Special Features - Learning Connections 2013

L earning onnections C

YOUNG LEARNER – Ivy La Blanc, 5, enjoys some quiet time while reading at the downtown branch of the Red Deer Public Library.

Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express

2 Red Deer Express Learning Connectionss

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Adult literacy helps learners bolster language skills

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express Many folks new to Red Deer need some help mastering the intricacies of the English language, and the Adult Literacy Program at the Dawe Library offers an ideal setting to get started on that.

The Red Deer Public Library Adult Literacy Program matches tutors from the community who volunteer their time with students for a few hours each week with reading, writing and speaking English or basic math skills.

The program has been running for more than 30 years, said Lois Prostebby, manager of the Adult Literacy Program. Over the years, it’s become much more geared to people who are new to the country.

“Ninty-eight per cent of our learners are probably ESL (English as a Second Language.) They are newcomers to Canada.” Of course, Adult Basic Literacy Learners are served as well.

Staff have seen many, many successful partnerships over the years. The

program is truly geared to the needs of the students, and there are all kinds of fun, engaging and interesting ways for tutors to help them strengthen their language skills.

“Over the course of the year, we generally have about 250 learners,” she said. Over time, many feel like they’ve reached their particular goals and move on. But there are always more that are eager to sign up for assistance.

The program, which is located in the Dawe Library branch, contains all kinds of handy resources that can be utilized. But sometimes the pairs will spend part of their sessions simply talking or reading together. Whatever the educational mix, it all works to bolster the learners’ skills and build their confidence as they continue to settle into careers and the community.

“We have a very diverse population of learners,” explains Prostebby. “We do get some that have not had the chance to have an education in their home country. So we get some

CONNECTING - Susan Palmer tutors Mariaam Salama at the Dawe branch of the Red Deer Public Library. Part of the Adult Literacy Program, the pair has been working together since December of 2011. people out of Africa who come from war-torn countries where their education has either been very interrupted or maybe they’ve had little to no education.

Perhaps they’ve been in a refugee camp for a number of years.”

The Adult Literacy Program also works closely with the Central Alberta Refugee Effort.

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Meanwhile, the need for tutors certainly hasn’t diminished. “Since I’ve started here, we consistently have about 50 people waiting for a tutor.”

And thankfully, volunteers have been stepping forward. “We have to be very flexible. We ask for about two hours a week, but people have vacations; they get busy at work. We have lots of our learners who also go home for one to two months. So it’s not like a school where things are going to run from A to B. “We also try to find a good match. That’s one thing I learned when I came here – it’s very much a ‘people’ business. There has to be a personal connection there; there has to be some commonality for it to work. And if you get a good one (pairing), it can be very successful.”

Sandra Erdman, program assistant, agrees.

She points out that a good match can bolster confidence levels in the student, and thereby open

the doors to an even richer learning environment.

But sometimes, a particular match isn’t the best.

“We always tell our students, and our learners, that if it isn’t working for whatever reason at all to tell us. There are lots of other matches that can be made.”

She added that tutors often learn much themselves simply by getting to know someone from another country. “It’s so positive in so many ways.”

Another common question tutors ask is ‘How long will I be doing this for?’

Everything from the sense a goal has been reached to increased demands on a schedule can spell the wrap-up of a string of learning sessions.

As Prostebby explains, quite often employment demands or family responsibilities can bring the learning – at least for a given period of time – to a close. “Sometimes they get tired of adding it into their schedules. Many would like to do more with language,

photo submitted

but they just don’t have time.”

A typical time for a partnership is around two years. Many learners feel like they’ve accomplished what they set out to learn and they’re confident to move forward.

Ultimately, it’s a wonderful time of learning and growing for both tutor and learner.

“We probably get about 100 new learners each year coming through our doors,” said Prostebby. “It’s learner-driven. At the first meeting we ask ‘What do you want to work on? What’s are your weaknesses, what are your strengths? What are your goals?”

Tutors and learners receive a free library card, and the only cost to the learner is an annual registration fee of $25.

Meanwhile, the Program is looking for volunteer tutors. For more information, contact Lois Prostebby at 403-346-2533 or lprostebby@ rdpl.org. editor@reddeerexpress.com

For more information, check our website www.rdcsa.com Or call: 403-346-4259, Or email: office@rdcsa.com

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Learning Connections Red Deer Express 3

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Diversity of learning through Kindermusik

BY KIRSTEN PALARDY Red Deer Express When parents look for programs for their children to take part in, they want something that provides a learning experience beyond the time they spend in class.

There are many programs that offer take-home materials, ‘homework’ of sorts, even activities to do at home or CDs to play in the car. One such course is Kindermusik.

An internationally-renowned course, Kindermusik provides children a basis for learning through music.

“My son is very shy and doesn’t take part in class usually, but when we get in the car and put in our CD, he sings along and knows the words,” said Kindermusik participant mom Amy Hadner.

Hadner said she chose Kindermusik because of the take-home materials available, as well as the research she did online about the program.

“Everything I found told me that it wouldn’t matter if my son didn’t take part right away, because he would learn while we were there, and I could get him to practice at home,” said Hadner.

Kindermusik is a program designed for children ages 0-7 and

provides different units with different learning experiences and songs for each class.

The program uses music to teach children skills like spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, as well as vocabulary skills, listening skills and other important life skills.

“I wasn’t sure how my daughter would do with the program, but when my son loved it so much at three I thought it was worth putting my six-month-old daughter in too,” said Hadner.

The class for her newborn included social skills for babies, learning simple things like up, down, high, low, and using different skills to relax babies or engage them in a song or activity.

“It might be fluke, but my daughter has picked up skills at six months that my son didn’t figure out until nearly a year old, and I think it’s due to the work we do in class,” said Hadner.

Kindermusik isn’t just for the children, either. Teachers take an extensive online course that teaches them about the different developmental stages of children as well as how to deal with different types of children from the introvert to the extrovert.

In their online training, teachers learn that it is important to

inform parents as to why certain activities are so important. For example, one lesson teaches that listening is a learned skill.

While all babies can hear, not all children have the attention span to listen actively. Kindermusik programs are designed to teach children from an early age how to actively listen, as well as how to differentiate from sounds.

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“It’s a learning experience for me too, we are always learning why we do the activities we do, and it’s amazing to see my son learn something new, take it home, try it out, and then do better in the next class.”

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lies with more than one child, so that siblings may participate together and children with learning disabilities or who may be considered late bloomers are welcome. The classes are designed to be flexible for the children.

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4 Red Deer Express Learning Connectionss

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

‘Strive’ to be a professional dancer Local academy takes honours at world championship competition

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express With the amount of discipline, character, and strength it takes to be a dancer, the benefits to both adults and children that come from learning the art form are immense.

For both beginners and those who have experience whether it be advanced or minimal, Strive Dance Academy (located at 5424 45 St.) offers a range of programs.

“We offer both beginner jazz and tap,” said Donna Purcell, vice president of the board at Strive Dance Academy and who has also signed up for the beginner classes.

“It’s a great work out and great exercise and you get to learn something new.”

The Academy offers advanced training in ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, acro, as well as stretch/strengthening.

Strive Dance Academy was launched five years ago

when a group of families saw a need for a higher level dance academy for those wishing to possibly pursue a career in the performing arts.

Since their start, they have gone on to send a number of girls onto fulfilling careers as dancers and choreographers, including three sisters that went on to become the first sister trio to be a part of the New York Rockettes.

“Our instructors are certified through the Royal Academy of Dance which sets us apart,” said Purcell.

“We offer not just dance for our performers but vocal training as well because we also compete in musical theatre performances.”

Purcell believes that dance plays a vital role in the lives of the young boys and girls who belong to Strive.

“It teaches them discipline,” said Purcell. “Many of our students are ‘A’ students in school because they know if they want to dance they have to keep

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unsure of whether or not they will be able to meet the quality of performance at Strive, the academy is now offering a pre-competitive dance program.

The program will open in the fall and while no dance experience is necessary it aims to prepare students for the rigorous program that will lead to success in Strive’s program. The precompetitive dance program was developed for four- to seven-year-olds who wish to begin training with Strive.

Those age five to seven (as of Dec. 31) with some dance experience may be recommended by teachers for the competitive program. Strive’s pre-competitive program is a two semester program, with

those in the second semester having the opportunity to be in the year-end show.

Recently, the troupe returned from Las Vegas where they garnered honours at the Starpower World Championships.

Their rendition of Newsies, Broadway’s which achieved overall high scores in competitions in Alberta this season, also impressed the Las Vegas judging panel.

The group achieved an average score of 98% and qualified for the Battle of the Stars finals.

Newsies also won one of two overall entertainment awards in the 12 and over division. In the final battle the group placed second to a number one ranked studio in America in the 12 and

over grand line division.

The group also won the overall showmanship award out of all the 12 and over finalists.

Also, Lazy River was one of five finalists in the 9-11 small group division.

Strive’s contemporary piece, Diary of a Young Girl, based on the life of Anne Frank, was one of seven Battle of the Stars finalists in the 12-14 year old large group division.

Strive students were inspired by the talented dancers they met through training at a national dance workshop and by watching world class dancing in shows such as Le Reve and One. Strive students are currently planning to travel to London in 2015. jswan@reddeerexpress.com

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Learning Connections Red Deer Express 5

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Ready for the lecture hall?

Tips to earn the perfect grade The transition from high school to university and college requires more focus, study and time spent in class. Three-hour lectures, endless pages of reading and writing lengthy essays and exams, mean many students are looking to technology to keep them productive and on schedule.

Between laptops, tablets and smartphones, there are many different technology tools to choose from, but it’s how you use these tools that matters the most.

Stephanie Lancaster, a tech advisor with Rogers, says you should ask yourself the following questions to prepare for the school year and maximize your studying: • How do you plan on organizing your time?

Finding time in your busy schedule and staying on track are important keys to success in university. To stay organized and on time, load your class schedule and the deadlines for your assignments into a calendar application on your smartphone. Many of these applications include task lists, reminders and colour coding to distinguish between class and assignments.

• Once in class, how are you going to take notes?

Depending on your preference, technology tools can make it easier to capture the lecture and create the notes you’ll need to study later for your exams. You could type your notes on a

laptop or tablet or even use a digital pen to capture both hand-written and digital copies of your coursework.

To review later, record the lecture with audio or video recording on your smartphone to capture anything you might have missed.

• How secure is the campus Internet? Being wirelessly connected to your tablet or laptop opens up many different applications and tools to assist with your studying. Check out the strength and security of your campus Internet. Tethering to your smartphone could drain your battery and searching for a wi-fi signal across campus can cause frustration. Instead try a mobile hotspot or share your data from your smartphone with your tablet to get fast LTE speeds.

• Do I need that textbook?

Every class usually comes with mandatory reading material to go along with your lectures. Rather than the usual hard-copy textbook, do some research to see if you can access the same material through the library or in an e-book format.

• Once you hit exam time, how will you review your notes? Instead of writing out flashcards all evening, there are some great applications available to turn your digital study materials into a quiz to prepare for your exams.

Taking advantage of the unlimited amount of technology and applications available for students will help you stay on top of your studies and get that perfect grade. www.newscanada.com

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools RegistraƟon and Back-to-School InformaƟon New Student RegistraƟon starts Thursday August 22 at the school Our schools are well recognized for their academic excellence. They are publicly funded and welcome children of all faiths desiring a Catholic education! With a gospel view of life, students are called to grow spiritually, academically, socially, and physically.

ESL (English as a Second Language) support is offered in all our schools.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN RED DEER Maryview School - Pre-K to Grade 5 Before, & AŌer School Program + DayƟme Kinder Care 3829 - 39 Street, Red Deer 403.347.1455 St. Teresa of Avila School - Pre-K to Grade 5 Before & AŌer School Program 190 Glendale Boulevard, Red Deer 403.346.0505 St. Elizabeth Seton School - Pre-K to Grade 5 35 Addinell Avenue, Red Deer 403.343.6017 Holy Family School - Pre-K to Grade 5 Before & AŌer School Program 69 Douglas Avenue, Red Deer 403.341.3777 St. MarƟn de Porres School - K to Grade 5 Before & AŌer School Program, Fine Arts Program 3911 - 57A Avenue, Red Deer 403.347.5650 École Camille J. Lerouge School Pre-K to Grade 9 French Immersion – K to Grade 9 English Middle – Grade 6 to 9 5530 - 42A Avenue, Red Deer 403.347.7830 St. Patrick’s Community School Year Round Program – K to Grade 9 Sports Excellence Academy – Grade 6 to 9 56 Holt Street, Red Deer 403.343.3238 St. Francis of Assisi Middle School - Grades 6 to 9 321 Lindsay Avenue, Red Deer 403.314.1449 St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School - Grades 6 to 9 3821 - 39 Street, Red Deer 403.346.8951 École Secondaire Notre Dame High School Serving Red Deer, Innisfail & Sylvan Lake Grades 10 to 12 English and French Immersion 50 Lees Street, Red Deer 403.342.4800

OUTREACH LEARNING John Paul II Catholic Outreach School - Grades 10 to 12 #103, 4706 - 48th Ave, Red Deer 403.314.9382

ONLINE LEARNING St. Gabriel Online School - Grades 8 to 12 www.stgabriel.rdcrs.ca Toll Free: 1.877.314.9382

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN SYLVAN LAKE, INNISFAIL, OLDS AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE École Our Lady of the Rosary School - Pre-K to Grade 2 English & French Immersion 4520 Ryder’s Ridge Boulevard, Sylvan Lake 403.343.2568 École Mother Teresa School - Grades 3 to 9 English & French Immersion 79 Old Boomer Road, Sylvan Lake 403.887.6371 St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School - Pre-K to Grade 9 Half Day & Full Day/Everyday Kindergarten 4453 - 51 Avenue, Innisfail 403.227.2123 St. MaƩhew Catholic School - Pre-K to Grade 8 5735 - 58 Street, Rocky Mountain House 403.845.2836 St. Dominic Catholic High School - Grade 9 -12 5502 - 50 Street, Rocky Mountain House 403.845.5313 Holy Trinity Catholic School - Pre-K to Grade 9 Half Day & Full Day/Everyday Kindergarten 6610 -57 Street, Olds 403.556.9444

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE DIFFERENT To Įnd out why Catholic educaƟon is an excellent choice for your child, call the school principal or the Division oĸce at 403-343-1055. You may also visit us at 5210-61 Street in Red Deer or at MyCatholicSchool.ca FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Classes start on Tuesday, September 3, with the excepƟons of St. Patrick’s Community School (Year-Round Program) starts on August 8 and Grade 11 & 12 students at École Secondaire Notre Dame High School start on Wednesday, September 4.

TRANSPORTATION School bus service or city transit bus passes are provided to students who qualify for a transportaƟon grant. For students who don’t qualify for a transportaƟon grant, the fee is $30 per month per student to a maximum of $60 per month per family. For more informaƟon, please call the TransportaƟon Department at 403-309-8801. Students riding school buses will be contacted prior to start of school.

6 Red Deer Express Learning Connectionss

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Variety of activities offered in City Fee assistance is also available for local families to access programs

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express Families looking to get

involved in various activities can turn to the City of Red Deer for help.

There are a number of

different programs available through the Collicutt Centre, the Dawe Centre and the Red Deer Recre-

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ation Centre.

To help make choosing activities easier, the City has a ‘Look n Book’ guide to help residents.

There are a number of programs that are offered at the G.H. Dawe Centre and the Recreation Centre including Red Cross AquaQuest swimming lessons, water workouts, adult swimming lessons, diving lessons, SCUBA diving lessons, snorkeling lessons and Lifesaving Society programs.

Skating, karate and golf lessons are also available as well as a number of sport camps.

There are also yoga classes, nutrition and cooking classes, business and financial courses.

All of the recreation centres are also offering a variety of summer camps for kids, some of which start next month.

The Collicutt Centre is offering a lifeguard camp, a climbing camp and an outdoor explorer camp, among

others. G.H. Dawe Centre is also offering camps including Sports of all Sorts, a super heroes camp and Sensational Exploration.

The Recreation Centre also offers a Boy Crew Dance camp.

“THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS IS THE ADULT AND CHILD ART PROGRAM.” TERESA NEUMAN There are also a variety of clubs Central Albertans can join come the fall including the Golden Circle Ho-Downers, the Exelta Gymnastics Club and the Kvitka Red Deer Canadian Ukrainian Dance Club, to name a few.

“We offer a variety of programs in the visual and performing arts,” said Teresa Neuman, the City’s community program fa-

cilitator for the performing arts. “We have programs for all ages – from infants to seniors.”

Central Albertans can get involved in music, dance, theatre as well as visual arts programming such as drawing, painting and clay, among many others.

“Our summer camps are quite popular and they tend to fill up quickly,” said Neuman. “Throughout the year, one of our most popular programs is the adult and child art program.”

She added the City of Red Deer’s programming is popular because it is affordable and accessible.

“The City has a fee assistance program that families can apply to if they are unable to afford any programs.

“As well, we work closely with local agencies to help families access our programming.”

For more information visit www.reddeer.ca. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

Learning Connections Red Deer Express 7

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Tight-knit community at Central Alberta Archers Association Club caters to those just beginning and to those experienced in the sport

BY ERIN FAWCETT Red Deer Express The Central Alberta Archers Association offers a sport that the whole family can enjoy together.

Located at 5237 – 54 Ave. (upstairs at the former Allsports Replay Building) in Red Deer, the club was founded in 1999 (after the Archers of Normandeau disbanded in the mid-90s and then the CAAA was formed and the society papers were signed in 1999).

The Association’s current membership including the juniors is right around 200.

The Club’s mandate is ‘to foster and expand the practice of all forms of archery, and the spirit of good fellowship among archers’.

“For those who join the organization, we hope they will gain an appreciation for the sport, improve their skills, and join a group of like-minded people who love the sport and its challenges,” said Ronda Anderson, the program coordinator for the club’s Junior Program, an archer herself and a parent of an archer for the past 12 years.

She added for the general public, she would liken the sport of archery to golf.

“Each shot is taken individually, but most rounds are held with a group of friends who also love the sport. Is it easy?

No! Like golf, archery requires the ability to repetitively have good form and tech-

nique to make the shot.

“Many newcomers think they can just pick up a bow and they’ll be hitting a bull’s-eye after shooting just a few arrows – like golf, that just doesn’t happen. It takes practice and dedication to achieve an upper level of competence,” said Anderson.

“Probably the biggest misconception about archery is that it is comprised of ‘red-necked hunters’ who only want to kill something.

“LIKE GOLF, ARCHERY REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO REPETITIVELY HAVE GOOD FORM AND TECHNIQUE TO MAKE THE SHOT.” RONDA ANDERSON “However, we have members from almost every type of occupation, gender, and age category,” she added.

“Some do hunt to put meat in the freezer, but if you were to visit them at their place of occupation – be prepared to encounter someone in a suit-and-tie.

“Others just enjoy the sport and its challenges, similar to those who love golf and the challenges it presents. Some members choose to shoot only indoor targets (tradi-

tional bulls-eye or 3D foam animal) targets while others enjoy the challenge of outdoor elements where the addition of varying weather elements and the variance of distance to the targets adds to their challenge.”

She added for those who join the club due to an interest in the sport, they will find a tight-knit community of like-minded people.

“They would probably be surprised by the support they would receive while starting out.

“All they would have to do is ask for help or information, and any of the current members would be happy to share their knowledge and establish a new friendship.”

The club’s primary program is the Juniors Program (ages seven to 17). It is a 12-week program with certified coaches to teach them the safety elements, the fundamental skills and proper form and technique to help archers improve their skills and appreciation of sport.

The program is available to kids new to the sport or to those returning year after year.

“We also find that many of the junior archers have tried numerous other sports and haven’t found that one thing they thrive at until they tried archery. It’s an individual sport with a team element with your biggest competition being against yourself.”

The club also hosts an adult league which is available to those new to the sport or experienced shooters for a fun evening of shooting.

“There is no official program available for adults new to the sport, however they can arrange for a lesson with the pro-shop staff to help get them started.

“And as stated before, someone new only needs to ask for some advice from the other members and they would be only too happy to help.”

She added for those coming through the programs the goal would be like many other sports – a deep sense of satisfaction in seeing self-improvement in what is a challenging sport.

“If the time and dedication to practice is done along with coaching and support to refine the form and technique required, there is an uplifting fulfillment of accomplishment and potential for a more competitive element locally, provincially, nationally and beyond,” said Anderson. “The club does have a strong social aspect to it, which is a major factor in attributing to its long standing success.

“Many might come with only an hour over a lunch break to shoot, and they end up spending half of that chatting with fellow members.”

For more information on the association, check out www.centralalbertaarchers.ca. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com

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8 Red Deer Express Learning Connectionss

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Tablets growing in popularity on campus Professors are accustomed to seeing laptops in post secondary classrooms and lecture halls.

Technology trends and capabilities can change rapidly as tablets are beginning to replace laptops on campus.

“The majority of my students use laptops in class but I’ve been seeing increasingly more tablets

in lectures,” says English professor Jason Stevens.

“Students use their tablets like notepads and use stylus pens to handwrite their notes.

“It’s a lot less obtrusive than sitting behind a laptop. I expect to see more tablets in my classes this year.”

Technology experts agree with Stevens.

“STUDENTS USE THEIR TABLETS LIKE NOTEPADS AND USE STYLUS PENS TO HANDWRITE THEIR NOTES. IT’S A LOT LESS OBTRUSIVE THAN SITTING BEHIND A LAPTOP. I EXPECT TO SEE MORE TABLETS IN MY CLASSES THIS YEAR.” JASON STEVENS “Today’s tablets are light, easy to maneuver and connect to primary computers

for more involved research and writing,” says Toshiba’s education specialist

Trevor Dantas.

“They are ideal for students on the go because they can be carried in any purse or bag and can be used like digital notebooks where files can be converted to text and saved on primary computers.”

These touch control devices are coming of age with today’s post-secndary students.

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They’ve gone from the couch straight to the classroom in a very short period of time.

When tablets surged in popularity with the introduction of the Android operating system they were initially used for light Internet browsing, online gaming such as Angry Birds and of course social media.

App developers have invested a lot of time and energy into extending the utility of devices and the ability to save, store and keyword search handwritten notes is one example.

Innovative apps now enable students to edit and view their files on tablet devices, much like they would on their laptop or desktop computer.

Students can even use tablets to take images of whiteboard notes and convert them to editable note files or record lectures to review later with the ability to adjust the volume of separate audio tracks, said Dantas.

“We see tablets as the ideal secondary device for students,” added Stevens.

“The key to using a tablet in the classroom is finding models that have as many connectivity ports as possible.

“Ports provide the flexibility of connecting directly to a PC hard drive for file saving and storage.” www.newscanada.com

Exelta offers a variety of gymnastics classes and programs for all ages and abilities!

Contact us! www.exelta.ca/403-342-4940/info@exelta.ca 3031-30th Ave Collicutt Centre Red Deer

Come see what we have to offer!

We’re open all summer!

r

Experience fun, multi-sensory learning! The Sound Connections Centre provides literacy and speech/language intervention, perfect for any type of learner starting from 3 years old and upwards.

403.347.3050 #203 7429 Gaetz Ave. Red Deer, AB

www.soundconnectionscentres.com

CATALINA ROOKIE CAMP ! will be held at the Michener Pool Tuesday Sept. 3th - Friday Sept. 6th, 2013 • Can you swim a length of the pool (25 meters)?

• Never been a member of our swim club before?

• Want to learn some new swimming skills?

SIGN UP !

Registration begins August 14th, 2013

Established bli h d iin 1952 1952, the h Catalina Swim Club is one of Alberta’s oldest amateur swimming clubs celebrating it’s 60th Anniversary!!!

Ages 9 years & under 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. each day Ages 10 years & Over 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. each day

Cost: $60.00 * Catalina offers a Pre-Competititve Program

Community Support Worker Sept. 9, 2013 to Feb. 28, 2014 Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 3:15

Women in Trades Oct. 7, 2013 to Mar. 28, 2014 Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 3:15 Fridays 9:00 to noon

Fridays 9:00 to noon

GED Preparation Sept. 10, 2013 to

Dec. 9, 2013 Tues, Wed, Thurs 4:30 to 7:30 p.m

Math & Science for the Trades Oct. 7, 2013 to Jan. 24, 2014 Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 3:15 Fridays 9:00 to noon

To register call: 403-347-SWIM (7946) Visit us online at: www.reddeercatalina.ca Email: rdcatalina@telus.net

403-340-1930 Suite B 4946 - 50th St. Red Deer www.academicexpress.ca

Learning Connections Red Deer Express 9

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Extensive learning choices with Community Programs Both ‘in class’ and online opportunities are available to Central Albertans

BY MARK WEBER Red Deer Express Life-long learning is the defining phrase for Red Deer Public Schools Community Programs, based at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School.

Staff say that whether folks are looking to follow a personal interest, advance their careers or enhance their lifestyles, there are all kinds of courses covering a range of topics and subjects.

There are also courses of a mainly practical nature as well. It’s a great way to test and see if a given area is something you really want to pursue more specifically, too, said Rixta Moritz, Community Programs coordinator.

Community Programs is also going into its 47th year.

As Moritz points out, there’s everything from Building Your Thinking Power, several language classes (Spanish and Beginner’s German) to Intro-

duction to Stained Glass to Easy Ways to Reduce/Reverse the Effects of Stress and Basic Belly Dancing.

There is even a couponing workshop to tap into the soaring popularity of shoppers’ utilizing coupons. Another fascinating choice is a course called Getting Paid to Talk, Making Money with Your Voice.

Other courses include How to Manage Your Emotions So They Don’t Control You to several popular laworiented courses dealing with everything from wills, preparation for divorce to being an executor. The law courses are taught by local lawyers.

Almost all of these courses are run out of Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School, and they are offered through the year.

They can very in length from a single session to several weeks in length as well.

Community Programs also offers hundreds of online classes as well. These

“THEY’RE IMPROVING THEIR LIVES. THEY’RE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS FULFILLING TO THEM SO WE ARE JUST HELPING THEM REACH THAT GOAL.” RIXTA MORITZ run the gamut from Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners, How to Get Started in Game Development, Creating Web Pages and Effective Business Writing to Marriage and Relationship Keys to Success, Beginning Conversational French, Drawing for the Absolute Beginner and Discover Digital Photography.

Brenda Knapp, Community Programs secretary, said that for some, the social aspect of the courses at LTCHS really adds to the overall experience, but the online courses offer a flexibility for those who find it more convenient to study at home.

“You can browse them all on our web site.”

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Keeping classes affordable has always been part of the mandate, added Knapp.

As for who teaches, many of the classes are led by people with a tremendous passion and talent for the given area of study. Some

are retired professionals and simply want to keep sharing their knowledge specialties with others.

“They have a passion for sharing with the community,” she said. “There’s a lot of people out there that have all kinds of skills and abilities and they can share it with their community.”

Staff also invite prospective teachers to approach them with ideas for classes as well.

Moritz agrees. “A lot of times they get as much out of it as the students.”

For Moritz and Knapp,

seeing people sign up for courses and broaden their experience is a fulfilling line of work. It’s fun to see how many folks take one course and then are essentially hooked on garnering knowledge in lots of other areas as well.

“They’re improving their lives. They’re doing something that is fulfilling to them so we are just helping them reach that goal.”

For more information, check out www.communityprograms.rdpsd.ab.ca or call 403-342-1059. editor@reddeerexpress.com

VARIETY – Photography is one of the many courses offered through the Community Programs run by the Red Deer Public School District.

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10 Red Deer Express Learning Connectionss

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Improving English made easy with C.A.R.E. Red Deer organization offers range of programs for newcomers to City

BY JENNA SWAN Red Deer Express Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) and the Red Deer Immigrant Centre located downtown on Gaetz Avenue at #202-5000 50 Ave. is the answer for those looking to improve their English.

With accredited courses in Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) for immigrants as well as permanent residents and refugees looking to improve their English, C.A.R.E. makes class convenient and fun, staff say.

It also provides free on-site licensed childcare for students with preschool children. The LINC program supports the settlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers into Canada.

“Newcomers are first assessed to determine their Canadian Language Benchmark levels in the four major skill areas,” said Frank Bauer, finance and administration manager for C.A.R.E. “Based on their results they are placed in one of the six LINC levels that we offer at C.A.R.E - Literacy through LINC Level 5.”

Per year C.A.R.E provides English instruction to approximately 270 students from 54 different countries and 38 languages.

Currently their largest group is from Afghanistan, followed by El Salvador. The third largest group is from China.

Last year they had several new students from Egypt, Mexico and Brazil. Classes range in size from eight to 15 students, and there are between 140 and 145 students enrolled in the program at any session.

With nine part-time and full-time instructors teaching reading, spelling, pronunciation and conversation, students are put in a personal setting with an emphasis on talking to one another to improve their language skills.

“The English as a Second Language program is funded by the City of Red Deer through the Life Long Learning Council,” said Bauer.

“It is offered in the evenings during spring, fall, and winter for immigrants who are ineligible or unable to attend daytime classes. Classes are twice a week, for three hours each evening and run 10 weeks for a total of 60 hours. There are five classes with levels from beginner to level four.”

Upon registering for the sessions, students must do an informal assessment or provide proof of their language ability as well as pay a fee token for the course. They are provided with a certificate of attendance at the end of each session.

“Many of our evening ESL students are temporary foreign workers settling in Central Alberta, said Bauer. Last year in particular, we had a large group of Ukrainian employees from Olymel whose numbers were large enough that we had our

first monolingual ESL class.”

Having just started last week, C.A.R.E is offering free conversation circles in which those looking to improve their English may converse with one another on the as-

signed topic of the day.

Conversation circles are a great way to improve your English while working along side a group, said Bauer. jswan@reddeerexpress.com

S L O O H C S C I L B U RED DEER P S M A R G O R P Y COMMUNIT

RED DEER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

NIGHT SCHOOL (Credit Classes) Classes:

• Biology 20, 30 • Chemistry 20,30 • English 10-1, 10-2, 20-1, 20-2, 30-1, 30-2 • Math 10-C, 10-3, 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 • Physics 20, 30 l Science 10, 14, 20, 24, 30 • Social Studies 10-1, 10-2, 20-1, 20-2, 30-1, 30-2 • Tourism • Calm (3 Credits)

Cost:

Students 19 years of age or younger as of September 1, 2013 pay ONLY for BOOKS. Book purchase required upon registration.

Students 20 years of age or older as of September 1, 2013 pay $600 plus the cost of books.

Book purchase required upon registration.

International students pay $880 plus books.

Deadline To Register: Sept. 4, 2013

403-342-1059

General Interest Classes • Active Living • Languages • Crafts & Hobbies • Law • Personal Development

ON LINE LEARNING Over 300 Instructor Facilitated courses Check out our website!

http://communityprograms.rdpsd.ab.ca

New Location!!

24 lanes up to 40 yards!

Registration Night Sept. 11, 2013

Juniors Program (Ages 7 - 17) Registrations are now being accepted for the fall program:

ARCHERY For All Ages

• 12 Weeks of Instruction (1 x per week) Central Alberta Archer Association • Use of Club Bows / Targets Starting on • CAAA Membership + FCA Insurance Coverage Tuesday, September 17 or • Cost: $250 + Purchase of 3 Arrows ($25) Wednesday, September 18 • Classes Held Tuesday OR Wednesday Evening: • Call for Available Times

Archery Lanes Open For Public / Members • Pro-Shop Available to Supply All Archery Equipment Needs • Equipment Available for Rent • Memberships Available for Singles / Families • Adult League to Start in Dec.: Call for Details

www.CentralAlbertaArchers.ca

Learning Connections Red Deer Express 11

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Searching for a perfect ‘back to school’ laptop As another school year draws closer, weighing technology options is probably the furthest things from the minds of parents and students.

But with laptops now a staple in most lecture halls, it’s hard to shelve students’ needs for quality technology.

Parents and students also have many different views on what to look for in a laptop.

According to a national survey of 1,000 Canadians, 23% of students said they considered support for gaming a priority in a laptop.

That was compared to only 10% of parents.

“Picking the right laptop doesn’t have to be a daunting task,” says Trevor Dantas, Toshiba’s education specialist.

“There are many laptop options available for work and play; the key is to decide what the machine’s primary function will be and narrow down the features you require.”

• Functionality – consider whether you are looking for a laptop that will be solely used for typing essays and research or for entertainment purposes as well.

While word processing remains a necessity, students are known to watch the occasional movie on their laptop.

Even with minimal entertainment needs, certain programs such as graphic design or architecture require students to run more graphics-intensive programs and you need to be sure you have a machine that can keep up.

For students hoping to use their laptop for work and play, intense gaming requires a faster-than-aver-

age processor and a quality video card.

• Mobility – decide how portable you want the device to be and whether your laptop will be travelling to the classroom or acting as a primary home computer.

Laptops come in screen sizes of 14, 15, and 17-inches and screen size has a direct correlation with the unit’s size and weight.

A smaller laptop will fit easily and more comfortably in a backpack or on those small retractable lecture hall desks.

A larger system is better suited to being a primary work and entertainment hub that won’t leave home very often.

• Durability – mobility increases the wear and tear on a laptop and nothing is more important than data to a hardworking student.

Look for systems that fea-

ture hard drive shock protectors to shield data from accidental drops to ensure that files remain intact.

• User-friendliness – the rise in popularity of touch screen tablets has led to a new generation of laptops featuring touch screen technology.

With Windows 8 you can push and scroll through apps, various documents and photo files with a swipe of a finger.

These units let students operate in a touch screen environment, which they are increasingly familiar with, or opt for full keyboard functionality depending on their preference.

• Convenience – think about other devices you may need to connect to your laptop.

Laptops with multiple USB and HDMI ports give you the ability to connect

phones and music players, as well as secondary monitors, TVs and external drives.

With multiple ports you don’t have to keep unplugging devices.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME - Not necessary to be Ukrainian or have any dance experience.

Adults do not need to be couples to join.

For more info, call Irene 403-346-5712, Andrea 403-749-3252 kvitkardukrdance@yahoo.ca

www.newscanada.com

FOR A CHILD R U O Y ER REGIST

FUN s R E M SUM Bowling Pas

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‘Kvitka’ on another spectacular year!

Registration is from 6-8pm at Festival Hall.

tures you need it’s time to compare products in store or online and consider secondary factors such as price, brand and overall aesthetics.

RIVERSIDE BOWL

Congratulations

Red Deer Canadian Ukrainian Dance Club will be starting Wednesday, September 4th, 2013.

Certain USB ports can remain functional even when the laptop is off to charge your cell phone or play music through the laptop speakers.

Once you know the fea-

AY BIRTHD LS SPECIA OWLING GLOW B Sunday) y thru (Thursda

IT’S FREE! GO TO

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www www.KidsBowlFree.com/riversidebowl w

403-342-6800 for reservations & info

KIDSBOWLFREE®

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Instruction Available - September p Start

#20, 5118 - 47 Ave., Red Deer (next to Plaza Co-op)

12 Red Deer Express Learning Connectionss

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Certificate Programs at Red Deer College

continuing education immediate innovative impactful

YOUR PLAN FOR SUCCESS! High quality training from RDC Continuing Education is the key to your success!

Featured certificates that will jump start and advance your career include: Applied Management Change Management NEW Conflict Leadership NEW Human Resource Management Leadership

Management Skills for Supervisors Professional Bookkeeping Project Management Supply Management

We also offer over 200 professional development courses.

See our website for a complete listing.

Visit www.rdc.ab.ca/continuing_education 403.357.3663 | continuingeducation@rdc.ab.ca