The school's temporary, offsite office is open to support families. The phone number is 613-424-3958, and the email address is easturbancommunityes@ocdsb.ca.

Information, construction updates, and news from the principal will be shared on the East Urban Community Elementary School Capital Projects webpage.

The principal for the new East Urban Community Elementary School is Aaron Hawley.

At this time, the school is scheduled to open in September 2026. The OCDSB does not expect any delays in the school's opening. Should a delay occur, the OCDSB will provide clear communications to students and parents.

Following an initial public suggestion phase, a diverse working group of stakeholders will review submissions and develop a shortlist for further community feedback. The final recommendation will be submitted for approval in Spring 2026. Learn more about the naming process.

The Ottawa-Student Transportation Authority finalizes bell times after the boundary and grade structure are approved. The OCDSB will share this information with the community.

The new school will have opportunities for extracurricular activities. The establishment of sports and clubs will be driven by the interests of students and educators.

Once the school council has been formed, we will assess whether the school community wants a hot-lunch program and how it would be established.

We believe in a strong partnership between school and home. An active role in your child’s education is vital. There are many ways for you to be involved and support your child’s education, including:

• Attending parent/caregiver-teacher conferences
• Volunteering
• Joining or attending the School Council
• Participating in school events
• Staying informed through school communications
• Contacting staff

School councils meet for the first time each September to hold elections and set the plans for the upcoming school year. In the spring, we will reach out to the community to form a transition team which will support the formation of our new school council.

The presence of Emily Carr Middle School (grades 6–8) in close proximity to the new school site limits the grade configuration. To ensure balanced enrollment across the region, the new school will serve as a feeder to existing middle school programs.

There will be a one-time enrolment option for families at Convent Glen, Dunning-Foubert, or Henry Larsen. Younger school-aged siblings who would be redirected to the new school can choose to remain at their current school to stay with an older sibling. Eligible families will receive a letter from their school with more information about this process.

The District will provide transportation to the original school for up to three school years (until the end of the school year in June 2029) for eligible students. After this, families must provide their own transportation or move the younger child to the new East Urban Community school.

Any other student wishing to attend a school outside their new boundary must apply through the OCDSB Cross-Boundary Transfer process. These approvals are subject to available space at the requested school.

Staff conducted a formal review involving two Working Group meetings, a Public Consultation Meeting, and an online consultation on Engage OCDSB. The boundaries were designed to establish a local school presence while specifically addressing overcrowding at Dunning-Foubert (reducing it from 161% to 114% capacity) and Glen Ogilvie (reducing it from 94% to 55% capacity).

To register your child at their designated school, follow these steps:

1) Find your designated school: Use the School Locator on the OCDSB website to find your child's designated school.

2) Register online: Visit ocdsb.ca/register, click on “Kindergarten,” and follow the steps outlined on the page to register your child at their designated school.

3) Submit documents: Once you submit the registration, you will receive a separate email where you will submit your supporting documentation to a secure Board repository. You will receive confirmation messages by email to the address you provide. If you do not receive the link, please check your spam/junk mail folder.

Your application and documents will be reviewed by the school. If you have any questions, please reach out to the school directly for assistance. If there are any questions or concerns from the school, they will reach out to you.

Contact our Admissions team at boundaries@ocdsb.ca or call 613-596-8731. For families new to Canada, please contact our Family Reception Center at familyreceptioncentre@ocdsb.ca or call 613-239-2416.

Where feasible, staff will review opportunities to keep siblings together and to limit the number of school changes students will undergo. Unique personal situations that affect school changes are reviewed through student transfer applications.

Plans are currently underway to ensure a smooth transition between schools. We will work with school teams and school councils, engage with the community, and establish a transition team to refine our plans. More details will be shared with the community throughout the process.

The OCDSB does not have any immediate plans to review the other elementary/secondary school boundaries in this area at this time.

Yes, the new school will have HVAC for students and staff.

At this time, the new school is proposed to have the following outdoor spaces:

• Sports field
• Play field
• Outdoor classroom
• Kindergarten play structure
• 2 basketball courts
• 1 triple hoop ball structure

Please note that the type of outdoor spaces may change during construction.

A dedicated toddler and preschool child care centre is planned for the site. However, construction of this space will occur after the main school building is completed. As a result, the toddler and preschool child care centre is not expected to open until 2027.

The new school will have resources set up for the new students.

All of our Kindergarten classes incorporate 50% French instruction and 50% English instruction. Almost all children in our Kindergarten classes are learning one or two new languages. Our program is designed to support language learning, and your child’s Kindergarten teacher can speak with you about the program and how you can support at home.

We will offer a Kindergarten open house for the new school in the spring. You can also visit the OCDSB’s Kindergarten webpage and attend the Kindergarten information sessions in January and February at your designated school to learn more.

Full-day kindergarten classes have an average of 26 students. Classes of 16 or more students require an Early Childhood Educator (ECE) in addition to a teacher.

Extended Day Programs (EDP) provide your child with opportunities to participate in activities that complement the regular school day.

The OCDSB operates the EDP for all children from Kindergarten to Grade 6 registered in their designated OCDSB school, where there is sufficient interest within the school community. EDPs are run either by the OCDSB or by a third-party provider in partnership with the OCDSB. Registration for EDP is a separate process from Kindergarten. The EDP is anticipated to be operational by the start of the school year.

Families will be able to add their child’s name to the City of Ottawa Child Care Registry waitlist approximately 90 days prior to the expected opening, and registration for the OCDSB-operated EDP is expected to officially commence in the spring. Registration for EDP is a separate process from school registration.

For more information about OCDSB EDP, visit ocdsb.ca/EDP.

The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) provides school bus transportation across the OCDSB. School bus transportation and eligibility are under the jurisdiction of OSTA. For more information, visit the OSTA website (ottawaschoolbus.ca). More information about school buses for this new school will be available in mid-August.

Student safety is a top priority. Although traffic control is outside our direct control, the OCDSB meets regularly with the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) to outline student safety concerns.

The OCDSB has developed a common list of recommended personal-use items for students. This list of supplies is strictly voluntary.

All Engage OCDSB webpages can be automatically translated into 15 languages. To translate this FAQ or other content, please use the language dropdown at the top of this page.