Cape Breton schools prepare to welcome Syrian refugees

Two school boards that encompass Cape Breton and part of eastern mainland Nova Scotia have a blueprint laid out for welcomingSyrian students into the school systems.

School board officials say the starting point is for families, once they arrive, to have somebreathing spaceto be a "family first"before moving on to become part of a new community in a new country.

The acting director of programs and student services for the Cape Breton-Victoria RegionalSchool Board, Cathy Viva, saidwhile families settle in, theywill receivea document from the Department of Education that explains,in Arabic,how the school system works.

There's also, she said, a Welcoming Newcomersdocument available to teachers and other members of the school board.

Another school boardofficial,Stephanie Campbell, saidalthough school-age newcomers won't be ready for the classroom right away, an idea has been put forward by the principal of the school in Marion Bridge, where a Syrian family is expected to settle.

The Syrian students "can certainly be invitedto school activities that are not academically based," she said. "So any kind offun daysor skating or any activities of that nature, they would actually be invited into, to get to know their classmates and get to know that school environment."

'Build trust with the family'

She adds the same invitation willlikely be extended to Syrian children who will attendJubilee Elementary in Sydney Mines, where another community group is sponsoring a refugee family that has not yet arrived.

In theAntigonisharea,served by the Strait Regional School Board,there are 10 recentlyarrived Syrian students who are eager to helpfellow refugees who settle in the area.

As for learning the language,Campbell saidan Englishimmersionprogram willemphasizeoral language at first, with writing skills and grammar to be taught later.

JaniceCampbell, director of success planning for the Strait board, saidthere's an equally important education track for Nova Scotia students who willbe expected to welcome the newcomers.

The school board will "make sure the students learn about the general culture of the families, and maybe the community they came from,so they have some background," she said.

Students will also consider what kind of trauma the refugees and their families have been through.

"So our students will be understanding of that."

Campbell saidfrom what she's seen in theAntigonisharea,the refugee students want to start school as soon as they can.

"Build a trust withthe family, and make sure there's trust when they're coming into our building."