The Bluewater District School Board is preparing to welcome more children from Syrian refugee families into its school system.
12 children are currently attending Grey Bruce schools, in classes from JK to Grade 12.
Board superintendent Lori Wilder says it's great to see how well they're coping.
"A secondary age student working in a technology class and the teacher said he just has a huge smile on his face whenever he's in the classroom, despite the fact he has limited to zero English. He's doing extremely well," says Wilder.
Wilder adds it's rewarding for Bluewater school staff to see the children with their classmates.
"One little girl in JK, she was speaking Arabic the whole day and she had a little group of kindergarten students following her quite enthralled by that, so it's been exciting for staff and for the students themselves," she says.
Wilder says the children's learning needs are assessed and board has a translator available for the children and their families.
Ten of the 12 children are from a single family now settling into the Port Elgin area. The board is expecting a total of 29 children in it's schools this year.
