News & Views March April 2007

News & Views www.nald.ca/thelearningexchange/ Issue 36

Editor/Layout Designer Darlene Brown

March/April 2007

HOW TO CONTACT US

Adult Learner’s Week

Darlene Brown Executive Director

Darlene Brown Executive Director

Karen Mockler Administrative Assistant

The Adult Learner’s Week has helped to foster the desire and develop possibilities for lifelong learning for all adults in Quebec. Starting March 24th, 2007, major events will be taking place all across Quebec to honour 1001 ways to learn! Look for notices around the school to join the celebration through local activities.

Jacklyn Freedman-Spector Communications Director 3200 Souvenir Blvd. room D-110 Chomedey Laval, Quebec.

Phone: 450-688-2933 ext. 3126 Fax: 450-688-8125 E-mail: [email protected]

Adult Learner’s Week is March 24th to the 30th TLE Celebrates our students’ efforts and achievements!!

Web site: www.nald.ca/thelearningexchange/

Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 15th to the 21st TLE thanks all of our wonderful volunteers for their time!!

Excellence in Literacy

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: President’s Message

2

From the E.D.’s Desk

2

Karen’s Corner

2

Family Literacy Fun

3

Adult Literacy Awards

3

Book Club News

3

Computer Tip

3

Kate’s Library Update

4

Website Redesign

4

Gift of Reading

4

March Calendar

5

April Calendar

6

Lakeshore Players Theatre Benefit… Thank you!! Darlene Brown Executive Director

What a fun evening! The LakeShore Player’s production of “Sinners” was a wonderful success! I’d like to thank Literacy Unlimited for all of their help, everyone from The Lakeshore Players for supporting our organization, and all of our TLE members who helped make the evening a success, especially Beverly Beauchamp, Beth Green, and Mona Arsenault. A big thank you to our members, family, friends, and colleagues who supported The Learning Exchange through donations and by purchasing tickets for the evening. Thank you!! Until you next year...?!!!!

TLE Literacy Sponsors &

Supporters: •

MERCK FROSST EMPLOYEES’ CHARITY TRUST FUND

•

LAVAL ROTARY CLUB

•

CANADA POST

•

CASCADES FINE PAPER GROUP

•

LIBRARIE RAFFIN

President’s Message Donna Adrian President

A mind that has been stretched will never return to its original dimension. ~Albert Einstein After seven weeks at sea, my head is filled with images: the white sand beaches of the Caymans and Uruguay; howler monkeys playing in the rain forest in Costa Rica; the Indians of Panama living as they did centuries ago; the pyramids and ruins of Peru; the scenery: deserts, mountains lakes, volcanoes, and rivers - spectacular. Antarctica was beyond my dreams. Its snow-capped ice-covered mountains, with glaciers stretching from mountain tops down to the ocean - brilliant blue in colour- waterfalls tumbling down from the melting ice, fjords paced with sea ice, ice floes with penguins and seals on them, huge icebergs many times larger than the ship, inspire awe and wonder. I have experienced earthquakes, a hurricane, rogue waves, storms, high seas, gale force winds and beautiful weather. Although I speak no Spanish, a smile "hola" and thanks "gracias" has helped me "talk" to people in Peru, Chile and Argentina. They have, with pride, shown me their towns, parks, churches and markets. I know how frustrated I was, not being able to communicate easily with the people I met. I respect your determination as students to learn to read and write, and as teachers, to encourage success.

From the Executive Director’s Desk BOOK SALE A book sale will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. near the cafeteria .

Darlene Brown Executive Director

The Quebec English Literacy Alliance (QELA) has a new president...ME! I am honoured to take on the responsibilities of the position and look forward to the challenge. Speaking of which...I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Stephen Shore for all of his work on TLE’s Board of Directors and as a volunteer tutor. Good luck in Ottawa Stephen...we miss you!! Taking his place as newly appointed Treasurer will be Valerie Sauriol. Welcome to the team Valerie!! It’s time to start planning TLE’s Celebration 2007. We’re looking for volunteers/students to help with the planning. A meeting will be held on Tues. March 13th at 1:15. Call Karen if you are interested.

Page 2

TLE Board of •

Donna Adrian

President

•

Mona Arsenault

Past President

•

Christiane Dabbagh

Vice-President

•

Beth Green

Secretary

•

Valerie Sauriol

Treasurer

•

Alice Sroka-Fillion

Director

•

Nancy Pilato

Director

TLE Staff: •

Darlene Brown

Executive Director

•

Karen Mockler

Administrative Assistant

•

Jacklyn Freedman-Spector

Communications Director

•

Diane Richard

Financial Officer

Karen’s Corner Karen Mockler Administrative Assistant

It is always great to have a break in March, the end is near! I would ask tutors once again to please let me know when you change times or rooms for tutoring. If you can’t get in touch with your student to cancel, let me know and I will contact them. Also, this is a good time to start thinking about filling in your tutoring hours sheet and handing them in. Thanks for your help!

NEWS & VIEWS

ISSUE 36

Page 3

Family Literacy Fun Jacklyn Freedman-Spector Communications Consultant

L - R: Nancy Pilato, Effie Maniatis, Beth Green, Beverly Beauvais and Alice Sroka-Fillion

In February, our great Family Literacy team of volunteers read to children from K to grade 4 at Crestview and Souvenir Elementary Schools. Special guests Sir Wilfrid Laurier

School Board (SWLSB) Director General Effie Maniatis, SWLSB Commissioner David McKinley, and Graham Carpenter, Riding Relations for MNA Mr. Thomas Mulcair, dropped by to see our wonderful team in action. Beverly Beauvais, Valerie Sauriol, Beth Green, Alice Sroka-Fillion, Susan Jacobs and Nancy Pilato gave children Raffin bags with either/or a book, pencil and pad, stickers, bookmarks, a TLE brochure and a handbook for parents on suggestions for reading and writing with their children. It is because of the generosity of the Merck

Frosst

Employees’

Charity

Trust Fund that this annual

TLE initiative was possible! Many thanks also goes out to Jack Hannan from Librairie Raffin for the generous donation of book bags and Davy-

Reading fun with Dr. Suess’ The Cat in the Hat at Crestview Elementary School

Belle McMorran for helping with the assembly of the bags.

The Quebec Adult Literacy Awards The Quebec Adult Literacy Awards nominations are now open. This award is a chance for adult learners Deadline to apply is to be recogMarch 23rd, 2007 nized for their courage and determination in learning to read and

write, and for exceptional literacy teachers/tutors to be rewarded for their hardwork. To apply for the Learner’s award, we ask students to share their own personal story of how learning to read and write has changed their lives. This can be in the form of a story, an essay, a poem, or a comic strip. Teachers and tutors of adult literacy can be

nominated for the Teacher/ Tutor award. This is a special way of recognizing the achievements of teachers whose work is so often outside the mainstream. Application forms are on The Centre for Literacy website: www.centreforliteracy.qc.ca, Application deadline is March 23, 2007. Contact TLE if you need help with an application.

will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Multi-Cultural Library. The discussion leader will be DavyBelle McMorran. The next book club meeting will be Tuesday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m.

Our chosen book is THE FOREST LOVER by Susan Vreeland. Wilma Goodman Lo will be the animator and we will be back at The Learning Exchange for this meeting.

Book Club News Beverly Beauvais Volunteer

TLE’s Reading Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 6th to discuss A PAINTED HOUSE by John Grisholm. The meeting

Here’s a great shortcut I’d like to share with all of you…something a student of mine accidentally discovered. Hold down the CTRL button while using the SCROLL button on your mouse (roll it back and forth) and watch what happens!!! You can quickly and easily adjust the view of your screen and size of your document….I love it!!

NEWS & VIEWS

Kate’s Library News Kate Strickland TLE Documentation Technician

We’re on the web! www.nald.ca/thelearningexchange

Workshop News *Minimum of 5 participants required

Learning Links Returns...Again! Monday April 23rd 1:30 to 4 PM and 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM TLE Computer Lab: Room C124B Discover the new website “Learning Links” Take a tour of the site Get ideas for using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Open to tutors, volunteers, teachers and students

Progress continues on the library. Karen has been trained on the data entry process and is now familiar with the style and content criteria in entering new items. Now that there are two of us working on the database, progress will be even faster! Please note that training in how to use this new system will be set after our new web site is ready, so stay tuned for details. In the meantime, weCommittee are looking for volunteers who would be interested Family Literacy meeting: Left to Right: Beth, Davy-Belle, Bevin repairing books. We can arrange some training on book repair erly, Alice and Valerie methods if you desire. If you are interested, please contact Karen and we’ll get you busy giving some of our books the tender loving care that they deserve. We’re also seeking names of volunteers interested in becoming a future TLE library volunteer. Call Karen today!

Web Site Redesign Darlene Brown Executive Director

Tutor Training Continues March 13th and 20th Tuesdays 6:30 to 9:30 TLE Room D-110

Basic Tutor Training Session 4 to 5 Fun and interactive training for new volunteers

I’m pleased to announce TLE’s website is currently being redesigned! I’m looking for feedback regarding the overall look, design and ease of use. If you are interested in giving your opinion just let us know and we’ll add you to the list!

Give the Gift of Reading Yes! I want to help support TLE’s literacy efforts. I’m enclosing my donation of: $10

$15

$20

$25

Name & address of donor:

Other $ ——— *Receipt

Excellence in Literacy 2006/2007 Name & address for gift/donation notice:

*Receipt If you would like to make a gift of literacy in someone’s name or memory please include his/her name and address with this reply card and we will send them a gift/donation notice.

Please return this reply card along with your donation to The Learning Exchange. TLE’s charitable number is 89335 1767 RR 0001. Make cheque payable to The Learning Exchange. *Please indicate with a checkmark which name and address for the receipt. Librarie Raffin

March 2007 The Learning Exchange 3200 boul. du Souvenir, Chomedey, Laval, Quebec. H7V 1W9

Excellence in Literacy

March 8th is International Women’s Day March 21st is World Poetry Day

Sun

4

Mon

Tue

5

6

Centre closed

Book Club 7:30

Wed

7

18

25

Fri

Sat

1

2

3

8

9

10

16

17

International Women’s Day

Spring Break

11

Thu

12

13Social Comm.

14

TLE Centre reopens

meeting 1:15 Tutor Training #4 Workshop 6:30 PM

Bridging the Gap QELA 9 AM

19

20

21

Tutor Training # 5 Workshop 6:30 to 9:30 PM

World Poetry Day 1st day of Spring

26

27

28

DFGA Workshop 9 AM

TLE BOD Meeting 1 PM QLWG Mtg. 9 AM

15

St. Patrick’s Day

22

23

24 Adult Learner’s Week (March 24 - 30)

29QELA Meeting 30

31

9 AM Adult Literacy Awards downtown

Schedule of Events for March 2007 March 6 Book Club: Multicultural library at 7:30 ~ Book club readers March 13 • Social Committee Meeting: room D-110 at 1:15 ~ Interested members and staff • Basic Tutor Training #4: room D-110 at 6:30 PM ~ New volunteers

March 14 Bridging the Gap Workshop: 10:30 - 12:30 PM ~ QELA reps March 20 Basic Tutor Training #5: room D-110 at 6:30 PM~ New volunteers March 24—30 Adult Learner’s Week March 26 DFGA Workshop: TBA ~ Executive Director March 27 • TLE BOD Meeting: room D-110 at 1 PM ~ Executive Director • QLWG Meeting: downtown 9AM ~ Executive Director

March 29

Phone: 450-688-2933 ext. 3126 Fax: 450-688-8125 E-mail: [email protected] www.nald.ca/thelearningexchange

• QELA General Meeting: TBA 9 AM ~ Executive Director • Adult Literacy Awards: downtown 9AM ~ Executive Director

Excellence in Literacy All events are held at 3200 Souvenir blvd. in room D-110 unless otherwise noted. Dates and times may have to change! Please call TLE to sign-up for all events. Remember to check with Karen for any changes!

Page 5

April 2007 The Learning Exchange 3200 boul. du Souvenir, Chomedey, Laval, Quebec. H7V 1W9

Excellence in Literacy

April 15th to 21st is Volunteer Appreciation week

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Centre closed

April Fool’s Day

Good Friday

8

9

10

Easter Sunday

Centre closed Easter Monday

Book sale 11:30 -1 PM Book Club 7:30 PM

15

16

17

TLE Retreat

Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 15 - 21)

22

23

12

13

14

DFGA Reception & Referral Workshop

18

TLE Retreat

19

20

21

25

26

27

28

Blue Metropolis Festival begins

LLC-Q/LVQ Tutor Training Workshop

LLC-Q/LVQ Meeting

Policy & Procedure Committee Meeting 12:30

24

Learning Links Work- SWL Governing shop 1:30 - 4 PM and Board Meeting 5 PM 6:30 - 9:30 PM

29

11

30

Blue Metropolis Festival ends

Schedule of Events for April 2007 April 10 • Book Sale: 11:30 to 1:00 near the cafeteria ~ General public • Book Club: 7:30 PM ~ Book Club Readers

April 12 DFGA Reception & Referral workshop: TBA ~ Executive Director April 14 to 15 TLE Retreat: Hudson/St. Lazare ~ BOD, staff, consultants & PR Team April 18 Policy & Procedure Committee meeting: 12:30 ~ P & P Committee April 23 Learning Links workshop: 1:30 to 4 and 6:30 to 9:30 PM C124B ~ TLE members April 24 SWL governing Board meeting: 5 PM D-128 ~ Executive Director April 25 to 29 Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literacy Festival: Information at: http://bluemetropolis.org

Phone: 450-688-2933 ext. 3126 Fax: 450-688-8125 E-mail: [email protected] www.nald.ca/thelearningexchange

April 26 LLC-Q/LVQ Tutor Training workshop: TBA ~ Tutor Trainers April 27 LLC-Q/LVQ general meeting: TBA ~ Executive Director

Excellence in Literacy All events are held at 3200 boul. du Souvenir in room D-110 unless otherwise noted. Dates and times may have to change! Please call TLE to sign-up for all events. Remember to check with Karen for any changes!

Page 6