Welcoming New/Returning Students and Families to Halton
Who comes to the Welcome Centre?
Students from Grade 1 to age 21 must register through the Welcome Centre if any of the following apply:
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Entering from Ontario school system for the first time, and whose first language is not English (or is a variety of English)*
- Entering HDSB with an International Student Visa (or any visa including Visitor Visas)
- Entering with a Work Permit or a Study Permit (student and/or parent/guardian holds the permit)
- Entering HDSB with their Permanent Residence Status application in progress
- Entering from a French language school in a French language school board (if first language is not English)
- Re-entering Ontario after an absence of a year or more (if first language is not English)
*where student is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee Claimant
Effective April 1, 2019, the Welcome Centre will no longer register JK/SK students except where
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The parent has a Work Permit AND is registering their first child in the family with HDSB
-
The parent/child has a Study Permit/Visa
-
The parent is a Permanent Resident applicant on visitor status
What should you bring?- Proof of child’s age
- Proof of address (two documents required)
- Proof of child’s citizenship or immigration status
- Immunization records
- Education records
- If you are not the child’s parent, or if you have sole custody, please bring proof of custody (court order)
What happens at the Welcome Centre?
- Family interview to discuss your child’s school history, interests and goals
- Meeting with our settlement team to assist with a smooth transition to school and life in Halton
- Initial assessments of students’ English proficiency and mathematics skills
- Credit equivalency recommendations (new to Ontario with Secondary School credits)
- Registration of students to the appropriate school
- Orientation to education in Ontario
- Meeting to discuss results of assessments
- Appointment arranged with the elementary and/or secondary school
How long is the appointment?
- Elementary students: 2-3 hours
- Secondary students: 3-4 hours
Contact us
- email: welcomecentre@hdsb.ca
- 905-335-3665 ext: 3440 or ext: 3435 for fee-paying International Visa Students
- The Welcome Centre is inside Gary Allan High School in Milton, 215 Ontario Street South, Milton, L9T 4N5. Via Milton Transit, take bus #5 or #8.
The Welcome Centre is partially funded by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
