NEW TO CANADA?
Your child’s school shouldn’t feel like a mystery.
Moving to a new country is a lot. Figuring out your child’s school shouldn’t have to be.
School, Decoded helps parents understand how Canadian schools work, what teachers are looking for, and how to support their child with confidence.
Canadian schools can feel confusing at first.
Understand the school system
Learn how Canadian schools work, from report cards and parent-teacher interviews to homework, assessment and classroom expectations.
Know what teachers are looking for
Understand what teachers notice about learning, behaviour and progress, and what those observations can mean for your child.
Know what to ask
Learn which questions to ask, when to reach out to your child’s teacher, and how to advocate for your child with confidence.
New to Canadian schools? Start here.
You don’t need to understand everything at once. Here are a few things that can make navigating your child’s school a little easier.
How school communication works
Schools communicate with families in different ways, including email, newsletters, online portals and messages from your child’s teacher. Make sure you know how your school shares important information and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.
How learning and progress are shared
Teachers use classroom work, observations, assessments and conversations to understand how your child is progressing. You’ll receive formal reports during the year, but you don’t have to wait for a report card to ask how your child is doing.
Parents are part of the school team
You are encouraged to ask questions, attend school meetings and speak with your child’s teacher when you need help understanding something. If language is a barrier, ask the school what interpretation or translation support is available.
Canadian schools can feel unfamiliar at first. School, Decoded can help.
Each week, I break down one part of school from a teacher’s perspective so you can better understand what’s happening , what matters and what questions to ask.
