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Kindergarten Information Sessions with the Welcome Centre​

Do you have a child starting kindergarten at an HDSB school in September 2023?

The HDSB Welcome Centre is offering Virtual Kindergarten Information Sessions this February for parents/guardians who are new to Halton and existing HDSB families who have a child entering Kindergarten for the first time. 
​
Come join us for a virtual session and learn more about:  
  • Full-day Kindergarten Program
  • Preparing for School Routines
  • Available Settlement Support
  • Question and Answer Portion   
Registration closes on Friday, Feb. 3 at 3 p.m.​ The sessions will be offered in Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi/Urdu and English.

Register for Kindergarten Information Session
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HDSB Welcome Centre​​

1,​​​366 New students welcomed during the 2021-2022​ school year.​

14,​722 ​Total number of students who have been welcomed.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Halton District School Board (HDSB) Welcome Centre supports new or returning families to the Regional Municipality of Halton Ontario in Canada. The Welcome Centre also supports International Students (visiting students) and their families through the International Students Program (ISP).

HDSB Welcome Centre Services

  • Registration
  • Assessment
  • Settlement S​upport​​


​Registration Process

Step 1

Check where you should begin your registration process (at your home school or at the HDSB Welcome Centre).

Where Do I Register My Child?

​Step 2

Ensure that you have the following documents required for registration:

  • ​Proof of child’s age
    • e.g.Birth Certificate,  Canadian Citizenship,  Immigration Papers,  Passport, Baptismal/Faith record
  • Proof of address (two documents required)
    • ​Any TWO of the following documents*:
      • ​lease or deed
      • car registration
      • utility bill
      • residential telephone bill
      • moving bill
      • property tax bill
      • bank statement
      • credit card statement
      • correspondence with a government agency
        *The proof of address must be current and have a parent name shown with the address on the document. Additional documentation may be requested.
  • Proof of child’s citizenship or immigration status
    • e.g. passports, PR cards or records of landing, refugee documents, study permits, etc
  • Education records 
    • ​e.g.transcripts and/or report cards
  • If you are not the child’s parent, or if you have sole custody, please bring proof of custody (court order)

​Step 3​​

Once it’s determined that you should start at the Welcome Centre, complete the following intake form.​

HDSB Welcome Centre Intake Form for Registration​​

​Step 4

After we receive your submission of the Welcome Centre Intake Form for Registration, you will hear from someone on our team through email. We are currently experiencing a larger than usual registration volume, please be patient while our team works through each submission and contacts families.

 Welcome Centre Registration | Helpful Information​

Who comes to the HDSB Welcome Centre?

Students from Grade 1 to age 21 must register through the Welcome Centre if any of the foll​owing apply:

  • Entering from Ontario school system for the first time, and whose first language is not English (or is a variety ​of English)*​
  • Entering HDSB with an International Student Visa (or any visa including Visitor Visas)
  • Entering with a Work Permit or a Study Permit (student and/or parent/guardian holds the permit) ​
  • Entering HDSB with their Permanent Residence Status application in progress
  • Entering from a French language school in a French language school board (if first language is not English)​
  • Re-entering Ontario after an absence of a year or more (if first language is not English) ​
​*where student is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident or Refugee Claimant 
What should we bring?​
  • ​Proof of child’s age
  • Proof of address (two documents required)
  • Proof of child’s citizenship or immigration status
  • Education records
  • If you are not the child’s parent, or if you have sole custody, please bring proof of custody (court order)
What happens at the Welcome Centre?

What to expect when visiting the Welcome Centre​

​​1. Registration 

  • This is when we collect all of the necessary documents to complete the registration process.  See “what to bring” for a list of these documents.
  • Students will be registered at the appropriate homeschool once the assessment is completed
​​2. Assessment 
  • ​During the assessment session, your family is interviewed to discuss your child’s school history, interests and goals.
  • Your childs’ English proficiency and mathematics skills will be assessed.
  • Results of your child’s English proficiency assessment and Math assessment ​will be shared with you, your child and the team at your child’s new school.​

3. Orientation (if requested)

  • ​​Meet with a member of our settlement team to assist with a smooth transition to school and life in Halton.
  • Learn about the education system in Ontario
  • Ask questions about how to best support your child’s transition to life and schooling in Halton.
​
How long is the appointment?

Appointments can consist of an assessment and an orientation session. Assessment and orientation sessions can take a few hours, so please plan your day accordingly. 

If you choose to complete these sessions in person at the Welcome Centre, you may wish to bring a snack/lunch and water bottle with you to the appointment.​ In our experience, the length of the  appointment depends on whether an elementary or secondary student is being assessed.  When there are multiple children in a family who will be assessed, we try to schedule them to occur at the same time, as much as possible​.

 Elementary Assessment - ​Kindergarten to Gr. 8
 1 hour to 1.5 hours​

​Secondary Assessment - Gr. 9-12
Language: 1.5 hours to 2 hours​  ​Math: between 0.5 hour to 1 hour​


Where is the HDSB Welcome Centre?​

The HDSB Welcome Centre is located inside Gary Allan High School in Milton.​

215 Ontario Street South
Milton, ON
L9T 4N5
Get Directions​

When visiting via Milton Transit - take bus #5 or #8.  Follow the driveway to the left and around the north side of the building and use the Building A1 Entrance.

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​​ ​​

​

 Who’s who at the Welcome Centre?​​​

Role of the Assessor
At the Welcome Centre, students from Grades 1 to 12 will have their English language and mathematics skills assessed. This assessment will help schools offer students the supports needed as they begin studying in the Halton District School Board.

During the assessment appointment the assessor will:
  • Conduct a family interview to discuss and document the student’s history, interests and goals 
  • Assess the student’s English language proficiency and math skills Share the assessment results 

After the assessment the assessor will create an electronic learner profile for the student and make recommendations for academic programming. For secondary students the assessor will also make a recommendation for school placement.​

Role of the Community Connections Specialist
​​​​​The Community Connections Specialist works with schools, parents and community partners in specified communities to develop school community activities and projects which address the needs of students, families and schools in those communities. These activities and projects will support school and system initiatives relating to community outreach and parent engagement, equity and inclusive education, literacy, numeracy, tutoring/mentoring, and interventions for students at risk.​​

​​Work with the Welcome Centre team to provide settlement/community based support to Newcomer families to Halton.​

  • ​Support system level settlement related projects and initiatives
  • Consult with and provide settlement expertise to HDSB staff members 
  • Provide ad hoc interpretation support ​

​​Support newcomer families with students attending HDSB in their transition to the Ontario School System (including but not limited to their social, emotional, and academic transition). ​​​

  • ​Provide one on one in school settlement support including; case management, school and community based referrals, advocacy, etc. 
  • Support in coordination of in school Information Sessions for Newcomer families 
  • Attend staff meetings​

Work closely with community partners to connect families, their schools and their communities. 

  • Network and build relationships with Halton based community agencies 
  • Support schools by maintaining a network of local agencies, parents and school representatives

Virtual Newcomer Mento​​​r Hub​

  • A platform for elementary students in g​​rades 5-8 to connect with a high school mentor and share experiences 
  • Meet other students new to the Halton District School Board, learn about school culture, and talk about settling in Ontario 

Virtual Newcomer Experience Series

  • Hear from former students who have graduated from HDSB
  • Learn about the importance of getting involved in the school community, college/university pathways, and perseverance   

Virtual High School Student Hangout

  • Connect with other students who attend the same school, speak the same language, have similar hobbies/interests     
  • Discover volunteer opportunities, build leadership skills, and ways to contribute or get involved in the community ​​

To register, please contact:

Eric Keunne

​Dunja Cajko, HDSB ​

Community Connections Specialist​

Role of Program Lead, K-12 Settlement Services
oversees the orientation and settlement processes.
Role of ​​Youth Settlement Specialist (YSS) in Schools​​
​
In partnership with HMC Connections (HMC), the Welcome Centre supp​orts student and family engagement through the support of Youth Settlement Specialists (YSS) at the Welcome Centre and in schools.  

YSS support schools in the following ways:

  • Stationary support  - YSS will be physically available to work with families (one on one) for a specific period of time each day/week. 
  • Assigned support - Assigned YSS will support the school on an as needed basis.  Families will need to make an appointment with the YSS based on mutual availability 
  • Itinerant support - Schools will contact their Regional Lead to connect a family with YSS support. 
It is important to note that YSS are not Guidance Counsellors, Interpreters, Child and Youth Counsellors nor Social Workers.

Welcome Centre (HDSB YSS only) ​​

  • Orient and inform families new to Halton of the HDSB system, routines and expectations
  • Collaborate with the Welcome Centre Academic Assessor(s) and Welcome Centre Social Worker to support student transition into school and the community 
  • Provide language support during the registration and assessment process
  • Identify any settlement needs for incoming families and refer families to resources and support within the Halton community​​
Role of Welcome Centre System Principal
  • ​​Oversees the assessment, orientation and settlement process, as well as the transition process from the Welcome Centre to home schools for all student registrations 
  • Oversees the International Student Program 
  • Supports school administrators to ensure a smooth transition for students entering their schools as new students to the community.​
Resources for Families New to Halton​
​Resources and partnerships to help you make a smoot​h transition into Halton:​

Halton Multicultural Council

Halton Multicultural Council has partnered with Halton District School Board to develop the Youth Settlement Program for newcomer families funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Youth Settlement Workers help newcomer families interact with schools to maximize parental involvement, and student success; provide interpretation and translation services​ and connect families with useful community services that help students and their parents transition into the community and schools.

To book a meeting with a Youth Settlement Worker contact:

Eric Keunne

Program Lead, Youth Settlement (K-12) and Equity & Inclusive Education
905-335-3665, ext. 3440​​

Settlement Org

Settlement Org gives newcomers information and resources to settle in Ontario, Canada. It provides accurate, reliable and timely content; links to sites with reliable information; and referrals to local services. Settlement.Org hosts an electronic community where newcomers get information, news, can ask questions and share experiences, and access a database of community organizations.

Halton Newcomer Strategy

Halton Newcomer Strategy "is an advocacy team that engages the community to help eliminate barriers for newcomers to Halton. " The organization is funded by the Government of Canada through the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and works towards ensuring that Halton Region is an inclusive and supportive community in which newcomers ​​can thrive.

They offer a variety of services and resource for newcomers throughout Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.

​Additional Resources

Welcome Centre Library Catalogue  AV2 World Languages eBook Collection​​

​Important information about education in Ontario available in many languages:

  • Ontario Ministry of Education
  • The Newcomer's Guide to Elementary School in Ontario
  • The Newcomers' Guide to Secondary School in Ontario
  • English Language Learners (ELL) and English Language Development (ELD)​​
Welcome Centre Staff List
​ ​
​​​​​​ Michelle Lemaire

Michelle Lemaire

System Principal
International Students and Welcome Centre
Eric Keunne

Eric Keunne

Program Lead, Youth Settlement (K-12) and 
Equity & Inclusive Education​​

​
​Argyro Arampatzoglou

Argyro Arampatzoglou

Welcome Centre Secretary​

Frances Yim

Frances Yim

Welcome Centre Secretary​

​
Naela Ibrahim

Naela Ibrahim

Youth Settlement Specialist​

Saima Wahid

Saima Wahid

Youth Settlement Specialist​
​
Sahar Said

Sahar Said

Youth Settlement Specialist
Ju Qin (Helen) Cheng

Ju Qin (Helen) Cheng

Youth Settlement Specialist​​

​
Dunja Cajko

Dunja Cajko

Youth Settlement/Community Connections Specialist​
Yunhong (Rachel) Bi

Yunhong (Rachel) Bi

Youth Settlement Specialist and International Student Support​

​
Christel Kirstein

Christel Kirstein

K-12 Language and Math Academic Assessor​
Douglas Wilson

Douglas Wilson

K-12 Itinerant Teacher, International​ Student Program

​
Moxda Yajnik-Harlos

Moxda Yajnik-Harlos

International Student Program Coordinator

Rita Botros

Rita Botros

Social Worker​​​​​
Dezerai Sonoda

Dezerai Sonoda

International Student Program Support



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Contact the HDSB Welcome Centre

Families new or returning to Halton are invited to connect with us.​​

welcomecentre@hdsb.ca​
905-335-3665, ext. 3440​
Follow us on Twitte​r @HDSBWelcome​ 

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Halton District School Board
J.W. Singleton Education Centre
2050 Guelph Line
Burlington, Ontario, L7P 5A8

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Fax: 905-335-9802

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​​​​​​​​© 2023 Halton District School Board, 2050 Guelph Line, Burlington, ON, Canada L7P 5A8, Phone Switchboard: 905-335-3663

Auto Attendant: 905-335-3665, ​Toll Free: 1-877-618-3456, Fax: 905-335-9802