LCoM Literacy Blog- April 2015

LITERACY CENTER NEWS


Have you heard about the Great Give? Will you help the Literacy Center of Milford?

The Great Give® 2015 is a 36-hr online giving event starting 8:00 am on May 5th. Every gift to participating nonprofit organizations will be amplified with matching funds provided by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Valley Community Foundation and other generous community sponsors.

That means your dollars will be matched, which means twice as many books, more classes, extra programs! Will you save the date and help us on May 5? Every little bit helps. Many thanks!
GREAT GIVE

Sandy Hook Mom Scarlett Lewis Speaks about Forgiveness and Compassion at Book Fair for Literacy Center of Milford

Milford, CT,  April 21, 2015 – In partnership with The Literacy Center of Milford, and Milford’s One City, One Story’s Kindness Campaign, Scarlett Lewis, author of Nurturing Healing Love, and founder of  the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation, will sign copies of her book on Friday, May 8 at 7 pm at Barnes & Noble, 1375 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460. Her son, JT, will discuss raising funds to assist young Rwandan survivors attend college through their Choose Love Foundation. Jesse Lewis, a first grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was killed during the tragedy after he directed his friends to safety.

Tami Jackson, Executive Director of The Literacy Center of Milford, will host a variety of craft activities from 5 to 7 pm. In keeping with One City, One Story’s Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and its main character Auggie’s passion for Star Wars, children can create a Star Wars mask. Because Jesse Lewis had a keen interest in ducks, children can also make duck masks and puppets. Members of Foran High School’s Key Club will assist children at the craft stations. They will also provide face painting.    

Pirate and Super Hero crafts will be available because Brian, of The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig, likes drawing comics about “greedy pirates battling space aliens, and superheroes with the power to make friends everywhere.” Additional activities are: an Acts of Kindness Tree and Create a Kindness Jar.  

A mask parade is at 6:30 pm and a raffle is 6:45 pm. The Invisible Boy will be read at 5:30 pm and an excerpt from Wonder at 6 pm.

The Literacy Center of Milford will receive a portion of the book fair sales. Customers should present a book fair voucher or mention that they are with the book fair when making a purchase.

 

Volunteer to become a Tutor

A wonderful opportunity for you can make a difference in someone else’s life!  Did you know there are more than 25,000 people in Milford, Stratford and West Haven without a high school diploma?  Did you know there are more than 3,400 adults who are not fluent in English and there are 57 non-English languages spoken in these cities?   (Data taken from the Milford, Stratford and West Haven School District Strategic School Profile, 2012-2013)

The Literacy Center of Milford offers five-week volunteer TUTOR TRAINING classes in ESL (English as a Second Language).  

Classes start Tuesday, May 5, 6:00 – 8:30

There is a $20 fee for course materials. Knowledge of a foreign language is not necessary. All prospective volunteer tutors will be interviewed in advance.  For further information, call The Literacy Center office between the hours of 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 203-878-4800.

Additionally, if you are interested in working with students preparing for their GED (General Equivalency Diploma) examination, or prefer to help adult students with basic literacy skills, call the Center’s office for an interview.

The Literacy Center of Milford is part of the ProLiteracy network of adult basic education and literacy programs. ProLiteracy is working with its member programs to raise awareness of available ESL services.

UPCOMING EVENTS

April
Volunteer Appreciation Month
29- Multicultural Celebration

May
5-6 Great Give
8- Barnes and Noble Bookfair- Guest speaker, Scarlett Lewis

July
11- Neon Night Run– Milford Rotary/Fowler Pavilion

September-
TBA- Tutor Training Classes begin, 5 weeks.
TBA- Computer Class

November
6- Masquerade Ball, Costa Azzurra Restaurant

English Classes
Monday, 7:15 pm- Conversation Class
Tuesday, 9:30 am- Advanced Class
Tuesday, 6:30 pm- Intermediate Class with child care
Wednesday, 12:30 pm- Intermediate Class
More information on one on one tutoring.

Computer Classes
May 6, 13, 20, 27
Call to sign up, 203-878-4800



Looking for some ideas to help with your student. 
Check back regularly for tips to help with your teaching.


Thank you, Milford Pediatrics for your support in continuing the Books for Babies and Books for Toddler program with the Literacy Center of Milford.  For almost 20 years we have been providing new books to babies and children when they are born and on their first birthday at Milford Hospital.  With recent changes, our program has come to an end.  

Children will continue receiving books when they come for their first check up and on their first birthday.  THANK YOU MILFORD PEDIATRICS!  


 Ways to Support our
Literacy Programs!

Consider choosing the Literacy Center of Milford
on Amazon Smile
A donation is made to the Center with
every purchase you make!  WOW, How easy is that?



Or visit Helping Hands in Orange when dropping off your donated items and choose the Literacy  Center of Milford.  A donation will be made from the sale of your donations when you choose LCoM.


Or go to Chari Deal and save big with great
Coupon Deals and support the
Literacy Center of Milford.