January 2011 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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Dec. 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor" newsletter

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Nov. 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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GED EXPRESS CLASS FLYER

Please be sure to share this flyer with anyone you know who needs their GED....

GREAT SUCCESS WITH FIRST GED EXPRESS

The Grenada Adult Education Center's first ever GED Express class students completed their studies earlier this month. Participants were selected for this class by Grenada ABE Director and Express class instructor Cindy Heimbach based on their assessment scores in August. On October 12th, they celebrated the fact that 100% passed all of the GED subject area tests that they attempted as part of the class. Ten of the twelve GED Express class students earned their GED by the end of the 8-week class. Express class students pictured are (front, l-r -- Ashley Leach, Gloria Brewer, and Tanesha Simpson; back -- David Adams, Angela Tucker, John Walker, Greg Winters, and Tony Cotton). Two students have subject area tests still to take this fall.

Proliteracy America

THANK YOU TO CITY OF GRENADA

Our sincere thanks to the Grenada City Council, City Manager, Mayor, Director of Finance, and any other local leaders involved in their appropriation to support adult literacy program operations for the 2010-11 fiscal year. They have budgeted for level funding compared to last year. In these difficult economic times, we appreciate our local leaders illustrating the link between employment and economic development and our local workforce and adult skill level needs by continuing their support. Be sure to thank our local leaders each time you see them. NOTE: See the Sept. 20th post thanking the County Supervisors for their support.

CENTER CLOSED ON MONDAY FOR FALL BREAK --- NEW CLASSES BEGIN ON TUESDAY

Please note under "Upcoming Events" in righthand column on this web page that the Grenada Adult Education Center will be closed on Monday, October 11th, for Fall Break.

We will reopen on Tuesday, October 12th, with new student orientation for our next session of free adult literacy, adult basic skills, and GED-prep classes. Morning classes will begin at 8:00 a.m on Oct. 12th and evening classes at 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday morning classes are from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Tues./Thurs. evening classes are from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Students must be on time to orientation on Tuesday to participate in assessments to determine class placement based on individual learning needs in each subject area.

Participants should be at least 18 years old and must be officially withdrawn from K-12 school. For more information, call 227-6101 or 226-7462.

If you know adults who need a GED or to learn to read, please send them our way!

New resource for Grenada Adult Education Center students & tutors

New Readers Press, the publishing division of Proliteracy, now offers online access to News for You, a newspaper for adult learners. Seven new stories are posted weekly. Based on world and national news events, these articles are written at reading levels 3-6 and ESL levels high-beginning and low-intermediate. One advantage of the online version is that audio is available. We have subscribed for the Grenada Adult Education Center through mid-May 2011. The website is http://www.newsforyouonline.com/. If you are an adult learner or volunteer tutor here, email grenada_literacy@yahoo.com for the subscription password. Volunteers, you are welcome to use the computers in Room 5 (tutoring room) for this purpose. Also on the website, at the bottom right under "Paper Subscribers" is a PDF file of the Instructor's Guide for the current issue. Volunteer tutors please note that we also receive 10 weekly classroom paper copies and one Instructor's Guide. See John McGee if you are interested in sharing one of his classroom copies with your student. PLEASE NOTE: News for You Online.com does not publish the week of Thanksgiving. It also does not publish the last three weeks of the year: the week before Christmas, the week of Christmas, and the week after Christmas.

New E-Reader Technologies and Social Benefit Organizations

New E-Reader Technologies and Social Benefit Organizations

October 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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Grenada Adult Education Center publicity

Thanks to the 2011 Grenada Magazine and the Grenada Star for publishing an article on the Grenada Adult Education beginning on page 28...click on the title above to go to article.

DONATE YOUR "My Coke Rewards" POINTS

TWO WAYS

to help the Grenada Adult Education Center:

(1) Use your personal account with My Coke Rewards to enter codes from bottle tops and canned drink boxes and then donate points by clicking on "Donate to Your School" (midway down the page on the right). Chose the "Grenada Adult Educ. Ctr" and donate points. Point donations also give the Center one chance to win $20,000 in technology for every five points donated. Click on this article title above for hyperlink to "My Coke Rewards" website http://www.mycokerewards.com/.
OR
(2) Drop your unused "My Coke Rewards" bottle caps and box codes in the jar in the front office at the Grenada Adult Education Center. We can enter the codes and donate them to the Center for you.

INFO FROM THE "MY COKE REWARDS" WEBSITE:

"...My Coke Rewards for Schools is a way for [students], friends and others in the community to support local schools by donating points earned from hundreds of participating packages and turning them into things like...equipment, books, classroom supplies and more.
...Donate points to help your school win $20,000 in computers, cameras, tvs and more from Best Buy®. Every 5 points donated earns a school 1 entry.
...You must be a My Coke Rewards member to donate points to a school. It’s easy to get signed up. Just go to www.mycokerewards.com and click on “Register Now” in
the upper right corner.
...Any My Coke Rewards points earned from codes found on participating brand packages can be donated to a school. My Coke Rewards participating brands include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Sprite Zero, DASANI, POWERADE ION, Minute Maid, VAULT, Pibb Extra, Fanta, Fresca, Barq’s, and Mello Yello. For a full list of participating brands and packages, check out the “Pick Up Points” section of My Coke Rewards. Any Bonus Points earned can also be donated to schools. Participating brands may change so check the site for a complete list of current participating brands and packages."

Thank You to Grenada County Board of Supervisors

We just received a letter from Grenada County Clerk Johnny Hayward that the Grenada County Board of Supervisors as made an appropriation of $25,000 to our local adult literacy program in support of our program operations for the 2010-11 fiscal year. Thanks to our Grenada County leaders for their continued support! Be sure to thank them at every opportunity!

Laptop stolen

The Room 6 classroom Dell laptop, purchased with 2007-08 AT&T Excelerator grant funds, was stolen from the Grenada Adult Education Center last Wednesday night. This equipment was used for adult literacy small group instruction. Anyone with information about this theft should contact the Grenada Police Dept. at 226-1211.

September 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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Celebrate Adult Education Week 2010

September 13 - 19 is Adult Education and Family Literacy Week! Recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and supported by the National Coalition for Literacy, this is a one-time only dedication to raise public awareness of adult education and family literacy, assist adult learners in need of literacy services, and support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs.

August 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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20th Annual Ride for GLAD

June 5th - ABATE Lakeview Chapter Director Terry Mills (left) makes a presentation to GLAD Chairman Phillip Heard and GLAD Treasurer Anita Gilliland. The 20th annual “Ride for GLAD” had a new sponsor this year. The Lakeview Chapter of ABATE - “American Bikers Active Toward Education” - assumed sponsorship of the annual GLAD Ride in support of adult literacy services in Grenada County. The Lakeview Chapter raised $1,633 for GLAD.

2010 GED Graduation

2009-10 Adult GED Graduation Ceremony was held on May 18 at the Grenada Adult Education Center with participants (l-r) Shalonda Mills, Cassie Smith, Whitney Mueller, Colby Morgan, Michael Cooper, Brad Hoop, Daniel Roché, Shaunta Palmertree, Brandi Smith, Samantha Havens, and Patricia Woods. The majority of GED graduates choose not to participate in graduation. We are always thrilled to have several receive recognition for their achievement with friends and family.

Shaunta Palmertree was also inducted into the Grenada Chapter of the National Adult Education Honor Society.

July 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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June 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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Register May 24th for FREE June GED Prep "Fast Track" Class

Publicity

We had good publicity at the Center recently.... Thanks to the newspaper for all they do to promote our efforts and "spread the word."

April Adult Reading Competition Awards

A total of 15,099 pages were read by adult learners in four reading groups during our April 2010 Adult Reading Competition at the Grenada Adult Education Center. Four first-place and four second-place prizes were awarded on May 5th. Our thanks to local individuals and businesses who donated student prizes.

May 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor" newsletter

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If you receive the electronic version of our monthly newsletter....

Just a quick note to say that if you receive the electronic version of "The GLAD Tutor" by email, you must let us know if your email address changes if you want to continue getting it that way. Your old ISP won't forward your mail like the Post Office does snail mail! If your email address changes, please email grenada_literacy@yahoo.com to let us know. The electronic version is also available online at http://grenadaliteracy.blogspot.com./ Thanks!

Fake Diplomas a Continuing Problem Nationwide

Over the years, we have had several adult learners enroll at the Grenada Adult Education Center to work on their adult literacy and basic skills with a goal towards earning the GED after discovering that they spent their money on worthless "diplomas." This article does a good job of explaining how these fake diploma mills claim to be accredited but are not. http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/04/24/article/cost_of_a_diploma_is_not_just_money

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

“Effective April 1, 2010, the Mississippi Kidney Foundation implemented a pilot program designed to encourage Mississippi dialysis patients or kidney transplant patients to obtain their GED. We are looking for those patients who are willing and committed to "invest in their future." Not only will the patient feel a sense of pride, but obtaining their GED could open doors leading to college and work opportunities. The Mississippi Kidney Foundation will pay the $40 GED test fee. Once the patient passes the GED, the MKF will give the patient an incentive award of $250. For more information, contact your social worker or call the MKF at 1-800-232-1592.”

NOTE: According to information from the Miss. GED State Administrator regarding her conversations with the Foundation, the MKF will also pay the GED $12-per-subject-area retest fee for patients participating in this program.

National Volunteer Week - April 18-24

April 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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New Students -- Fill out an interest form & pick up your orientation schedule now!

March 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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Free electronic books online for Read Across America

The March issue of The GLAD Tutor had already gone to printing when I received the email about these free e-books...
Aren't you "GLAD" you checked our website!
Note: The free downloads expire 3/31/10!

http://www.kidthing.com/

FAMILY LITERACY PROJECT RECEIVES BOOK GRANT

The Grenada League for Adult Development recently received 648 free books through a grant from the First Book National Book Bank for GLAD's "A Book for Every Baby" (ABEB) family literacy project. The Walmart Foundation paid the shipping for book grants in five states, including Mississippi. The retail value of the books is just over $1,900 and the shipping $225. ABEB is a community partnership to promote reading from birth.

From left: Karen LaFontaine, GLMC Perinatal Nurse Educator, distributes gift bags to new mothers. GLAD volunteer tutor and GLMC Auxiliary volunteer Phyllis Mathis oversees delivery of quarterly financial donations from the hospital auxiliary for ABEB. GLAD volunteers Trish Hightower and Emily Smith prepare about 50 gift bags per month for delivery to GLMC.

February 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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Reserve your seat for computer literacy class now

Deadline to sign up....Monday, February 1st.

This class is for true beginners to computers. It is a very basic introduction to computing, starting with how to turn one off and on.

The computer literacy lab uses Win XP and MS Office 2003.

THE PATH TO SUCCESS...PREPARING FOR THE GED

The results of this month's testing illustrate the wisdom of enrolling in the free GED classes at the Grenada Adult Education Center to PREPARE to succeed on the GED. Of the eight GED examinees testing in January, all three who passed the test were students of the Grenada Adult Basic Ed. (ABE) program. Next new student enrollment will begin on March 22nd.

Spring Cleaning Soon? Donate Your Used Books to the Grenada Adult Ed. Center Library

January 2010 issue of "The GLAD Tutor"

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CENTER CLOSED EARLY THURS., JAN 7th

The Grenada Adult Ed. Ctr. (AEC) closed at 1:00 p.m. today (Thursday, January 7th) due to weather. We will not be open this evening.

Note about Center Closings for Weather

There is currently predicted a chance of ice and snow for Thurs. morning, Jan. 7th. Listen to local radio stations (B-100, Star 92.3). Our policy is that if Grenada School District (public) schools are closed, the Grenada Adult Education Center will be closed too.