Central Alberta school divisions welcome and plan for Ukrainian students

He says the division is first informed of a new student, potentially by a community member or a local church, and provided with the necessary details such as age, grade level, and other concerns.

In partnership with the Lacombe Ukrainian Support Group, De Ruyck says they ensure the student is helped inside and outside the school by providing school supplies, meeting with the family and teachers, giving a tour of the school, and language assessments.

De Ruyck says the schools’ on-hand social workers meet the students during a comprehensive registration process to see how they can support them with emotional and social needs as well as traumas experienced.

“It’s also been great to see the cooperation between the various organizations,” De Ruyck says. “It’s really just been a spirit of wanting to work together to do all we can to support these families and these students.”

Stating the new students have been doing well so far, De Ruyck says one aspect aiding in the transition is the local connection that some of the students already have in the community such as a friend or family member.

RED DEER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Red Deer Public Schools says as they’ve had multiple international students enroll in their school over the years, and have a robust intake program in place for refugees and non-refugees.

“It’s a real benefit to all the students to welcome students from other countries and we learn a lot from each other. It’s been my experience that it’s much more of a positive experience than not,” said Della Ruston, Associate Superintendent of Learning Services.

She notes three schools with specialized English language learning: Fairview Elementary School, Central Middle School, and Lindsay Thurber High School. After a thorough language assessment, Ruston says a few staff members in the division also speak Ukrainian to help with translations.

For the four Ukrainian students registered so far, Ruston says the division’s community liaisons and counsellors will be helping students, the families and the school in collaborating together to address any additional needs outside the classroom.

RED DEER CATHOLIC REGIONAL SCHOOLS

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) Board of Trustees updated at their April 26 meeting that the division had enrolled six new students from Ukraine across their schools.

The division said in their Plan for Welcoming Ukrainian Children and Families report, prepared by Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan, that schools with Student Ambassador Programs will bring students and their families on school tours. Ukrainian students will also be paired with mentors who speak the same or similar language.

They also say that school councils have been fundraising for school supplies, clothing, and other necessities for the new students.

“There are also unique teaching and learning considerations when designing instruction for students fleeing conflict with disrupted learning,” RDCRS said in statement. Some of those being considered in the report were personalized learning plans for each student, condensed curriculum to help students catch up to their grade level, use of digital resources, and more.”

All three school divisions also said they have been working with the CARE for Newcomers organization in learning classroom strategies for language acquisition and supporting of families.

CHINOOK’S EDGE SCHOOL DIVISION

Chinook’s Edge School Division says that while no specific plans are in place for new students coming from Ukraine, they have already welcomed 10 students into their schools.

Superintendent Kurt Sacher says the division places full trust in their teachers who have always been flexible and accommodating to students’ unique needs.

“Their first priority is going to be to establish a relationship and make sure the student feels that it’s a warm and welcoming environment in the classroom and in the school,” he said. “And they’ll just move forward with the child and their family and make them feel part of the school like they would any other student that might happen to arrive at a different time in the year.”

He says each school has access to family-school wellness workers and, if in need of further services, would be guided to Alberta Health as well.

For Ukrainians settling in the Red Deer area, visit the following groups for more information:

Central Alberta Ukrainian Association
The Ukrainian Displaced Persons Planning Committee for Central Alberta led by St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church
CARE for Newcomers
Catholic Social Services
Government of Alberta

by Alessia Proietti

Central Alberta school divisions welcome and plan for Ukrainian students

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