Area Youth and Local Schools Give a Boost to LV-UC
September 14, 2003
Over the course of this year LV-UC had the privilege of working with some kids who really care about literacy! "Thanks" seems like too small a word for the terrific work of these young people.
Pingry:
Early in the Spring of 2003, LV-UC got a call from Luisa Barry, a Spanish teacher at Pingry, a private high school in Martinsville. She had three seniors who wanted to teach English in Elizabeth as an independent study.
We were thrilled. Ari Marciscano, Kenny Brown Klinger and Matt Ghabriel went through our May tutor training and then team taught a group of thirty, yes thirty, learners on the third floor of the Elizabeth Public Library.
Luisa sums it up best, "Their last class was very moving to me. The students showed Kenny, Matt and Ari such thankfulness, such joy in their learning and such sadness as they were saying goodbye…I think it was one of the sweetest gifts our three students ever received. There was a lot of laughter, and a few tears, as they put together a little 'graduation ceremony' and handed out certificates! I was struck by the cultural learning, as our students started out shaking hands while the students in the audience screamed out "kiss! besitos, besitos, kiss!". The American hand shake was quickly joined by hugs for the men and two kisses for the ladies! They all said to me it was the best Spanish class they ever had. My guys also learned a lot more than Spanish, and I think they taught a lot more than English."
We would like to say a special thanks to teacher Luisa Barry, Headmaster Neiswender, and Adam Rohdie (Head of the Upper School and the Pingry School). It is heartwarming to collaborate with a school so committed to community service. We would also like to say a special thanks to Ari, Kenny and Matt whose passion for teaching far surpasses their young years. Great job guys.
Iselin Middle School:
One day in November, 2002 out of the blue, LV-UC got a call from Ms. Phyllis Volker at Iselin Middle School. Her seventh grade English class wanted to know if they could help us out by putting together "Learn to Read" packets for our Basic Literacy Learners. We said enthusiastically "yes".
The students worked all winter collecting school supplies … folders, notebooks, composition pads, pens, highlighters and much more. Then the supplies were bundled together into packets. The first group of learners got their packets in May and said one student, "I want to let you know how grateful I am for my reading packet. This is something I never had when I was a child."
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone at Iselin Middle School for these fine contibutions.
Beth-El Mekor Chayim:
We would also like to send out a special thanks to the Hebrew School Students at Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in Cranford. Their donation of $132 will help us serve learners all over the county. During the year the students collected spare change in classroom Tzadakah Boxes (Tzadakah means charitable deeds in Hebrew). Then, at the end of the year, they shared their earnings with LVA and other local charities. Temple Beth-EL … THANKS, THANKS, THANKS!!
