By Rosalind Marshall
Special to The SUN
Archuleta County Education Center’s first FY13 GED tests were held at the end of January.
Four students took a total of seven tests, and all four of the GED students passed with flying colors.
One of the students has finished all five GED tests, and is ready to graduate.
GED testing will be scheduled monthly for students who are ready. The GED tutoring and preparation is a one-on-one class that also covers Adult Basic Education for people who need to brush up on reading and writing skills, and Adult Secondary Education.
ACEC’s other adult education program is ESL (English as a Second Language), for adults in our community who need to learn English, and for whom English is not their native language. ESL students come from several different countries; currently, we have students from Thailand, Colombia, Guatemala, Ukraine and Mexico.
Computer classes this month will be Advanced Excel on Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The highly popular Social Networking class will be repeated in March.
A Publisher class will also be held in March, and two levels of QuickBooks classes will be held in May.
First Aid/CPR is held monthly, with a variety of class times to suit everyone’s schedule. For summer outfitters, two recertification classes will be held in May, so start looking for that almost-expired certificate, which is required.
The spring session of college classes from Southwest Colorado Community College at the Education Center started on Jan. 14, and through the Ed Center’s partnership with SCCC, a number of classes are underway. English Composition, Art History, Psychology, Microeconomics and Guidance Strategies for children are being taught with either a face-to-face format or via videoconferencing. The Education Center’s state-of-the-art video teleconferencing technology allows a wide variety of classes to be held, since the students can videoconference with instructors from other locations. For more information about the SCCC College classes, go to www.pueblocc.edu.
ACEC also hosts The Alternative High School Diploma Program (AHSDP), which is administered by Southwest Colorado Community College
After-school K-8 tutoring sessions have been well attended, and students are experiencing the benefit of help with homework and individually-targeted support with school work. Tutoring is available Monday through Thursday at both the elementary school and the middle school. Although a one-time annual registration fee of $15 is required, the tutoring is free. Our after-school enrichment classes are very popular at the elementary school; Miss Tessie’s art and cooking programs are held Monday through Thursday, and registration is monthly. Friday enrichment programs at the middle school include a babysitter’s workshop planned for April.
For more information, or to register for classes (at least three days in advance of the class), visit the website at www.ArchuletaCountyEducationCenter.com, where you can register and pay with PayPal. Or drop by The Education Center office (264-2835) on the corner of 4th and Lewis streets. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Save the date for the Education Center’s 25th anniversary fund-raising luncheon, Wednesday, March 20 at Centerpoint Church. Tickets are now available on our website or at the Education Center office.
