Month: June 2016

T-Bones back in KCK tonight after beating Sioux City Sunday

The Kansas City T-Bones snapped their three game skid with a 12-8 win against Sioux City, Sunday afternoon.

The T-Bones struck with four runs in the top of the first inning, including a two-run double from Steve Swingle.

T-Bones starting pitcher Johnny Shuttlesworth (2-1) earned the win with five innings of three-run ball.

Brett Wiley and Tyler Massey each homered for Kansas City in the win. Jake Blackwood had a four RBI game and Brandon Tierney
hit three doubles and drove in three. All Kansas City starters were on base at least one time.

The T-Bones finish 5-6 on the 11 game road-trip.

The T-Bones (8-10) will return home to CommunityAmerica Ballpark Monday evening to begin a seven-game home stand. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
– Story from T-Bones

Transit buses become site for story time in KCK

Surprise story times are popping up on buses around Kansas City, Kan.

During the month of June, riders on the 101 bus route may get to hear a story read by local athletes and community leaders including Mayor Mark Holland and a member of the roller derby. These individuals will be appearing at unannounced times as part of Kansas City, Kan., Public Library’s Stories on the Bus program to promote summer reading and the upcoming Library in the Park.

The Stories on the Bus program was conceived by Outreach Librarian Louisa Whitfield-Smith who was inspired by the 2016 Newbery Award-winning “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña.

“When we step into a library or onto a public bus, we open ourselves to serendipity. True to the spirit of Matt de la Peña’s powerful ‘Last Stop on Market Street,’ Stories on the Bus is a joyful celebration of that serendipity, of the power of stories to connect us across our community.”

The final phase of the program will include a live performance of “Last Stop on Market Street “as de la Peña reads the book out loud to children chosen from the Kansas City, Kan., Public School district. The children will board a bus at Quindaro Elementary and ride to KCKPL Main Library as KC MeltingPot actors take on the roles of characters in the book.

De la Peña will also be present at Library in the Park on Sept. 17 to sign and read from his book. One thousand free copies will be given away to attendees.

Stories on the Bus are the result of a partnership between Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, and Unified Government Transit.

“Stories on the Bus is a wonderful celebration of reading and of riding transit,” said KCATA president and CEO Robbie Makinen. “We are proud to partner with the library to share fun and interesting story times for our riders as they travel to jobs, schools, entertainment, and healthcare.”

“Unified Government Transit is honored to collaborate on a project that promotes reading and literacy in our community,” said Justus Walker, UG Transit Department director.

– Story from Kim Woolery, KCKPL

KCKCC ESOL students celebrate success

by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC

Students in Kansas City Kansas Community College’s English for Speakers of Other Languages program celebrated the end of a journey earlier this month with its annual Graduation and Recognition of Success event.

“We celebrate a cycle because we are coming to the end of the year,” said Elizabeth Holloway, ESOL coordinator at KCKCC. “With these cycles are beginnings and ends. You finish high school, you begin college. You start ESOL classes, you finish them, and you begin college classes. We go through cycles. We all have life cycles and events in which we celebrate.”

In addition to recognizing 10 students who completed ESOL coursework in spring 2016, an additional 20 students were recognized for completing at least one of KCKCC’s Level 4 ESOL classes. The recognition ceremony was preceded by a social hour for families, ESOL staff members and KCKCC guests. ESOL alum Iman Al-Nuami also spoke during the May 17 ceremony. Al-Nuami is a refugee from Iraq who completed her ESOL classes in December 2014. She was a professor of mathematics in her home country and is now enrolled in KCKCC’s Secondary Education Program.

The goal of the ESOL program is to help students improve their English skills to enable them to succeed in attaining college degrees or completing career programs.

There are four levels in KCKCC’s program. Students are placed into levels according to proficiency and continue taking ESOL until ready to move into their academic classes. The program includes reading, listening and speaking, writing and grammar and vocabulary. During the first two semesters, students focus on language fundamentals and only take ESOL classes. Beginning in the third semester, schedules are more individualized, depending on the student’s fluency. Students who are able are given the option of taking classes outside the ESOL program.

“Many of our students are refugees or immigrants from war-torn or impoverished parts of the world,” Holloway said. “They know that learning English is the key to success in this country. We are proud to be part of helping students achieve their goals.”

For more information on the ESOL program, to enroll or to make an appointment, call 913-288-7625 or 913-288-7380. Students can also stop by the ESOL Office, Room 3415, during normal office hours.

Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.