What’s On
Events
Readings Under the Trees
Second/third Saturday in March annually
Now an ALTA signature event, Readings Under the Trees brings established authors and emergent ALTA student writers together each year to celebrate the joy of reading.
Save the date for this FREE picnic-style public affair with live readings from ALTA students and some of your favourite local authors at the Botanic Gardens in Port of Spain. Bring the family, your blanket and eats for an afternoon of enjoyable readings.
ALTA Tutor Meeting
Third/fourth Saturday in June annually
The annual ALTA Tutor Meeting is a space for tutors to convene outside of the classroom to “talk shop.” Tutors receive updates on programme delivery, the end of the current academic year and the start of the next.
Each year a featured guest speaker shares information to enhance the ALTA volunteer tutor in their role.
Annual General Meeting
End of October
The ALTA AGM fulfils an obligatory function in the organisation’s calendar of events: the membership elects the Board to act on ALTA’s behalf for the new year and auditors and accounts are confirmed. ALTA’s official financial position is outlined in a report from the Board Treasurer and the Board Chairman delivers an overview of ALTA activities over the last year.
Also on the agenda during the AGM is the distribution of Tutor Certificates to eligible volunteer tutors. To close out the event, tutors splinter off into regional meetings to discuss how things are going in their respective classes, brainstorm ideas and celebrate successes.
Teaching, Training & Event Calendar 2026
JANUARY
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 10th
Youth Lit tutors
Feedback & Planning Session
9:00am-2:00pm
Belmont Office
Sat. 17th
ALTA Reading Circle Training
9:00am-3:00pm
Belmont Office
FEBRUARY
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 7th
Coordinator Training
9:00am-2:00pm
Belmont Office
MARCH
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 14th
Readings Under the Trees
2:30pm-5:30pm
Royal Botanic Gardens,
Port of Spain
Fri. 27th
Term 2 ends
Spelling Programme ends
Determined by
class schedule
Determined by
class schedule
APRIL
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Mon. 13th
Term 3 starts
Determined by
class schedule
Determined by
class schedule
Sat. 18th, 25th
Tues. 21st, 28th
Thurs. 23rd, 30th
Tutor Training Course
8:15am-4:00pm
Belmont Office
Arima
San Fernando
MAY
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
Tues. 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Thurs. 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
Tutor Training Course
8:15am-4:00pm
Belmont Office
Arima
San Fernando
JUNE
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 27th
ALTA Annual
Tutor Meeting
9:00am-12noon
Belmont Office
JULY
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Fri. 10th
Term 3 ends
Determined by
class schedule
Determined by
class schedule
July
Reading Circles
Arima ALTA office (morning)
NALIS St James (morning)
NALIS POS
NALIS POS (morning)
San Fernando – Presentation College
Fridays (10, 17, 24, 31), 10am-12pm
Fridays (10, 17, 24, 31), 9-10:30am
Tuesdays (7, 14, 21, 28), 4-5:30pm
Saturdays (11, 18, 25), 10am-12pm
Tuesdays (7, 14, 21, 28), 4:30-6:30pm
AUGUST
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 15th
Sat. 22nd
Sat. 22nd
Refresher Level 1 & 2
Refresher Level 1 & 2
Refresher Beginner
9:00am-3:30pm
9:00am-3:30pm
9:00am-4:00pm
Belmont Office
San Fernando
Belmont Office
August
Reading Circles
Arima ALTA office (morning)
NALIS St James (morning)
NALIS POS
NALIS POS (morning)
San Fernando – Presentation College *Chaguanas South Secondary School
Fridays (7, 14), 10am-12pm
Fridays (7, 14), 9-10:30am
Tuesdays (4, 11), 4-5:30pm
Saturdays (8, 15), 10am-12pm
Tuesdays (4, 11, 18), 4:30-6:30pm
Thursdays (6, 13, 20, 27) 4:30-6:30pm
SEPTEMBER
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Sat. 5th
Refresher Training Level 3
& Spelling Programme
9:00am-3:30pm
Belmont Office
Mon. 7th
Term 1 starts
Determined by
class schedule
Determined by
class schedule
Tues. 8th
International Literacy Day
OCTOBER
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Mon. 5th
Spelling Programme starts
Determined by
class schedule
Determined by
class schedule
Sat. 31st
Annual General Meeting
9:00am-12:00pm
Belmont Office
DECEMBER
DATE
ACTIVITY
TIME
LOCATION
Fri. 11th
Term 1 ends
Determined by
class schedule
Determined by
class schedule
ALTA News
Read the ALTA newsletters to find out what ALTA’s been doing over the last few years.
Reading…it’s Life
Read an ALTA feature every Wednesday as seen in the Trinidad Guardian.
Student Campaign 2026 ‘A Little Today, A Lot Tomorrow ALTA’
29 July 2026
An example for my children
by Iola Williams
22 July 2026
The confidence to grow
by Sanjay Maharajh
15 July 2026
ALTA Patron Mrs. Hassanali, indefatigable at 95!
8 July 2026
Transforming literacy: ALTA’s Tutor Meeting 2026
1 July 2026
From struggling to spell to finding ALTA
by Mitchell, Breaking Silence & Ronald Lester, My ALTA Journey
24 June 2026
From little today to a lot tomorrow
by Florence
17 June 2026
ALTA gave me the confidence to read, write and spell
by Christopher Charles
10 June 2026
Two stories of transformation through ALTA
by Janet & Bonaparte
3 June 2026
A Little Today A Lot Tomorrow ALTA
by ALTA