Page 20 - UnitedMagazine2016 - rev
P. 20
ted
NEWCOMERS FLOCK TO
NEW AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Youth First After-School Program Participants Rami Alsharak, Yuki Deng, Leiya Ma, Szaky Wu, Cassandre Dugazon, Roberto Estimable,
and Shewit Tsegay attend a Holiday banquet put on by Catholic Central High School.
When school administrators lab, attend workshops on future Although the discussions about
noticed dozens of kids hanging employment and educational being a newcomer and adjusting
around for hours after school opportunities, and in some cases, to life in Canada are more
at Catholic Central High share some pretty astounding informal, Heather says the after
School in Windsor, they knew stories of life in a much less school get-togethers are helping
that something was needed to peaceful homeland. Students kids share some painful and
channel kids’ energies. It’s not from Syria, for example, enrolled scary life experiences, and realize
that these students were causing in the program as recently as that they’re not alone in their
trouble - it’s just that they had September. challenges adjusting to life in a
nowhere else to go. new country. Participants learn
Heather Dupuis, the Youth about the different languages and
Catholic Central – known to First Program Coordinator, cultures of fellow students, and
be rich when it comes to the says that students struggling put together fun social events.
ethnic diversity of its students – academically because of
is home to many of the region’s language barriers often say ‘they Dupuis says that sometimes
newcomers and refugees. In don’t feel smart anymore’. But the program shares space with
a collaboration between the that’s something she’s working kids attending detention who,
Windsor-Essex Catholic District hard to change. Thanks to the after watching what’s happening,
School Board, and Housing international environment at ask her, “How can I get involved
Information Services, and with the school, there are students in the program?”And student
the support of United Way, a who speak other languages participants are telling their
new After-School Program was to help tutor those who are friends about the program too,
“born” in 2015. struggling. And it’s working – and how it’s helping them – thus
student participants’ grades are the bursting enrollment.
The Youth First After-School improving, says Dupuis.
Program helps students adjust In the meantime, Dupuis
to social life in a Canadian high “The program is working is reaching out to the New
school and a new academic because of the support of the Canadian Centre of Excellence
environment. Originally slated to school,” says Dupuis. Teachers to recruit After-School Program
assist 20 students in its first year, are voluntarily staying after volunteers who were teachers
the program has reached over school to help tutor students, in their home countries. She has
133 students, with an average of and the student success teacher also established a partnership
35 students attending every day. is recommending student with the Student Success Centre
volunteers who are able to at the University of Windsor to
Students, many of whom speak complete community service help with the tutoring.
little English when they arrive requirements tutoring kids in the
in Canada, can get homework program.
help, use the school computer
18 | Magazine of United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County • Winter 2016 • Vol. 4
NEWCOMERS FLOCK TO
NEW AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Youth First After-School Program Participants Rami Alsharak, Yuki Deng, Leiya Ma, Szaky Wu, Cassandre Dugazon, Roberto Estimable,
and Shewit Tsegay attend a Holiday banquet put on by Catholic Central High School.
When school administrators lab, attend workshops on future Although the discussions about
noticed dozens of kids hanging employment and educational being a newcomer and adjusting
around for hours after school opportunities, and in some cases, to life in Canada are more
at Catholic Central High share some pretty astounding informal, Heather says the after
School in Windsor, they knew stories of life in a much less school get-togethers are helping
that something was needed to peaceful homeland. Students kids share some painful and
channel kids’ energies. It’s not from Syria, for example, enrolled scary life experiences, and realize
that these students were causing in the program as recently as that they’re not alone in their
trouble - it’s just that they had September. challenges adjusting to life in a
nowhere else to go. new country. Participants learn
Heather Dupuis, the Youth about the different languages and
Catholic Central – known to First Program Coordinator, cultures of fellow students, and
be rich when it comes to the says that students struggling put together fun social events.
ethnic diversity of its students – academically because of
is home to many of the region’s language barriers often say ‘they Dupuis says that sometimes
newcomers and refugees. In don’t feel smart anymore’. But the program shares space with
a collaboration between the that’s something she’s working kids attending detention who,
Windsor-Essex Catholic District hard to change. Thanks to the after watching what’s happening,
School Board, and Housing international environment at ask her, “How can I get involved
Information Services, and with the school, there are students in the program?”And student
the support of United Way, a who speak other languages participants are telling their
new After-School Program was to help tutor those who are friends about the program too,
“born” in 2015. struggling. And it’s working – and how it’s helping them – thus
student participants’ grades are the bursting enrollment.
The Youth First After-School improving, says Dupuis.
Program helps students adjust In the meantime, Dupuis
to social life in a Canadian high “The program is working is reaching out to the New
school and a new academic because of the support of the Canadian Centre of Excellence
environment. Originally slated to school,” says Dupuis. Teachers to recruit After-School Program
assist 20 students in its first year, are voluntarily staying after volunteers who were teachers
the program has reached over school to help tutor students, in their home countries. She has
133 students, with an average of and the student success teacher also established a partnership
35 students attending every day. is recommending student with the Student Success Centre
volunteers who are able to at the University of Windsor to
Students, many of whom speak complete community service help with the tutoring.
little English when they arrive requirements tutoring kids in the
in Canada, can get homework program.
help, use the school computer
18 | Magazine of United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County • Winter 2016 • Vol. 4
