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Friends of Literacy 

Newsletter

 A publication of
Whatcom Literacy Council
 
May 2014
 

Reaching Out Through Small Group Classes

 Having grown up in East Whatcom, I have seen the disproportion of services offered in rural communities as compared to Bellingham. For those living in the outskirts of the county any simple appointment in town becomes an event that requires special planning, with up to an hour's worth of travel time each way and extra costs to cover gas.  This adds to the barriers and challenges our learners face accessing services.

 

Now that I work at a small non-profit organization that has its main office in Bellingham, I can better understand how much of a challenge it is for service organizations to reach the marginalized members of our community. Many institutions that provide programs cannot set up classes so far away from their main office location because of their own transportation and staff costs.

 

I am very excited to have the valuable opportunity to offer small group classes in rural towns from Maple Falls to Ferndale. It is my priority to organize small group classes where they are needed most, and reach out to those areas that remain underserved. I also strive to arrange classes in places that are accessible and familiar to the public. Some classes are held at libraries, schools or churches. Others are held on-site at local companies for their employees. 

 

BTC Talk Time  

Our classes include: 

  • GED test preparation,
  • citizenship test preparation,
  • English language conversation ("Talk Time"),
  • and basic computer skills. 

Just like all services through the Whatcom Literacy Council, small group classes are free. Learners of all levels and backgrounds are welcome to join at any time, and may attend multiple classes. Class sizes are small (ranging from 5-12) and learners will have the opportunity to communicate directly with the class facilitator.

 
Many learners will find small group classes helpful for further practice outside of their one-to-one meetings. For a current schedule, contact me at 752-8679 or keeley@whatcomliteracy.org

 

 

Keeley Savatgy

Whatcom Literacy Council
Small Group Coordinator
In This Issue
Thank you to Belligham Public Library
Grant Award from the Lummi Indian Business Council
Anniversary Benefit for the Whatcom Literacy Council
Bad Weather Policy
Send Us Your Stories
Quick Links
Links on Literacy

USA Learns is a great way to learn English online by watching interesting videos and completing educational activities.
Tutors - We Need Your Reports!
Just a reminder to all of you wonderful tutors that we need to receive a report from you
each month to keep us up to date on how things are going with your learner.  Please take a few minutes to click here and send us a report on all of the good work you do!
 
Computer Available at Bellingham Public Library
A laptop computer is available at the Bellingham Public Library for tutors to use with learners on-site during tutoring sessions. Please check with the reference librarian on the main floor to check out the computer. You will need to identify yourself as a WLC tutor.
Join Our Mailing List!
Thank you to the Bellingham Public Library
Thank you to the Bellingham Public Library for collaborating with the Whatcom Literacy Council to provide high quality materials for tutors and learners. The Bellingham Public Library Adult Basic Education Collection will now include the following new materials to use with learners studying GED, U.S. Citizenship, English for speakers of other languages and pronunciation.

To browse the collection online go to the Bellingham Public Library home page. Look
for Collections @ Your Library, click on Special Collections, then click on Adult Basic
Education Collection for a list of topics for study and related book lists.

Or click on this link: http://www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org/yourlibrary/specialcollections/AdultBasicEducation.aspx

 

New titles recently added to the Bellingham Public Library Adult Basic Education Collection:

 

ALP:

Journey into Dyslexia DVD

 

GED:

GED Scoreboost for the 2014 Test

Writing for the GED Test

 

Citizenship:

Citizenship Ready for the Interview, Lynne Weintraub

 

English for Speakers of Other Languages:

Side by Side Plus Books 1-4, Stephen J. Molinsky

Foundations, Stephen J. Molinsky

All New Easy True Stories Sandra Heyer

All New Very Easy True Stories, Sandra Heyer

Easy True Stories, Sandra Heyer

 

Pronunciation:

Clear speech from the start (Student and Teacher versions), Judy B. Gilbert

 
 
The Whatcom Literacy Council receives a $10,000 grant from the Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC).

Katherine Freimund, Executive Director of the Whatcom Literacy Council, accepts the award from Tim Ballew II, Lummi Indian Business Council (LIBC) Chair at the Community Contributions awards ceremony on April 18, 2014.

The Whatcom Literacy Council is just one of the many worthy causes supported by the Lummi Nation's Community Contributions program.
Join Village Books and The Atlantics for a celebration at the Boundary Bay Beer Garden, benefiting the Whatcom Literacy Council.

June 18, 2014 at 6:00pm.

Tickets are $35 and includes appetizers, the first beer (or other beverage) and an evening of music by the boogie, pop-rock and blues-playing Atlantics

Tickets are available at Village Books and on BrownPaperTickets.com.

Act now, as there are a limited number of spots!

Doors open at 6:00pm. Music starts at 7:00pm.

All ages until 10:00pm, 21 and over after 10:00pm.
Bad Weather Policy
The Whatcom Literacy Council main office will be closed if Bellingham Technical College (BTC) is closed and/or if Bellingham Public Schools are closed. Please call 360-752-8766 for BTC closure updates. You may also call Bellingham Public Schools at 360-676-6400 to check the status of school schedules.

 

Send Us Your Stories and Photos!

Please send us your stories and/or photos of any accomplishments or experiences that you would like us to highlight in future newsletters.
  
If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at (360) 752-8678 or by email:
 
Katherine Freimund, Executive Director - director@whatcomliteracy.org
Summer Ostlund, English Language Learning (ELL) Coordinator summer@whatcomliteracy.org
Rebecca Creech-Huynh, Interim Adult Learning Program (ALP) Coordinator - becca@whatcomliteracy.org
Keeley Savatgy, Small Group Coordinator - keeley@whatcomliteracy.org
Omar Jordan, Office Support & Events Coordinator - omar@whatcomliteracy.org




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