GREATER TORONTO – With Labour Day Weekend behind us and the back-to-school shopping (hopefully!) out of the way, it’s time to start hauling out those backpacks for another school year here in the GTA.
This September is a particularly exciting one, as we get to welcome brand-new schools to some of the GTA’s most rapidly-growing areas. If you own a home in one of the communities mentioned below, these new schools will come as great news – offering more convenience for your family, and even a possible boost in property values within the surrounding neighbourhoods.
- In York Region, an exciting start to the school year will feature three new public schools affiliated with the York Region District School Board: Beckett Farm Public School (Markham), Anne Frank Public School (Vaughan), and Robert Munsch Public School (Mount Albert). The region is also welcoming students to a brand-new secondary institution, Tommy Douglas Secondary School, located in Vaughan on Major Mackenzie Drive.
- Peel District School Board is also cutting the ribbon on several new schools this year: Nelson Mandela Public School, Ross Drive, Walnut Grove Public School, and Chris Hadfield Public School. Note: students registered to attend Nelson Mandela PS might have to make do with some temporary accommodations during the first week of classes).
Many additional schools around the GTA have also undergone new renovations in preparation for the new school year, thanks in part to a $700-million Capital Investment Program earmarked by the provincial government back in March.
Full Day Kindergarten now available province-wide
During the previous Liberal administration of Ontario, one of Cabinet’s top priorities was the delivery of full-day kindergarten (FDK) for all Ontarians – with September 2014 set as the target date for province-wide implementation.
According to the Toronto District School Board’s web site, the city’s schools will all be offering the program this September. The Toronto Catholic District School Board is set to offer FDK at all 168 of its elementary schools – although their statement adds that some construction delays may be in store for the beginning of the school year.
The York Region District School Board also claims to be on track, with all remaining York Region elementary schools – 11 in total – set to offer FDK effective September. The list includes a mixture of older schools (Unionville Public School) and newer ones (Cornell Village Public School).
Due to construction complications or, in rare cases, administrative decisions made by the school, your child’s school may have been delayed in implementing FDK. To confirm FDK availability, the Government of Ontario encourages you to contact your school board directly.
Full Day Kindergarten is a voluntary program, available only to families who have completed the registration process.
On behalf of Living Realty and the GTA Real Estate News editorial team, we hope all of our readers and their families enjoy a great start to the 2014-15 school year!
