Newcomer Services

Strengthening Schools and Families

Winnipeg School Division not only recognizes the challenges our newcomer students and families may experience in attending school in a new country, but also the challenges our staff may experience in meeting the needs of our newcomer population. Over the past 30 years, our division has provided additional supports to assist students with integration and families with settlement. Our Newcomer Service team consists of a Newcomer Service Coordinator, Intercultural Support Workers, and an EAL Consultant who proactively and collaboratively foster partnerships with government and community stakeholders, settlement sector organizations and schools to ensure student academic success.

For more information regarding EAL (English as an Additional Language) programs, please contact your child’s school.

What the Intercultural Support Workers can do for STUDENTS:

• Assist with registration at the school
• Advocate on student’s behalf to the school
• Provide orientation to new school in student’s own language
• Provide referral to in-school supports: counselling, resource, tutoring, etc.
• Facilitate group discussions with students on common concerns
• Provide support for academic and/or family concerns
• Assist in conflict resolution
• Provide students with career information

What the Intercultural Support Workers can do for PARENTS:

• Assist with registration at the school
• Advocate on their behalf to the school
• Understand their concerns and cultural perspectives
• Visit parents in their home and provide service in home language
• Help them to understand their child’s progress and the school system
• Organize presentations for parent groups
• Provide referrals to school and community resources

What the Intercultural Support Workers can do for your SCHOOL:

• Assist with registration at the school
• Advocate on school’s behalf to parents
• Assist with assessments, parent-teacher conferences
• Assist with counselling and mediation (interpreter services)
• Assist in providing cultural presentations for parents, students, staff
• Support “at-risk” students
• Recruit parent volunteers
• Make home visits
• Recruit tutors for students

Possible topics for presentation to parents and staff:

• Settlement and Community Resources
• Parenting in Canada
• Parental Involvement in Education
• The Canadian School System
• Intercultural Values and Beliefs
• Cultural Awareness/Competency

Sue Hoang
Newcomer Services Coordinator
204-786-5631

Intercultural Support Workers

Chandra Gautam
École Waterford Springs
St. John’s High School

Htoo Paw
Gordon Bell High School *
General Wolfe School

Rose Kimani-Anderson
Elmwood High School*
Grant Park High School

Fatima Shire
Adult EAL
Sister MacNamara School

Warka Solomon
Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute*
Collège Churchill High School

Marni Golebioski 
Tyndall Park School*
École Secondaire Sisler High School

Halyna Sakalska
École JB Mitchell School

Nadia Ourhhi 
École Victoria-Albert School

Sue Hoang
Gordon Bell High School