Regional Connections Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program has expanded to include Garden Valley School Division (GVSD). The program works with newcomer families, and their students, to help support the transition and integration into the school system.

“It is very exciting,” says Regional Connections Executive Director Steve Reynolds. “There are many newcomer students and families in Garden Valley School Division, so there are lots of opportunities to work with the school division to support those students and families better.”

Garden Valley joins Border Land and Western School Divisions as partners with Regional Connections and the SWIS program. Reynolds estimates the SWIS program has assisted between 200 and 300 students per year in Border Land and Western.

Even with the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, the two SWIS workers assigned to GVSD, Agnes Reimer and Aubrey Krahn, have found ways to connect with newcomer families in Garden Valley.

Left to right; Agnes Reimer and Aubrey Krahn. Submitted photos.

“Some of that is just supporting a lot of the communication going back and forth, making sure the newcomer families have access to that and understand it, and if they have any questions, maybe we can answer them, or help connect them to the right school contacts to answer them,” explains Reynolds. “And then identifying any gaps around the changes, so when kids are learning at home, or don’t have access to school, things can come up like digital access and food security, and SWIS tries to identify those.”

SWIS Worker Agnes Reimer, who has worked with Regional Connections since 2017, is well aware of the challenges facing newcomer families, having moved to Canada in 2010.

“I kind of understand and still remember all the questions, and challenges and even fears I had, especially when my kids started school, because it’s so different to the school system I know from my home country,” reflects Reimer. “As a team with Aubrey, to be that bridge for newcomers, it just gives me a new opportunity to help immigrants to settle in our community, and to connect them with activity within and outside of the school.”

Meanwhile, Aubrey Krahn who grew up in Winkler and recently moved back from Winnipeg, is excited to be working with newcomer families, learning what the gaps and needs are. She’s been in the helping field with families for over ten years, taking her Child and Youth Care diploma at Red River College.

Olesja Kraft is Regional Connections Settlement and Integration Worker, and is also very excited about the opportunity to expand the SWIS program to Garden Valley. “Seeing how well it went with Border Land School Division and Western School Division, and since I’ve been with Regional Connections with the settlement sector for the last ten years, we just all see the need, and we can’t wait to start.”