The director of education for the Avon Maitland District School credits the Ministry of Education for helping them get ready for the arrival of refugee families in the Stratford and Goderich areas.
Ted Doherty says they're expecting one family from South Sudan with ten school-age children in Goderich. There are five families from Syria coming to the Stratford area and one of those families has six school-age children.
Doherty explains the ministry has already been providing support for the board and they'll be meeting with principals before the students arrive.
Doherty points out obviously English-language support will be a priority and they have staff to provide that. He adds there will also be a need for social and cultural support, which they have prepared for.
The students are expected in schools after the holidays.
Doherty also admits some things will crop up that they haven't anticipated and they have a strong team of community leaders who have experience in helping to settle refugees and they'll be relying on them fairly heavily.
