|
|
|
Zainab and Jasim, students at Literacy Source, with their kids (not pictured is their son Jaafar, also a student here!)
|
Welcome to Summer!
It's crazy to imagine that it's only been officially summer for a few weeks, thanks to record setting high temperatures in June! We're definitely in summer mode here at Literacy Source. Not much rest and relaxation for us, however - we welcomed 14 individuals at New Student Orientation last week, and our summer classes kicked off this Monday! Even though the summer term is only 7 weeks long, there will be a lot packed in, including lots of field trips out in the community. It's a great time of year to be out and about!
Thanks to everyone who came out to our solstice celebration party on June 16th. It was very well attended, and as usual, the food everyone brought was top notch! It was so wonderful to take a moment to celebrate our students' achievements and volunteers' contributions. Let's do it again this winter - although it seems so far away!
Read on to find out more about other summer happenings at Literacy Source. Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us!
|
|
|
AmeriCorps Update
|
|
|
 We're so pleased to share that our 2 AmeriCorps members for 2014-15, Lauren Plitkins and Sam Summers, are staying on at Literacy Source! Lauren will be taking on a new role as the coordinator and teacher for our Ready to Work partnership with several Seattle city providers (see below for more information about this program), while Sam has extended her AmeriCorps stint for another year. Lauren and Sam are absolutely delightful, and we are very excited and fortunate that they've decided to continue sharing their talents with us. Stay tuned for a future newsletter where we introduce our new AmeriCorps member starting in September!
|
|
|
 |
|
Job Openings at Literacy Source
|
|
|
We are recruiting for several new positions to help us provide increased opportunities for students. Please check out the full job descriptions on our website - and help us spread the word!
Digital Literacy Coordinator: This new position will provide leadership around our vision to ensure that all adults have the digital literacy skills required to participate in the 21st century workplace. In addition to providing instruction to adult learners, the Coordinator will develop new curriculum and train staff and volunteers. Closes July 13th.
Parent ESL Instructor(s): Our Parent ESL classes were designed to help parents develop the language and literacy skills specific to their needs as parents including navigating the often complex school system, communicating with school staff and other parents, and helping their children at home. The Instructor will teach a multi-level ESL class focusing on the needs of immigrant and refugee parents of children enrolled in partnering Seattle public schools. Closes August 12th.
Adult ESL Tutor/Tech Coach(es): Literacy Source is collaborating with Seattle Central College to provide increased access to technology for immigrants with low levels of English proficiency. The Tutor/Tech Coach will support the integration of digital literacy skills in Seattle Central College multi-level ESL classes held at ACRS and El Centro de la Raza during fall and winter quarter and will recruit, train, and coordinate community tutors to provide additional support for students. Closes August 17th.
|
|
|
|
|
Perfect Attendance in Spring Unit 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elsa and Zeleke (in ESL 4) were quite thrilled to receive their gift cards!
|
Despite the weather being quite beautiful for most of spring, a few of our students still managed to make it to every class in the second half of spring term. We're so impressed with your dedication! Here are the students with perfect attendance in the center from May 11th to June 25th:
Abaynesh Debela
Albert Ward
Almaze Neguse
Anisa Nun
Aseffa Woldeamanuel
Dipa Rana Thapa
Elsa Espinoza
Ken Zhu
Ljiljana Popovic
Mozaffar Karimi
Sam Griffin
Sherrie Thomas
Yu Yao
Zeleke Kebede
Each of them received a $25 gift card to Fred Meyer, thanks to a very generous donor! The perfect attendance incentive will continue for the summer quarter, so please encourage your students to keep coming to classes!
|
|
|
|
|
Volunteer Needs
|
|
|
 We are currently seeking volunteers! To find out more, please attend the next
New Volunteer Orientation (NVO) on Wednesday, August 5th, at 1 pm or 7 pm. You can
sign up online in advance, if you wish. NVOs are always the first Wednesday of each month. If you have any questions, please e-mail
Anne or give her a call at 206-782-2050.
All positions are at the Fremont center (720 N 35th St) unless stated otherwise
One-on-one tutors
(3 hrs a week/2x1.5 hrs, flexible between 9 am-8:30 pm)
- Reading & writing
- Math
- ESL
- Citizenship
One-on-one ESL tutors (2 hrs a week/2x1 hr, Tue and Thu 1:15-2:15 pm - Downtown Seattle Library)
One-on-one digital literacy tutors (starting late September)
- 2x/week, Tue and Thu afternoons and evenings, Spanish speaking preferred - El Centro de la Raza in Beacon Hill)
- 2x/week, Mon and Wed mornings and afternoons - Asian Counseling and Referral Service in Columbia City/Rainier Valley)
Workplace ESL classroom teacher (2 hrs a week/2x2 hrs, Tue and Thu 9-11 am)
Library support (2 hrs a week, flexible between 9 am-8:30 pm)
Student assessment proctors (2-5 hrs, 2x/month)
Mock interviewers (1 hr as needed)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Student Spotlight: Enrique Urizar
|
|
|
Our student spotlight for July is
Enrique Urizar! Enrique is originally from Guatemala, and lived in California for many years before coming to Seattle. When he's not in the evening reading and writing class, he enjoys eating steak and eggs, working on cars, and supporting the Seahawks. Enrique has been a student at Literacy Source since 2012, and is working hard towards getting his GED. He always has a kind word for his teachers and fellow students, and we love having him around!
|
|
|
|
|
Ready to Work Update
|
|
|
This summer, Literacy Source joins the City of Seattle, Seattle Colleges, Homesight, and other partners in providing an ESL class off-site at Asian Counseling and Referral Services in South Seattle. Called Ready to Work, the class integrates English, job skills training, and computer literacy for beginner level non-native English speakers. We are very excited to be part of this pilot program funded by a grant from the Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs. Lauren Plitkins, along with South Seattle College instructor Katherine Thrall, will teach the class Monday-Thursday 9 am-12 pm. We are very excited for this new partnership!
|
|
|
|
|
Help Shape the Future of Literacy Source
|
|
|
Over the last nine months, Literacy Source Board and staff have been learning about community needs, thinking about our unique strengths, and developing a plan for our future. As mentioned in the last newsletter, one of the elements of this plan is to relocate our Learning Center to provide better access for students. Before we put this plan into action, we'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas, and invite you to join our conversation about our role in really addressing low literacy in our community.
Please join us at one of two planned summer focus groups, or contact Lynn to share your ideas:
Wed., July 29th - 1:30-2:30 pm
Tue., August 4th - 4-5 pm
Thank you for being part of the next chapter!
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
|
2nd Annual Brewery Tour
Come hang out with Literacy Source at an upcoming brewery night at
Counterbalance Brewing Company! Proceeds benefit our programs.
Thursday, July 16th at 3-8 pm, 503 S Michigan St
|
|
|
|
Office Hours
|
|
|
Literacy Source is open:
Mon-Thu, 8:30 am-8:30 pm
Friday, appointment only
Upcoming important dates:
Aug. 17-20: last week of summer term
Aug. 24-27: Literacy Source office closed - no staff, classes, and tutoring
Sept. 1 and 3: New Student Orientations, 9:30 am and 5:30 pm
Sept. 14-17: First week of fall classes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
