September 20, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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By GORDON WEEKS
gordon@TrLaY, oncoztnty,cort~
A high school dropout
and former drug abuser,
a Shelton man decided
to turn his life around by
improving his academic
skills at Sound Learning
sessions and earning his
GED. He's now studying
welding at Olympic College
in Shelton, working toward
certification so he can earn
a family wage.
An Hispanic man in his
50s, a native of Mexico,
had little access to educa-
tion as a boy. Trained as a
baker, he attended English
for Speakers of Other Lan-
guages (ESOL) sessions
offered by Sound Learn-
ing. Now, he's using his
new language skills to read
business license require-
ments and search for bak-
ery equipment online to
open his own bakery.
A local woman who knew
little English enrolled in
the ESOL program. These
days, she's an active vol-
unteer and Parent-Teach-
er Student Organization
member at her children's
elementary school.
For 21 years, the Shel-
ton-based nonprofit organi-
zation has provided adults
with individual and small
group instruction in read-
ing, writing, math and
English for ESOL.
Sound Learning, 133
Railroad Ave., launched its
new sessions of GED and
adult education classes
last Monday.
A new session of ESOL
evening programs begin
on Monday, are hosted
from 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
through Dec: 12 on the ~ec-
ond floor of the CHOICE
alternative school. No class
is conducted on Veteran's
Day, Nov. 12.
Students must register
by attending an orienta-
tion session. New students
will be accepted until mid-
way through fall quarter.
Students can sign up dur-
ing class time at CHOICE
Alternative School, at the
Sound Learning office, and
by calling 426-9733.
The ESOL evening ses-
sions continue in 2013,
with winter quarter pre-
sented Jan. 7-March 20,
spring quarter April 8
through June 19, and sum-
mer quarter July 8-Aug.
14. For information, con-
tact Jenny Blumenstein at
426-9733 or jblum@sound-
lerning.co.
Adults enroll for two
reasons, said Sound Learn-
ing Outreach Coordinator
Tracy Moore. They are ei-
ther preparing to take the
GED high school equiva-
lency test, or they are im-
migrants who want to un-
derstand, speak and write
better English, "to be com-
fortable and function in
our society," she said.
Shelton Dental Center is a
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ENTAL CE NTE R
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2012
Page B-6 - Shelton-Mason County Journa~ -Thursday, Seot. 20, 2012
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
The Shelton-based nonprofit Sound Learning,
formerly known as Mason County Literacy,
for 21 years has provided adults with one-on-
one and group instruction in reading, writing,
math and English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL). The team includes, from
left, Jenny Blumenstein, adult program
coordinator; Shannon Klasell, adult program
coordinator - basic skills; and Tracy Moore,
outreach coordinator.
Many students are moti-
vated to learn for financial
reasons. Residents who
have not earned a high
school diploma or GED
"are not finding options in
the workplace," said Blu-
menstein, Sound Learn-
ing's adult program coor-
dinator.
The ESOL students
want to learn the skills to
help their children with
their homework, and com-
municate with doctors,
teachers, employers and
co-workers, she said.
Most of the ESOL stu-
dents speak Spanish, while
others speak Thai, Rus-
sian, Chinese, Punjabi, In-
dian and Iraqi, said Shan-
non Kiasell, Sound Learn-
ing's adult program coordi-
nator - basic skills.
"Their posture gets bet-
ter after each session,"
Moore said. "They get more
confidence. It's good for
their self esteem."
Most of the students
range in age from 19 to
35, Moore said. Many of
the volunteers are retirees
looking for a place to serve,
she said.
Meeting sites for one-
on-one sessions include the
libraries in Hoodsport, Bel-
fair and Shelton; the din-
ing room at Rooster's; the
United Methodist Church
in Shelton; and the coffee
drinking section at Fred
Meyer. In Thurston Coun-
ty, Barnes and Noble Book-
store and Top Food and
Drug are among the sites
for one-on-one sessions.
The organization is al-
ways seeking volunteers
to give one-on-one help
throughout the county, as
well as steady help in the
office. ESOL instructors
don't have to know the lan-
guage of the person they
are teaching, Moore said.
The organization is
teaming with the Friends
of the Shelton Library to
stage Oysterlympics for
kids at OysterFest Oct. 6-7
in Shelton. Sound Learn-
ing also offers "Uncorked
for a Cause" at 6 p.m. Nov.
30 at the Colonial House in
Shelton.
The annual three-person
team spelling bee, Spell-E-
Bration, is staged May 10
at the Shelton Civic Cen-
ter. Last year's Spell-E-
Bration raised $17,000 for
the organization through
team sponsor donations.
About 65 percent of the
Sound Learning's funding
comes from state and fed-
eral grants through the
Washington State Board
for Community and Tech-
nical Colleges.
onions
taco shells or tart:fll~s i::i: :hi' :) ::
Party
Continued from page B-1
"The thing this (the
economy) is hitting really
hard on is the backpack
program," he said.
Each week during the
school year, Saint's Pan-
try gives out more than
100 bags filled with non-
perishable food to children
getting free and reduced
lunches during the week,
many of whom are home-
less.
The bags are intended to
help children eat healthy,
balanced meals through
the weekend, when they
don't have access to free
school meals.
Each backpack costs
the food bank $5.19 and
includes items such as Top
Ramen. instant oatmeal,
a can of ravioli or pork
and beans, fruit cups, en-
ergy bars, macaroni and
cheese, fruit juice, tuna,
snack crackers and pop-
corn.
Harstine
Continued from page B-1
commutes to work outside of Mason Coun-
ty, and that the vast majority of business-
es in Mason County have 10 or fewer em-
ployees. Interesting historical information
he passed along was that the president
of a chamber in New York started Wood-
stock, another chamber started the Miss
America pageant and perhaps most inter-
esting was a Chicago chamber that helped
Elliot Ness take down AI Capone. Pioneer
Kiwanis meets at 7 a.m. every Wednesday
morning at the Spencer Lake Bar & Grill.
Guests are always welcome.
I want to thank all the folks who sent
me information for this column and re-
mind you that the column is turned in
to the Journal on Friday, preceding the
Thursday publication. I received several
items this week, but couldn't use them
because they came in too late. Mike
will be back next week. It has been fun,
thanks.
Habitat
Continued from page B-1
family. The couple painted,
landscaped, placed sheet-
rock and helped raise the
inside walls. They also
logged in hours working at
the Habitat stores.
"They were a hardwork-
ing family," Roha said.
The house was dedicat-
ed at a ceremony that fea-
tured speakers and music
by Paul Barber. Grocery
Outlet stocked the bath-
room with essentials and
the kitchen with food, and
the Faith Lutheran Church
Quilting Saints and New
Community Church of
Union Quilters donated
handmade quilts to the
family.
The children are enjoy-
ing the parks near their
home, and making friends
with the neighbors' ani-
mals, Michele said.
This month, Habitat
will break ground for its
next house, in Timber-
lakes, not far from the
Morris home.
"Everything they do
helps people, and we'll ge~
can," Michele said.
Habitat for Humanity of
Mason County seeks vol-
unteers, in particular peo-
ple with plumbing, roofing
and electrical skills, Roha
said. The organization can
be reached at 426-8134 or
www.habitatmason.org
Most of the land for the
Habitat houses is donated,
particularly in Timber-
lakes and Shorecrest, Roha
said. The group hopes to
find property owners in
the Belfair area to donate
land, she said.
"We want to make an
out there as much as we imprint there," Roha said.
- " ' ,-':, o O •