News and Events
July 2011
January 2011
HLNA IS EXPANDING!
WINDSOR ROTARY CLUB PRESENTS CHEQUE TO HANTS LEARNING NETWORK ASSOCIATION. Pictured (L-R) are Jon Oulton (Rotarian), Sandra Milbury (HLNA Co-Chair), Katharine McCoubrey (HLNA Executive Director), Jonathan Demont (President, Windsor Rotary Club)
The Hants Learning Network Association (HLNA) is expanding. The number of students in Adult Learning Program classes has increased significantly over the past few years, prompting HLNA to seek a larger site. HLNA’s new location at 10 Water Street will open in September 2011 and will provide enough space for three classrooms, a computer lab, and offices.
The Windsor Rotary Club is the first group to provide financial support to assist with HLNA’s relocation and renovation expenses, presenting HLNA with a cheque for $2000 at their meeting on July 4th. Any other groups, businesses, or individuals interested in making a charitable donation to help with the costs of the Hants Learning Network Association’s move are asked to call 792-6754 or email hantslearning@hotmail.com for more information.
Family Literacy Day Celebrated with Family Games Event
Family Literacy Day is celebrated on January 27th each year. This year's official Family Literacy Day theme was "Play for Literacy". To mark the occasion, HLNA hosted a Family Games Day on Saturday, January 29th.
Facilitators from HLNA's HELPP (Hants Early Learners and Parents in Partnership) Family Literacy Program organized activities for the event, which was held in the community room at the Atlantic Superstore in Windsor. A wide variety of board games was available for families to play and facilitators explained how playing such games reinforces what is being taught in the school curriculum by giving children opportunities to practice and learn skills in an entertaining manner.
A table was set up with a number of brochures, tip sheets, and information on other HLNA programs, including HELPP school-based family literacy programs. Staff shared the information with attendees and encouraged them to take materials home. Each family attending was also able to take home some simple games the facilitators had prepared for them, with accompanying instructions and curriculum connections.
The wonderful turn-out provided us with an excellent opportunity to launch this year's "Open the Trunk" story-writing contest and tell participants about the upcoming math workshops and bookmaking program.
Thank you to the staff and volunteers who made the day such a great success!
The Family Games Day event was funded by the Adult Education Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Workforce Development and supported by Atlantic Superstore, Windsor.
HLNA Tutor Honoured at International Literacy Day Celebrations in Dartmouth
International Literacy Day Celebrations are held on September 8th each year to recognize the outstanding achievements of adults who have succeeded in their return to learning. Literacy networks in Nova Scotia have long recognized the crucial role played by volunteers in supporting their Adult Learning Programs. The Skills and Learning Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Workforce Development formally recognizes the valuable work of those volunteers at this celebration. HLNA tutor Margie Spencer was honoured this year with the Patricia Helliwell Volunteer Tutor Award.
The nominees for this award have shown that they have gone above and beyond the call of duty as a volunteer tutor and are deserving of recognition for his/her dedication to community-based learning. Awarded for the first time in 2007, this recognition of excellence is dedicated in the memory of Patricia Helliwell. As a volunteer tutor for fourteen years, Patricia's spirit, compassion and devotion to adult learners provided an enduring role model for all to emulate.
This year's recipient, Margie Spencer, is a resident of Centre Burlington who has tutored for the Hants Learning Network Association since 2004. She is a true life-long learner, returning to community college later in life, where she received her Human Services Diploma. Margie currently works for Hants Community Homes, supporting adults with a wide variety of challenges. She is a former board member of the Hants County Community Access Network - an employment support service for persons with disabilities. Margie's tutor training program was the last such session that Patricia Helliwell facilitated.
Margie's tutoring experiences have been very diverse – ranging from helping a young mother with reading and math, to helping a community services recipient get back on her feet. Currently, Margie tutors one man who is working on improving his speaking and reading, as well as teaching math and English to another who wants to complete his G.E.D. Margie is a tremendous source of support to the Hants Learning Network, her friends, family and community. Congratulations, Margie, on this well-deserved award! Karen Ferguson (HLNA Tutor Coordinator), Margie Spencer (HLNA Tutor), Sandra Milbury (HLNA Board Co-chair)
