The Multicultural, Settlement and Education Partnership (MSEP) is in partnership with the Peel District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The program is designed to facilitate the adaptation of newly-arrived newcomers to school and community life by providing support services typically needed by newcomers in their first year in Canada, focusing on information, orientation, advocacy, referral and access to services.
The Multicultural, Settlement and Education Partnership (MSEP) program is part of the Welcoming Communities stream. Agencies that provide services under this stream work collaboratively to share best practices, information, and expertise to develop tools and strategies to connect vulnerable groups with established support networks.
What We Do
Our settlement counsellors in schools provide settlement services to over 70 schools in Peel Region. They help newcomer parents and students successfully settle and integrate into the Canadian culture and the education system. Settlement Counsellors work with schools to create welcoming, safe, and inclusive learning environments where newcomers can access information, services, and assistance in their own language in a culturally sensitive manner. Services are delivered in: Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, and Urdu. Our Counsellors build partnerships and develop joint programs with community partners. They invite these partners to conduct workshops to share their expertise and host large scale community events to strengthen such connections.
Workshops and Events
THE NEWCOMERS’ CLUB
Newcomer Clubs provides newcomer students with an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences with peers who are going through a similar transition period. These workshops encourage newcomer students to speak about their challenges as well as share their success stories from previous years. The settlement workers encourage students to enroll in various school activities for a successful transition. The topics covered during each session are chosen based on the needs and suggestions of those who are part of the club.
Some topics covered during the sessions include:
- Building Effective Communication Skills
- Study Habits
- How to Write a Resume
- Bullying
PARENT/GUARDIAN SUPPORT GROUP
Throughout the year settlement workers in schools organize events and workshops that address issues and concerns of newcomer parents. This group meets on a monthly and sometimes weekly basis, depending on the needs of the community. The group provides parents with an opportunity to come out and share their experiences and concerns.
Some topics of interest:
- Bring your own device (BYOD)
- Parenting in Canada and the Role of Children’s Aid Services (CAS)
- Helping your child with Homework
SEASONAL PROGRAMS:
SUMMER
WOW – PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
This program is tailored to the needs of newcomers attending high school for the first time in Canada. The program takes place in designated hub schools – schools with a higher number of newcomers, while also hosting the students from surrounding high schools. It is organized and coordinated by The Multicultural, Settlement and Education Partnership (MSEP) counsellors, who recruit students that were newcomers during previous years to deliver this one-day program. This program is a collaboration between students, teachers, and settlement workers.
iFun – DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
This program is tailored to newcomers attending high school for the first time in Canada. The program takes place in designated hub schools – schools with a higher number of newcomers while also hosting the students from surrounding high schools.
HOT TOPICS:
MYBLUEPRINT MyBlueprint is an online education planner that helps students:
- Select their high school courses
- Research post-secondary programs
- Set goals for their future
- Explore career and job opportunities and create a resume and cover letter
- Complete their Individual Pathways Plan (IPP)
Parents can create a myBlueprint account and explore student features of myBlueprint. Parents can also link to their child’s myBlueprint account.
For more information on myBlueprint http://www.myblueprint.ca/
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
These workshops provide tips for healthy living and healthy eating habits. The team connected with external stakeholders such as Peel Health and Bramalea Community Health Centre to provide more in depth information on this topic.
EMPLOYMENT
Our Multicultural, Settlement and Education Partnership (MSEP) team frequently delivers workshops on employment related topics that are geared towards parents and youth. Some topics covered in these workshops include:
- Resume Building Tips
- Interview Tips
- Job Search Tips
- Technical and Soft Skills
- Importance of Networking
- Canadian Workplace Culture
Useful Links
Ontario Ministry of Education:
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng
Peel District School Board:
www.peelschools.org
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board:
www.dpcdsb.org
Newcomer Youth:
www.newyouth.ca
For more information email: services@bmccentre.org