Producing Academically Successful Students (PASS+)

is a special program which services 34 bilingual students. Gina McPherson, the new program coordinator, explains that the children are tutored for two hours each Monday through Thursday in small groups. The volunteers and staff assist in those academic areas where the parents are not able to help due to language barriers. 

 

 

  

   

 

Many parents have limited English, so they attend our English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class at Union while we work with their children.  Our teachers and volunteers ensure that each child completes his or her homework, and more important, that the child understands the work.  Our teachers plan their lessons to "fill in the gap" for children who don't completely understand the material covered in school.     

 

      

 

We plan activities for the families once a quarter to focus on parent/child interaction. These are designed to model appropriate interaction, specifically by reading stories together that demonstrate the importance of parents' being interested in their children's school work.

 

Gina explains, "I only wish we could secure more funds to expand the program, hire more teachers, and pay them adequately. Then we can serve the many children on our 'waiting list.' " 
      Good Job PASS+ !

 

Seventeen people attended the Nov. 1 Staying Healthy tutor in-service event in Tampa, coming from as far away as Cape Coral, Kissimmee, and Brooksville to try some new student and teacher resources for ESOL students. The training was led by Marti Lane, at right, Adult Literacy Consultant, on behalf of Florida Literacy Coalition.  Tracey Tyber (an ESOL staff member) and Suzanne Conti, a new tutor, attended from UMCM. Attendees represented both volunteer-based and school-based ESOL programs. They received a number of booklets and other health resources in addition to copies of both the student and tutor STAYING HEALTHY books. "I appreciated benefiting from the input from all the other attendees," Suzanne, at left, said.  "The interactive format was extremely helpful to me."
Tutors who missed the event should plan on attending the FLC state literacy conference in Clearwater in May. For conference details, contact Jan Setzekorn, UMCM's Director of Literacy Services, or visit the FLC website at Florida Literacy Coalition.       

                                We are  proud of you, Literacy Team! 

 

A special thank you to Tracey Tyber, UMCM's ESOL Coordinator at Union Street. Tracey helped students write a bilingual brochure about hospitals while they field tested the new Health Curriculum, Staying Healthy.  The Dunedin ESOL volunteers and students assisted in the test project.  

Meet Michelle - PASS+ Volunteer

 

 

 

      

Our sincere gratitude is extended to the generous women of Pasadena Community Church for making the annual Giving Tree Fundraiser a big success again this year. On Oct. 7, UMCM Executive Director Donna Ratzlaff was the guest speaker at the first fall meeting. Donna expressed the importance of Pasadena's continued backing in order to make the many ministries possible and showed a newly-produced 3-minute DVD about the new and continued outreaches.               

of items for Ditty Bags at the In-Gathering in Hudson on Oct. 25. Ditty Bags are filled with personal items which are distributed to the area's homeless, indigent workers and less fortunate during the cooler months.  

 

We welcome volunteers for Ditty Bag Sorting Day on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Union Street. Work begins at 9:30 AM runs till 2:30 PM or until the job is done. Come for a couple of hours or stay the whole time, whatever fits your schedule. We'll be taking the Ditty Bags and personal items that are gathered and donated by our wonderful UMW units and then we will prepare them for delivery and distribution. 

 

For more information, contact Pam Qualls, Coordinator of Church Relations, Volunteers and Special Projects, pam.umcm@verizon.net or 727-442-4661

  

On Oct. 4, the men of Anona UMC in Largo, arrived at the campus of the Children of the World Preschool to tackle the "honey-do" list. The volunteer day was organized and coordinated by Jess Slinkard.  He recruited his son, Jess Slinkard Jr. and Curt Howard for painting, carpentry, and installation of our security system.  

 

 

 

  

 

Top:  Jeff Slinkard Jr.,  Left: Curt Howard,  Right: Jeff Slinkard Sr. and Jr.

 

                                                            

    

May you have yours have a Blessed Holiday Season as you have blessed each and every one of us within the UMCM Family!

Sincerely,  

Donna Ratzlaff 

Executive Director