In-school Support
The DSBN provides a high level of international student support. The following professionals provide a wide range of supports, including: classroom teachers, ESL teachers, Student Success teachers, Special Education teachers, academic guidance counsellors, settlement workers (who speak the student's language and know the culture), and DSBN student buddies.
Periodic student progress reports are issued by the school and sent to the custodian where the student is a minor, or to the student where he/she is 18 years or over. The custodian communicates regularly with parents about the student's progress and well-being. Where language is a barrier, the school's settlement worker can communicate with the parents.
Custodianship
A custodian must be named for any student who is a minor (under the age of 18 years). The Custodian must be at least 19 years of age and be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who is residing with or within a reasonable distance from the student.
Custodianship requires that legal arrangements be made to give the custodian in Canada permission to act in place of a parent/legal guardian. Custodianship Declaration Form is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website:
- the first page needs to be signed by the custodian and notarized (certified by a lawyer or notary) in Canada
- the second page needs to be signed by the parents or legal guardians of the minor child and notarized in their home country
Two pages of the Custodianship Declaration form must be signed, notarized, and presented to the DSBN Welcome Centre at the orientation/assessment appointment prior to starting school.
Expectations for Roles and Responsibilities of Custodian
Homestay and Student Support Services
Homestay, Custodianship, Airport Transfer, etc.
The DSBN does not provide homestay or custodian services. We encourage families to do their own research and make their own arrangements. Some students and their families choose living arrangements with relatives; others select a student support service provider to coordinate custodianship and homestay arrangements.
In Niagara, there are some student support service providers in the community who regularly provide services for homestay placement and supervision, custodianship for minors, accompaniment to school registration, regular communications with parents, access to healthcare insurance, airport transfers, and arranged group excursions. Please contact the providers below
directly for details and fees.
The DSBN does not recommend any specific student support service provider, as the selection of a service provider is the sole responsibility of the parents. Families may also consult other service providers on their own or use their own resources.