May 4th, 2026

Registration for Before and After School Programs operated by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) for the 2026-27 school year will open on May 19, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.

If your student is currently enrolled as of May 1, 2026, in a Before and After School Programs for the 2025–2026 school year, and you register between May 19 and May 29, 2026, your registration will be considered in the priority placement.

Parents, families and caregivers will receive their registration confirmation and status during the week of June 1 to 5, 2026.

To learn more about the updated waitlist process and priority placement, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) web page.

Please note:

  • Due to an increase in demand for child care spaces, some programs may have waiting lists.
  • If your child attends a third party operated program, please confirm the registration process and timeline with your child care provider.

What’s New for the 2026-27 School Year

Based on feedback we heard from families, parents and caregivers, we are introducing several updates to improve the registration experience for Before and After School Programs.

We are partnering with a new vendor, Mekanys, to develop an online registration system for our extended day programs. Mekanys creates digital tools that help child care programs stay organized and operate more efficiently. Their system manages registration, waitlists, and accurate record-keeping to support the needs of WRDSB’s parents, families and caregivers.

Key System Improvements

  • Improved user interface and overall functionality
  • Ability to register siblings at the same time
  • Enhanced communication about space availability (text and email)
  • Continued access to both fixed part-time and full-time schedule options

We are also making changes to our registration and waitlist policies to improve service and consistency for families, parents and caregivers. One of the key changes in our updated waitlist policy is that we will now prioritize existing families and siblings. The system will register a child, or place them on the waiting list, based on the following criteria;

  • 1st priority = existing students (who are registered by May 29th 2026) in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2 (including siblings) who are currently enrolled and attending a WRDSB Extended Day Program.
  • 2nd priority = existing students (who are registered by May 29 2026) in Grade 3 to 6 (including siblings) who are enrolled and attending a WRDSB Extended Day Program.
  • 3rd priority = Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2 (including siblings) students who are either new to the program or currently on the waitlist.
  • 4th priority = Grade 3 to 6 (including siblings) students who are either new to the program or currently on the waitlist.

These updates are intended to make registration quicker and easier, support coordinated sibling registration, and reduce disruptions for students already enroled in the program.

Important Information for the 2025-26 School Year

If your child is currently enroled in a WRDSB Before & After School Program, you will still have access to your OneList profile for the rest of the 2025-26 school year.

Families will continue to have access to their OneList account to:

  • Update personal information
  • Update emergency contacts
  • Review health and safety information
  • Withdraw from the program
  • Enter schedule changes

The last day to register for Before and After School Programs for the current school year is May 29, 2026.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about programs, please contact us at care@wrdsb.ca.

For more information: 2025-2026 School Year Information – Extended Day Program.

About WRDSB Before and After School Programs

Before and After School programs are available in every elementary school for Kindergarten to Grade 6 students. WRDSB-operated programs are:

  • Led by Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs) registered with the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators
  • Guided by Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years: How Does Learning Happen?
  • Part of a broader vision for a seamless child care system
  • Licensed under the Child Care and Early Years Act
    • This means that families with eligible children can benefit from reduced fees under the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Funding plan (CWELCC)

Two fee-based programs are available:

  • Extended Day for children in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 2
  • Youth Development for children in Grades 3 to 6

The Extended Day Program is a subsidy‑eligible program, which is managed by the Region of Waterloo. If you have questions about Child Care Subsidy, please call 519‑575‑4400 or email ccs@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Learn more:

Stay Up to Date

Parents, families and caregivers may monitor the Before and After School website for further updates.