Here are excerpts from our March '99 newsletter.
Prospects welcomes new staff members
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Greetings to all and Happy New Year! We hope you had a relaxing holiday season and now are back to working with your student this brand new year.
We have just completed two workshops on January 30. The Spelling Made Easy and the Writing for the Reluctant Writer workshops were featured. Please make a note that we are offering a Sound It Out: Phonics Strategies workshop starting on March 2 that will run for 4 consecutive Wednesdays until March 23. This workshop will be the last in the Additional Tutor Training series until the fall. If you would like to attend, please sign your name on the sheet provided on the bulletin board in the Learning Centre or give Prospects a call and we'll do that for you.
We will soon be welcoming new tutors to the next Basic Tutor Training session. The Orientation Session will be on Tuesday, February 23 and then Saturday, February 27 and Saturday, March 6 will feature reading and writing strategies. If you feel you would like to attend the orientation session or any or all of the Saturday workshops to refresh yourself, please give Prospects a call.
On Tuesday, April 27 we will be honoring our hardworking volunteers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held at the Faculty Club on the University of Alberta campus. There will be more information sent out to you in the near future so please try and keep that date clear! Bouquets of thanks always go out to all our volunteers for their commitment and hard work, the staff and students really appreciate you.
- Lana Olsen
Mentor Training Workshops
Maureen Sanders and I have been working on a collaborative mentor training programme with Big Sisters and Big Brothers. A number of schools in Edmonton have expressed a strong need for individual mentors for elementary school students. Staff at Big Sisters and Big Brothers recruit and screen volunteers for the programme, and Maureen and I provide the mentor training.
Our first workshop was back in November 1998, and the second one is set for Saturday, February 27, 1999. The workshops focus on how mentors can become tutors by reading and writing with their students. During the workshops, mentors are also provided with a practical handbook that includes a list of resources and strategies to help them develop a variety of reading and writing activities.
We had very positive feedback on the first workshop and are looking forward to working with the second group of mentors at the end of February.
- Maureen Kendrick
Aboriginal Literacy And Parenting Skills (LAPS) Training Workshop
The bitter winds of a cold winter day did not discourage 21 people from attending the Aboriginal LAPS Training workshop held at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre on December 7, 1998. Participants came from a wide variety of organizations, some from out of town. From Edmonton, the Red Road Healing Society, Bent Arrow, Metis Child and Family Services, Native Counselling Services, the Kara Family Support Centre, and the Young Offenders Centre sent people. Lobstick Successful Kids and Families from Wildwood, AB and Brighter Futures from Stony Plain sent people; and one community worker travelled all the way up from Edson.
Laureen MacKenzie and Elaine Cairns facilitated the workshop. Elaine and Laureen, who are from Bow Valley College in Calgary, are the people who developed the LAPS programs - Aboriginal, ESL and mainstream LAPS.
The workshop opened with a smudging and a prayer given by Theresa Bebamikawe, a participant and an Elder. I spoke about the importance of the Pre-Session in the Aboriginal LAPS program. The Pre-Session describes the impact of European settlement on First Nations and talks about the present-day situation of Aboriginal people. Then the workshop was underway. It lasted for a day and a half. At the end, people were very pleased with what they had learned.
People also enjoyed the small group discussions, the role-playing, the relaxed atmosphere and the chance to network and share experiences with colleagues in community and social work. Everyone got a copy of the wonderful manual Laureen and Elaine put together, with its many pages of activities, stories, cartoons and oh yes, useful parenting information.
I would like to thank Maureen for giving me the time to coordinate this workshop. A personal thanks as well to my partner Gordie Thomas, my dad Frank Crozier and good friend Tony Reid for helping me carry tables, boxes of books, and sundry other items to the Friendship Centre and back to Prospects.
- Colleen F. Crozier
Family Literacy Day
On January 27, Edmonton joined other towns and cities across Canada in celebrating the country's first Family Literacy Day. Mayor Bill Smith encouraged all families to spend at least 15 minutes that day sharing a story or writing
to a loved one.
We, at Prospects, were very busy preparing for this day, having asked Mayor Smith to make the proclamation. With the help of many of the staff and several volunteers, we distributed flyers about family literacy to 40 schools surrounding Prospects to be sent home with school children from Kindergarten to Grade 3. A short message encouraging parents to read to their children was displayed on electronic signs around the city, and media releases were sent to newspapers, TV and radio stations in Edmonton. We also worked with the Capital Health Authority to distribute approximately 60 Books for Babies bags to all moms whose babies were born on January 27.
As a result of all this activity, Maureen Sanders and Colleen Crozier were interviewed by The Edmonton Journal, stories appeared in The Edmonton Examiner and several people heard the message about family literacy on radio stations. The book bag distribution received the most coverage. Maureen Sanders and Dr. Ruth Hayden were shown on the evening news on CFRN, CBC and the A Channel, distributing book bags to new moms at the Misericordia Hospital and speaking about the importance of reading to children from an early age.
As a result, we have had several calls from people interested in learning more about family literacy and the programs at Prospects. We also anticipate having more coverage in the newspapers as The Edmonton Journal and The Edmonton Examiner both expressed interest in promoting literacy and asked to be kept informed about our programs.
We would like to express our thanks to two special volunteers, Brenda Cunningham and Soon Nam Sabulka, who packaged the flyers to be delivered to the schools and then put about 40 book bags together for delivery to the hospitals. Also, Dolores worked tirelessly to help put this event together, while Maureen Kendrick and Theone volunteered their own time to deliver the flyers to the schools. Without everyone's help, this event would not have been the success it was.
- Diane Wozniak
Prospects' Planning Day
Perfect attendance! All of the Board of Directors and all of Prospect's staff spent an entire Saturday making plans for the coming year. By 9 o'clock on a snowy January morning, they were working hard to organize Prospects for 1999.
Prospects is growing and changing as Family Literacy programs increase. We updated our Mission Statement, which tells the community what Prospects does, and our Vision, which explains what we plan to do in the next 3-5 years.
Plans for the year are made in the form of goals. People are assigned tasks and deadlines are set so each goal is achieved. These goals relate to all parts of Prospects - clients, volunteers, staff, finance, administration, special projects and training. The Board reviews the goals over the year to be sure work is ongoing and on track.
Planning Day included time for learning about literacy issues and sharing information about Prospects' programs.
- Lynda Tutty
Happy New Year to everyone!
I encourage everyone to take some time to browse through the library and see the wonderful work Stephen and Ginny have been doing to organize the materials. At times you may see signs requesting certain materials not be taken out or moved. This is to help keep the computer-entered materials from getting mixed up with other materials during the cataloguing process.
After meeting with staff, it was decided to waive the proposed fine schedule for now. You will be contacted either by the front desk or through a telephone call if a book is overdue. Please continue to be prompt when returning or renewing your materials.
When checking out library materials, we would like to remind you to please remember to write your first and last name on both the pink card and the pocket date due sheet in the back of the book. Remember there is a 6-week loaning period for all resources excluding tutor materials, where there is a 2-week loaning time.
As of January 1, 1999, please note that any materials not returned after 3 months, without Prospects Library's consent, will be considered lost. To cover the cost to replace lost materials, we have the following fees:
Hardcover Book: $ 25.00
Softcover Book: $ 12.00
Audiovisual: $ 40.00
Taped Book: $ 15.00
We are hoping that lost materials will not be a problem in 1999. If you have any comments or concerns relating to fees or anything else regarding the library, please call Prospects and we'll be happy to discuss them with you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and happy reading!
- Lana Olsen
Christmas Party 1998
We held the Christmas party in the meeting room down the hall this year. The room was wonderfully decorated - the tree in blue and silver. And this year Christina brought a whole bunch of teddy bears from her collection at home. They made the room warm and cozy.
Of course they also went with the activity that Christina did which was making chocolate teddy bears. There were three toaster ovens, so people could make their bears and eat them too. At another table Anne, Lana and Marlene helped folks make angels. Finally two tables were devoted to making boxes out of old Christmas cards. Diane and Colleen directed the box-making.
All in all it was a lovely evening - Santa visited, carols were sung and lots of goodies were eaten.
Flowers for Family Literacy
A fundraising partnership of Prospects and the Junior League of Edmonton.
Friday, June 18 to Sunday June 20.
Lois Hole's pots of flowers for sale in local bookstores and markets. All funds raised support Family Literacy Programs. Plants courtesy of Hole's Greenhouse and Gardens.
Spice of Life
I like to go mountainbiking with my son. We like to go down to the river valley and ride on Sundays. I like to spend time with my son. We have a lot of fun riding our bikes.
We also like to have a picnic. We cook hotdogs on an open fire. They taste great, and we also have Pepsi with our hotdogs. Dylan likes Pepsi very much. I would rather have water, but we can only carry so much. We pick what Dylan likes.
Then after we have finished lunch, we start to ride again. We go up and down the river valley. Once Dylan starts to get tired, we start heading for home. It was a tough day. We will sleep good tonight.
Mark McCarthy
I wish for summer to be here all year around.
Then I could sit outside on the patio and have a coffee and read my book. In the summer there are lots of pretty colorful flowers growing, the trees are full of leaves and the grass is soft and green. In the summer the weather is nice and warm so you do not have to wear heavy clothing. In the summer I always go on holidays with my Mom and Dad.
by Sherrill Jeffery
Smiling, wife, helper and friend
Lover of cooking and caring
Who gives money, caring and help to the mentally handicapped
Who fears heights, some men, killing, spiders and bees
Who would like to see Walt Disney
Who lives in an apartment.
Wilson
Sherrill
Helpful, happy, cheerful, and caring
Lover of shopping, bingo, computers and love
Who gives sharing and caring,
Who fears ghosts, goblins, and jack-o'-lanterns
Who would like to see happy faces
Who lives with her Mom and Dad in a house.
Jeffery
Jean
Friendly, smiling, caring, older person
Lover of food, babysitting, reading
Who gives love, sharing, and hugs
Who fears bees, the dark, and forgetting
Who would like to see Disneyland
Who lives with her Mom.
Bugnet
Karen
Independent, warm, caring, and a wonderful cook
Lover of being a great aunt, being around kids, and volunteer work
Who sponsors for Camp He Ho Ha and cancer and does volunteer work
Who fears sexual abuse, being raped, and assault
Who would like to see the world change
Who would love to live in St. Albert.
Tansem
Vivian
Caring, quiet, busy, and determined
Lover of beaches, sunshine, and family
Who gives love, time, and hugs
Who fears wasps, forgetting, and violence
Who would like to see Bob Dylan, Europe, and Thailand
Who lives in a house in St. Albert.
Ross
The Apartment
At the apartment were an actor and actress. The chores were not done. They were reading a comic book on a chair sitting at the apartment.
Peggi Wilson
An Embarrassing Moment
When I went to work, Ken, my boss, told me to pick a card. It said, "KISS". I was embarrassed. Ken asked, "Do you know what it means?"
Jean Bugnet
The Grandmother
Once upon a time, there was an old grandmother who was shopping in the mall. She was looking for a lamp. She lost her letter at the lamp shop at the mall.
Gregg Morie
My Aunt
I went to see my Aunt Norah's new house. She lives in Olds, and she is very nice to me. She lives very far away. My third name is Norah. She gave it to me. Some day I will go to Olds and have some coffee with her and Mom.
Allison Day