Getting the help you need to settle into a new city can be challenging. It becomes even more difficult if you are new to Canada or don’t speak English. The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) Family Welcome Centre (FWC) is a department dedicated to supporting families settling into Ottawa.
How Can the Family Welcome Centre Help My Family?
We help families with children from Grades 2 to 12 by guiding them through the process of joining the OCSB community.
The Family Welcome Centre Supports Your Child with Skills Assessments and School Registration Assistance
We provide a set of skills assessments to help determine how your child can succeed in our school community. An English-As-A-Second Language (ESL) Teacher will assess your child’s reading, writing and speaking proficiency in English and math.
The Family Welcome Centre Connects You to Community Services
We offer newcomer students and their families essential services through the Multicultural Liaison Officer Program (MLO Program). The MLO Program supports newcomer students, families and schools in establishing respectful relationships to help ensure a successful school experience. The MLO program is part of a partnership between the Ottawa Community Immigrant Settlement Organization (OCISO) and the OCSB.
How Do I Book an Appointment at the Family Welcome Centre?
Before you book an appointment, you will need to register your child. You can register by following the instructions on our registration page.
If the student is 18 years old or older, please access St. Nicholas High School’s website for information on registering with our Adult High School.
Once your child is registered, please contact us Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm to schedule the assessment.
You can reach us to book your appointment by phone at 613-233-5670 or by email at Family.Welcome@ocsb.ca.
If you need help with registration forms or don’t have a device, we can help you during your appointment.
What are the Differences Between the Family Welcome Centre and the International Student Program?
The primary goal of the Family Welcome Centre is to support students and their families in successfully integrating into the community in the long term.
Our International Student Program allows international students to attend any OCSB school and participate in academic studies and extracurricular activities. The program allows international students to improve their English and experience Canadian culture firsthand. Students can study for a period of time or graduate from high school in Canada. You can learn more about the admissions process on the program website.
