January 2013 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click here for online GLAD Tutor newsletter - January 2013 issue

Link to pics from Dec. 18th awards & graduation mtg

View, download, or order snapshots from the Dec. 18 GED Graduation, GLAD Awards, and National Adult Education Honor Society induction
Click here for photos

CLOSING FOR HOLIDAYS BEGINNING FRI., DEC. 21ST

Staff has been working overtime, so the Center will be closing on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 20th, and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, January 7th, for spring class registration.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

Grenada Adult Education Center Holiday Closing Schedule

Evening Class Notice for Tues., Dec. 11th

We found out on Facebook on Sunday night that the Grenada Christmas parade has been moved from Monday night to Tuesday night, Dec. 11th, at 4:30 p.m..  If the parade is cancelled or moved again, EVENING classes on Tues., DEC 11th, WILL MEET.  If the parade actually happens on Tuesday night, Dec. 11th EVENING classes will not meet that night and will meet next on Thursday.  So, if there IS a parade tomorrow night, evening classes will not meet; if there isn't a parade they WILL meet.  Please make every effort to be at every class session held the remainder of this month so that everything essential can be accomplished.  Morning classes are unaffected.

Awards Mtg Invitation - Dec. 18th, 7 p.m.

No EVENING classes tonight (Tues., Dec. 4th)

Even though the Grenada parade has been rained out, the evening classes had already been cancelled and staff won't be there, so no class tonight.  Next evening class meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6th.

Dec. 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click here to go to online PDF version of the monthly newsletter.

Grenada R & R GRAND OPENING - Dec. 3rd

Closed for Thanksgiving - Nov. 19-23

REMEMBER TO VOTE TODAY!

November issue of The GLAD Tutor

Click here for November 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

NOVEMBER NATIONAL FAMILY LITERACY MONTH

http://www.famlit.org/national-family-literacy-day-2012/

Fall Session I Wrap-up

Thanks to Bronwyn Robertson, recruiter for Holmes Community College Grenada, for speaking to students at our Fall Session I wrap-up about transition to college once they complete their GED or basic skills refresher at the Grenada Adult Education Center.  Cindy Heimbach's Express class is pictured. One of her students made a perfect score on the GED Language Arts Reading test!

Next free class session flyer

Closed on Monday, October 15th for Fall Break

Fall Session II begins at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17th, with new student registration and orientation for free classes.

Sat., Oct. 27th - National "Make a Difference Day"

Sat., Oct. 27th - National "Make a Difference Day" - Does your business or group need a project for 2012 Make a Difference Day?

Collect items for GLAD's fundraisers and then drop your collected items by the Grenada Adult Education Center the following Monday...

• collect My Coke Rewards codes from inside soft drink boxes (enter codes online and then donate the points to the "Grenada Adult Educ Ctr - registered" or drop them by the Center for us to enter; we get more points if you enter the codes then donate to the Center)
• collect My Coke Rewards bottle caps with codes (enter codes online and then donate the points to the "Grenada Adult Educ Ctr - registered" or drop them by the Center for us to enter; we get more points if you enter the codes then donate to the Center)
  
  
  
  
  
  Also see GLAD's FundingFactory fundraiser below.  
  Collect recycling for the Grenada League for Adult Development (GLAD) to raise needed funds. 
  
  

Recycling Fundraising Donation Goal: Oct. 2012 thru May 2013

Click on GLAD's FundingFactory Goal Page to view our progress.  We hope to earn at least $330 from FundingFactory donations of used printer cartridges, small electronics, laptops to be recycled by the end of May 2013.  Please be a part of our success.  If you are a business, you can sign up, designate GLAD as the recipient of your donations, and obtain free UPS shipping labels from FundingFactory.  GLAD's FundingFactory ID# 104044.  Recycle and help GLAD today!

Please contact us if your business, organization, church, or group would like to hold a recycling items collection drive for GLAD!  Great idea if you want to do something for national "Make a Difference Day" on October 27th!

Fall Session II - Free classes registering soon

Come by the Center to complete an interest form and pick up an orientation schedule.

Out-of-town and Looking For a Great Fundraiser?

Okay, just remember, we're not looking for local competition on the recycling thing!  But, if you are a school,  library, or non-profit OUTSIDE of Grenada...please check out  http://www.fundingfactory.com/.  They provide free shipping labels...you collect and ship used printer cartridges, old cell phones, replaced electronics, etc. and get $$ in return.  (Or, businesses can ship directly using the free labels and specify that your organization earn the donation.)

If you decide to sign up, please list GLAD (ID# 104044) as the referring organization at the time that you register your organization.  We'll get greatly appreciated bonus points that equal real money, especially if they receive your first shipment of recycling items before the end of 2012.

October 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor" newsletter

Click http://www.docstoc.com/docs/131273378/Oct-2012-issue-of-The-GLAD-Tutor-newsletter for online version of the October monthly newsletter.

Highlights of this issue:

• Report on GLAD's 26th Annual Meeting held in September
• "Remembering Kay Townes" by Trish Hightower
• GED Testing Service’s 2002 Series Closeout Campaign "Your Future Is Calling"
• USDE Office of Vocational and Adult Education relaunch of LINCS website
• Grenada AEC's Fall Session II begins on Tues., Oct. 16th, when new students may register for a free 8-week class session

Sept 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click on this link to go to online version of newsletter

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are currently needed to work one-to-one with adult learners beginning as soon as possible.  Volunteers should be over 18 years old and hold at least a high school diploma or GED credential.  Please call 226-7462 to set up volunteer training or for more information.

NEW READERS PRESS:

"This FREE Election 2012 Voting Guide comes to you from News for You, the easy-to-read weekly newspaper.

Students will learn about:

• Who votes and what we vote on
• Political parties
• Ways to learn about candidates and issues
• Registering to vote
• Casting a vote

Students will develop reading and comprehension skills through:

• Low-level vocabulary
• Simple sentence structure
• Colorful photos, charts, and graphics"

Click here for Free Election 2012 Voting Guide

August 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click HERE for August 2012 online issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Fall Session 1 - Free Classes Registration Information

July 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click on link:  July 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

MHP Grenada office closing again

Be sure to allow enough time if you need to renew your government-issued photo ID since the Grenada office of the Miss. Highway Patrol is closing again indefinitely on Friday, June 15 at 6:00 p.m.  Closest offices are in Greenwood and Batesville until a new facility can be built in Grenada.
http://wqxb.vncradio.com/2012/06/12/mhp-grenada-office-closing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mhp-grenada-office-closing

June 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

To view or download the online version of the current issue of "The GLAD Tutor" monthly newsletter, click on http://www.docstoc.com/docs/122195290/2012-June---The-GLAD-Tutor-PDF?key=YzFiYThjNmUt&pass=NTQyZC00MTY1

Clarion-Ledger article on Jackson GED recipient

Click on http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205200362 to read online story.

May 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

click on the link below to go to the online newsletter

May 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Mandatory Building Shut-Downs Announced in June-July

We received a schedule today listing dates that the Grenada School District has issued mandatory building shut-downs in June and July 2012 for utility cost mitigation.  The Grenada Adult Education Center will thus be closed on the following dates.  The District has instructed that staff NOT enter the building on these dates.  

• Friday, June 1st
• Thursday and Friday, July 5th-6th
• Friday, July 13th
• Friday, July 20th

Please note additionally that the Grenada Adult Education Center is scheduled to be closed for staff to attend Miss. ABE training on Thurs.-Fri., June 21-22, and a two-week intersession break from Monday, July 2nd through Friday, July 13th.  

Potential GED Examinee--Does your gov't-issued photo ID need to be renewed before testing?

Examinees cannot test with an expired ID. Candidates should be aware that the Mississippi Highway Patrol Office in Grenada temporarily closed on April 2, 2012, while they seek another building to house them (see page A-3 of the 4/6/12 issue of the Grenada Star).

The nearest driver license locations currently are:

• Batesville (22000 A 35 N, Batesville; 662-563-6400)
• Cleveland (406 N. M.L. King, Cleveland; 662-846-0749)
• Greenwood (701 Hwy 82 W, Greenwood; 662-453-4515)

If you need to renew your Mississippi identification card or driver's license, we suggest that you call the location you choose to verify their hours and allow plenty of time to get your new card before your test date.

April 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click on the title above to go to the online version of the monthly newsletter.

Volunteer Tutors Urgently Needed

TIME IS RUNNING OUT -- PASS THE GED TEST SOON!

With the current GED® test series expiring next year....with a much harder GED® test arriving in January 2014...with the conversion to computer-based testing (CBT), most likely in 2013 (with associated increased testing fees and need for basic computer skills to type the essay and take the test on computer)...NOW is the time to study for and pass the entire GED® test!

Especially for those who have passed parts of the five subject area tests of the current GED® test but still need to pass other subject areas or to attain the 2,250-point total score required for the mandatory 450 score average, 2012 should be their focus to achieve the goal of obtaining a GED® credential.

The national GED Testing Service® is planning for official GED® testing centers to switch from pencil-and-paper testing to computer-based testing in 2013 on the current test series. If you don’t know how to use the computer, or don’t feel comfortable composing and typing the 45-minute timed essay on the Writing test on-screen, now is your time to take the GED® test while pencil-and-paper is still the primary delivery method. There are no plans to ever offer the GED® test “online.” The test vendor will have test registration and fee payment only online. Candidates need a credit or debit card to sign up to test by computer, which is currently being piloted at four sites in Mississippi this year. Pencil-and-paper testing is currently $15 per subject area test ($75 for the entire test battery) and $24 per subject area test for CBT ($120 for the entire test). Be very careful not to be taken in by fraudulent websites or other entities offering a fake high school diploma or an online GED® credential. Even after CBT becomes the primary method of GED® testing, candidates must still go to a computer lab at an official testing center to take the test. The 2014 test series will be based on computer delivery and local testing centers will not possess a pencil-and-paper copy. Test taking strategies will not be effective to succeed on the 2014 series, because fewer questions will be multiple choice. CBT for 2014 will allow for short answer, fill-in-the-blank and other test question formats not available using pencil-and-paper testing. Information about computer-based testing is online at www.gedcbt.org/faq.html.

Current series partial scores will expire at the end of 2013 unless the entire GED® test is passed by that time. Don't wait...there are only three (3) chances each calendar year to take each subject area test (Language Arts: Writing, Language Arts: Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science). According to Valinda Smith, GED Chief Examiner^TM at the Grenada Adult Education Center, “Many who have taken the GED test at our official testing center here have passed parts of their test and lack very little to get their credential, sometimes only 10 points on the mathematics test. They need to study and then to retest. GED® examinees who are not students in the Grenada Adult Basic Education (ABE) Program often study on their own without taking advantage of the free classes here to prepare them to succeed. They spread their efforts at multiple retesting over several years. Time is quickly running out on that strategy.”

If you are an adult who needs a Mississippi high equivalency credential, don't wait. Allow yourself time to achieve your goal. As the December 2013 deadline gets closer, testing seats nationwide will be filled with last-minute test-takers who will be praying that they pass and don't need to study then retest. We’ve been here before. In 2001, GED test-taking increased exponentially nationwide just before the current 2002 test series was released. Partial scores from the previous series were discarded at the end of December 2001. Many of those who waited until Fall 2001 risked needing to study and then retest in one or more subject area and then ran out of time or had used up their 3 chances.

Those who do not pass the current series will become first-time examinees on the 2014 test series and have to test in all subject areas. The new test is based on the national common core standards that are being phased into high schools now and the 21st Century Workforce Initiative, with an emphasis on career and college readiness. Much more study will be needed by most adults to prepare to succeed on the 2014 test. For instance, a 25-minute writing assignment is being added to the Social Studies test and 55% of the new math test will focus on algebraic problem-solving (up from 25% on the current test series). More information about the 2014 test is online at gedtestingservice.com/assessment.

The Grenada Adult Education Center (at 423 South Line Street) will be closed March 12th-16th for spring break week. New adult learner orientation for the next session of free classes will be at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 19th, for the morning classes. Late registration and orientation for morning classes will be at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20th; last chance at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the 21st. Evening class new student orientation will be at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20th, and late registration/orientation on Thursday, March 22nd. Spread the word—”Don’t wait until August to prepare! Time is running out!” Examinees may need multiple chances at retesting this year AND next year to succeed.

The deadline for signup to take the GED test in March (including paying testing fees and completing your testing file) is at noon on Tuesday, March 20th. Space is limited to 14 seats and testing is regularly offered once a month.

For more information, call the Grenada Adult Education Center at 227-6101 or 226-7462 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. , except for lunch, on Mondays through Thursdays or on Friday mornings.

2ND SPRING SESSION OPEN ENROLLMENT ------Free Classes

With the current GED® test series expiring next year....with a much harder GED® test release looming in January 2014...with the conversion to computer-based testing, most likely in 2013 (with associated increased testing fees and need for basic computer skills to type essay and take the test on computer)...NOW is the time to study for and pass the entire GED® test!

Especially those who have passed some of the five subject area tests on the current GED® test but who still need to pass other subject areas or attain the 2,250-point total score required for the mandatory 450 score average...2012 should be their year to achieve their goal of obtaining a GED® credential. Current series partial scores will expire at the end of 2013 unless they pass the GED® test before then. Don't wait...there are only 3 chances each calendar year to take each subject area test.

Don't wait...there are only 3 chances each calendar year to take each subject area test. As the December 2013 deadline gets closer, testing seats nationwide will be filled with last-minute test-takers praying they pass and don't need to retest.

Those who do not pass the current series will become first-time examinees on the 2014 test series and have to test on all subject areas. The new test is based on the national common core standards that is being phased into high schools now and the 21st Century Initiative, with an emphasis on career and college readiness. Much more study will be needed by most adults to prepare to succeed on the 2014 test.

March 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click on the title above to view the online version of the newsletter.

Volunteer Tutors Needed

We suddenly have several adult learners needing volunteer adult literacy tutors. Please email grenada_literacy@yahoo.com or call 226-7462 if you are interested. Pass the word!

Funding Factory Recycling Shipment #2

Thanks to additional donations of used laser and inkjet printer cartridges and electronics, Carol Hecker has another Funding Factory (FF) recycling shipment ready for UPS pickup using the free labels FF provides. If you have anything else to donate, please let us know...FF must receive shipments by Feb. 28th for us to get the bonus points. Thanks!

Funding Factory Recycling - Bonus Points for Used Laser Cartridges

Funding Factory is giving us bonus $$ for used laser cartridges that they receive before the end of February.

Remember to drop off your used laser and inkjet cartridges (not photocopier toner cartridges) and electronics to be recycled (old cell phones, MP3 players, laptops, etc.) as soon as possible so we can get another shipment ready to send by mid-month.

This shipment went out today! Thanks to ABE Aide Carol Hecker for getting the shipment ready.

February 2012 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

Click on title above to go to online version of newsletter.