Page 5 If you didn’t know which students were in the Welcome Centre, you would have thought these students had been at the school all year. It was Fun Day, where students were moving through various stations including a crazy relay race, a three-legged race and a team hula hoop challenge. A huge resource for the families and the centre was the addition of Moy Mahmoud, a native Arabic speaker and teacher within the school district, who translates for the students. In addition to teaching English and translating, Mahmoud has also begun teaching cultural sensitivity in the classrooms. Having a teacher who speaks Arabic allows for daily parent/teacher communication, which is a real advantage for the centre. When new Canadian families arrive, they are welcomed at the centre; families attend an orientation; they have an opportunity to meet the teacher; and have a tour of the school and school grounds. There are many volunteers and sponsorship groups who assist our new Canadians. Some assistance includes providing rides to appointments and meetings. The Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society works closely with Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools to help families transition into their new lives and homes. In addition to these resources, several teachers at the school have welcomed groups of students to join up with their class. Welcome Centre students are integrating with other mainstream classes through physical education and art. Judging by my time at the Welcome Centre, you would think there were no difficulties facing the children. However, settling in to a school, home and ultimately new country takes time. Some students progress through the stages more readily than others. As teacher Adam Lowry says, “A strong example of this is a boy at Fairview who takes every opportunity to get involved in sport and has made friends in his classroom. Making friends and taking part in extra- curricular activities are the two factors that have allowed him to succeed. His success is translating to the classroom.” “Having new Canadians at Fairview Community School provides a rich and cultural experience for mainstream students as well as staff,” Principal Jane Kruks said. Once students feel confident and ready, they transitionintotheircatchment-areaschoolbringing this cultural experience into another school. The resilience that students show reflects on how easily the children adapt to a new environment, yet again.