Guest post by Jane Eaton Hamilton. Sarah rattles the chain link fence and breaking icicles shatter like bells. I look back at Joy in the driver’s seat of the Micra, drumming mittened fingers on the steering wheel while the car puffs determined smoke rings into a swirl of snow. This is totally not going to work.

The Vancouver School Board has changed its application process. Changes include an extended application period – for the 2010/2011 school year as early as November 1, 2009 and applies to all Kindergarten programs, including regular, English, French Immersion, Montessori and Fine Arts. Students living in the schools catchment will be given priority and first consideration over those who apply later. If there are any additional spots available, a lottery will be held.

As always, the student will need to turn 5 years of age before the end of 2010 – that is, they must be born in 2005. Families may defer enrollment until the next school year.

You can register your child for Kindergarten at your neighbourhood catchment school if your child was born in Canada and speaks English at home.

Please refer to the FAQ on the Vancouver School Board’s web site for more information.

“I started it for selfish reasons… I needed a babysitter!” says Amy van Weelderen, founder of Lullaby League, a service that connects busy families with high-quality babysitters in a way similar to speed dating. ” Amy’s only sitter was out of town during her wedding anniversary. She and her husband had lovely romatic dinner – with 5-year-old son Jasper in tow. Although the evening was great, “I knew then and there that I needed help with childcare and Lullaby League was born!”