:: Transition Centres At Balwin And McCauley
What is the Transition Centre program?
In collaboration with community partners, Edmonton Public Schools is offering a new program to students who are new to Canada, and who have limited English and school experience. The Transition Centres at McCauley and at Balwin provide integrated and coordinated school and community supports on site for both students and their families. The purpose of the program is to make these supports easily accessible to student and families so that the students can experience a positive transition to school within the district. The vision for the program is described below.
The Transition Centre programs serve as hubs of resources that provide intensive supports for students, who are English Language Learners with limited English and experience with schooling, and for their families. Focusing on the strengths of students and families, as well as building strong relationships through a model of student, family, and community engagement, the Transition Centres will support these students in making a successful transition to a school program that further meets their needs.
Who are the students who will benefit from the program?
The students who will benefit from support provided by the Transition Centre program have:
- limited English
- significant gaps in learning
- limited experience with schooling
What school and community supports are provided at McCauley and Balwin?
The supports include:
- intensive English Language Learner instruction and orientation for students
- a 3-5 day a week afterschool mentorship and enrichment program for students
- a family strengthening program which includes adult ESL instruction and parent information sessions about schooling
- an intercultural early learning program for pre-school aged children
Is bussing available for students?
A small transportation route has been developed with external grant funding to provide some access to families to the Transition Centre location at McCauley. For further information, contact McCauley Transition Centre at 780 424-4121.
How is this program a school-community partnership?
The Transition Centre program has been the result of a collaborative effort between the school district and community partners. This work has been guided by the following themes which are key practices in the provincial government's work on wraparound supports for children, youth, families, and communities.
Collaboration
Shared leadership
Team based
Persistent
Strength-based |
School-community links
Family voice and choice
Culturally responsive
Natural supports
Data informed |
In addition, the Transition Centres serve as sites for the Schools as Community Hubs Initiative with REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities. The program has benefitted from grants from both REACH and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Partners involved in the development and implementation of this program include:
Actions for Healthy Communities
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Catholic Social Services, Settlement Services
Centre for Race and Culture
City of Edmonton Community Services
Edmonton Immigrant Services Association
Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
Edmonton Public Library
Multicultural Coalition
Multicultural Health Brokers
The Family Centre
United Way
YMCA
General information about the program:
Ann Nicolai, Community Coordinator - 780 424-4121 for both McCauley and Balwin
Contact to arrange for a parent and student to register:
McCauley
Administrative Assistant
780 424-4121
Transition Centre at McCauley
9538-107 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5H 2J5
Balwin
Secretary
780 475-3646
Transition Centre at Balwin
7055-132 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
T5C 2A7
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