October - ARAS - Adult Reading Assistance Scheme

Volume:
Issue:
Phone: 366 9479
Email: aras.ch@xtra.co.nz
98
October 2013
INDEX
Pg 1
Maureen’s Letter
Pg 2
Chairperson’s Letter
Pg 3
“Mr. Pip”
Pg 4
Important Dates
Pg 5
Stan
Pg 6
English
Pg 7
Did You Know?
Pg 8-12 Tutors’ Pages
Pg 13-18 Contributions
Pg 19-21 Puzzles
Pg 22
Bequest Form
Pg 23
Puzzle Answers
Hello Everyone / Tena koutou katoa
Welcome to summer! We have had some wonderful weather
lately.
Have you heard about “Mr. Pip”? ARAS is running a fund
raising session to see this movie, so please let your family /
whanau know about it! It will be screened on Sunday 10
November, and tickets ($17 each), are obtainable from Karen
at the office ph: 366 9479.
I look forward to seeing you all again at our
Christmas Party. It is planned for Tuesday,
26 November 6.00pm at Mathers Road.
This will be a “Bring a plate” party.
Another wonderful happening is that ARAS is edging closer to
moving to a more central home! We will keep you all informed
as events progress.
This year has been full of challenges so congratulations to all
those that have been going with the flow and keeping on
studying and tutoring.
- With best wishes
Newsletter Team
Content:
ARAS Students,
ARAS Tutors,
Manager
Typing &
Layout
Karen Verbeek
Gaye Harry
Proofreading Greta Bowron
Editing
Maureen Vance
Jean Day
Printing:
Andrea Charity,
Central City Library
LETTER FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON
Ngā mihi ki a kotou katoa!
We have signed the lease for 24 Walker Street and hopefully we will be in by December
2013. This is wonderful news. Maureen and her team have been amazing in the way they
have worked so positively in such a confined space in Hoon Hay.
We are very grateful to The Church in Christchurch for the welcoming way they have hosted
ARAS, and now preparations have begun for the move.
We will be sharing Walker Street with Christchurch Small Enterprise Business Centre
(CSBEC), Just Dollars, Christchurch Budget Services, and maybe another as a way to cope
with market rental rates. There are a couple of good-sized meeting rooms for groups, and
smaller interview-sized rooms for one-to-one work. The Governing Committee hope that the
ARAS whanau will enjoy the new possibilities with this move. We are also very grateful to
Dave Marra of CSBEC for all his untiring work navigating the pitfalls of the council’s consent
process.
Our student and tutor numbers are slowly increasing, and Workplace continues to be a rising
star. However, in a meeting with Literacy Aotearoa they told us that we were meeting the
need of 0.2% of the possible people who need literacy support. This meeting helped the
ARAS staff and the Board members to plan for new programmes among other things. If you
have any ideas of programmes we could offer and which you could support with tutoring,
please let us know.
I am working with two students at the moment and I am continually moved by their dedication
and desire to make progress. It is such a satisfying relationship for me, and I encourage you
to begin tutoring again, if you have had a well-deserved break over the last couple of years.
Things in Christchurch are beginning to feel better, aren’t they? This Spring felt like a new
surge of creative energy in Christchurch, did you feel it too?
Thank you once again to the students and volunteers, Maureen and the Staff of ARAS and
the Governing Committee members.
Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui!
Be brave, be steadfast, and be courageous!
Niki Hannan
Chairperson of ARAS INC Governing Committee
3
Christmas Opening
Hours
Office closes 20th
December and will
reopen 13th January
for staff
and the 20th January
for everyone
Christmas Party
6:00pm
26th November
99 Mathers Road,
Hoon Hay
Bring a Plate
“See you there”
Stan
Many of you who came to 72 Gloucester St may have seen and spoken to Stan, either when
he was a learner at ARAS or later as he cleaned the rooms and windows and tidied the wee
garden we had there. Stan, who would happily engage people in conversations on all topics,
cycled everywhere, and his bicycle was often parked outside.
Recently Stan’s eyes have begun to deteriorate rapidly as a result of the diabetic condition
from which he suffers, and he has reluctantly resigned from his position as our cleaner.
Stan asked us to please point out to our students and tutors how dangerous and insidious
diabetes can be and to remind them of the drastic effects it can have.
Knowledge is learning
something every day.
Wisdom is letting go of
something every day.
-Zen proverb
5
English
Lets face it, English is a stupid language.
There is no egg in the eggplant, no ham in the hamburger and neither pine
nor apple in pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England; French fries were not
invented in France.
We sometimes take English for granted.
But if we examine paradoxes, we find that quicksand takes you
down slowly,
Boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor
is it a pig.
If writers write, how come fingers don’t fing?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, shouldn’t the plural of phone booth be
phone beeth?
If the teacher taught, why didn’t the preacher praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Why do people recite at a play, yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways, and drive on parkways?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language where a house burns up as it
burns down, and in which you fill in a form by filling it out.
Check out our Website!!!
www.aras.org.nz
or
Google “ARAS”
Have you found the ‘Donate Now’ button?
Many thanks to Zeald for
their generous sponsorship.
YOU
D
I
D
W?
O
KN
Adult Learners’ Week
Early in the 1990s festivals to highlight the social benefits of adult learning and to
motivate others to take part began to be celebrated in a number of countries. In July
1997 in Hamburg delegates to the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education
(CONFINTEA V) committed themselves to promoting the development of a United
Nations Adult Learners’ Week. Incorporated within the week was International Literacy
Day which was first celebrated on September 8, 1966.
Taken up by UNESCO as the United Nations lead agency in education, International
Adult Learners’ Week was officially launched on September 8, 2000 as part of the EXPO
Global Dialogue on Building Learning Societies – Knowledge, Information, and Human
Development.
Supported and monitored by the UNESCO Institute for Education (UIE) Adult Learners’
Literacy Week is marked every year by some 35 to 40 countries worldwide.
In New Zealand, Adult Learners' Week/He Tangata Mātauranga is supported by the
Tertiary Education Commission, adult and community education providers at a local level
and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.
ARAS activities for the week kept us busy.
Maureen and student Toa were interviewed on CTV’s Canterbury Life programme and
again for the evening news. We had displays in two city malls and incorporated with
these, we had our piles of Travelling Books. One of Literacy Aotearoa’s nationwide
initiatives to encourage reading, the Travelling Books scheme is sponsored by the Post
Office.
We had Open House all week, along with our perennial staff favourite the Ongoing
Scrabble game. On Wednesday, we held an Alphabet Lunch. Unfortunately, the balmy
weather we had been experiencing turned nasty and a bitterly cold southerly wind
accompanied by hail and sleet deterred many of those we had invited. However those
that did turn up were treated to a very nice lunch and entertained by the ukulele playing
members of our ‘Sing and Learn’ group.
On Wednesday evening, we held a screening of the documentary “Rethinking Dyslexia”.
As the weather was a little milder, more people ventured out and a good number of
people attended.
7
Tutor Resources
ARAS Library – although it is still in banana boxes, the books are sorted and
there for you to use with your learners.
Rae’s Punctuation and Spelling PowerPoints. Rae is an ARAS tutor who has
worked with a number of dyslexic students. She has put her tips on teaching spelling
and punctuation into PowerPoint format for any tutor that would like to use them. Call
ARAS if you would like a copy emailed to you.
www.abcteach.com
Tutor Linda has found this site very useful for the many free and printable
resources available. One that she uses to teach word families is the Word Slide.
A Google search for free and printable maths resources came up with a vast
number. Two you can try are:
Free Mathematics Pintables SEN Teacher Free Teaching
www.senteacher.org/print/mathematics/
Math Worksheets Free Printable Math Worksheets
www.math-drills.com/
And a favourite that has all kinds of word and maths puzzles and games.
Free Word Puzzles – Wuzzles and Puzzles
www.wuzzlesandpuzzles.com/wuzzles/‎
Tutors’ Notice
Board
Please say “Hi” to our
receptionist
when you arrive
And “Bye” to her when
you leave ARAS.
Please confirm your
session times with Karen
so you can be sure of finding a tutoring space.
Thanks from the ARAS
Office!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Gail B.
Karin M.
Karen B.
Shirley du P.
Harriet E.
Ellen V.
for CALT Level 5
Joe - for passing his Learners Licence (Joe said that
he wouldn’t have got it if he hadn’t had ARAS
support and encouragement!)
Tom – for passing the theory for his Heavy Vehicle Licence
9
TUTORS’
PROGRESS
FORMS
Due end of December
s
form
s
s
e
r
g
o
r
te ….. p
o
n
e
s
a
Ple
ARAS
r
o
f
g
n
i
= fund
These are necessary for ARAS’s funding and need to be
handed in to the ARAS office at the end of every 3 months
whether or not you have tutored for all the period, or if you
have finished tutoring your students during this quarter.
Many thanks to the tutors who handed their September forms
in on time. The tutors who do not get their 3 month forms in
will be counted as having tutored 0 hours and this reduces the
funding ARAS will get.
Thanks, Maureen
Progress Forms
In the past, we have included in the newsletter a copy of the
Student / Tutor 3 Monthly Progress Forms.
To save on the cost of postage, we ask tutors to please pick up a
copy of the form when you come into ARAS.
Alternatively, you can have a copy emailed to you if you ask Karen
in the office or call her at 366 9479.
You can also fill them in and send them to us on line.
New Courses
Last year, some of our learners enrolled in the Open Poytechnic Get Ahead Start (GAS)
programme. Those that completed it really enjoyed it and are very proud of the qualification
and certificate they received at the end of it.
We are now able to offer Get Ahead Start again, and next year will be able to offer three further
programmes.— Get Ahead Skills (National Certificate in Employment Skills), Get Ahead
Choices and TOPS.
We are also able to offer three courses from Open Wananga.
All these programmes are free.
Open Polytechnic
Get Ahead Start is a foundation literacy and numeracy programme for second-chance learners.
Qualification:Open Polytechnic Certificate in Foundation Communications Level 1
Get Ahead Skills is a pre-employment and self-development programme.
Qualification: NZQA National Certificate in Employment Skills Level 1; Open Polytechnic
Certificate in Career and Self Development Level 1
Get Ahead Choices is a Level 2 training and education programme and allows students to
explore their career options as they align to the Government’s Vocational Pathways structure to
pursue vocational pathways they are interested in.
Qualification: NCEA Level 1 can then do option 2 and gain NCEA Level 2: Open Polytechnic
Certificate in Work and Life Skills Level 2
Top Up to NCEA. is for learners who already have 50+ credits towards NCEA. This
programme allows learners to study just the bits they need to complete their qualification.
This suite is designed to staircase students through NZQA framework as they complete each
programme.
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you
Te tiro atu to kanohi ki tairawhiti ana tera whiti te ra kite ataata ka hinga ki
muri kia koe – Maori proverb
11
Open Wananga
We are also able to offer three programes through the Open Wananga.
Papa Ako - Learning to Learn
A learning to learn programme for students who are considering tertiary study for the first time or
those who have not studied in a while.
Qualification: Level 1, Learning to Learn Certificate
Papa Whairawa - Financial Literacy
A financial literacy programme for people wanting to have financial knowledge and skills to make
smart decisions about money.
Qualification: Level 1, Papa Whairawa Certificate
Mahi Toa - Certificate in Employment Skills
Is targeted to men and is designed to prepare you for employment, a promotion or a career
change. It will give you the motivation, knowledge, skills and the right attitude to get a job and
build your future.
Qualification: Level 1, National Certificate in Employment Skills
CONTRIBUTIONS
Advertising ARAS
On Monday at Computer we watched CTV On Demand; Maureen and Toa
were being interviewed. Maureen was talking about ARAS and how it can
make a difference in people’s lives. I was pleased to see that they were on
TV and telling other people about ARAS and how proud she was with the
students at ARAS.
I think that groups are a good opportunity for students to learn about reading and writing. It is good to mix with other people – we all share the same
passion of wanting to learn.
Rachel
Itchy
Once there was a little possum named Itchy, who lived with
his mother, father, brother and sister.
They all lived high up in the trees. Every night they would go
and find fruit and berries and other things to eat.
During the day, they would all sleep in their nest.
One day Itchy said “Why don’t we go and find some other
animals who live in the bush?”
When all was quiet he went safely down the tree and quickly
ran around the hills to the waterfall.
Itchy was going to see the world, and he would do anything
to go.
Daphene
13
The All But, Ancient Art
Of Letter Writing
I am a member and on the committee of like-minded group of people. Up until now I have been able to
avoid any task that requires real responsibility which I feel is a real plus. Then I was given the job of
writing this really important letter to an overseas group with the same interest. There was no getting out
of it because believe me I tried. OMG!!!! How do I get all the good jobs?!!!!!
Depression set in.
This is not going to be easy. What to say and how to say it was really important
without sounding stupid.
Cilla and Maureen will be so proud of me because I thought about what I have learned here at ARAS
Armed with all the information I have learned I decided to make a rough copy which turned out to be
many rough, rough, rough copies.
Thank goodness for computers or I would have used a whole pad of paper just getting started.
The worst part was I do not know if these people can read and understand English. Dah!!!
Everyone can do that can’t they? English is spoken everywhere.
Anyway I thought about it heaps, changing words and sentences until it looked pretty good to me.
I had to fix all my spelling mistakes and punctuation before I sent it away to be checked over by the rest
of the committee.
They thought it was really good and made a few suggestions which required rethinking most of my letter,
changing, removing and reorganising words. (It must not have been that good. )
Phwee!!! This is one big job!!!
They wanted me to include things I hadn’t thought of and change the date because this letter has taken me
so long to write, it is now about a week later.
I also had to change the address to a PO Box number so a return letter could find us.
Of course I had got the most important thing wrong! The name of the city and the group the letter was
going to, fortunately I had a pamphlet someone had given me to fix that mistake.
(Everyone likes to have their name spelt right)
So Last minute Check.
Address, Date, Name of Group and City, all correct.
The message sounded awesomely good. (Sorry I cannot share it with you.)
I sent it away to the rest of the committee for their approval.
Yes!!!! A Big Pat on the Back
Job well done I sent it away (We are still waiting for a reply.) I sure hope I got that address right.
All said, I hope this will inspire you to give it a go. Write a business letter or better yet a personal letter to
your friends even to your Grandmother as we all love to receive letters in the mail box.
I have really learned a lot from this exercise and think if ever asked to do
something like this again it will be easier if I keep practising.
Dear Grandma
Thank you so much for the lovely card you sent me for my birthday last
year ...................
Rondi
Knowledge!
Knowledge is acquiring learning in all sorts of areas.
Seeking knowledge does not end at a younger age, we can
seek knowledge until the end of life. “Knowledge is power”.
My experience of seeking knowledge has helped me to build
a self-confident fight for my rights and inspired me to go
beyond my present situation.
My main reason for coming to ARAS was to be able to acquire more knowledge so I can then
contribute back to the community the knowledge I have gained.
Sade
Everyone needs a friend
Yes, I am like a statue, so please don’t forget about me.
I can understand you, but you can’t understand me.
I may not be able to play ball, you see.
But I enjoy the company with you and me.
I love the outdoors – so will you push me?
We could watch DVDs with you beside me.
We could laugh at the good times, just you and
me.
We could race home to watch your favourite
show with me.
We could go shopping, so you can spend time
with me.
Yes, I may be quiet and not talk about me.
I love to listen and hear about you and me.
Sometimes I feel lonely when it is just me.
But I absolutely love it when it is you and me.
15
Three years after the first earthquake began to take Christchurch apart, the Thursday ‘In, Out
and About Group’ went into Cathedral Square to look at the remains of the cathedral.
The following Thursday, the group went to visit the newly opened temporary cathedral – ‘The
Cardboard Cathedral’.
Here are their impressions.
Memories of Christchurch Cathedral
I went to a wedding in the Cathedral about fourteen years ago. It was a nice service. I also
remember going there with Mum and Dad. We have a photo of me standing in front of the
Cathedral when I was a child. It’s a bit sad today. I’m glad I came today to spend some time
here.
Suzanne
I liked the tiles on the left inside the Cathedral. They were fresco style – white, black and gray
– all shapes and patterns. The Cathedral was a nice piece of architecture. It was light inside.
It’s very interesting to see it now. Parts of it have withstood the elements. There is some green
algae and pigeons are in it.
It has been a good experience today.
Antony
It’s lovely to be here. And it’s sad. We used to come every New Year’s Eve from work. We
waited for the clock to strike 12 and we’d go around and hug and kiss everyone. It was in the
1960’s.
It’s nice to come back and see everything again.
Julie
I used to take the staircase up into the Cathedral. It went around in circles on the way up. I
would have a look around which I really enjoyed. Now because of the earthquake we can’t do
that anymore. It’s sad we lost our good things. But I’m enjoying being back today.
Ann
Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral
(In, Out and About Group)
I think it’s an unusual building. It does feel like a church to me. I like how they kept some
of the pictures from the Rose Window from the Cathedral. They also saved the Eagle from
the altar. It’s not as good as the old one I’m sorry to say, but the chairs are comfortable.
Suzanne
I’m not sure really what to say. Everything’s nice but I like the old one. It’s new. It’s different. The furniture is lovely and comfortable. I’d like to see it at night. It feels good to be in
here. The outside is very nice as you walk up.
Julie
I think this cathedral is really good. It’s very different. I like being in here. When they finish
everything it will be good. The cardboard is excellent. I wonder if we have another earthquake, would this be pulled down? I am glad I came.
Ann
I quite like it. There’s a lot of light that comes into it. It’s certainly different. It’s probably
good for the community. The chairs are different. It’s peaceful. I will come back to visit.
Not sure I actually agree with it.
Lynette
17
IN OUT & ABOUT TERM 4 2013 ARAS
PUZZLE PAGES
All answers on page 23
Word Change
belt
must
wuzzle
JOIN THE DOTS
. . .
. . .
. . .
Join the dots using 4 straight
lines and without taking your
pen off the paper.
Clue: “think outside the
square”
19
MAZE
Weather
Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid.
The remaining letters spell an additional weather word.
BAROMETER
BLIZZARD
CELSIUS
CLOUDS
COLD
CYCLONE
DOWNPOUR
DRIZZLE
DROUGHT
FAHRENHEIT
FLOOD
FLURRIES
FOG
FORECAST
FREEZE
FROST
HAIL
HOT
HUMIDITY
HURRICANE
ICE
LIGHTNING
MIST
MONSOON
OVERCAST
RAIN
SHOWER
SLEET
SNOW
SQUALL
STORM
SUNNY
TEMPERATURE
THERMOMETER
THUNDER
TORNADO
TSUNAMI
TYPHOON
VISIBILITY
WINDY
Somewhere, something incredible
is waiting to be known
Carl Sagan
21
P.O.Box 33049, Barrington, Christchurch
Please think of
when you are making a Bequest.
ARAS
You can enhance a life, a family, a community and a city.
ANSWERS
How Many Squares Do You See?
WUZZLE
9
1. No one to Blame
2. Right between the eyes
3. Jack in the Box
4. Down Payment
5. Left Overs
6. Bedspread
Word Change
belt
best
bust
must
23
ARAS
P.O.Box 33049 Barrington
Christchurch 8244
Ph: 366 9479 Fax 363 2244
ARAS is grateful for financial support fromACE /TEC COGS Rotary Clubs - Rangiora & Hornby
Christchurch City Council
Canterbury Community Trust
Friends of ARAS
Pub Charity
Keith Laugesen Trust
NZ Federation of University Women
Literacy Aotearoa
Oxford Parish Church
Lottery Grants Board
Southern Trust
Christchurch City Libraries
ENERGY