BSLN Tutor and Instructor Training starts March 23rd

BSLN will offer the NS Department of Education Tutor Training program with instructor Allan Banks beginning March 23rd. This ten-week (30 hours in total) course provides literacy tutors with practical advice and tools to teach adults basic reading, writing, math and life skills. The course will take place at Basinview School, 273 Basinview Drive, Bedford on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 PM. Space is limited and volunteers already working as tutors with BSLN are given first seats. To register for this excellent training opportunity, call 869-3838.

BSLN Honour Roll

Many thanks to the following individuals and organizations for their support of BSLN activities: David Peverill of Acadia Recreation Hall for providing us with daytime program space there.

BSLN tutor Allen White for providing technical support for (amongst other things!) the production of our newsletter. Diane Swanzey, Rosemary Jost, Karen Harding, Ethel Cunningham, Avril Lewis and Jeanette Holland- Jones for donating their time or door prizes to the Winter Party.

The staff of the Bedford and Sackville branches of the Halifax Public Library for their support including use of space in which to run BSLN programs.

Jane Welling and the staff of the Bedford Superstore for providing the community room for BSLN activities and the $100 Superstore voucher which is very much appreciated.

Wendy Christmas, Liz Doirion and Janice Kidd, staff of the Royal Bank of Canada for arranging the generous donation of $500 to support BSLN programs.

Bedford Place Mall and the Sunnyside Mall for providing free space for BSLN displays during Literacy Action Week and Family Literacy Day.

John Slor and everyone at The All Saints Bedford Players for offering us the opportunity to sell tickets to a performance of Murder at the Howard Johnson's as a fundraiser for BSLN.

Reflections on Six Years with BSLN by Avril Lewis
My involvement with BSLN began in 1998. Not quite sure what lay ahead, I began teaching a class of eight learners two evenings a weekat sackville High School. There were just two possible classes, two instructors and no more than 15 learners attending classes in a week. Soon a classroom tutor began helping out. In those six years, the number of learners, classes, instructorsand tutors have multiplied. The Network does so much more now. The members of that first class had me hooked imediately with their zest for learning. They had the courage to come forward and face their difficulties even though they had often faced frustration in school. As I taught them, they in turn shared their knowledge and talents. Although I am not teaching now, I always feel confident in telling anxious newcomers that the class will make them feel just as welcome as they made me feel. Soon the quietest person person is smiling, speaking up and reading aloud. It is good to know that as we have grown, some of the best things about the Network have stayed the same.