With newcomers coming to Portage la Prairie as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis, the Portage School Division is preparing to make the new students as comfortable as they can as they enter into our school system. English as Additional Language consultant Lori Carlson-Judson is working with staff to facilitate that effort.

"I think that it'll be important that we learn and consider that these students will not have bee in the school setting not likely, certainly not a school setting like ours, that they most will have had interrupted schooling. And that could be anywhere from two or more years."

She notes varying situations of each family are being considered and will affect what efforts will be taken to help.

"Some of the older students that arrived have had a school experience, but if a family has been in a family situation for a couple of years, and they have youngsters starting in early years, those children won't have had a school experience before. So, depending what life was like before families before they arrive, that will certainly influence the kinds of support students might need here."

Carlson-Judson says her schedule is quite interesting as well as busy in working with issues like this, as she travels to schools providing strategies and curriculum support with minimal notice.