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Algoma District School Board welcomes and supports 300+ multilingual language learners

ADSB schools aim to provide environments that welcome students of all cultures and languages
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Superior Heights hosted their 2nd International Festival in November, a celebration of diversity & inclusivity, with 22 countries represented!

Algoma District School Board (ADSB) currently has over 300 Multilingual Language Learners enrolled in our schools, from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

These students attend schools throughout the district including Sault Ste Marie, Central Algoma and schools in the East and North regions of the Board. Our newest students, registered this fall, are from 20 countries, speak 20 different languages and are registered in 20 of our schools.

ADSB continues to see a significant increase in the number of Multilingual Language Learners (MLL) being registered. In August and September of this year, ADSB welcomed sixty-one MLL students into our schools and new families are being registered weekly.

Megan Turner McMillan, the Board’s K-12 MLL Coordinator, recently explained the shift in supports that are in place for these students. Three teachers also shared some of their own learning as they have taken on the new role of MLL Lead teachers in their schools - Karen Christenson from Isabel Fletcher PS, Monica Tessier from Queen Elizabeth PS and Lauri Monto from Kiwedin PS.

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(L to R): Megan Turner McMillan, the ADSB’s K-12 MLL Coordinator, attended a recent Board meeting to explain the shift in supports that are in place for MLL students. She was joined by Monica Tessier from Queen Elizabeth PS and Lauri Monto from Kiwedin PS who shared some of their own learning as they have taken on the new role of MLL Lead teachers in their schools.

Given the ongoing increase in enrolment, ADSB has adjusted the way we support our MLL students. Previously, an Elementary Itinerant teacher was incorporated, a role which Megan held and where she gained experience prior to taking on the role of MLL Coordinator. Itinerant teachers were scheduled to visit schools based on student need. At that time, there were significantly fewer MLL students in our system, concentrated at a smaller number of schools.

Over time, as numbers grew, ADSB saw the need for building capacity within our schools. Challenges arose with the Itinerant model, including the ability to respond to needs in a timely manner, the amount of time that passed between visits and the challenge of providing support that would transform into lasting change. These factors led to the Board rethinking the model for providing MLL supports.

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Several families joined ADSB staff at a Board Meeting last year to share their positive experiences within classrooms at ADSB schools.

New this year, we have identified six elementary schools that have a significant number of MLL students and each of those schools have identified a teacher to be their MLL Lead. All the Leads are classroom teachers, with a portion of their day being assigned to MLL work. This new model allows the Board to build capacity within schools and emphasizes the shared responsibility that educators have for the well-being and achievement of Multilingual Language Learners.

In addition, we continue to have one full-day program at Parkland Public School for students in grades 5-8 with significant interruptions or limited prior schooling. ADSB also continues to offer English Second Language (ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD) credits in secondary and Instructional Support for other credits.

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Superior Heights hosted their 2nd International Festival in November, a celebration of diversity & inclusivity, with 22 countries represented!

MLL Lead teachers shared that the shift in the approach to MLL support in elementary schools has allowed them to respond to needs in a timely manner during day-to-day activities. For instance, MLL Leads facilitate communication between teachers, coaches, and families.

One young MLL student was very excited to have made her school’s cross country team and would be competing at the annual event at Hiawatha Highlands. She shared that she was excited to “run through the trees” and staff took a little time to ensure that she understood that she would be running on a designated trail, not just running “across the country and through the trees”. The student had a wonderful time taking part in the race and her family were so proud to be there to watch her cross the finish line.

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Superior Heights hosted their 2nd International Festival in November, a celebration of diversity & inclusivity, with 22 countries represented!

As is the case with any student, learning how to pronounce a first or family name correctly is so important. One MLL Lead shared that, during a curriculum night, she listened closely to how a father said his daughter’s name. The teacher realized that she had been mispronouncing the student’s name. In hearing it from the father she was able to say it correctly, and the young student’s eyes lit up.

Similarly, a student whose classmates had shortened his name into a nick name that he did not enjoy, was able to approach his teacher with his concern, knowing that he had a caring adult he could talk to. The teacher and the MLL Lead were able to work together, helping classmates learn how to pronounce the name correctly and reminding all of the importance of saying a student’s name correctly.

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Superior Heights hosted their 2nd International Festival in November, a celebration of diversity & inclusivity, with 22 countries represented!

Over time ADSB has registered 300+ students from countries including Ukraine, Syria, the Philippines, India, Mexico, Afghanistan, Japan, Colombia, Honduras, Russia and the United States. MLL students are arriving for a variety of reasons including accompanying parents who are studying at Sault College or Algoma University, parents who are here with work permits, and/or resettlement of families from war torn regions of the world. These families and students come from diverse cultures, backgrounds and school experiences, with a wide variety of strengths and needs. The support provided from ADSB schools and community partners is imperative.

Algoma District School Board strives to provide learning environments that welcome all cultures and languages and to provide students whose first language is a language other than English with the programs and supports that will ensure their success at all levels of education. MLL Lead teachers shared how they see the eyes of their students light up when they are encouraged to share their language and culture within their schools. Teachers shared that this has been inspiring and uplifting for everyone involved.

In this spirit, many ADSB schools have or will be hosting International Festivals this school year. Superior Heights recently hosted their second annual event which was an evening to celebrate cultures, diversity and inclusivity through music, dance and food.

More events will be taking place at some of our elementary schools and other high schools in the months ahead.

Media Contact:

  • Fran WalshCommunications Officer, Algoma District School Board
  • 705-945-7284