Digby Area Learning Association has been transformed with brightly colored rooms and a new mural in the main foyer. Student Nadine Gaudett helped staff member Terry Gilbert with the mural. Contributed photo
Learning centre gets facelift
Mural captures spirit of ‘Year of Reading’
Digby Area Learning Association’s building is getting a facelift, thanks to staff member Terry Gilbert, students, and local businesses that donated paint and supplies.
The learning centre at 53 Mount Street, where classes are held for adults who are upgrading education, is being painted throughout.
In the front hallway, a bright mural now greets visitors. Part of the mural depicts an adult immersed in a book, a theme echoing one of DALA’s mandates.
Literacy is the focus of many of the association’s activities.
At Learning Grove Child Care—a DALA satellite project—Gilbert has ensured all of the school-aged children have library cards.
“She’s also writing a book with the kids, which they’ll all be taking home,” says Christie Robart, a supervisor at Learning Grove.
Robart adds that the children have also visited the Adult Learning Centre, where adults, some of them newly literate, shared books with the children.
Cindy Chatterton is one of the DALA students who found that particular activity rewarding.
Chatteron, one of DALA’s success stories, learned to read as an adult.
“When my children were growing up, I felt like a failure as a mom because I couldn’t help them with their homework,” she recalls.
Cindy is now busy doing her own homework and is scheduled to receive her high school diploma next year.
