Application Requirements & Procedures
- Overview
- Application Requirements
- Schools
- Fees
- Resource Development Office
Each student’s acceptance into a school in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and subsequent placement in the school will be determined by:
1. An assessment of the student’s educational background and present academic standing as indicated on the transcripts. All students/guardians will be advised within three weeks as to whether they have been offered a placement in a Waterloo Catholic District (WCDSB) school. Once the student is accepted by a WCDSB school, the school fees must be paid to the WCDSB Resource Development Office, 35 Weber Street West, Unit A, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 4G2 before the deadline date. After receiving the school fees payment, the WCDSB will issue an official letter of acceptance and original receipt for the payment. The official letter of acceptance is required for the student to apply for a Study Permit at the Canadian Embassy in order to study in Canada. |
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Please note: For students applying to study in Canada for the first time, their Study Permits must be obtained before entering Canada. Students who are already studying in Canada may renew their Study Permits from Citizenship & Immigration Canada from within Canada.
All students must apply for and receive a Study Permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada before leaving their home country to attend a school in Canada. Guidelines and an application form can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website, www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/student.html or at the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate in the student’s home country. Students should contact the Canadian visa office in their home country to see if they are required to fill out any additional forms or provide any additional documents.
Application Requirements
Students must submit the following to the Resource Development Office:
1. An application fee of CDN $200.00 is to be made payable to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board by certified cheque, bank draft or money order. The application fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.
2. All original transcripts or school records from the current year and the previous two years (in English). Photocopies of transcripts/certificates must be certified with an official school stamp. Failure to comply will result in a delay or return of the application package. Secondary students must have a performance grade level of 75% or B+ equivalent.
3. Completed application form.
4. Two proofs of residency of the parent or custodian in the Waterloo Region for elementary students.
5. A letter of reference from the principal of the school, which confirms that the student is in good standing and contributing positively to the betterment of the school community.
Legal Guardian Information:
1. All students under the age of 18 at the time he/she starts school is required to name a responsible person with whom he/she will live. The guardian will take responsibility for the student and will ensure that his/her accommodation and other living expenses such as food, clothing and transportation are provided. The guardian must be over 21 years of age and a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
2. All international students under the age of 18 are required to submit the following two notarized documents with their school fees payment:
a) A custodianship declaration completed by the parent in the country of origin, stating that arrangements have been made for a guardian to act in the place of the parent. This document must be notarized in the country of origin.
b) A guardianship declaration completed by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident over the age of 19 years, stating that arrangements have been made for the guardian to act in place of a parent in times of emergency, as when immediate medical or other intervention is required. This document must be notarized in Canada. Guardian Declaration Forms can be found on our website, (insert WCDSB appropriate web page address)
c) A Waterloo Region address for the family the student will be living with.
3. All elementary students MUST live with a parent or legal guardian. Their home address in the Waterloo Region and the individual student’s English-second-language requirements will determine the elementary school that the student will attend. Two proofs of residency from the parent or guardian are to be presented to the Resource Development Office with the application. Two proofs of residency must be:
a) Current Rental Lease/Purchase Agreement AND
b) One of the following: Driver’s License,
property tax bill, current hydro bill, telephone bill
for residence, cable bill, bank statement
Please note: If the guardian does not meet his/her obligations,
the Waterloo Catholic District School Board has the
right to demit the student.
Schools:
Please note: On arrival in Canada, international students at both the elementary and secondary level may NOT transfer to another school in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. In special circumstances, the Resource Development Office may consider a change of school.
Secondary schools:
Students may indicate their school preference on the application form. The Waterloo Catholic District School Board will try to accommodate the student’s preference for placement, provided that the requested school has space and an appropriate program. Appropriate programming will be confirmed once a student has participated in a thorough assessment of both transcripts and English language capacity. The Waterloo Catholic District School Board reserves the right to make the final decision regarding the student’s placement. If the student does not list any schools, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board will place the student in the most appropriate school.
Elementary schools:
Elementary school placement is limited to school availability. The Waterloo Catholic District School Board will arrange a school for the student based on the home address of their parent or custodian in the Waterloo Region and based on a thorough assessment of the student’s individual English language support needs.
School Fees
Effective September 1, 2010
Secondary Schools (Grade 9-12)
Full Year CDN $12,900 for a maximum of 8 courses
One Semester CDN $6,540 for a maximum of 4 courses
plus School Fees and Health Insurance
Elementary Schools (Grade 1 - 8)
Full Year CDN $11,900
Partial Year CDN $6,000 (January-June) plus the payment of tuition fees for the next academic year which is non-refundable.
KINDERGARTEN (Junior & Senior)
Full Year CDN$ 6,000.00 for a half-day program
- SCHOOL FEES are to be made payable to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board by certified cheque, bank draft, and money order (in Canadian currency) or through wire transfer (upon request).
- First-time registrants in September at both elementary and secondary level are required to pay fees for the full year.
- Secondary renewal students who are not graduating in the current academic year are required to pay fees for the full year.
- Secondary renewal students who are graduating in the first semester may only pay fees for the first semester.
- First-time secondary registrants for the second semester are required to pay fees for one semester.
- Uniforms and any other related school activity registration costs are additional expenses to be paid by the student at the school to be attended.
- In the event that a student does not come to Canada or decides to leave the Waterloo Catholic District School Board for personal reasons, the following refund policy will apply. All requests must be made in writing. Please attach the original letter of acceptance and the original receipt with the request (be sure to keep a copy for yourself).
For new students to Canada:
- A full refund, less the application fee ($200.00) will be issued if Citizenship and Immigration Canada does not approve a Study Permit. Students must include the original letter of rejection from the Canadian Embassy for a refund (be sure to keep a copy for yourself).
- After a Study Permit has been granted, no refund of tuition fees will be made if the student withdraws for any reason.
- Two-thirds of the tuition fee will be refunded, if the student withdraws prior to the commencement of the program and if the student has withdrawn the application for a study permit in his/her home country.
For students who are already studying in Canada:
- Two-thirds of the tuition fee will be refunded, if the student withdraws prior to the commencement of the program. There will be no refund for the academic year once the student starts classes.
- There will be no refund for the tuition fee if the student is found in violation of school regulations and asked to withdraw from the school.
- There will be no refund for the tuition fee if the student changes immigration status during the year. Students who become permanent residents of Canada (landed immigrants) after tuition fees are paid will not be eligible for a refund.
- Considerations for exceptions will be made in event of medical related reasons. An official letter of proof from a licensed physician is required.
Health Insurance
International students, are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Evidence of replacement medical coverage, is compulsory for the applicable school semester(s), and must be purchased through the Waterloo Catholic District School Board's insurance provider, Ingle International. The annual cost per student is $450. Payment can be included with tuition or upon arrival. Coverage details.
Resource Development Office - International Education Services:
In order to acquaint themselves with the city and our Canadian
customs, we advise students to arrive in the Waterloo
Region at least two weeks in advance of the start of school.
For example, students commencing school in September should
plan to arrive in mid-August. All international secondary
students entering one of the Waterloo Catholic District School
Board schools for the first time must attend the orientation
program scheduled the third week of August and/or the second
week of February.
All international students (both secondary and elementary)
will be required to report to the Resource Development
Office - International Education Services within their first
two days in Canada.
The Resource Development Office is located at:
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
35 Weber Street West, Unit A, Kitchener, Ontario
Directions: Office located between Ontario & Young Streets
Hours: Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 519-578-3660
During this visit, students must submit the following:
- A valid Study Permit.
- A valid Passport.
- Most recent Transcripts.
- Immunization documents.
- Valid health insurance coverage.
- Statutory Declaration of Guardianship.
- Catholic baptismal certificate (elementary students only)
Assessment in English Proficiency for secondary students:
Upon receiving the fee payment, the Resource Development Office will provide all secondary students with information on the above assessment. All secondary international students are required to complete this assessment before they can be enrolled at their designated school. This assessment will be completed during the orientation program the third week of August and/or second week of February.
Registration at school:
All new students will be required to register at their school one week prior to the start of school. At this time, secondary students will be able to choose their courses and be given an appropriate timetable. All new secondary students will also be asked to show their valid documents including Passport, Transcripts, Immunization Records, Study Permit and valid health coverage to the school counsellor.
