NEWS RELEASE
IMMIGRANT SERVICES GUELPH WELLINGTON
*************************
Immigrant Services Guelph Wellington is kicking off the school year with its expanded Settlement Workers in Schools program (SWIS). The program will help newcomer students with a successful start to the new school year.
The NOW (newcomer orientation week) will take place at John F. Ross on Aug. 30 and Lady of Lourdes on Aug. 31. While support from the SWIS program is available for all schools within the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic District School Board the following schools are considered the target schools for 2018 – 2019:
UGDSB
Elementary:
Willow Road Public School
Paisley Road Public School
Brant Ave Public School
Westminster Woods Public School
Mitchell Woods Public School
Secondary:
John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute
Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute
WCDSB
Elementary:
St. Joseph’s Catholic School
St. Peter Catholic School
Holy Rosary Catholic School
Holy Trinity
Sacred Heart
Secondary:
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School
Bishop Macdonell Catholic (secondary)
At the orientation sessions, SWIS workers and youth peer leaders have organized activities to help newcomers learn how to:
- navigate around the school
- learn school routines
- connect with peer leaders; make friends and access resources in the school and the wider community.
Learning about the Canadian education system is part of the settlement process, and SWIS workers help families to better understand what is happening in their schools and the community at large. SWIS workers facilitate access to services and resources where there are barriers due to language, gender, age, culture, and race. They also promote cultural diversity and make the bridge between school staff and newcomer families.
SWIS programs are active in regions across Ontario, with approximately 250 settlement workers from 22 settlement agencies working in schools across 22 school boards.
Join us at John F. Ross CVI on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. or at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. to learn more about how ISGW is helping newcomer students succeed.
*************************
