M a y 2 0 1 8 | V o l u m e 1 5 | I s s u e 9
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News From Literacy Nova Scotia
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A Message from Jayne Hunter, Executive Director
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(L-R): Karl Francis-Williams, LNS Board Chair Danny Cavanagh, LNS Executive Director Jayne Hunter and Nicole Webb at the Legislative Library, Province House on April 5, 2018. Karl and Nicole gave speeches at the Adult Learners' Week Celebration at Halifax Central Library later in the day.
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Here are photos from our Adult Learners' Week Celebration on April 5, 2018.
We are gathering information from practitioners to determine what training you need to support learners who exhibit signs of mental illness. We’ve extended the survey until May 16th to ensure you have time to give your input. We want to hear from as many practitioners as we can! I am also holding a few focus group sessions over the next couple of weeks. Something we’ve already heard about is the need for self care. There is a free webinar by Charity Village on May 17th you may want to sign up for. We will also post the recording in the LNS Resource Hub.
Learners in your programs have an opportunity to apply for $500 NSPGI awards. The deadline is May 18th. We’ve had discussions around the criteria of “attendance”. We believe “meeting milestones” may be a more appropriate criteria. Let us know what you think.
Literacy Nova Scotia will be holding its AGM on June 15th. There is vacancy for a learner representative on the board of directors. A learner representative is someone who has been, or is currently, in an adult learning program. It’s important that we have learners’ perspectives to guide our work. The notice of the AGM with proposed bylaw changes will be sent to the membership later this month.
Mark your calendars! The PD Conference will be held on November 15th and 16th in Truro.
The weather is getting nice and it’s a great time to be active. We’re looking for people who would like to walk or run in the Bluenose Run. We have some free registrations available. Contact me if you are interested. And it’s golf season! We’re looking for golfers and sponsors.
If you would like to support the work of Literacy Nova Scotia, you can get involved by participating in the upcoming fundraisers: ScotiaBank Bluenose Charity Challenge, NSPGI: Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament for Literacy, or by donating.
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What's New
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LNS Annual General Meeting and Call for Board Nominations
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LNS Annual General Meeting: Friday, June 15th at 5:00pm, NSCC Truro
Call for Board Nominations: LNS is looking for new learner representatives on its Board of Directors. There are three learner representative positions open for new nominations. Please note, two current learner representatives have agreed to have their name stand for re-nomination. These positions will be filled at the AGM on June 15th. Submit your nomination by May 23rd, 2018 at 4:30pm. Read more
LNS Board Nomination Form
LNS Board Acceptance Form
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Survey: Practitioner Training Mental Health Module
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Practitioners, we need to hear from you! We are developing a Mental Health Module as part of the Practitioner Training Program. What do you need included in this training module to help your learners achieve their learning goals? The survey will be available until May 16th. Don’t miss out on giving your input. This survey will take approximately 15 minutes.
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Opportunities for Learners
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Opportunities for Practitioners
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Opportunities for Organizations
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It’s a new fiscal year and time to put in your requests!
IT Fund: $13,000 is available. Community based learning organizations can apply for up to $1,000 per year. Funds are to be used for equipment and resources necessary for the delivery of NSSAL’s Adult Learning Program. This can include computers, printers, software, laptops, ipad minis, and assistive technology software. Technical support will be considered and cell phone expenses may be considered. Read more information on criteria and application process. Funds provided by LAE.
Is there a PD opportunity that would benefit your learning organization? Apply to the PD Fund. You can read about what others have learned through training funded by the PD Fund. All practitioners (tutors, instructors), coordinators, and board members are eligible for funding up to $1000 per year for professional development relevant to their role at their community-based learning network.
Computers for Schools: Does your learning organization need refurbished computers? We offer our LNS members laptops, computers, printers, monitors, keyboards, cables, etc. Place your orders today.
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Events
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Teen Read Week |
May 1 - 7, 2018
Teen Read Week is a celebration of teens and their contributions to the public library community, and allows public libraries to highlight the services, collections and programs they offer youth in Nova Scotia. Read more 
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The 14th Annual Literacy Mile |
Saturday May 5, 2018 from 1:00 to 3:00pm, starting at 49 Commercial St, Kentville
The Literacy Mile event supports the literacy needs of Annapolis Valley residents. There will be refreshments for sale, live music, silent auction, and activities for the whole family. All proceeds raised go toward supporting local literacy and English as an additional language programming. Read more
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Nova Scotia Works Job Fair |
Wednesday May 16, 2018 from 10:00am to 3:00pm, Halifax Forum Multi-Purpose Centre
There will be representatives from over 60 employers in attendance. Free Admission.
Read more
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Frontier College's National Forum on Literacy and Health: Live Webcast |
Thursday May 17, 2018 from 12:00 to 4:30pm, The Commons Room, Atlantica Hotel, Halifax NS
Frontier College's national forum will examine the role of literacy as a determinant of health, and how the stigma surrounding low literacy, and medical systems and practices that assume strong literacy skills may impact a person’s ability to make use of the health services they need.
Read more
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Webinar: Benefits of a Diverse Workplace Culture |
Thursday May 17, 2018, 2:00 - 4:00pm
Learn how to develop a diverse workplace culture to enhance your organization’s success.
Register
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Webinar: Leveraging Your Workplace Culture |
Friday May 18, 2018, 9:00 - 11:00am
This webinar explores the question, “What can help make us a more immigrant-friendly workplace?”
Register
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Webinar: The Importance of Self Care |
Thursday May 17, 2018 from 2:00 to 3:00pm AT
It’s easy to burn out in the nonprofit sector. To accomplish our missions, we need to care a lot about people and the world itself, but sometimes we run out of energy because we fail to look after ourselves first. This session will focus on individual and organizational self care in the nonprofit sector.
Register
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Scotiabank Blue Nose Charity Challenge |
Saturday May 19, 2018 in Halifax NS
Join Team LNS and walk, run or wheel the Lifemark 5k race on May 19th in Halifax! Your participation in this exciting fundraiser will help ensure that Nova Scotians have access to literacy, essential skills, and lifelong learning programs.
Read more
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Webinar: Check for Understanding with Book Creator |
Wednesday May 30, 7:00pm AT Participants will explore ways students can “show what they know” across subject areas when creating ebooks with Book Creator, a free ebook app.
Register
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Webinar: The Whys and Ways of Assertiveness at Work |
Thursday May 31, 2:00 to 3:00pm AT Whether you have an outgoing or a shy disposition, there are skills you can develop to help you more effectively and authentically express yourself in a variety of work and life situations.
Register
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How We THRIVE Conference |
June 17 - 20, 2018 at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax NS
How We THRIVE is a four-day learning institute that weaves together big-picture thinking, hands-on learning streams, visits to the community, mindfulness, and lots of creative engagement.
Read more
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NSPGI 2018: Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament for Literacy |
Monday June 18, 2018 at Fox Harb'r Resort in Wallace, Nova Scotia
Register now for our biggest annual fundraiser and enjoy a fabulous day of golf, fun, friendship, food and entertainment at one of Nova Scotia's premiere golf courses! You will be inspired by the success stories of our NSPGI Learner Award recipients, who changed their lives by returning to learning. Net revenue raised at the NSPGI stays in Nova Scotia and will be used by LNS to support adult learners. Read more Sponsorship Opportunities Available
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Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities |
August 20 - 22, 2018 at the University of Prince Edward Island
The Institute offers plenaries, panel discussions and workshops designed to develop a whole society approach to promoting child and youth mental health in Atlantic Canada. Subsidies are available to participants from Atlantic Canada attending the full program. Apply by June 1. Read more
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In The News
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100 Men Annapolis Valley Donate $10,000+ to Literacy Nova Scotia |
100 Men Annapolis Valley selected Literacy Nova Scotia as the recipient of donations at their event on April 10, 2018. The $10,600 cheque was presented to LNS Executive Director Jayne Hunter, who spoke at the event. Read more
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ISANS Using Literacy App to Accelerate Refugee Children's English Reading Skills |
Children from newcomer families are learning to read English letters and words faster by using a literacy app at ISANS children's centres. Squiggle Park is a reading game created by a Halifax start-up in 2015 to help accelerate kids' reading skills in only 30 minutes of weekly play. Read more
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Survey: ‘Soft Skills’ and Development of a ‘Soft Skills’ Framework in Canada |
This survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete, and all answers will be kept confidential. It includes questions on your perspectives as well as an opportunity to indicate interest in participating in a planning session to be held in August 2018 to develop a ‘soft skills’ framework. The results of this survey will be shared on the Futureworx website in September 2018.
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Resources
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Scholastic Teachables |
This website offers a colection of printable worksheets, clipart, lessons and mini books that teachers can try out free for 30 days. Resource
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ESL Literacy Readers |
This is a collection of forty theme-based readers (audio and printable), along with an instructors guide. Resource
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Catching Confidence in Maths |
This grid tool helps learners set goals and track changes in their confidence with learning math skills. Resource
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Handwriting Worksheet |
This resource creates printable worksheets for practicing printed and cursive writing. Resource
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Newsletters
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