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Tutor Training
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All of our volunteer tutors are required to complete a free, three-part training.
July Training:
July Tutor Training will take place at the 8th floor conference room of the Self-Help Building in Greensboro.
Orientation:7/13 5-7pm
Session I: 7/14, 5-8pm
Session II: 7/19, 5-8pm
For more information or to register, please
email us or call (336) 230-2223.
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Upcoming Events
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Student & Tutor Celebration
August 16, 6-8pm at
Market Street United Methodist Church in Greensboro
Join us for dinner and an awards ceremony as we celebrate the stars of Reading Connections--our students and tutors.
Transportation from High Point Public Library will be provided.
SCRABBLE 2016
Reading Connections' 2016 SCRABBLE Challenge event will be held this fall. Please check our website, newsletter, and Facebook for more information. We look forward to a fun event!
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Reading Connections NEWSFLASH
June 2016
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We hope you are having a wonderful summer so far! Every month we look forward to sharing Reading Connections news and community happenings to keep you in the loop and well connected.
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Successful Breakfasts to Celebrate 25
Years
Over 400 guests, staff and Board of Directors attended the recent Greensboro and High Point Literacy Leadership Breakfasts to help celebrate our 25th anniversary! In addition to celebrating the foresight of our founders, we were able to join together as community to
 celebrate the achievements of our students and the service of our tutors and volunteers. The outpouring of community support through event attendance, sponsorships and donations created two successful fundraising events that pushed the agency into the black for the year.
Nadia Zaraf and Timothy Striblin were the featured speakers in Greensboro while Luz Pazo and Diana Marsh inspired us all in High Point. Each one spoke about how literacy had improved their lives and enabled them to move toward their passions. Diana Marsh shared the joy she now feels as a student at Winston Salem State University and the remarkable journey she took through Reading Connections. Her tutor encouraged her to challenge herself to a higher
standard, making all the difference in her life as she knew it.
The presentations struck a chord with Kem Ellis, Board Chair, who remarked, "I feel a new sense of purpose about the work of the agency having heard from our speakers and the amazing work being done every day to change lives." With the motivation from successful students, a chance to interact with other community leaders, and a captivating agency video, it was truly a day to remember.
 Thank you to each guest that attended our breakfasts. Please
view our agency video and share it with friends. We think they will find it meaningful as well.
Special thanks for those who helped in the planning and preparation, as speakers or as table captains. It would not have happened without you! Nancy Vaughan, Shirley Frye, Dottie and Phil Johnston, Jim Morgan, Kem Ellis, Rev. Dr. Claire Robinson, Rabbi Andy Koren, Mena Parrish, Barbara Coughlin, Rebecca Blomgren, Boo Stauffer, Dale Meltzer, Nancy Hoffmann, Amanda Patty, Jim Kennedy, Linda Williams, Rudy Clark, and Linda Anderson.
We'd also like to thank our sponsors who helped to make the breakfasts possible:
Cone Health,
LeBauer HealthCare,
Kayser-Roth Corporation, LeBauer HealthCare, The Social Impact Foundation, LeBleu Bottled Water, Printery, Wyatt Early Harris Wheeler LLP, Smart Choice, 1618 Seafood (in kind), J.H. Adams Inn (in kind).
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Thank You to the Rotary Club of High Point
The Rotary Club of High Point presented Board Chair Kem Ellis with a $1,000 donation for Reading Connections. Many of the members also attended our High Point Breakfast on June 2. We want to thank the High Point Rotarians for their continued support.
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ESOL Student Earns Citizenship
 Congratulations to Greensboro ESOL student Lordes Pineda who became a U.S. citizen on May 20. Lords had attempted twice before to pass her interview before successfully earning her citizenship last month. The officer asked her if she was taking English classes and she replied, "Yes, at Reading Connections." She believes her improved conversation skills helped her pass this time. We are very proud of Lordes!
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Small Group Reading Books Available
Did you know that you can request novels for students at no cost to you or the program?
 Reading Connections partners with Appalachian State University for
literacy support via our work within the NC Community College System. For a complete list of books we can order, please visit their website. Books can be ordered in a range of grade levels. Check out the new titles, each with a reading grade level equivalent (GLE) between 3 and 4. The books are:
· The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - GLE 3.5
· The Secret Garden - GLE 3.0
· The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - GLE 3.4
· White Fang - GLE 3.2
· The Call of the Wild - GLE 3.8
Reading these books, and others, will help with building skills studentswill need in post-secondary education. They will also help build the skills students need to pass high school equivalency tests as literature remains a significant portion of each reading test. Let your coordinator know which books to order for you!
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Save the Date for This Year's Student and Tutor Celebration
Make plans to join us at our annual Student and Tutor Celebration on August 16. The evening will include a tasty dinner, program, slideshow, awards ceremony, and raffle. We hope this year will be our largest turnout yet. Help us celebrate the many accomplishments of our students and tutors--the stars of Reading Connections!
Student and Tutor Celebration
Date: Tuesday, August 16
Time: 6-8pm
Location: West Market Street United Methodist Church located at
302 W. Market Street in Greensboro
Cost: Free
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Student of the Year Nominations Needed
Each year at our Student and Tutor Celebration, we award a "Student of the Year" trophy to a student in each program. If you work with a student who has exceeded your expectations this year and you would like to nominate him or her for this award, please contact your coordinator or email us at
[email protected]. We need to have all nominations by July 15.
Pictured: Last year's High Point ABE Student of the Year and her tutor
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Calling All Retired Educators!
Reading Connections is seeking child instructors to lead classes during Family Literacy sessions. Instructors will be provided with lesson plans and will be responsible for incorporating additional age-appropriate literacy activities. Sessions will take place in the evenings from 5:30-8:30, beginning in September. If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter to Neisha Washington at
[email protected].
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LeBleu Donates Water Cooler
If you have been in the Greensboro office lately you may have noticed a
new addition to our waiting room. LeBleu Bottled Water has donated a bottom load hot and cold water cooler to Reading Connections. Each month we receive a new supply of 5 gallon water jugs at no cost to us. We appreciate the generosity of LeBleu and everyone has enjoyed the availability of hot and cold water in the office. To learn more about LeBleu, visit their website. |
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Contextualized Health Access Instruction for ESOL students
Reading Connections incorporated a Health Access Initiative Curriculum for ESOL students this year. It includes lessons about understanding what health services are available in our community, along with learning the skills needed to access these services. Students practiced completing a medical history form, identifying what information to have readily available when calling 9-1-1 and determining when to seek care---all of which are extremely important, but often overlooked skills.
High Point Tutor, Kristina Bell says of the experience, "It was a big hit! This material feels especially good to be teaching to them, because it's so relevant to all of their lives. I found out one student does not have health insurance, and all of them thought you should only see a doctor when you're sick. I shared the 211 number with them, which I didn't even know about, and they seemed really appreciative."
We are still collecting our post-assessments, but we have seen outstanding improvements from the tests we have already received. We are so excited to continue offering this curriculum and growing the depth of information it covers in 2016-2017. We even have a guest speaker who will provide CPR training for students.
If you or someone you know has relevant skills and would be interested in being a guest speaker, contact Anna Ridener.
Pictured are Kristina and two of the many students she serves.
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Our mission is to provide and advocate for free, individualized adult literacy services to promote life changes for Guilford County residents and surrounding communities.
We always welcome your questions and feedback. Please don't hesitate to contact us to hear more about how our programs are making a difference in our community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Gore, Executive Director
Reading Connections, Inc.
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