Enrollment and Admissions Process

Thank you for your interest in Waldorf education and the Trillium Waldorf School. Finding the right educational choice for your child(ren) requires careful consideration. We are pleased to receive inquiries from families wishing to discover more about the unique qualities and benefits of a Waldorf education. We accept applications year round, however we reserve the right to delay entrance into the school until a later date depending on the timeframe of the application. (For example, applications received after the March Break may be accepted, but enrollment may be deferred to the following school year.)

To receive a detailed information package, please contact our Enrollment Coordinator, Connie Watson, at 519-821-5140 or by email at info@trilliumwaldorfschool.com. Once you have had a chance to review our information package, we encourage prospective families to contact our Enrollment Coordinator to arrange a time to visit the school, by either attending an Open House or information event, or by meeting with the Enrollment Coordinator for a more in-depth discussion and tour.

To begin the admissions process, families are required to submit a completed Application for Admission form, along with a one-time non-refundable application fee of $55 per student, and a copy of your child's birth certificate. Also, where applicable, we will require previous school records and any assessments, along with a signed release form allowing us to request information from the students previous school.

Our Enrollment Coordinator will review the application and arrange a meeting with the parent(s), if needed, to ensure they have a full picture of the Waldorf education philosophy, and the Trillium Waldorf School. The class teacher will then meet with the prospective student and parents to discuss and assess the students background and education placement. In most cases, grade level is determined by the child's birth date.

Children entering Grade One must be at least six years old by June 30th prior to September's enrollment. Students whose birthdays are prior to June 30th will be assessed carefully to ensure they are ready for Grade One. Students transferring from another school system in the middle and upper grades, whose birthdays falls after June 30th, will also be assessed carefully to determine whether they may remain in the same grade level or whether they would be best served at the previous grade level.

Children entering Kindergarten must be four years old by December 31st for enrollment in September. The Parent and Tot program is recommended for children ages two to three. The Babes in Arms program is recommended for infants under 18 months.

Acceptances to the school are based on an evaluation of the child's application, a review of the child's student records and assessments (if applicable), a parent meeting, and the needs of the existing class. The final decision to accept new students is made by the full Faculty. Students whose academic, social, and/or emotional needs cannot be met by our program will be informed of that decision. Parents are informed of decisions in a timely fashion, however it is reasonable to expect the admission process to take approximately two to three weeks. If there are no openings in the appropriate class, the students name will be added to a waiting list and will remain there until a placement becomes available, or until the parents withdraw their application.

After a student has been accepted, an enrollment package is prepared, which includes a Tuition Agreement contract, and an Accessible To All Tuition Adjustment Application.

Class Hours

Parent and Child Programs: Available for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Please speak to the office for current session dates and times.

Kindergarten Morning Program: 8:45 am to 12:30 pm

Kindergarten Afternoon Care: 12:30 pm to 3:15 pm

Grades 1 to 8: 8:45 to 3:15 pm

Optional Afternoons Grades 1 and 2
Coming into Grade 1 is a big step for children, with the demands in learning and concentration being considerably greater than in Kindergarten. Therefore, parents are encouraged to assist with the transition into the grade school by having their children at home for two afternoons a week. Similarly, as the Grade 2 students also continue with their transition into the grade school, parents are encouraged to have their children at home for one afternoon a week. For those children who do not have the option of going home early on these days, an afternoon program is available at the school, and consists of indoor games and outdoor play.

Lunchtime Supervision
The children eat their lunch in the classroom under supervision, and are then supervised on the playground during recess. Children are not to leave the school premises during this time.

After-School Care: 3:15 to 6:00 p.m.
Our after-school program addresses the needs of working parents who want their children to receive quality afternoon care consistent with the principles of Waldorf education. The program offers a safe nurturing environment for kindergarten and grade school children.

Child Care Tax Receipt

A portion of tuition fees paid to the Trillium Waldorf School may be considered eligible child care expenses on form T778 of the T1 General tax return. Where an institution offers child care as well as an education program, only that portion of the fees relating to child care qualify. This would include such things as supervision before and after class or during lunch.

For parents of Kindergarten students, when payment is made for a child under compulsory school age, it is generally considered to be for child care rather than for education. In Ontario, junior and senior kindergarten are not mandatory; therefore the tuition paid for these classes would normally be considered a child care expense.

This information is not intended to replace advice from a competent professional tax preparer. The Trillium Waldorf School encourages parents to seek independent professional advice to ensure child care amounts are fully claimed and defensible.tment Program