A pilot program created in the fall to assist immigrant families adjust to their new life in Canada by having settlement workers placed in area schools is set to expand in the new school year.
The Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program is operated by Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington. The program aims to provide settlement support to newcomer families in one-on-one and group settings.
Currently, the program employs two settlement workers, supporting families in six Guelph schools, but Settlement Services supervisor Dayami Ramirez said next school year the program will expand to service 18 schools in Guelph and Wellington County.
As part of the pilot project, started in September, two school settlement workers were hired full-time — one for elementary schools and another for high schools.
Anshu Khurana is the school settlement worker assigned to assist families with children enrolled in elementary school. She divides her time between Willow Road Public School, Paisley Road Public School, St. Joseph’s Catholic School and St. Peter Catholic School.
A second school settlement worker supports families with children enrolled in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School and John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute.
The program flips the traditional model of settling families by initiating contact through the children of the family.
School settlement workers not only assist children in adjusting to their new school in Canada, but can also help families navigate a number of other systems — finding a doctor or dentist or literacy programs, among others.
The SWIS program helps alleviate some of the pressures associated with immigrating to Canada by showing newcomer parents there is support, said Ramirez.
“The anxiety of having your child go through the school system is totally different when you know there is support to help you understand, to ask questions and not to be judged,” said Ramirez.
The SWIS program offers workshops intended for newcomer families, said Khurana — from helping parents to understand issues like bullying and internet safety to assisting them in choosing high school courses or reading report cards.
Some newcomer parents are offered computer classes, to increase their technical literacy, but also to help them understand if their children are doing their homework correctly.
Cultural presentations often accompany the sessions. In an upcoming session at Paisley Road Public School, Khurana is asking families to each bring what she calls a ‘cultural casserole’.
“It could be anything. Just a little thing to share,” she said.
Immigrant families can sometimes be hesitant in coming into the schools, said Khurana, often because of the language barrier.
She found that many parents from Nepal in the Paisley Road area were especially hesitant in coming, but Khurana thinks she has a solution.
“We decided we will make chai tea, because that is what they serve when they have guests over,” she said.
In the fall, two additional full time SWIS workers will be added to support Guelph schools and a part-time SWIS worker will work in Wellington County schools. In total, 18 schools in Guelph and Wellington will be serviced next school year.
Ramirez believes it is important for students and families to adapt to life in Canada, while maintaining the culture of their home country.
“As we grow into multiculturalism, it’s a two-way street. Everyone benefits — it’s a win-win, said Ramirez. “It’s a blessing to be in Canada, for sure.”
