Vibrant Learning Community at Ingleside UMC

SPCALC students and tutors came together for a holiday gathering at Ingleside United Methodist Church in December 2014.  

Partnership with Del Mar College

In cooperation with Del Mar Community College Adult Education Department and SPCALC, communities throughout San Patricio County now have two sites that offer Monday through Thursday ESL and GED classes. These classes are offered at the Ingleside High School (GED only) and in Taft. 

To register for the Del Mar GED or ESL classes, please contact the SPCALC, or contact Bethany Bowman at 361-698-2154 or email bbowman3@delmar.edu



 July 3, 2012 - Portland Citizenship Class a Success


     This year’s citizenship class was held two mornings a week from April 18 to May 21. Portland’s First Presbyterian Church provided facilities for the class and for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes throughout the school year. The classes and materials were free for the students. The Women of the Church recognized the students in all these classes with a party at the church on May 23.

     Eight students originally enrolled in the citizenship class, but three dropped out for various personal reasons. The five who completed the class and received certificates were Ju Lehman (Thailand), Martha Loveday (Mexico), Maria Reyna (Mexico), Myrna Simms (Mexico), and Iris Yap (Jamaica). All are legal residents, some for many years.

     They studied U.S. history and civics. Instructor Jerry Moore gave each student a textbook and a workbook. He used the textbook and supplementary material from the Internet in the class and assigned homework from the workbook. He reviewed and graded each student’s homework. The final two sessions were devoted to studying the application and preparing for the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service’s (USCIS’s) interview.

     To become citizens, each student has to meet certain residency requirements; submit an application, accompanied by a $680 fee; be fingerprinted for a background check; and pass the interview, which involves both verbal and written parts. Both the fingerprinting and interview require the student to go to San Antonio. Thus filling out the application, paying the fee, and traveling to San Antonio twice are time-consuming and expensive.

     To offset part of the cost, the literacy council has adopted a scholarship program to give students who meet certain criteria $300 toward their expenses. The council’s share will come from fundraisers, the first to be held this October. Information about this fundraiser will be provided soon.

     We look forward to having five new citizens in the near future.

Spring 2012 Citizenship Class, From left to right, back: Ju Lehman (Thailand), Instructor Jerry Moore (United States), Myrna Simms (Mexico), Martha Loveday(Mexico); front: Maria Reyna (Mexico), and Iris Yap (Jamaica).

CBCF Grant 2016

The Coastal Bend Community Foundation continues their support of literacy initiatives throughout the Coastal Bend by awarding grants of $6500 to the literacy council of San Patricio county. Thank you for the continued support.

Pictured at the CBCF Annual Grant Award Ceremony 2016: representatives Shari Johnson Portland ESL tutor, Linda Medillin

Shari Johnson Portland ESL tutor is pictured with Linda

CBCF Grant 2014

The Coastal Bend Community Foundation continues their support of literacy initiatives throughout the Coastal Bend by awarding grants of $7500 to the literacy councils of Bee, Nueces, Kleburg, and San Patricio counties. Thank you for the continued support.


 

Pictured at the CBCF Annual Grant Award Ceremony 2014: representatives from Corpus Christi Literacy Council, Kleburg County Literacy Council, and San Patricio County Literacy Council. 

First Citizenship Scholarship Award

The SPCALC presented its first citizenship scholarship on November 1, 2012 at Bell-Whittington Public Library in Portland, Texas to Pornpawee "Ju" Lehman. SPCALC Director Linda Medellin and board members Coco Wendland, Belinda Casanova, Jerry Moore, and Marydele Porter presented Ms. Lehman with a $300 dollar scholarship to offset some of the citizenship filing and processing costs. Ms. Lehman participated in our Spring 2012 scholarship class and received her United States Citizenship in September. She was excited to vote in the General Election on November 6. Congratulations Ju!


Citizenship Celebration

Congratulations to Yesenia Acosta who took her oath of U.S. Citizenship in September 2012!


 

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