Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program this year at Central Toronto Academy along with Harbord Collegiate Institute was the most well attended and successful program in a few years. We had a full house of 41 newcomer students from varying backgrounds and all over the world taking part in 4 days of peer-driven and led activities to ease their integration to a new home and their new school. With the continued support of both schools we managed to enhance the settlement process of newcomer youth that is long lasting to develop their potential and support their success at school and beyond. This year was the most diverse group of students representing youth from Vietnam, China, Thailand, Germany, Holland, Philippines, Italy, Mexico and Spain.

Congratulations to the Peer Leaders from both schools who were instrumental in delivering the program. We look forward to working with all of the students to support them as successful student activists at school and contribute to the community at large.

Ajith Aluthwatta,  Settlement Workers in Schools