Newcomer Services
January 24, 2023
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