also

Family Literacy at also

Family Literacy Week is January 21-28.

In addition to our AMAZING GEEK TRIVIA Night on Monday, January 23 at the Arrow & Loon Pub, also is celebrating Family Literacy Week on Thursday, January 25 by hosting a storytelling event in ASL and English. We have invited our RAPP partner programs as well as the JK/SK class from York Street School. Stay tuned for pictures!

The KFL&A Children's Literacy Committee has developed calendars and planning guides to help you celebrate with families and children:

Preschool Planning Guide, School-age Planning Guide

0-6 years Calendar, 7-13 years Calendar

The January 21 to 28 Family Literacy Week Calendars include activities parents and children can do together each day of that week. Please feel free to print the calendars and use them at home. The Planning Guides offer activity ideas for professionals and parents to do with the children in their lives.

ABC Life Literacy Canada has lots of Family Literacy Day activity ideas and printable materials which are available on their website.

"Fun" Fundraising Evening a Success

The Literary "Fun" Fundraising Evening with Frances Itani on November 30th saw a fantastic turnout of literary fans. Held at Kitchissippi United Church, Frances did a short reading from her new novel Requiem. She then answered questions about the novel and her writing career, and led a lively discussion.

The event was held at Kitchissippi United Church and raised an amazing $884 for also.

On behalf of also families, staff and Board we would like to thank Marilyn Henighan, Tom Henighan, Frances Itani, Ruth Dempsey, Brenda O'Connor, Margaret Hall, Dave Hall, Kirsten Gracequist, Jasmine Macaulay, Christine Wilson, Nicole Galvin, Kitchissippi United Church, and The Tweedsmuir Bookclub for their generous support.

2nd Amazing Scrabble Race a success

also's AMAZING SCRABBLE RACE in September was a huge success! We had 32 SCRABBLERS competing all together including 3 young SCRABBLERS (11, 11 and 12 years old). The competition was fierce, but friendly and everyone had a great time. We came very close to our fundraising goal of $3000.00. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and/or donated to support the event.

As part of Carleton University's Day of Caring we had the blue shirted enthusiastic Carleton volunteers helping out. We also had 2 volunteer ASL interpreters from SLINC. The Arrow & Loon staff were wonderful serving up food and drinks between Scrabble heats. The crowd gathered around as the last 3 Scrabblers competed in the final elimination round for top prize. Congratulations to Ron Shutler who took first prize for the second year in a row.

Planning is underway for our next 'GAMES' night so stay tuned....

Special thanks to Allegra Print & Imaging Ottawa, Arrow & Loon, Collected Works, GCTC, NAC, Ottawa Senators Foundation, Kaleidoscope Books, Art Is In Bakery, Friday's Roast Beef House, Mary Shrives, MP McKol, Luc Lafontaine, Michael Murphy, Johnny Farina's, and Starbucks for your generous contribution to our event.

A literary 'fun' fundraising evening with Frances Itani

Bookclubs are invited to meet with Frances to talk about her new novel 'Requiem'. Frances will take questions and there will be an open discussion and short reading. Individuals who do not belong to bookclubs are welcome.

Fee: $10 per person. All proceeds will go to also

Where: Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island Park Drive (Island Park at Queensway)

When: Nov 30, 2011, Wednesday evening 7 P.M.

If you are planning to attend please email kim@also-ottawa.org

Thank you to the City of Ottawa

also has received 1 year funding from the City of Ottawa for also elearning – Thank you to the City for supporting this project!

Thank you to TD/Canada Trust

Thank you to the Rideau Street Branch of TD/Canada Trust for supporting also’s Toy Mountain again this year. Our families are very grateful for your generosity and commitment to the local community. You have made this Christmas a happier one for the families we serve.

also at Ottawa Timeraiser

also is participating the the 3rd Annual Timeraiser Event in Ottawa on Saturday November 13h. The goal is to raise 5000 hours. For tickets and information to go www.TIMERAISER.ca.

2010 Annual General Meeting

also had it’s AGM on October 21, 2010. Thank you to the Deaf Adult students and community members who attended. also has been serving the Ottawa community for 30 years. Please see the Executive Report for highlights from 2009-2010.

THANK YOU to the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation

We are thrilled about receiving the funding for our new project, ‘Side by Side’ from the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation. This parent/child tutoring program will enhance skills among low literacy parents and their school-aged children. The Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation funding has a tremendous impact on our ability to continue providing high quality, creative, skill enhancing programming to the families we serve.

On behalf of the also families, staff and Board we offer our most sincere thanks to the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation for their continued support.

Welcome to our Deaf Learners

In July 2009 we were sad to learn that the Ottawa Deaf Centre would be closing its doors. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities asked also to take over the Deaf LBS program. After much discussion and careful consideration we agreed to take on this new opportunity.

In October 2009 also began offering adult and family literacy services to Deaf and hard of hearing adults and families. We are offering Wednesday evening classes until December. In January 2010 we will be ready to offer the program 3 days a week. We want to welcome the new learners to also and encourage you to drop in for a visit.

ALSO welcomes new team members

A warm welcome to Simone Edwards-Forde and Kathy Holmes, our new Deaf Adult and Family Literacy Instructors, and the new members of also's Board of Directors - Wendy Stewart, Michael Murphy and Alan Morantz.