Newcomer Reception

Canada's ethnic and cultural composition continues to change, and according to Statistics Canada, our number of immigrant and refugee, or "newcomer" families is growing.

As Winnipeg's newcomer population grows, so do the needs for programs and services to assist them. The Louis Riel School Division's innovative Newcomer Family Reception Centre provides initial reception, assessment, orientation, and information services to support the educational needs of newcomer students and their families.

The Centre also supports the development of teaching capacity throughout the Division by providing consulting services, programming guidance and professional development to school and divisional staff.

The Newcomer Family Reception Centre is the Division's most recent initiative to support its mission to foster inclusive learning environments and develop responsible global citizens. It represents a concerted effort to support the varied needs of our newcomer students and their families.

Who should come to the Newcomer Family Reception Centre:

• Families who are new to Canada, even if the first language of the home is English or if the children already speak some English.

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• Families who are new to Louis Riel School Division from another province in Canada or another school division in Manitoba, if: 
  • The first language of the home is NOT English
         AND 
  • The children have been in an English-medium school in Canada for less than four years. (This includes Canadian born students from homes in which a language other than English is used as the primary language).

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• New kindergarten registrations for families who use a language other than English as the main language of their home.

Newcomer families are encouraged to visit the Newcomer Family Reception Centre before registering their children at the community school. The intake and assessment process takes about half a day, and provides important data that greatly supports the development of appropriate learning plans for students who are new to the Division.

You can make an “intake and assessment” appointment directly with the Newcomer Family Reception Centre, or ask your community school to make one for you.

Procedure:

1. Newcomer families require appointments to access services and programs at the Newcomer Family Reception Centre. Schools receiving newcomer families may begin the registration process but should also call the Newcomer Family Reception Centre to make an appointment on the family’s behalf (257-7827 ext. 300). Please confirm an appointment time before arriving at the Newcomer Family Reception Centre. 

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2. Where possible, families are encouraged to arrive for their appointment with an interpreter and/or settlement worker. They should also bring all of their important documents (passports, immigration papers, school records, birth certificates, Manitoba Health info, etc.)

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3. In instances where newcomer families arrive at the Newcomer Family Reception Centre before registering at schools, the Newcomer Family Reception Centre will notify the school and arrange an appointment for registration at the school.
   

If you have any questions, please contact the René Deleurme Centre, 257-7827 (ext. 300).