Two staff for the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program detailed how they are able to assist immigrants and other newcomers to be settled into a new school and community, in a presentation to the Weyburn Rotary Club on Thursday.
Mikayla Spencer is the new SWIS worker for Weyburn and area, while Amiee Haralson is based out of Estevan, and they receive referrals from school staff for new families and students.
Haralson noted the SWIS program began in April of last year, and outlined some of the activities the Estevan office has done with a view to having similar activities for those in the Weyburn area.
Some of the activities have included learn-to-curl and attending local hockey games, for which both the Weyburn Red Wings and Estevan Bruins have provided free tickets for newcomers and their families to use.
Haralson noted she was an immigrant from the Philippines three years ago, and knows how important activities like these are to introduce a newcomer to Canada and Canadian culture. She added it’s also important for these newcomers and their children to not just be connected with their laptops, but to connect with their new communities.
Spencer said she’s mainly worked with Grades 10-12 students in the ELA group at the Weyburn Comp, and they had an opportunity to go skating with players from the Red Wings along with the free game tickets, and for many of the immigrants, it was their first time on an ice surface, or to be skating on one.
She said there was also a family culture night at St. Michael School that was very well-attended, with games and activities for children, and this was a great way for the newcomers to meet local residents as well as to have some fun together.
“What I’m looking forward to doing are swimming lessons for kids and their parents this summer,” said Spencer, adding there is also a peer leadership group at the schools where they are developing leadership skills.
In addition to Weyburn, she has also been working with newcomers in outlying towns, such as Ogema, Pangman and Stoughton.
Haralson said they have around 150 students in the SWIS program currently, but was unable to give an idea how many of those are in Weyburn. She noted that the Southeast Cornerstone School Division is easy to deal with, and said, “The more people know about us, the more they’ll call us.”
