 Holiday feast honors students and staff
More than 50 students, staff and family
members "broke bread" together at Trinity Lutheran
Church in Amsterdam, coming together
for a multicultural holiday meal featuring traditional
dishes from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
The meal was prepared by students and staff of HFM's English
Language and Civics Education program that is provided in
collaboration with Skidmore College of Saratoga, St. Mary’s
Hospital, and the Amsterdam-based Trinity Lutheran Church.
 The
English Language and Civics Education program is designed to help students develop
their English conversation, reading and writing skills.
“The meal provides a fun and festive way for
students to share their cultures,” said Laurie Bargstedt, coordinator of
adult literacy at HFM BOCES. "Sometimes people
assume that students in this program are uneducated," she said,
"but that is not the case.
In fact, more than a dozen of the 60 students enrolled in
the program previously earned college degrees in their home countries."
About the program Dr. Lenora de la Luna of Skidmore College helps recruit
learners and also creates publicity materials, provides
assessment of learners’ skills, and leads curriculum
development. Classes are taught by doctoral candidates and
graduate students from SUNY Albany and Skidmore College.
Undergraduate students from Skidmore provide one-on-one
tutoring services and assist teachers through internship
opportunities. Trinity Lutheran Church rents space to the
program, and volunteers from the congregation provide
refreshments during a break each session. Other volunteers
provide transportation services to a limited number of
learners. Classes meet Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. at
Trinity Lutheran Church in Amsterdam. For more information,
call the Adult Literacy office at (518) 736-4340 or
click here. |
