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School Settlement Services

Helping families navigate elementary and secondary school systems.

The Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program helps newcomer families begin school in Canada. Settlement workers connect with newcomer families in both one-to-one and in group settings. They provide important settlement information and help you transition to education in Canada.

Our services are provided through the Settlement and Education Partnership. This partnership includes the YMCA of Three Rivers locations in the Waterloo Region, Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), Perth County, Huron County, Avon Maitland District School Board, and Huron Perth Catholic District School Board.

Our Services:

  • Assist newcomer parents and students with their settlement needs

  • Collaborate with school staff to help newcomer students and parents adjust to school in Ontario school system

  • Provide one-one-to-one settlement support to newcomer youth and parents

  • Connect newcomer families to specialised community resources based on their needs

  • Provide group information sessions on settlement topics for newcomer youth and parents, often in partnership with school staff

  • Connect newcomer students to homework clubs, academic support, and after-school activities and clubs

  • Provide orientation about the settlement needs of newcomers for school staff


Contact Us

We offer services online, by phone, and in-person. To book an appointment, call us at 519-742-8220 or send us an email in your first language.



Schools We Serve

School Settlement Workers are available to help each week within the schools listed below.


Schools served in the Waterloo Region District School Board


  • Centennial PS

  • Courtland PS

  • Eastwood Collegiate

  • Empire PS

  • Forest Heights Collegiate

  • Forest Hill PS

  • Franklin PS

  • Galt Collegiate

  • Hillside PS

  • Howard Robertson PS

  • JF Carmichael

  • Laurentian PS

  • Lincoln Heights

  • MacGregor Senior Public School 

  • Margaret Avenue Senior Public School

  • Queensmount PS

  • Southridge PS

  • Suddaby Public School

  • Sunnyside Public School

  • Waterloo Collegiate

  • Welcome Centre

  • Westmount PS

  • Wilson Ave. PS

  • Winston Churchill PS



Schools served in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board


  • Holy Rosary

  • Newcomer Reception Centre

  • Our Lady of Lourdes

  • Resurrection CSS

  • St. Aloysius CS

  • St. Benedict CSS

  • St. Daniel CS

  • St. David CSS

  • St. John CS

  • St. Mary's CHS

  • St. Paul


Schools served in the Avon Maitland District School Board


  • Listowel District Secondary School

  • St. Marys District Collegiate Vocational Institute

  • Stratford District Secondary School

  • Stratford Intermediate School





School Settlement Services in French

Click here for School Settlement Services in the French Catholic School Board (CSC MonAvenir).



School Settlement programs provided in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.



Program provided in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.


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