School re-opening and what to do if you are new to Canada

Immigrating to a new country can be quite exciting and stressful at the same time. Families immigrating with children often have double the hurdles and red tape to get through, regarding immunizations, school registrations and getting the little ones used to a completely different culture.

Here are some tips for you:

1. Make sure you bring a completed immunization card with you for each child. This card is compulsory for registering your child in school.

2. To register in school, you need three things: PR Card, immunization card and proof of residence. (Whether rental or owned)

3. Proof of residence includes your rental agreement or ownership papers, a utility bill or anything from the federal government or anything sent from your bank with your name on it and sent by post to your address. You have to bring at least 2 of these things to the school office. If you have just moved to Canada, remember to get these things done quickly if you want your child to start school when it re-opens. (September  6th, 2011 for most schools in Canada)

4. Again, if you are brand new, go to one of the Welcome Centres first. They will give you all the information you need.  Their website is: http://www.welcomecentre.ca/

5.Most stores have their 'Back to School' sales from the month of August till the mid of September. Pick up what you need for the year as you won't get better prices later in the year. Talk to a neighbour or someone from the school or welcome centre on things you should buy if you get confused.

6. Once you rent or buy a home, check and see which school comes within the home boundary. Remember your child has to go to the school that falls within the specific school boundary lines. If you have a school in mind (looking at the ranking and the fraser report) then you have to find a home within the boundary lines of that school.

The Fraser Report is one of the ways of finding out the top schools in each area. Normally the top 100 is considered to be in the 'good' bracket. Remember, the better the school zone, normally the higher the rents and prices of homes.

http://www.compareschoolrankings.org/Index.aspx

7. Overall, children love the schooling system here where they learn through creativity and play. They are not burdened with too much homework or studying until High School and College. Get your children to join clubs, take part in the activities of your community centre, learn how to swim, ice skate etc and enjoy being in Canada!!

The Walk-in Clinic experience

I know, I know..........it has been far too long between my posts! We just shifted and moved from Brampton to Mississauga. Our new home is still full of boxes and things all over the place. Hopefully can wake up to a neat and organized home by this weekend. The main reason we shifted is because our son is just starting grade 9, which is the first year of High School. This means, moving to the High School from the Middle School that is within the boundaries of your home. The problem was that, even though we were happy with the middle school, the High School was way below on the ranks. The only way to switch schools was to switch homes!! So after looking for nearly 6 weeks we finally found a home in our budget and within the boundaries of the High School we liked.

So come September, our son starts grade 9 and our daughter moving from Elementary to Middle school, starts grade 6.

The label of this post about the Walk In.................let me explain:

Yesterday, we went to the Walk-In Clinic (which is what they call the clinics here that you go to with your Health Card) to see a Doctor about a skin cream for an infection. The nurse immediately took us to one of the examination rooms...so we thought, 'Wow, that was fast!'. But then we ended up waiting for about half an hour before the Doctor finally came to see us. Anyway, he writes the prescription which we take to the pharmacy next door. The attendant looks at the prescription and says, 'I can't read this. I'm going to fax this back to the Doctor, and he'll have to fax me the prescription again so that I can read it. Can you come back after 20 minutes?'

A lot of people ask how the Health Care system is here...well, most immigrants will tell you that it is slow, painfully slow...............the ambulance will take you in an emergency to the Hospital in five minutes flat, but then once there, chances are you will see a Doctor only after three or four hours......sometimes five or six! It just doesn't make any sense!

Anyway.......back to my unpacking...........will check around and post new happenings in and around the GTA soon. We took a trip to the Niagara Falls a couple of weeks ago with a guest who was visiting from the U.K, and the 'Maid of the Mist' ride to the edge of the falls just never ceases to amaze us. If you visit Canada or come here to live or study, one of your very first sight seeing trips should be the Falls.

Have a good weekend!!