ENROLLMENT
Q - How do I enroll my child at FFCA?
A- The first step is to complete a Wait List Application form. You can access a Wait List Application form on our website: click on “Parent Information” and then on “Wait List Application Form”. Your child’s application will be stamped with the time and date, and his/her name added to the list in order.
Q – My child is not in school yet. When may I add him to the wait list?
A – A child may be added to the wait list at any time.
Q – How does the wait list work?
A – Each grade and campus has its own wait list. Students are placed on the wait list according to grade they are in, and the campus is determined according to home address.
Q - How long is the wait list?
A - School-aged children may be on the wait list for 3 – 4 years before we reach their name. However, this is not always the case.
Q – Will my preschooler’s name come up on the wait list before he/she is ready to start school?
A – No. When a child is entered into the system, he/she is added to the appropriate kindergarten wait list. You will only be called in the spring of the year in which your child is to start school.
Q – I have three children - will they all be admitted to the school at the same time?
A – This will all depend where your children are on the wait list for their grade, and if there are any openings. We may not reach all of your children’s names in the same year.
Q – What is sibling status, and when is it assigned?
A –Sibling status is assigned to children on the wait list who have a brother and or sister already attending FFCA. Sibling status provides preference within the wait list over those applicants without siblings in the school. This occurs on September 30th of each year.
Q – My child has been offered a spot in FFCA. We have decided not to attend this year but would like to remain on the wait list. Will we be called the following school year?
A – Not necessarily. In this situation, your child’s name will be moved to the bottom of the wait list for future consideration providing the application is renewed in the required time frame.
GENERAL ADMISSION - back to top of page
Q – What happens when a spot becomes available for my child?
A – You will be contacted by phone and an appointment will be made for your child to come to his or her designated campus to participate in an admission interview. The purpose of the interview is to determine the appropriate grade placement for your child.
Q – What happens if my child struggles with the admission interview?
A – The Principal Educator of the designated campus will call you to discuss your options. (Some options include: a second admissions interview, regular grade placement with some required help from parents, and alternate grade placement, including retention in the current grade).
Q – What if I don’t want my child to be retained?
A – You may remain on the wait list for the following school year and your original entry date will not be affected. In the spring, if there is an opening, you will be called to participate in an admission interview. In the meantime, it is highly recommended that you spend that year seeking additional help for your child.
ADMISSION TO KINDERGARTEN - back to top of page
Q – At what age can my child begin kindergarten?
A – FFCA’s age policy is that the child must be five (5) years old on or before September 30th in order to attend kindergarten. When you attend the Kindergarten Open House/Registration, you will be required to produce your child’s birth certificate as proof of age.
Q – I feel my child is ready to start school, but he has a November birthday. I don’t want to wait another year. Can he be tested for earlier placement in the school?
A – No. The age policy is strictly enforced. There are no exceptions.
Q – This means that next year my child will be almost six while in kindergarten. Won’t he be the oldest in the class?
A – Your child’s age will be similar to the other students who attend FFCA with an October to February birthday.
Q – Why is your age requirement for kindergarten different from the public school?
A – This decision was made by the Board of Directors of FFCA recognizing that our kindergarten program is very advanced, requiring students to have a certain level of maturity in order to be successful.
Q – Can my child attend kindergarten in public school in the year that meets the age requirement with other school boards?
A – In Alberta, children may attend kindergarten only once. If you send your child to a different school the year prior, his/her name will be moved to the grade one wait list.
Q – Am I guaranteed admission if I keep my child out of school and wait for the kindergarten program at FFCA?
A – No. Your child’s name is still on the wait list and the usual admission procedure will need to be followed.
Q – What are my chances of admission to grade one if my child attends kindergarten at a different school?
A – You may experience a three to four year wait before we reach your child’s name on the wait list for admission to our school.
Q – What is the admissions procedure for kindergarten?
A – In February of the year in which your child is to start school, you will be contacted by letter to attend an Open House. This is an opportunity for you to hear from a kindergarten teacher, and learn more about the program and the expectations of the school in regard to homework, uniform, school rules, etc.
Q – Can I bring my children to the Open House?
A – It is best that you arrange for child care on this evening. The information you receive will be pertinent to the success of your child while attending FFCA.
Q – What happens after the Open House?
A – You will be contacted by phone, and an appointment will be made to bring your child in for a 15 minute interview with a kindergarten teacher.
Q – Can I stay with my child during the interview?
A – No. This is an opportunity for the teacher to get to know your child one-on-one.
Q – What happens during the interview? How can I prepare my child?
A –The meeting with the teacher does not require advanced preparation.
Q – My child is extremely shy, and I don’t want to leave him/her alone during the interview.
A – Kindergarten interviews are really only effective one-on-one. Again, you will not be permitted to stay with your child during the interview. Our kindergarten teachers are very skilled in working with all types of children in this one-on-one environment.
Q – My child meets the age requirements for kindergarten, but I feel he/she is not ready for school. Can I keep them back for another year?
A – Yes! If your child is not ready for school, there is no need to enroll them immediately. Please let the administrative staff know of your decision, and your child will be added to the wait list for kindergarten for the following year. Their entry date on the wait list will remain the original date on which you first added them to the wait list.
Q – What happens after the interview with the kindergarten teacher?
A – If your child is ready to start school, you will be given a registration package. You will need to complete the package and return it to the campus office. Your child will not be enrolled unless the campus office receives a completed package.
CAMPUS DESIGNATION - back to top of page
Q – Which elementary campus will my child attend?
A – FFCA has four elementary campuses, one in each quadrant of the city. There are specific boundaries, but generally the campus nearest your home is the one to which your child will be assigned.
Q – I live outside the city limits. Can my children attend FFCA? To which campus will they be designated?
A – Children who live outside the city limits are able to attend FFCA. However, there is no transportation outside the city and parents are required to either drive their child to and from school, or access an existing bus stop within the city limits. Families who live outside the city limits can choose the campus they would like to attend and they will be placed on the appropriate wait list. The administrative staff would be happy to assist you in this decision.
Q – My child already attends an FFCA elementary campus and we are planning to move. The new house places us within the boundary for a different FFCA campus. What happens now?
A – Students will transfer internally at the start of each school year if there is space at the newly-designated campus. If there is no space, the student will remain at his/her current campus, but parents will be required to provide their own transportation. There is no bus service to campuses outside the designated area. The student will be transferred at the start of the next school year provided there is space available.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS - back to top of page
Q – My child requires special programming (eg. IPP). Can he get this at FFCA?
A – No. FFCA does not offer Special Needs programs at either end of the spectrum.
Q – What if my child does very well on the admission interview and later we find out that he/she is gifted?
A – While there are many gifted students presently attending our school, FFCA does not offer unique programs to accommodate gifted students. If your child is advanced, this may not be the best school for your child to attend. The Principal Educator will discuss options with you at your request.
TRANSPORTATION - back to top of page
Q – Will I have bus service to my home?
A – No. FFCA’s transportation service is not door-to-door. It is based on community stops and is revised each year based on the distribution of student residences. Not every community will have a bus stop and you may have to drive your child to the closest stop.
MISCELLANEOUS - back to top of page
Q – Do you teach a second language?
A – The second language taught at FFCA is Spanish. Spanish classes currently begin in grade four.
Q – Do you take International Students – children who are not Canadian citizens?
A – To date, FFCA has not had any International Students. However, special arrangements in this regard may be made by contacting the Superintendent.
RANK - back to top of page
Q - Why has my rank increased?
A - The main reason your child's rank may have increased is because a sibling has been identified on the wait list. Siblings always get first priority on the FFCA wait list