People are increasingly moving from one country to another, whether it be because of searching for new opportunities to work and study, or less voluntary movements such as fleeing wars and oppression. Upon arrival they become part of a structure in the receiving country, designed to facilitate their integration into the new country. Our study reflects voices from practitioners inside this receiving structure, in an attempt to elucidate some of the opportunities and challenges emerging inside the educational environment and processes concerning newly arrived students. Our contribution to the growing body of research is the case study presented here, in which we interviewed professionals who in some capacity affect the newly arrived students and their time in a school with which we are familiar, as we ourselves work at this school.

Data was gathered in the form of semi-structured interviews conducted with individuals from several tiers of the structure surrounding newly arrived students, from a study counsellor to teachers working directly with students. Results from our findings are analyzed within the socio-cultural perspective, with emphasis on identifying obstacles and our theories on how to overcome them. Our informants expressed both strong commitments to fulfil newly arrived student needs as well as perceived deficits in knowledge and ability to do so.