Halton District School Board

Site: Milton - Gary Allan Learning Centre

Service: Welcome Centre

Record #: OAK0425
Last Modified: 01 Oct 2024
Last Full Update: 01 Oct 2024

Contact Information

Office Phone 905-335-3665 ext 3440
E-Mail welcomecentre@hdsb.ca
Website www.hdsb.ca/parents/Pages/New%20to%20Halton/Welcome-Centre.aspx
Social Media X (Twitter) X (Twitter)
Primary Contact Dunja Cajko, Community Connections Specialist; Email: cajkod@hdsb.ca
Alternate Contact Oriana Jones, Program Lead, Youth Settlement (K-12); Email: joneso@hdsb.ca

Site Information

Site Location Inside Gary Allan Learning Centre
Located In Community Milton
Address & Map
Gary Allan Learning Centre
215 Ontario St S
Milton, ON L9T 4N5
Intersection Childs Dr and Ontario St S
Mailing Address c/o Halton District School Board 
PO Box 5005 
Stn LCD 1 
Burlington, ON L7R 3Z2
Physical Access Fully Accessible

Agency Information

Primary Executive Eleanor McIntosh, Superintendent of Education; Phone: 905-335-3663; Email: mcintoshe@hdsb.ca
Alternate Executive Bita Watts, System Principal - Welcome Centre and International Student Program; Phone: 905-335-3665; Email: wattsb@hdsb.ca
Funding Provincial

Description and Service Details

Description (Service)

Services offered include school registration, assessment and settlement support 
 
Assessment

  • students from Grades 1 to 12 will have their English language and mathematics skills assessed
  • helps schools offer students the supports needed as they begin studying in the Halton District School Board 

Community Connections Specialist

  • works with schools, parents and community partners to develop school community activities and projects
  • support school and system initiatives relating to community outreach and parent engagement, equity and inclusive education, literacy, numeracy, tutoring/mentoring, and interventions for students at risk
  • Virtual Newcomer Conversation Club
  • Virtual High School Student Hangout
  • to register please contact Dunja Cajko, Community Connections Specialist at cajkod@hdsb.ca​​ 

Youth Settlement Workers

  • help newcomer families interact with schools to maximize parental involvement and student success
  • provide interpretation and translation services​ and connect families with useful community services that help students and their parents transition into the community and schools 

Youth Settlement Specialist (YSS) in Schools

in partnership with HMC Connections (HMC), supports student and family engagement through the support of Youth Settlement Specialists (YSS) at the Welcome Centre and in schools 
 
School Specific Youth Settlement Specialists

  • meet with and provide continued settlement support to families as they navigate the HDSB system 
  • refer families to resources and support within the Halton community 
  • collaborate with HDSB staff in problem solving and identifying necessary support for students specific to language and/or culture
  • provide language support to families and HDSB staff when/where needed (i.e confirming a meeting, supporting families new to the school etc.)
Hours

See website for availability

Areas Served Halton Region
Eligibility New and returning families to Halton region
Application

Families need to fill out a google form, send an email or call to book an appointment

Languages English ; French ; Arabic ; Chinese (Cantonese) ; Chinese (Mandarin) ; Hindi ; Pashto ; Punjabi ; Russian ; Serbian ; Spanish ; Ukrainian ; Urdu ; Interpretive Services
Fees None

Categories and Classification

Youth Main Categories Newcomers
Youth Sub-Categories Interpretation / Translation ; Newcomer Settlement Services
Service Categories Cultural Transition Counselling ~ Grade School Students ; Elementary Schools ~ Immigrants/Refugees ; Interpretation/Translation ~ Immigrants/Refugees ; Language Proficiency Testing ~ Grade School Students ; Newcomer Settlement Services ~ Families ; Newcomer Settlement Services ~ Grade School Students ; Secondary/High Schools ~ Immigrants/Refugees

Agency Overview