Arlington Community Schools Reach Beyond the Classroom Adult ESL Class is Unique Among Municipal Districts By Terry Louderback
Staff Photo
ESL Teacher Michelle Sluder works with Veronica Perez and Luz Velazquez, parents in the school district's adult ESL class.
At 1:30 pm each Monday afternoon, Michelle Sluder, an English as a Second Language instructor for Arlington Community Schools, pre-
pares to teach a special group of students. Some of them have familiar names and faces—but not because Sluder has had them in class before. Instead
these are the parents and family members of her middle and high school students. In its second year, Arlington’s free adult ESL class is the only
one of its kind among the Shelby County’s municipal schools. Sluder started the class last year at the high school under thenprincipal Tammy Mason. An ESL teacher for 10 years, Sluder saw a need— and an opportunity—to reach beyond the classroom. Sluder found that some of her students' parents had been in United States for as long as 13 years without learning English. So the adult ESL class includes basic vocabulary, but focuses on a lot of speaking—“a place they can try to speak and not be afraid of messing up.” There aren’t many other resources for learning English in the community, Sluder explained. Having the
classes during school hours is also more convenient for parents who would need child care in the evening. The Arlington Community Schools supports her classes and Sluder stays after high school hours to teach. And the benefits go beyond learning the language. “I thought it would be a way to get the parents more involved in their school,” Sluder commented. “A lot of them want to be involved in their children’s education, but the language barrier keeps them from it.” “I feel good when a parent tells me that they were able to do some homework with their children,” Sluder said. “I see the pride See ESL CLASSES , p 8
Nuts About Helping Others Lakeland Lions Kickoff’ Annual Pecan Sale Fundraiser By Terry Louderback A light rain did little to dampen the spirits of members of the Lakeland Lions Club while they unloaded a tractor -trailer load of fresh "new-crop" Georgia pecans for the club's annual fundraiser. Through their 33 years, the Lakeland club has raised roughly 1.2 million dollars to fund their Lion sponsored programs primarily through the sale of holiday pecans at many area businesses. While
Lions Clubs are known for their charitable efforts focused on sight -preservation and assisting the visionimpaired, the Lakeland Lions are also active supporters of schools throughout 38002 in addition to other community projects. Barbara Fletcher, Lakeland Lions President, recalled the support she received as an elementary school principal from the club. “I knew that if there
was a student who couldn’t afford glasses or a family that needed assistance at Christmas, all we had to do was call the Lions and let them know, and they would take care of it,” Fletcher said. Fletcher explained that the Lions now have a mobile vision van that will be visiting daycares in Arlington and Lakeland in early 2015. Pecan chairman Burt Faller estimates
December 2014
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Staff Photo
Lakeland Lions Club members Cecil Tompkins and Ron Brandon help stack 1200 cases of pecans for the group's annual sale.
that the group will sell 30,000 bags of pecans before the sale ends in January. The Lion Club has developed a network of community businesses willing to
sell pecans. Lakeland Lions Club pecans are sold at area banks, grocers, dry cleaners, beauty shops, and credit unions.
HAPPY IN ARLINGTON Tigers Make Historic Run in Playoffs with Legendary Play By Walt McTyre, Arlington Radio Network
Photographer Krista Dye captured this image of Arlington Tigers Head Coach Chris Wiley congratulating senior receiver Jackson Boring after he caught the game-winning touchdown.
It’s kind of like one of those legendary fishing stories. You know what I’m talking about. The fish just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Ten years from now, the pass from freshman quarterback Tate Kolwyck to senior receiver Jackson Boring for the game winner in the second round of the play-offs against the Houston Mustangs, will be said to have been heaved 60 yards with all his might, bouncing off a Mustang defender 10 feet in the air dramatically falling into the outstretched hands of Jackson Boring.
Close enough is what I’ll say. The fact is the Tigers were victorious in the second round play-off game for the first time in school history, defeating Houston 34-32. Truth be told, it was 26 yards and the ball bounced straight into Jackson’s waiting arms. But it doesn’t take away from the drama that was an exciting football game from start to finish. The Tigers earned the right to play in this game by finishing the regular season 8-2 with an undefeated See FOOTBALL, p 13
Inside this edition... Happenings — p 2 Arts Honoree, Anthony Pound — p 4 School News — starts on p 8 Sports — p 13-15