Vol 13, No. 1 December 2015 READINGS A newsletter for volunteers and friends of Pemi-Baker Literacy 258 Highland St. Plymouth, NH 03264 603-536-2998 pemibakerliteracy.org Board of Directors: Meagan Campbell Kate Donahue Carole Elliott Pat Hage Vicki Kelly Sue Kling Kelly Mask Robin Peck Marilyn Pomerantz Dayna Titus Beth Wilkie Staff: Darci McCarthy From the Director In our fourteenth year at Pemi-Baker Literacy we celebrate our accomplishments. In January of 2014 the high school equivalency exam, GED, was replaced with a new test, the HiSET. Our tutors and students faced this challenge head on and we have had much success with the new assessment. Our program has seen a steady increase in students seeking to learn English as another language. This fall we expanded our service area to include the Lincoln region. Through it all, our flexible and resilient volunteer tutors and board have been ready to adapt. The most rewarding part for all of us is to see our students flourishing in their new lives. Please take a minute to read about some of our recent success stories! Spotlight on Student Success! Sherry Poissant was one of Pemi-Baker Literacy’s first students to take the new HiSET test. She completed her test in June of 2014 and earned her high school diploma. Sherry went on to an accelerated LNA (Licensed Nursing Assistant) program at Lakes Region Community College. She is now working part time as an LNA making more money than she ever has. She’s driving a reliable vehicle for the first time in her life and best of all, she no longer relies on public assistance to make ends meet! When Sherry stopped by the PBL office this September she was glowing with pride at all of her accomplishments. She says, “It feels great to be independent and move on with my life.” In last year’s newsletter we told you about Elisabeth Kill who came to PBL to improve her English skills after moving here from Colombia. Elisabeth and her tutor, Gloria Sterling, have been working together for two years now. In that time Elisabeth has gained the confidence to find work at Credentials Administrative Services in Bristol and volunteer at places like Ladders Thrift Shop. We are happy to report that this October Elisabeth passed her test to become a United States Citizen! She is thrilled with her progress and so are we! Kieu Phan came to PBL in the winter of 2014 to earn her high school diploma after closing her restaurant. Kieu has been in the United States for many years, but was never been able to perfect her English skills. Kieu took our HiSET class, but when the class finished did not feel quite ready to conquer the test. She began twice weekly tutoring sessions with Diana Crim and Carole Elliott. Over the course of about 16 months, Kieu worked steadily, one test at a time, toward passing the HiSET. In June of 2015, Kieu was able to pass her final Continued on page 2
From the Director In our fourteenth year at Pemi-Baker Literacy we celebrate our accomplishments. In January of 2014 the high school equivalency exam, GED, was replaced with a new test, the HiSET. Our tutors and students faced this challenge head on and we have had much success with the new assessment. Our program has seen a steady increase in students seeking to learn English as another language. This fall we expanded our service area to include the Lincoln region. Through it all, our flexible and resilient volunteer tutors and board have been ready to adapt. The most rewarding part for all of us is to see our students flourishing in their new lives. Please take a minute to read about some of our recent success stories!
Spotlight on Student Success!Sherry Poissant was one of Pemi-Baker Literacy’s first students to take the new HiSET test. She completed her test in June of 2014 and earned her high school diploma. Sherry went on to an accelerated LNA (Licensed Nursing Assistant) program at Lakes Region Community College. She is now working part time as an LNA making more money than she ever has. She’s driving a reliable vehicle for the first time in her life and best of all, she no longer relies on public assistance to make ends meet! When Sherry stopped by the PBL office this September she was glowing with pride at all of her accomplishments. She says, “It feels great to be independent and move on with my life.”
In last year’s newsletter we told you about Elisabeth Kill who came to PBL to improve her English skills after moving here from Colombia. Elisabeth and her tutor, Gloria Sterling, have been working together for two years now. In that time Elisabeth has gained the confidence to find work at Credentials Administrative Services in Bristol and volunteer at places like Ladders Thrift Shop. We are happy to report that this October Elisabeth passed her test to become a United States Citizen! She is thrilled with her progress and so are we!
Kieu Phan came to PBL in the winter of 2014 to earn her high school diploma after closing her restaurant. Kieu has been in the United States for many years, but was never been able to perfect her English skills. Kieu took our HiSET class, but when the class finished did not feel quite ready to conquer the test. She began twice weekly tutoring sessions with Diana Crim and Carole Elliott. Over the course of about 16 months, Kieu worked steadily, one test at a time, toward passing the HiSET. In June of 2015, Kieu was able to pass her final
Continued on page 2
PBL Board – Comings and GoingsPemi-Baker Literacy is pleased to welcome Vicki Kelly, Kelly Mask and Marilyn Pomerantz to the board. Vicki teaches 2nd grade at Russell Elementary School and is a resident of Campton. Kelly is Director of Pupil Services at Lin-Wood Public Schools and a resident of Plymouth. Marilyn is a retired local business owner and resident of Thornton. Marilyn has also been a tutor at PBL for almost two years.
Diana Crim and Marilyn Wixson said goodbye to PBL in June. Despite moving out of the area, Diana still supports PBL through tutoring. Marilyn looks forward to more time for family commitments, but is also available to tutor students. They will be missed dearly, but we are very lucky to still have them as talented tutors.
test, writing, and earn her well-deserved diploma. Kieu spent over 230 hours with PBL and many more on her own to reach her goal. Kieu is currently looking at different employment options and hopes to go back to school for hairdressing or massage therapy in the near future.
Continued from page 1
4th Annual Community Spelling Bee!This year’s Community Spelling Bee on Friday, November 6th was not to be missed! Twenty teams of three spellers and their devoted fans gathered at the Common Man Inn to pursue their dream of becoming the area’s best spellers. AJ Coppola (dressed as a bee!) hosted the event for the third year. He literally buzzed with energy! AJ was assisted by Kate Donahue, who chose and pronounced the words to challenge the teams. Will Gunn made his debut as timekeeper, sounding the gong at the end of each round. The judges were Grace Burson, Karen MacDonald and Alyssa Rioux, who together make “Vowel Movement,” last year’s winning team. Students from the National Honor Society at Plymouth Regional High School lent a hand all night long, selling raffle tickets and making sure the crowd could see how each word was correctly spelled. The winners of the bee were “Cast a Spell” -- Lisa Davis, Kathy Bagley and Cindy Day, who correctly spelled the word “acerbate.” “Cast a Spell” was one of three teams representing the Altrusa Club of Meredith, who have always been great supporters of PBL.
The Common Man Inn provided a delicious array of desserts once again. The evening was also sponsored by Elliot Insurance Consultants, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Noyes Insurance, Plymouth Rotary Club, Venture Print Unlimited, Inc., Bridgewater Power Company, Community Guaranty Savings Bank, Forrest Howes’ Auto Repair, M&M Scoops, New Hampshire Electric Coop, Off Campus Rentals, Tenney Mountain and Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank.
Beth Smarse captured all of these memorable moments as the evening’s photographer. We can already hear the “buzz” for next year’s Bee!
HighlightsOver the past year…• 83individualscontactedPBLforhelpwith
literacy or basic computer skills• 6studentspassedtheHiSETandonestudent
has completed 4 out of 5 parts• 9studentsworkedonlearningEnglishas
another language• 7individualscametoPBLforbasiccomputer
with the program, spent an average of 44 hours with a tutor
• PBLcurrentlyhas23activetutorswhohaveworked with at least one student. Two of our board members also volunteer as tutors.
See more Bee photos at pemibakerliteracy.org
Pemi-Baker Literacy258 Highland Street, Suite 4Plymouth, NH 03264
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Volunteers Needed!W h i l e t h e n u m b e r o f students contact ing our program increases so does our need for volunteers. Do you have a couple of hours each week and a desire to help an adult in our community? We invite you to attend an orientation for
prospective volunteer tutors before making a commitment. This orientation is not a guarantee you will be matched with a student immediately, but it is an important first step. Join us on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at 3:00 at Whole Village, 258 Highland Street in Plymouth. The snow date will be February 2nd at the same time and place. Please call 536-2998 or email us at [email protected] to RSVP.
Many Ways to Support Pemi-Baker LiteracyPemi-Baker Literacy is extremely fortunate that 70% of our financial support comesfrom donations from individuals. To make giving easier, electronic donations can be made via PayPal using the email address [email protected].
You can even support PBL as you shop! If you do your online shopping at Amazon.com, just start at Smile.Amazon.com. When you choose to support Pemi-Baker Literacy .5%ofyourshoppingwillbedonatedtous.
Please remember Pemi-Baker Literacy in your estate planning and contact us if you would like more information about making a bequest in your will, trust, retirement plan or insurance policy.
All of us at PBL appreciate the support we receive. Whether it’s time, tutoring space or financial support, we are grateful to all our donors!
