Welcome & Reception
Welcoming PARENTS
When you first meet with parents or they visit a reception centre, it can be helpful to provide them with information that extends beyond their child's placement in a school. Consider what else they might need to know to successfully integrate in the school and broader community.
Key information that could be gathered and kept on hand to share with newly arrived parents:
How schooling works here in Alberta including school, district and provincial educational information (district calendar, programs of study, assessment practices, classroom management/discipline, parent-teacher conferences, etc.)
Understanding local culture
Pre-school programs
How to access local library
Community and language supports available for parents
Local sporting programs
Maps - Getting around
Backpacks and school supplies and where to purchase them (a number of community agencies provide supplies: e.g., Tools for School backpacks, United Way, mittens)
Indoor/outdoor shoes
How to dress students for the weather
Information on what foods we typically eat here, ideas on what to pack for lunch and snacks, what does it mean to be a nut-aware school; might need to be as specific as introducing parents to Ziploc bags. Distribute any available community brochures on Healthy Eating, Snacks, etc.
Plan to host 1or 2 Parent Information Sessions per year, e.g., how school works, how to support your child in their learning, transitioning to Gr 7, how high school credits work, etc.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Provide materials that will help an ELL navigate their new school experience.
For example:
a map of the school, with classes, bathrooms, physical education change rooms and other personally relevant locations marked
a list of the names of school staff, especially student's teachers and administrators
school phone number and address
bell schedules
school rules
student conduct and behaviour expectations
school calendar (with holidays, special events and school closure days marked)
lock and locker assignment
Information pages FOR Parents & TIPS For HOSTing PARENT sessions
Information Tips for Parents 1Information Tips for Parents 2
Parent Session- General.pdfCoping Resource Kit
Have some materials on hand in case a teacher feels that the day's instruction is not yet comprehensible for the student at this time and it would be preferable for students to do something better suited to their proficiency level in order to build their basic English language skills. Particularly useful for ELLs who are very new to English. NOT meant to be the primary form of instruction for the ELL. These suggestions are for Level 1 ELLs.
Possible resources:
authentic reading materials: e.g., newspaper, grocery store flyers, menus and/or clothing catalogues
early literacy/print concept books (colours, shapes numbers, alphabet)
alphabet cards
matching games
memory games
puppets
picture/word dictionaries
picture sequence story cards
High Frequency Readers
Educational puzzles
Phonic Flashcards
Games like Guess Who, Concentration etc.
Maps of the school/community/province
"Discover how you can alleviate many newcomers' fears by creating an atmosphere of acceptance and welcome in all of your classes."
