Schools in PEI
 

Hi All,

Most of you might know that my family and I are moving to Prince Edward Island next Feb and I was just wondering if you could give me any advice on schools in the Cornwall or surrounding areas.

My daughter will be 6 and will have all her previous school records with her. She is really bright and loves school and wants to start as soon as she arrives.

What are the normal school hours in Canada and what happens during Lunch (as I know most scools in Sask send the children home for lunch).

What is the normal school holidays and which months do they take place in?

My children are really looking forward to moving to Canada but its me with all the worries about how my eldest will cope in a new school - its her who keeps telling me to relax:)

Karla x x x x

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Hi Karla,

Good questions, we are also going to PEI, hopefully in the spring. Found it interesting when i also read that children go home at lunchtime, what do you do if your working. They must surely provide for working mums. Does anyone also know of afterschool facilites as i have to rely on these services here and would hope that there something like this on PEI also.

Sharon

Re: Schools in PEI
 

I have just found some info on Canadian Schooling and its fantastic.

See here: http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Canadian_Schooling

Karla x x x

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Hi,

My 9 year old was at westwood in cornwall for 4 weeks before he broke up for summer. He started at 8.30 and finished at 2.30. I sent him with a packed lunch as there were no school dinners. The children could have subway delivered if they wanted !!

There is aslo a breakfast club at the school which was not used by us but seemed popular

Hope this helps

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Here is the direct link to the school


http://www.edu.pe.ca/westwood/

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Hi
we've been in PEI for 5 months
my eldest daughter will be 6 in December

when we got here in April we wanted her to start school to get her settle as soon as possible.

Here children start school in their 6th year so she was supposed to start kindergarden(equivalent of pre school in England!) this september!
When i realised what the level was i thought she'll get bored as she had already covered everything at pre school in England!(and was in school from september until end of March when we moved here)
I went to see the headmaster and explain the situation , he had my daughter in for a kind of informal assesment and realised that indeed she would be bored in kindergarden .So she is starting grade 1 this september (she went to kindergarden April May June to 'keep her busy and meet friends)

My advice would be to talk to teachers /headmaster when you get here and show them your daughter records (a letter from her teacher in England could be useful as well) so your daughter will be put in the right grade for her abilities

in some place in PEI there are 3 types of school
some where everything is taught in french(you need to prove that you or amember of family can talk french)
some where both english and french is used
some in english only

all the best !!
vee

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Thanks very much for all the wonderful advice.

Karla x x x x

Re: Schools in PEI
 

and i forget don't worry about your daughter settling in(i can understand i felt the same!!) but within few days of starting kindergarden (in the middle of the year!) she was already invited to birthdays etc...
she very soon had a far better social life than us(and still has !!!:D)

Re: Schools in PEI
 

This is very true, PEI is very sociable, Connor had a birthday invite (and a love letter, which he has not lived down ) within a couple of weeks.

I think the children are fascinated with the accent, we are always being told we sound like Coronation street!

Re: Schools in PEI
 

My daughter is amazing, she can't wait to move and meet new friends - I just worry about her as all mothers do.

Kids do settle more than adults, plus I also reckon that she'll have a better social life than me.

I am not sure what area we will settle in but I know my husband will be working for the same company as Kerrys, so I'm hoping to make a few new friends too as Simon is worrying about me not having anyone.

Karla x x x

Re: Schools in PEI
 

I am sure you will be fine, there are quite a few expats here and more on the way.

We will all help you out as much as we can
xx

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Cheers Kerry,

I hope everything is fine in Canada. Hope to see you soon.

Karla x x x x

Re: Schools in PEI
 

i can be your friend!!!!:rofl:

as another person wrote in one thread it can be hard to meet people to start with as we don't want to be seen as 'pushy wierdos!!':D

so when you get here you can contact me and i swear i won't think that of you:rofl:
vee

Re: Schools in PEI
 

just read replys, some very reassuring advice, hope this makes you feel better Karla, i certainly feel better reading them, thankyou everyone. My daughter is 9yrs old, and like everyone else, you can't help but worry about them.
Its also very nice to speak with you all, there already or like me, waiting to go.

Sharon

Re: Schools in PEI
 

Thank you so much Vee - Your a star:)

Karla x x x