All About Kindergarten: What families need to know as registration approaches
Entering kindergarten is a big milestone for children and their families—filled with excitement, questions, and plenty of new beginnings. With registration for the 2026-27 school year opening in January, Saskatoon Public Schools wants to help families feel confident and prepared.
To explore what kindergarten looks like in our division, we visited Brownell School and spoke with two people who work closely with our youngest learners every day:
Pearl Bayda (early years education consultant), and Kendra Woiden (kindergarten teacher).
Who is kindergarten for
“For many families, kindergarten is the first big step away from home—and that can feel exciting and a little scary,” says Bayda. “This is normal! We are here to help families navigate it.”
Kindergarten in Saskatchewan is designed for children who are five or six years old. Families with a child turning five in 2026 should register them to begin kindergarten in September 2026.
Program options
Saskatoon Public Schools recognizes that families have different needs and schedules. That’s why a variety of program models are available across the division.
- Full day, every day. Saskatoon Public Schools is proud to be the only school division in Saskatoon offering full-time kindergarten programming.
“Full-time kindergarten—which runs full days, Monday to Friday—has been shown to have tremendous learning benefits,” Bayda explains. “It allows children time to build a strong learning foundation, practice new skills, and grow socially and emotionally. It also helps create a smoother transition to Grade 1.”
Full day, every day kindergarten is offered in 25 SPS schools, made possible thanks to the generosity of community donors through the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation, which has funded the program since 2019.
Because every family situation is unique, Saskatoon Public Schools also offers part-time options, depending on the school. These include:
- All day, every second day, and
- Half-day, every day.
Information about the different programs offered by school is available here.
Specialized kindergarten programs
Alongside traditional kindergarten offerings, Saskatoon Public Schools is home to several specialized learning opportunities:
What children learn in kindergarten
While kindergarten may look like play, there is powerful learning behind it.
“In kindergarten, the curriculum is gaining experience and confidence,” says Woiden. “Children learn through play, exploration, and relationships—but it’s play with learning outcomes.”
Kindergarten helps students build early literacy and numeracy skills, strengthen social development, learn routines, and develop their own voice.
“It’s really about laying that early foundation for lifelong learning,” Woiden adds.
Is my child ready?
Many parents wonder whether their child is ready to begin school—and that uncertainty is completely normal.
“We have children come in at very different places in their learning,” says Woiden. “We expect different levels of readiness and plan for them.”
Teachers meet students where they are and support their pace of learning.
“Most parents are astonished at how quickly their children grow in kindergarten,” Woiden says. “Families who worried their child might not be ready often change their minds within weeks.”
Learn more or register
Families hoping to join Saskatoon Public Schools can:
- Visit the Saskatoon Public Schools website. The site includes kindergarten program details, school catchment maps, transportation information, and online registration links (registration opens January 2026).
- Connect directly with a neighbourhood school. School staff will be happy to answer questions, explain program options, and help with the registration process.
- Attend one or more open houses. Kindergarten open houses are held each year in January/February. A list of open houses for Jan/Feb 2026 is available here. This is a chance to visit schools in person and meet staff.
A welcoming start to school
Saskatoon Public Schools is committed to helping kindergarten students feel known, valued, and believed in from their very first day. With a strong variety of programming, exceptional teachers, and options that meet family needs, the division is excited to meet new families and show off our strong program options.
You can watch a 4-minute video of the full conversation with our kindergarten experts by clicking here.
