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Canadian Afghan Council (CAC) signs partnership agreement with Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
The Canadian Afghan Council (CAC) has entered an official partnership with Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute of the Toronto District School Board for implementing an endeavour focussed on student success and parental engagement among new Canadians of Afghan descent. This partnership is known as CASSI (Canadian Afghan Student Success Initiative).
The partnership agreement is a commitment to student success through strengthened connections between school and Afghan parents. Issues such as language and cultural barriers will be overcome so that families are enabled to be more familiar with the Ontario educational system and their local school. Outreach strategies are planned that will improve effective parental engagement.
Reacting to the findings in 2006 Student Census: Linking Demographic Data With Student Achievement, CASSI, comprising a group of Toronto District School Board teachers, is designed to improve academic achievement of Afghan-Canadian students, heighten knowledge and raise awareness as a means of narrowing the existing disconnect between Afghan families and the schools their children attend.
The strategic plan calls for the organization of after school seminars and workshops in collaboration with counsellors, school staff, administration and community resources. Proposed seminars and workshops are listed below:
1. Student success
2. Grade 8/9 transition and post-secondary pathways
3. Course pathways
4. What students need for successful graduation/ Literacy Test /Volunteerism and Community Service
5. Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC), Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) test procedures and importance
6. Character Education
7. Equity Awareness / Equity and Inclusive Education
8. Special Education
9. Individual Education Plan (IEP)/ The Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) /Report Card
10. English as a Second Language (ESL) support
11. Student support for At-risk Students
12. Cultural/social welcoming and integration for the newcomers
13. Developing communication with parents
14. Skill-building opportunities for parents
15. Post-trauma stress disorder
16. Youth against violence initiative
17. Cognitive development / Multiple intelligence
18. Know your child’s friend / Internet safety / Safe schools
19. Healthy Schools (nutrition, food allergies, and healthy life styles)
20. Awareness of the Heritage Language Program Dari Credit offered by TDSB for high school students / Dari classes offered by TDSB for elementary students /Importance of mother tongue languages (Dari, Pashto)
21. Other workshops as needed