Services and Ukrainian Evacuees), Angela Eadie-Gyori (Principal of Ecole Steffie Woima
Elementary School), Karyn Barber (Associate Superintendent System Services).
(Photo provided by Chinook's Edge School Division)
École Steffie Woima Elementary School in Sylvan Lake has been honoured for its support of Ukrainian evacuees.
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Alberta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement Services and Ukrainian Evacuees, visited a Grade 1 and 2 class at the school.
Two of the students in the class recently arrived in Canada from Ukraine.
“I am visiting communities in Alberta to see how Ukrainian newcomers are doing. It’s my job to make sure their needs are met,” Armstrong-Homeniuk said to the class. “I have heard that you are welcoming to students who are new in your school. Thank you for being good friends.”
(Photo provided by Chinook's Edge School Division)
During her visit, Armstrong-Homeniuk presented a certificate honouring the school for helping Ukrainians in a time of need, to Angela Eadie-Gyori, Principal of Steffie Woima, and to Karyn Barber, Associate Superintendent, Chinook’s Edge School Division.
There are more than 20 students in the Chinook’s Edge School Division who are evacuees from Ukraine.
“We are happy to welcome these students in our classrooms, and learn how we can help them,” Barber said. “We appreciate and thank the Parliamentary Secretary for her visit, for listening to these students, and for considering what support they and their families might need to be successful. Thank you to our staff, and students as well, for the way evacuees are received in our schools.”
To ensure the new students felt welcomed, students were inclusive, staff worked to find translations to ensure families could work with staff to help their children, while specific staff worked one-on-one with students to ensure they learned to read at their grade level.
“I wanted to recognize this school and the division for going above and beyond," Armstrong-Homeniuk said.
In the future, she plans to visit multiple communities to hear what’s working and where the province could improve support for newly arriving Ukrainians.
**With information provided by Chinook's Edge School Division
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