future years here.
Q. How do I find information about the secondary school requirements for 40 hours of community involvement / volunteering in the community? - Top
Information will be available to students through their Guidance Counselor. The Ministry of Education does not recognize community involvement prior to Grade 9. Students and parents are responsible for finding volunteer opportunities, obtaining approval at the school and ensuring documentation of hours is registered with the school. More information about this requirement is available here. If you have further questions, please contact your school’s guidance office or our Secondary School Team consultant at 905.527.5092 ext. 2319.
Q. Is there an all-schools listing rather than individual school information? - Top
Yes. Our Web site has a schools listing, with the address, contact information, principal / vice-principal names and grade information. Click here to access this page.
Q. What are Programs of Choice / School-Specific Programs? - Top
Programs of Choice and School-Specific Programs are educational programs offered at specific locations that are available to students across the system. Click here to visit the Programs of Choice page.
Q. What is a balanced day program? - Top
In the balanced day program, the day is divided into three classroom segments, separated by two nutrition breaks of approximately 40 or 50 minutes. Results from a pilot of this new scheduling format have been positive.
Q. Why do boundaries differ for regular Elementary school programming and French Immersion? - Top
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board offers eight French Immersion elementary sites and one secondary site. Boundaries have been established for each school, to provide access for students across the system. Please view our French Immersion web page.
Q. What school will my child attend? What is my home school? - Top
School attendance is based on your residential address. Our School Seeker will assist you in identifying your home school. If you are moving to the area or within the Board, you can use the School Seeker to identify the school associated with a particular residential address. You can also call our Information line at 905-521-2508 for assistance.
Q. What is the Board’s mailing address? - Top
The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board
P. O. Box 2558
Hamilton, ON L8N 3L1
*Please note that mail for schools should be sent directly to the school’s address. Addresses are available for all on our school listing web page.
Q. Where is the Education Centre located? - Top
The Education Centre’s street address is 100 Main Street West in Hamilton, at the corner of Main and Bay Streets (immediately opposite City Hall).
