Burnaby school district is opening the doors of its new 'Welcome Centre' to immigrant families with school-aged children.
District staff, teachers, trustees and some students are set to celebrate the official opening today (Wednesday).
"I'm very pleased," said Heather Hart, the district's director of instruction. Hart partly coordinates the centre, which will serve as the language-testing headquarters for immigrant students.
"We're looking at families coming from all over the world," she said, adding sometimes new immigrant students need more than help with English.
That's why staff will connect students and their families with settlement workers, who introduce them to community services and explain the school system.
"(There will be) a more centralized, holistic way of helping the families," Hart said. "We can now more efficiently direct families to what they need."
New immigrant students typically go through English assessment testing at their neighbourhood school. The opening means a centralized place and standardized tests, which will get kids into classrooms more quickly, Hart added.
Centre staff will also collect data to better understand the demographics and language skills of people moving into the school district. The centre is a small portable at 6098 Nelson Ave., close to Marlborough Elementary.

© Burnaby Now 2007