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Colleen French [ Profil ] |
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article on Newcomer Orientation Week
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Sep 1st, 2009 - 08:22:13 |
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I thought that this article might interest some people:
Schools roll out welcome mat to new immigrants
By Rita Poliakov, The Windsor Star
August 31, 2009
http://www.windsorstar.com/Schools+roll+welcome+immigrants/1948508/story.html
Entering a Canadian high school as a recent immigrant can be like
entering another dimension.
The halls are lined with lockers, students move from room to room,
bullies lie in wait and everyone speaks English.
For Jasmine Pang, who moved to Windsor from China this year, high school
can be nerve-wracking.
Youre in a new situation, everything is new, said Pang, who will be
entering Grade 12 at Forster high school. You should restart.
Pang is one of 20 to 30 newcomers who are participating in the Newcomer
Orientation Week. The four-day program, which started on Monday, is
being run at Forster and Catholic Central high school for the second year.
N.O.W., which is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, helps
newcomers familiarize themselves with their school, their peers and
Canadian customs through group discussions, skits and videos.
For Elham Awad, a settlement worker involved in the program, N.O.W. is
essential for newcomers.
When they start the school they have friends, they get to know the
school system, she said. Its so different, rules and policies, its
not that easy.
Many of the participants have never used a locker before, Awad, who
immigrated from Egypt, said.
We dont have such things back home, she said. Theres no lockers,
they bring purses and coats into class.
The idea of stuffing books into a locker between classes can be
intimidating.
Theres not enough time in between classes, they have to be fast, Awad
said.
N.O.W.s orientation, which includes a scavenger hunt through the
school, uses peer leaders that new students can come to throughout the
year. Hamzeh Alafyouni, a Grade 12 student who immigrated from Jordan a
few years ago, knows how newcomers feel.
I just want to help people, I experienced what they experienced the
first day of school, he said.
In Jordan, Alafyouni stayed in one class all day, which isnt the case
in Canada. But that wasnt the biggest change Alafyouni went through.
The big difference was the language. In our country, we cant use
English. If you talk English in class, they just laugh at you, he said.
Many of the newcomers are coming to Forster for its ESL program. Ali
Elwealy, who immigrated from Iraq two years ago and is a N.O.W.
participant, is eager to improve his English.
Just I want to learn more English, more writing, more reading, said
Elwealy, who will be going into Grade 9.
The program also helps students learn how to handle bullies and, most
importantly, how to make friends.
I was nervous when I came first, but now now, Elwealy said, adding
that hes met new people. I know them now.
© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star
--
Colleen French
Communication and Networking Coordinator / Coordinatrice de la communication et du réseautage
Canadian Council for Refugees / Conseil canadien pour les réfugiés
6839A Drolet #302, Montréal QC, H2S 2T1
Tel : (514) 277-7223, extension / poste 1
Fax / Téléc. : (514) 277-1447
Email / Courriel : cfrench (at) ccrweb.ca
Website / Site web : www.ccrweb.ca
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