February is often thought of as a month of love and caring as we celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. This month, we wanted to share how we’ve been able to welcome new refugee students into our school district with open arms.
• The first step for students born outside of Canada is to visit our St. John Reception Centre. The centre helps students get registered in our schools and also addresses any needs or concerns the family may have.
• A teacher and an interpreter (if necessary) work with the family to review their documents and understand the skill-set the students have. Students are assessed on their language abilities (if necessary); this information is then passed on to the student’s teacher so they are aware of how much support will be needed.
• The parents have the opportunity to speak with an in-school settlement worker who will connect them to information on employment, financial supports, recreation, language classes, housing and medical needs.
• If needed, psychological supports are also available at the centre. Refugee students who have dealt with trauma can be connected to mental health professionals. A multicultural team is also on-site to help parents learn more about our school system and culture.
• Once the student is placed in a classroom, schools have specific plans in place to welcome and support new students. The school community is encouraged to learn about the student and their culture, including learning new words in the student’s language.
This holistic approach not only takes into account the student’s needs, but also the entire family’s needs, which helps ease their transition. Of course, there are still challenges for our refugee families. As trustees, we will continue to advocate to provide for the needs of all our students, not just Syrian refugees, but also all refugees and any students new to our country.
We are always working to address the diversity of needs within our district. Our goal is to ensure that our students have their social, emotional and physical needs met to ensure they are healthy, productive and successful learners. Thank you to our schools and communities for helping us with that goal and for welcoming our new students with care and respect.
