Schools out for summer but that does not mean the fun has stopped for the Settlement Workers In Schools.
New settlement workers, Tracy McRae and Odessa Sherbaniuk, have been having plenty of fun with the newcomer kids with trips to Western Development Museum, Leroy Leisureland, Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Stoney Lake Bible Camp, and Pike Lake.
Sherbaniuk says that they try to have a little bit of everything available for the kids, whether it be educational or just a fun trip.
“Some of the things had a cultural component to learning about Canadian and indigenous culture.”
The trip to Pike Lake was an overnight trip for girls. Along with taking in Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and other culture experiences, they also got to learn about camping. Another important aspect of this trip was the chance to talk about problems that they may be going through as girls in a new country.
“There was talking about issues and challenges specific to that group in an environment where they might feel more comfortable,” says Sherbaniuk. “This was a place you could have conversations and ask those questions.”
The kids have been very receptive to the events the workers have planned with all trips being full and the kids being very enthusiastic, says Sherbaniuk.
The trips have given the kids plenty of opportunities to learn about Saskatchewan and Humboldt, make new friends, and have social interaction during the summer months without school.
The programs have also been great for McRae and Sherbaniuk themselves who have only been working with the Newcomers Centre for a short time, McRae a month and Sherbaniuk two week.
They will be going into school to help kids and their families navigate a system that could be entirely new to them and are working on getting to know the kids and families they will be helping.
New families do not always know what is available to them as well so when they go and use the services, like the Spray Park, on an outing with the Newcomer Centre, they know that it is there for them to use.
“It’s important for people to feel welcome and feel like they’re part of the community.”
McRae and Sherbaniuk will also be doing a back to school orientation for new families who are just coming into the Saskatchewan school system for the first time on Aug. 30 but they are always available if anyone else has questions.
