Identity and Belonging

A strong sense of identity and belonging is attributed to feeling accepted, valued, included, and encouraged by others. In turn, this sense of belonging can promote success, engagement, self-assurance, and the ability to deal with challenges and difficulties.  

The newcomer population in NL is composed of individuals who arrived through a variety of pathways, including as immigrants, temporary foreign workers, temporary residents and government-assisted refugees, among others. They may be government-assisted refugees, families with temporary visas, temporary residents, or Canadian-born. The educational profile of each newcomer will vary as each student has their own personal experiences and educational background. While some students have successfully completed courses and programs at or beyond grade level in their country of origin, others may be in a school setting for the first time. Likewise, the previous language learning experiences of students in the EAL program  may vary, ranging from little or no formal instruction in any language to detailed study and proficiency in several. Newcomer students may undergo a period of transition as they become familiar with the expectations, routines, and customs of a new language and culture and these reactions to that transition may differ. For some, especially those who have witnessed traumatic events, it can be a very difficult process, while for others it may be relatively smooth.  It is our role as educators to promote a caring, nurturing, stimulating school environment where all students feel a strong sense of identity, belonging and an equal opportunity to learn and succeed.