Guelph Schools: Climate Action Program and K-12 Registration
Written by Nathan Brooks • Published October 15, 2026 • Last verified October 16, 2026
What you need to know:
William C. Winegard Public School was selected as one of 100 schools globally in the Take Action Global Climate Action Schools program.
Junior Kindergarten (JK) is the ONLY entry point for new UGDSB French Immersion students; application opens in January.
Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year opens in January 2026 across UGDSB and WCDSB websites.
Licensed child care spaces and fee subsidies are coordinated via the County of Wellington OneHSN central registry.
School attendance boundaries are strictly determined by address via board online school locator tools.
William C. Winegard Public School in Guelph has earned international recognition after being accepted into the prestigious global Climate Action Schools program. Chosen through a selective process led by Take Action Global, Winegard is one of only 100 schools worldwide selected for the program, which connects classrooms across the globe to advance hands-on student environmental literacy, energy conservation, and biodiversity projects.
The announcement highlights a busy season for education in the city. Beyond classroom initiatives, local families are navigating important school board registration timelines and childcare programs.
**School Boards and Registration Timelines**
Guelph is served primarily by two publicly funded school boards: - **Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB):** Serves approximately 35,000 students across public elementary and secondary schools in Guelph and Wellington and Dufferin counties. - **Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB):** Educates roughly 8,000 students across its Guelph Catholic elementary and secondary schools.
For the 2026-27 school year, **Kindergarten registration opens in January 2026** for both English and French Immersion programs. Registration is completed entirely online via each board's website. Parents must provide proof of child's age, proof of home address, and up-to-date immunization records.
**Crucial French Immersion Entry Rules**
For families considering French Immersion, entry timing is strict. **Junior Kindergarten (JK) is the only entry point for new French Immersion students in the UGDSB**, a policy in effect since September 1, 2017. Parents cannot wait until Senior Kindergarten or Grade 1 to enroll a child in French Immersion. Because French Immersion spaces are capped at specific designated schools, registration must be submitted during the official January window; spaces are allocated through a board-administered selection process.
**School Year Calendar & Daycare Access**
When planning around the school year, remember that the first day of student instruction typically follows a designated Professional Activity (PA) day. For example, during the 2025-26 school year, classes officially commenced on **Wednesday, September 3, 2025**, following a staff PA day on September 2.
Licensed child care and before-and-after school care operate independently from school board admissions. In Guelph, child care spaces and fee subsidies are administered by the County of Wellington Children's Services. Families seeking licensed child care or before/after-school care must register through the centralized **Wellington County OneHSN Child Care Application portal** (online via onehsn.com), rather than contacting individual school offices directly.
**Confirming Catchment and Contact Info**
School attendance boundaries are determined strictly by home address. Both boards offer interactive online school locator tools where parents can enter their street address to determine their designated home school and French Immersion site.
For registration and boundary inquiries, parents can contact board administration: - **UGDSB Central Office:** 519-822-4420 (ugdsb.ca) - **WCDSB Board Office:** 519-821-4600 (wcdsb.ca) - **County of Wellington Children's Services (Child Care / Subsidy):** 519-837-2600
Sources
- UGDSB: William C. Winegard PS accepted to Take Action Global Climate Action School program
- UGDSB: French Immersion Information & JK Entry Rules
- UGDSB: Kindergarten Registration Information
- County of Wellington: Children's Early Years and Child Care Services
Related Reading
- Guelph K-12 Schools and Daycare: Registration Dates and Boards
- Guelph School PA Days: Dates, Boards and What Closes
- Guelph School Year 2025: Key Dates and Board Facts
- MusiCounts Grants for Two Local Schools: What It Means
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