During the week leading up to the new school year, dozens of newcomers and immigrant parents and students from countries around the world met at Tupper Secondary to get a better understanding of Canada's education system, and ease their transition into Vancouver schools.

In addition to the workshops and tours, the VSB Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Program and Engaged Immigrant Youth Program (EIYP) held a Community Resource Fair to connect newcomers with dozens of service providers in the area including immigrant-serving agencies, non-profits and government agencies. Language supports were in place for people from all over the globe with volunteers on hand who could speak everything from Arabic to Cantonese, Korean to Punjabi.

 

Staff say connecting parents and students with the wide range of community services available in Vancouver is critical to ensuring a successful transition and an important start to the school year. As well students had opportunities to make new friends and connections with other newcomers. 

This year's Newcomer Orientation and Welcome to BC (NOW BC) 2015 was a great success with over 320 newcomers in attendance and 48 community agencies/services participated in the community resource fair event. The week also included a wide range of workshops on classroom expectations and a forum for parents and students to learn all the basics of the VSB system, and youth were engaged in youth-focused social programs and activities.

 

Helpful Links

SWIS WORKERS
/nwc/page/11352/contact-us

District Reception and Placement Centre (DRPC) 
go.vsb.bc.ca/schools/drpc

EIYP
https://www.vsb.bc.ca/engaged-immigrant-youth

Support of ELL Students
https://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/supporting-ell-students