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ADMISSIONS PROCESS

The Admissions Office seeks students who will contribute to the school and who will also be able to thrive in our program. The Director of Admissions and the members of the admissions committee who interview the candidate and his parents place equal weight on the candidate’s previous school record, the impression a candidate projects in the interview, and the results of the admissions entrance tests.
 
Please contact the Admissions Office for more information: Telephone: 514.931.2775 or email warmuthm@selwyn.ca

Families from around the world make up the diverse community at Selwyn House School, and we welcome applications from international students. BEFORE APPLYING TO THE SCHOOL, PLEASE READ THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SECTION.
 

Step 1 - Apply Online

Applications to Selwyn House School are made through our online application process. In order to access the application, you must first complete this form to create an account. Once our team has reviewed your submission, you will receive a login and password. You will then be able to complete the online application.

Step 2 - Complete Checklist Items

Once your online application has been submitted, please click on your son's online file to complete the checklist items.

Please upload the following documents to your son's file:
  • A copy of your son’s most recent report card and a copy of his final June report card for the last academic school year;
  • A one-paragraph statement explaining why you think Selwyn House School would be a good choice for your son;
  • A true, certified copy (signed by a legal authority) of your son’s birth certificate, showing the full names of both parents (this must be in either English or French). If a translated document is submitted, a copy of the original document must be provided as well;
  • A recent photograph of your son;
  • A copy of your son’s Déclaration d’admissibilité à l’enseignement en anglais as issued by the Quebec government, if you have it (please click here for information about eligibility to attend English school in Quebec);
  • If your child has an pre-existing conditions, has had any psychological and psychiatric evaluations, or has an individual education program (I.E.P.), please include a copy of the results or recommendations.

Candidates applying for the 2020-21 school year must pay the $50 CAD application fee by credit card. Candidates applying for the 2019-20 school year should contact the Admissions Office for further instructions regarding payment of the application fee.


Step 3 - Confidential School Report form

Download and sign the appropriate Confidential School Report form and give it to the Principal or homeroom teacher of your son’s current school.Upon completion, this form should be e-mailed directly from the applicant’s school to the Selwyn House School Admissions Office. Please use the form that corresponds to your son’s requested grade of entry. Confidential School Report forms are available for students entering Kindergarten to Grade 2, or Grades 3 to 11.

Step 4 - Follow-up by Admissions Office

As soon as your son’s online application is complete, the Admissions Office will contact you regarding school visits and entrance tests.

Step 5 - Grade 7 Applicants Only

Selwyn House School participates in the Grade 7 QAIS common entrance test with six other QAIS independent schools. In addition to completing the application process, Grade 7 applicants must also register online for the Common Admission Test (CAT), which is held on a monthly basis. To register, please click on this link.

Applicants pay the $90 exam registration fee by credit card on the Brisson Legris website.

This entrance exam requires no preparation such as extra tutoring or a preparation course. All the content is based on elementary curriculum until the end of Grade 5.

List of 1 items.

  • Common Admissions Test Preparatory Courses: The Perspective of QAIS Schools

    Transitioning from elementary to secondary school is a significant milestone for students. It is one that presents unique opportunities but, we recognize, may also come with a certain degree of stress and anxiety, beginning with the admissions process. As our focus is student well-being, our job is to facilitate this process, mitigate those stressful factors and focus on helping parents find the school that best responds to the individual needs of their children.
    The Common Admissions Test (CAT) is required for admission to Grade 7 in certain QAIS schools, and there are many intensive preparatory courses that are offered to students. It is our view, that these courses not only escalate stress levels, but also prove to be of little help and are costly.
    We believe in the benefits of a well-rounded education and our holistic admissions process reflects this philosophy. For this reason, there are a number of considerations that factor into our decision-making process that extend beyond standardized test results, including report cards, a written statement from the student, as well as a family meeting.

Step 6 - Decision

Once the Admissions process is complete, the Director of Admissions will contact each family with the recommendations of the Admissions Committee.



INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

 
Selwyn House School welcomes applications from international students. Before applying, families are asked to consider the following information.


Kindergarten to Grade 3: 75% French Immersion/25% English

As there are no formal ESL classes at the school, applicants must have some knowledge of either English or French in order to experience success in the program. If enrolled, the school requires international students to pay additional fees for language instruction.


Grades 4 to 6: 50% French/50% English

As there are no formal ESL classes at the school, applicants must be proficient in either English or French in order to cope with the program. An evaluation of a candidate’s language skills will be made by reviewing current report cards and a Confidential School Report in addition to a Skype or in-person interview. Students who are not fluent in either language are encouraged to develop their language skills before applying to the school.


Grades 7 and 8

As the Middle School provides an enriched curriculum and no formal ESL classes, applicants must be proficient in English in order to experience success. An evaluation of a candidate’s language skills will be made by reviewing current report cards and a Confidential School Report in addition to a Skype or in-person interview. Students who are not fluent in English are encouraged to develop their language skills before applying to the school.

International students who apply at this level must also have a Quebec-government issued Certificate of Eligibility for English Language Education to enroll at the school. Students with a valid Canadian study permit can apply for this certificate through Selwyn House School upon enrollment. Please note that only foreign students who are here temporarily (with or without their parents) can receive an eligibility certificate. The children of parents who are already, or have applied to be, Canadian permanent residents cannot receive a Certificate of Eligibility, and therefore cannot apply to the school. For more information on English-language eligibility, please see English Language Eligibility.

Foreign students who live in Canada with a guardian or with parents who do not possess their own work or study visa will also be charged an additional $4,500/year international student fee.


Grades 9 to 11

As the Senior School provides an enriched curriculum and formal ESL classes, applicants must be proficient in English in order to experience success. An evaluation of a candidate’s language skills will be made by reviewing current report cards and a Confidential School Report in addition to a Skype or in-person interview. Students who are not fluent in English are encouraged to develop their language skills before applying to the school.

In addition, the scheduling of Quebec-government exams requires that international students be no older than 14 years old upon application and must apply directly into Grade 9. Applicants from outside Quebec cannot apply for entry into Grades 10 or 11.

International students who apply at this level must also have a Quebec-government issued Certificate of Eligibility for English Language Education to enroll at the school. Students with a valid Canadian study permit can apply for this certificate through Selwyn House School upon enrollment. Please note that only foreign students who are here temporarily (with or without their parents) can receive an eligibility certificate. The children of parents who are already, or have applied to be, Canadian permanent residents cannot receive a Certificate of Eligibility, and therefore cannot apply to the school. For more information on English-language eligibility, please see English Language Eligibility.

Foreign students who live in Canada with a guardian or with parents who do not possess their own work or study visa will also be charged an additional $4,500/year international student fee.

Entrance Exams

Kindergarten: Friday, November 22
Grade 1: Tuesday, January 21 
Grade 2: Thursday, January 23
Grade 3: Tuesday, December 3 
Grade 4: Thursday, December 5
Grade 5: Tuesday, November 5 
Grade 6: Thursday, November 7

Grade 7 QAIS Common Admission Test (CAT)
One weekend per month: November to June 

Grade 8-11 Candidates will be contacted directly regarding entrance exams.


Application Deadline

Deadline for Kindergarten to Grade 7 Applications: October 15, 2019

Selwyn House School

95, chemin de la Côte-Saint-Antoine
Westmount (Québec)
H3Y 2H8
514-931-9481