As Canada comes to depend more and more on immigrants for economic growth, the quick integration of newcomers becomes an economic, as well as a social, necessity. Almost all urban schools have some newcomers, and even rural schools are receiving a growing number. They come from many countries and experiences, which makes generalizations tricky. A good way for school staff to understand newcomer experiences, and how newcomers may understand them, is to consider the differences between the school systems in first countries and the Canadian school system. Most newcomers know how to be successful in the education system in their first country. Since 1999, to qualify as a skilled worker immigrant (about 60 percent of all newcomers), the principal applicant in each family is required to have at least an undergraduate degree, and many have graduate degrees. This article discusses how school staff can help new families build bridges between their understanding of what it takes to be successful in school in their first country and what it takes to succeed in the Canadian school system.