With a still undetermined number of Syrian refugees to begin arriving in Windsor over the coming weeks, Greater Essex County School Board officials said plans are already in place to handle the expected wave of new students.
They say they will avoid pushing new students into schools with already established ESL programs.
“We do have sites picked out, but as we look at where they’re settling, we’re looking at opening up new sites or classrooms,” said Sharon Pyke, a superintendent with the board and the chair of the education committee overseeing the resettlement of the new students.
“It depends on the numbers, where they’re settling and how best we can serve them.”
The school board, along with its community partners, held a press conference Thursday at the New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence to outline the strategies for handling the new families.
Pyke said the boards will be offering workshops beginning next month for teaching staff and other school officials to help them support students.
“We’re hearing about anxiety coming in, depression and post-traumatic distress syndrome,” Pyke said.
“We’re not worried about the diagnosis, we want to know what the behaviour looks like in the classroom and how can we support them.”
Reem Mourad, centre, and her husband Omar Farzat, along with their children Raida Farzat, left, Hamza Farzat and Fatema Farzat, right, have been in Canada for one year and they received educational support from the Newcomer Welcome Centre of the Greater Essex County District School Board located on Ouellette Avenue. Newcomer Reception Centre held a press conference Thursday Dec. 17, 2015, to acknowledge the vital work they do for hundreds of clients each year.
Local officials have already compiled lists of people that can be hired with the appropriate skills needed to aid newcomers.
Last year over 635 immigrant students went through an assessment process to determine their language skills and education level.
After completing the assessment, students can be placed in a school in as little as a week. Each student will be matched up with a student that speaks their home language to help ease their transition into the classroom, Pyke said.
“Regardless of whether they’re in Grade 8, Grade 2 or Grade 11 we have a program tailored to them and their language level.”
Syrian native Shahed Al Haik, who came to Windsor this past February with her family after spending two years in Jordan, said the various support programs have helped her settle into her adopted home.
“My life is stable now,” said Al Haik through an interpreter.
Al Haik, a Grade 12 student at Westview Freedom Academy, has been impressed by how supportive Windsorites have been.
“I have lots of friends,” said Al Haik, who wants to be a pharmacist.
“Canadians seem to love newcomers and they love to help them, which is so important.”
Ina Berard, special assignment teacher with Greater Essex County School Board, speaks at Newcomer Reception Centre during an event to outline their role. past and present, of educational support for new Canadian families arriving. Dr. Sharon Pyke, behind, and other officials participated in the session Dec. 17, 2015.
Al Haik’s older brother Mohamad admits he’s had a tougher time settling.
“Because I’m 23, it’s been more difficult for me,” said Mohamad Al Haik, who was studying dentistry at Damascus University when his family left for Jordan.
“Life has been difficult. I think it’ll be better when I start (ESL classes) at St. Clair (College) in January.
“I’m happy because my family is happy. Many people help us and I feel safe in Canada.”
Pyke said local officials still don’t know when and how many refugees are coming, but there is no limit to how many students they could handle.
“I think the biggest challenge right now is not knowing how many and when they’re coming,” Pyke said. “The unknown is in making sure we have enough class placements and enough services in place for the number of people that are coming.”
