Left to right: Honourable Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk - Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement Services & Ukrainian Evacuees, Angela Eadie-Gyori - Principal of Ecole Steffie Woima Elementary School, Karyn Barber - Associate Superintendent System Services. (Photo supplied by Chinook's Edge School Division)

By rdnewsNOW staff

awarded certificate

École Steffie Woima Elementary School honoured for support of Ukrainian evacuees

Oct 22, 2024 | 12:28 PM

A class with Grade 1 and 2 students at École Steffie Woima Elementary School in Sylvan Lake has been honoured for supporting Ukrainian evacuees.

Last week Alberta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement Services & Ukrainian Evacuees, the Honourable Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk visited Chinook’s Edge and was impressed by the class.

Two students in the class have recently come to Canada after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Armstrong-Homeniuk presented the school with a certificate for helping Ukrainians in a time of need.

“I wanted to recognize this school and the division for going above and beyond,” she said in a media release.

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More specifically, students at the elementary school have been inclusive while the staff have worked to find translation to make sure families can work with staff to help their children.

In addition, certain staff members worked one-on-one with students to make sure they could learn to read. They’re now reading at grade level.

“I am visiting communities in Alberta to see how Ukrainian newcomers are doing. It’s my job to make sure their needs are met.” she said to the class.

“I have heard that you are welcoming to students who are new in your school. Thank you for being good friends.”

Armstrong-Homeniuk plans to visit more communities in the future to find out what is and isn’t working in the provinces support for newly arrived Ukrainian families.

In total, Alberta is home to over 68,000 evacuees from Ukraine and in Chinook’s Edge School Division there are over 20 students.

“Thank you to the Parliamentary Secretary for visiting us,” said principal of École Steffie Woima Elementary School, Angela Eadie-Gyori.

“We share your commitment to ensuring our new students are welcomed here.”