IN THIS ISSUE:
- Amy's Ramblings
- Education Updates
- Legal Updates
- Social Services Updates
- Tip of the Month
- Volunteer Spotlight
- August's Vignette
- Bits and Pieces
John Odenwelder
Program Director
jodenwelder@ccda.net
Amy White
Group Manager
awhite@ccda.net, x235
Kristen Gasimov
Manager/Office Manager
kgasimov@ccda.net, x249
Katie Mathews
Manager
kmathews@ccda.net, x243
Erin Maradiegue
Manager
emaradiegue@ccda.net, x251
Sheila Sullivan
Manager
ssullivan@ccda.net, x238
Michelle Sardone
Group Manager
msardone@ccda.net
Cindy Brown
Paralegal
cbrown@ccda.net
Nancy Carbajal
Receptionist
ncarbajal@ccda.net
Maria Cutipa
Intake Coordinator
mcutipa@ccda.net
Dan Macguire
Staff Attorney
dmacguire@ccda.net
Patty Mueller
Staff Attorney
pmueller@ccda.net
Enrique Vargas
Paralegal
evargas@ccda.net
Dawn Dumas
Manager
ddumas@ccda.net
(703) 443-2481
Angie Marchetto
Intake Coordinator
amarchetto@ccda.net
(703) 443-2481
6201 Leesburg Pike
Suite 307
Falls Church, Va 22044
T: (703) 534-9805
F: (703) 534-9809
www.ccda.net
If you would like to have this newsletter sent to a different email address or if you would like to unsubscribe from the mailing list, please email emaradiegue@ccda.net.
Saludos to everyone! Hogar hopes you had a great summer, even if it feels like it went by too quickly. I would like to say a fond farewell to long-time Hogar employee, Diana Gibson. Diana was the Hogar site coordinator and St. Leo liaison for the past 2 ½ years and she will be greatly missed. She has accepted a position in Honduras teaching earth science, biology and chemistry at a bilingual high school. While we’re excited for her as this combines her passion for teaching and her background in the sciences, we are undoubtedly saddened to see her leave.
Hogar is still actively searching for a site in Alexandria to hold ESL classes. St. Rita is no longer able to host the ESL program there and many students have been displaced. If any of you, our friends and partners, have information regarding a potential site for classes please contact me!
Our summer intern, Lucila Fernandez, did an excellent job over the summer offering computer classes, assisting in ESL classes and organizing this year’s Carnival Cup. Six soccer teams competed for a $500 grand prize; children enjoyed a multitude of games, facepainting, and relay races; and carnival goers were delighted with dance performers including a Hula performance, Bolivian traditional folk dancing and Brazilian Capoeira. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and made this year’s event such a success!
Please take a look at our fall schedule of classes and plan to help your site coordinator with outreach and registration.
Thank you for all that you do for Hogar!
Abrazos,
Amy White
Group Manager, Education Services
Hogar Registration Is Underway!
The fall 2009 semester of English language classes has begun! Please take a look below to find the class location nearest to you. For more information, call 703-534-9805 x 222.
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Annandale High School 4700 Medford Dr., Annandale, VA, 22003 Registration: Monday, September 14 and Wednesday, September 16, 7 – 9 pm Cost: $40 Class schedule: Monday and Wednesday, 7 – 9 pm |
Hogar’s Office 6201 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22044 Registration: Monday – Wednesday, September 21 - 23, 10 am – 12 pm (morning class), 6 – 8 pm for (evening class) Cost: $100 Class schedule: Monday – Thursday, 9 – 10:30 am, 6 – 7:30 pm, 7:30 – 9:00 pm |
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St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church 3305 Glen Carlyn Rd., Falls Church, VA 22041 Registration: Saturday, September 12, 10 am - 12 pm Cost: $40 Class schedule: Saturday, 10 am - 12 pm |
St. Bernadette Catholic Church 7600 Old Keene Mill Rd., Springfield, VA 22152 Registration: Saturday, September 12, 10 am - 12 pm Cost: $40 Class schedule: Saturday, 10 am - 12 pm |
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St. Joseph Catholic Church 750 Peachtree St., Herndon, VA 20170 Registration: Wednesday, September 2 and Thursday, September 3, 7 - 9 pm Cost: $40 Class schedule: Wednesday and Thursday, 7 - 9 pm |
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church 3700 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA 22030 Registration: Saturday, September 12, 10 am - 12 pm Cost: $40 Class Schedule: Saturday, 10 am - 12 pm |
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St. Mark Catholic Church 9970 Vale Rd., Vienna, VA 22181 Registration: Thursday, September 10 and Tuesday, September 22, 7:30 - 8:30 pm Class schedule: Tuesday and Thursday, 8 - 9:30 pm |
Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church 46833 Harry Byrd Hwy., Sterling, VA 20164 Registration: Tuesday, September 15 and Thursday, September 17, 7 - 9 pm Cost: $40 Class schedule: Tuesday and Thursday, 8 - 9:30 pm |
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All Saints Catholic Church 9300 Stonewall Rd., Manassas, VA 20110 Registration (Tuesday/Thursday Classes): Tuesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 10, 7 - 9 pm (Sunday classes) Sunday, September 13, 11:30 - 1:30 pm Cost: $50 - Tuesday/Thursday Classes; $40 - Sunday Classes Class Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday, 7 - 9 pm; Sunday, 11:30 am - 1:20 pm |
Holy Family Catholic Church 14160 Ferndale Rd., Dale City, VA 22193 Registration: Sunday, September 13, 1 - 4 pm Cost: $40 Class schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7 - 8:30 pm |
The Next Naturalization Workshop Is Only A Couple Weeks Away!
Hogar will host its next Naturalization Workshop on Saturday, September 12 at Fairlington Community Center in Arlington from 10am to 1pm. Legal permanent residents who are eligible for citizenship will receive assistance from volunteers and pro-bono attorneys in completing the N-400 Application for Naturalization. If you or someone you know would like to apply for citizenship, come receive help from the experts for the low workshop cost of $60. Call (703) 534-9805 ext. 250 for more information.
Volunteers are needed to sit with clients and fill out applications – no foreign language skills or experience necessary. We provide all necessary training the morning of the workshop.
Hogar is proud to partner with organizations all over the nation through the Ya Es Hora, ¡Ciudadania! campaign which emphasizes the importance of citizenship within the Latino community.
Hogar's Social Services is moving!
A local businessman has generously donated a vacant office that he owns to Catholic Charities. The Leesburg office Social Services department is in the process of moving into this location, giving them more room and a rent-free office space!
The new office is at 12 Cardinal Park Drive Suite 105 Leesburg, VA- 2 miles away from the current location. The office phone number will remain the same.
Fall is almost here and that can mean only one thing—the start of the fall semester! Whether you are an experienced volunteer teacher or a newbie, the first thing you will want to do is to get to know your students. The most efficient and fun way to do that is with an icebreaker! Any icebreaker that involves sharing stories while eating lots of candy is a favorite of Hogar staff.
With this in mind, we present to you the M & M Game.
On the first day of class, bring a large bag (or two) of M & M candies. Let each student take only one candy and pass the bag. Each color corresponds to a different category.
For example:
- If a student chooses a red M & M, he or she should share something about his/her family.
- If a student chooses a brown M & M, he or she should talk about a favorite hobby.
- If a student chooses a green M & M, he or she should talk about their native country.
- If a student chooses a blue M & M, he or she should tell the class about his/her favorite band or type of music.
- If a student chooses a yellow M & M, he or she should tell the class his/her favorite food.
- If a student chooses an orange M & M, he or she should tell the class where he/she lives in Virginia.
Hogar would like to express its appreciation to all the volunteers who came out to help during Hogar's Carnival Cup Soccer Tournament and family day, August 8. Your time and energy made the event possible. Thank you for all your hard work!
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July 20th was an extremely happy day for Hogar staff, volunteers, and teachers. On that day, Jose Rivera, a long-time Hogar student, finally became a citizen.
Jose’s quest began in the fall of 2007 when he enrolled in Hogar’s office location’s English Literacy class. Jose continuously enrolled in classes each semester, as his English gradually improved. After about a year Jose began taking the citizenship preparation course, in addition to his ESL classes.
The citizenship exam is more than just a test with some questions about U.S. history and government. First, the applicant is tested on their English fluency through simple conversation and questions asked about their application form. Next, the student is asked ten, randomly chosen oral questions about U.S. history and government from a list of 100 possible questions. Finally, the student is asked to read and write a sentence in English.
Jose studied for his exam for nearly two years, yet he had only attended school through the fourth grade in his native El Salvador. This (combined with other factors) caused Jose’s English development to be quite slow and unfortunately, he failed his exam the first two times he took it. Both times he passed the history and government portion, but failed due to his weak English skills. Nevertheless, Jose was incredibly determined and after several months he reapplied to become a citizen. Upon receipt of his new interview date, all of Hogar’s volunteer citizenship instructors rallied together to ensure he received the extra tutoring he would need to succeed. Although this occurred over the summer, when many like to take the time to relax and vacation, Hogar’s volunteers made sure that Jose had a tutor at least three evenings a week. And on July 20th, it all paid off as not only did Jose pass his test, but he was sworn in and received his official certificate of citizenship.
When asked for specifics, Jose said that the exam was quite challenging and that he’s sure he would have failed again were it not for the dedication of his instructors. He said the person interviewing him was very serious and that they went through each question on all the pages of his application. He felt confident about the history/government questions and the reading sentence, but was anxious about the writing, as that had been another area he struggled with. Thankfully, his sentence was a mere three words- “You pay taxes,” all words that he had studied. Upon finding out that he passed, Jose thought about how grateful he was to all his teachers. He said the ceremony was a beautiful and happy time where approximately 100 people were present to also become citizens. When asked about his future plans Jose mentioned coming back to Hogar in September to start a new ESL class. Although he is thrilled to now be a US. citizen, he recognizes the importance of continuing to improve his English in order to find a better job. Jose also mentioned his 13 year old daughter, who lives in El Salvador. He has other older children, but is considering petitioning for his youngest daughter to join him in the US. With his determination, we are sure he will be able to accomplish whatever else he sets his mind to.
Congratulations, Jose! And many thanks to all of the dedicated, patient volunteers who assisted you in your journey.
*Eight of Jose’s classmates have also become citizens since July, with six more students scheduled to have exams in the next month. One of the newest citizens, Geovana Huanca, has already been back to Hogar to help her classmates prepare for their tests. She assisted an elderly student who was eligible to take the exam in Spanish (who subsequently passed), and is now working with another student who has her exam scheduled in September. In total, Hogar has helped 89 students become U.S. citizens since last summer. Great work everyone!
The Diocesan Office of Migration and Refugee Services Is Seeking Donations of Time and Goods
Migration and Refugee Services is currently in need of donations of toiletries, dressers, metal bed frames, sheets, lamps, alarm clocks, pots & pans, vacuum cleaners, baby diapers and formula, DVD players, DTV converter boxes/coupons, microwave ovens, and used cars. All items must be in good condition/working order. A tax receipt will be provided. MRS is also seeking volunteers to help move furniture donations and also to tutor refugees. Please call (703) 841-3870 (donations), (703) 841- 3873 (volunteers).
Free Career Counseling is Available
Catholic Charities’ job ministry called Christians Are Networking, (“CAN”), is supporting people who are in career transition where they can receive free professional career counseling – including resume reviews and practice interviews – and take advantage of networking opportunities with other professionals. Join CAN every Thursday evening, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, 4650 Taney Ave. in Alexandria.
Special guest speakers:
September 3: Carl S. Savino of Competitive Edge Services on "How to Work a Job Fair."
September 17: Bishop Loverde on "Hope."
No advanced registration is required to attend. For more details, contact Elizabeth Lucas at (703) 683-7703 or elizabeth22305@verizon.net or Bill Hummel at (703) 830-5467 or hummel830@cox.net.