Northeast Kingdom Learning Services

GED Testing at the Cobleigh!

Editor3 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:44:44 +0000

Testing for the GED at the Cobleigh Library is every 1st, 3rd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 9:30.

THE 5 TESTS

Language Arts, Writing Part 1 covers sentence struture, organization, usage and mechanics. You are asked 50 multiple-choice questions and have 75 minutes to answer them.
Language Arts, Writing Part 2 is an essay of about 250 words on an assigned topic, and you have 45 minutes to write it.

Social Studies covers U.S. History, World History, Civics and Government, Economics and Geography. For these 50 multiple-choice questions, you have 70 minutes.

Science focuses on Life Science, Earth and Space Science and Physical Science. You have 80 minutes to answer these 50 questions.

Language Arts, Reading asks you to read several non-fiction and literary texts including poetry and drama. You have 65 minutes for 40 multiple-choice questions.

Mathematics includes question on numbers and operations, geometry, measurements and data analysis and algebra. You are allowed to use a calculator on the 25 multiple-choice questions of Part 1, the 25 questions of Part 2 have to be completed without calculator. The total math test takes 90 minutes.

For more information please call the St. Johnsbury Learning center at 802-748-5624

Work Skills Classes start in Newport!

Editor3 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:40:54 +0000

Want that job?

NEKLS might be able to help you get it AND keep it!

Northeast Kingdom Learning Services offers courses that can help you discover your own career interests and skills. We are now offering a comprehensive, easy-to-use curriculum designed to help individuals master the work readiness skills for an ever changing workplace. This interactive and dynamic course includes:
• Learning how to manage your time in a way that makes working easier to balance with your life.
• Learning how to become a great team player.
• Learning how basic skills like reading, writing and math are an everyday part of the workplace.
• We can even help you brush up on skills learned years ago!
• Learn how technology has become a part of the modern workplace and how you can become proficient at them.

Northeast Kingdom’s Learning Services, Inc. wonderful staff and faculty will help to guide you through what it takes to move your work goals forward and to help you gain the confidence to land that job.

For more information or to register for this great opportunity call…

Newport Community Education Center
1 Main Street
Newport, VT 05855
Phone 334-6532 6#
Carla.Watson@neklsvt.org

www.NEKLSVT.org

Canaan Graduation

Jean — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:48:34 +0000

Mary Ellen Uran of Beecher Falls, a student in the Vermont High School Completion program,
graduated with full honors and a Canaan Memorial High School diploma on September 23, 2011.
Beth Hartlen of Bloomfield graduated with her GED diploma.

Students take on Teachers at Canaan Memorial High School

Jean — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:59:26 +0000

Canaan Memorial High School students faced off against the teachers in a donkey basketball game on Thursday, October 27th. Pictured, left to right, are Canaan Community Education teacher Jenny Hook, Eric Huot, a junior at CMHS enrolled in the Vermont High School Completion program at the Canaan Center, on “Big * Bubba”, and Canaan Community Education manager Kenn Stransky.

St. Johnsbury Community Education is all moved in!

Editor3 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:18:37 +0000

Come visit us at the new center on 1222 Main Street in downtown St. Johnsbury.

St Johnsbury Community Ed Center moving in October

Editor2 — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:13:51 +0000

The St Johnsbury Community Education Center will be moving from the Railroad Street location to 1222 Main Street in St Johnsbury during October. The Railroad Street Center will close to students starting October 10th and will reopen at its new location on October 25th. Students who need assistance can call to schedule an appointment to meet with their advisor at an alternate location. We are looking forward to this move and the exciting opportunities the new Center has to offer.

June 2011 Newport Graduation

Editor3 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:06:44 +0000

Northeast Kingdom Learning Services Graduates 114 Proud Students in 2011!

Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, Inc. (NEKLS) and its Newport Community Education Center held its summer graduation last Thursday, June 30th. The well-attended ceremony took place in Newport’s Gardner Park.

Graduation speaker Carla Watson, Special Projects Coordinator at Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, addressed the graduates and guests. “Think for a moment what it took to sit where you are tonight; the countless papers, all the reading and the math; the hours and the sacrifices that came along with this endeavor. You did this. Your desire, your work and your commitment placed you here. Sitting here tonight is no small thing,” Watson said.

Among the graduates this summer were students who completed their high school studies through the High School Completion Program (HSCP), students who successfully passed their GED exams and students who completed the requirements through the Vermont Adult Diploma Program (VADP).

The Newport Community Education Center graduated 51 students during the 2010/11 school year; the number of graduates for all four NEKLS Learning Centers (Newport, St. Johnsbury, Canaan and Hardwick) this year was an impressive 114.

Congratulations to all NEKLS 2011 Graduates!

Mini Lessons Spice Up Programs at Newport Learning Center

Editor3 — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:06:59 +0000

: Courtney Columbia learns to make stuffed shells

May 2011, by Markus Vogt

From a multimedia survey of birds in Vermont to an overview of the implications of Lyme infection to home cooking, the students at the Newport Learning Center have been enjoying learning experiences on a wide variety of eclectic topics. Several weeks ago, teachers at the Learning Center began creating and teaching these mini lessons on subjects they feel passionate about and it resonates with the students. “I like the mini lessons,” says Amy C., “because they teach me new things that I don’t learn about in my GED preparation.”

The series began back in March with a presentation by Center Manager Markus Vogt on the history of the Berlin Wall. The first session focused on the actual structure of the wall with its multiple layers of “security” to ensure that no East Berlin residents could leave for the west. A follow-up session highlighted the historical developments that led to the construction of the wall in 1961 and its eventual fall in November 1989.

A second double-header of mini lessons focused on Lyme infection. In the first session, Suzanne Pelletier, ADP Assessor explained how the infection takes hold in the human body as a result of a tick bite. It also explained symptoms and the course the disease takes, and it gave suggestions of how one can protect oneself and still enjoy the outdoors. The second session presented a broad overview over co-infections and choices for treatment methods ranging from traditional to alternative approaches.

A hands-on home cooking lesson exposed our students to ingredients and instructions necessary to prepare yummy pizza. Presenter Amanda Pruden, High School Completion Plan Manager, included a shopping list with prices for each of the ingredients in this lesson and made sure that participants in this culinary treat also learned how to clean up of a kitchen.

Timed perfectly with the arrival of many migrant birds here in northern Vermont, “Birds of the Northeast Kingdom” was a colorful and melodic experience for novice and amateur bird watchers. Community Learning Center teacher Nancy Smith began by challenging the audience to identify birds first by song and then by image. It was quite a surprise to see students able to identify not only common birds such as the American Robin or the Gold Finch, but also harder to find species such as the Titmouse and the Bobolink. A webcam visit with the Raptor Resource’s Decorah Eagle project ended the session.

Upcoming mini lessons will focus on current events, more home cooking and environmental topics. Anyone interested in either presenting a short lesson or in joining the audience, please contact us. We’ll be happy to have you. The lessons usually take place on Tuesdays from 10 until about 10:45. The cooking extravaganzas go from late morning until early afternoon.

Canaan Adult Students Join Others in State House Hearing

Editor3 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:51:15 +0000

Three students from the NEKLS Canaan Learning Center went to their state capital last Friday, March 25, 2011, to learn more about the workings of government and to advocate for their future during “Adult Education Day at the Vermont State House”.

The day began with Canaan Representative William “Bill” Johnson giving a personal tour of the house chamber and introducing students to various members including fellow Essex County representative Janice Peasely of Guildhall. The students were able to hear the debate on the annual Budget Bill that was approved later in the day. Students Matt Graves, Megan Lavalla and Mary Ellen Uran all took up the opportunity to stand at the Speaker’s podium and have their photo taken under the famous portrait of George Washington.

From the House, students then moved into the senate where they listened to the floor debate on a bill to change the laws regarding child support and “dead beat dads”. Megan Lavalla caught the challenge brought up by one senator pointing out that today dead beat “moms” are just as likely to exist and that the legislation needed to reflect the changing times.

In the afternoon, students from around the entire state packed into committee room 10 for a special joint session of the education committees of both the house and senate. Students testified about the importance of the Vermont adult education program and how the program had impacted their lives. After the hearing was concluded it was agreed that Matt Graves could be an effective public advocate in his future and Mary Ellen Uran knew enough of the secret back stairways to give state house guided tours herself.

Next up was a VIP tour of the Vermont Supreme Court building and the historic court room where interpretations of the law are decided. The court was not in session and a court administrator that used to work in Canaan had arranged for a very behind the curtain view of the Vermont Judiciary. While the educational lessons learned were valuable, all agreed that sitting behind the judges bench in their chairs was the best part of the day and as one person said, “facing the court room from a judge’s vantage point is always better than to appear in a court room to face a judge.”

New National Honor Society Chapter Honors Fallen Students

Editor3 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:57:51 +0000

From the Colebrook Chronicle, Friday March 18th, 2011

CANAAN, VERMONT The year 2010 was a tragic year for several students enrolled in the adult education program at Canaan’s Community Education Center as three students suddenly died just days before taking their final exam. Troy Schooner’s big heart gave out, Jesse Kennett was killed in the explosion at Colebrook’s munitions plant and Justin Flanders was innocently murdered outside a hunting camp in Pittsburg. The loss was felt by everyone at the Canaan Center that was touched by these three men who all died just prior to achieving their dream of their GED diploma.

“Over the past few months many of us have talked about an appropriate and lasting tribute that might memorialize the memories and spirit of Troy, Jesse and Justin. We decided that the establishment of a Canaan chapter of the National Adult Education Honor Society would forever remind everyone of the desire for self improvement that these guys all held close to their hearts” said Kenn Stransky, their teacher and the Canaan Community Education Center manager.

NEKLS board member Chris Masson, also the superintendent of schools for the Essex North Supervisory Union (ENSU), brought the application before a combined ENSU and Canaan Schools school boards meeting on March 14^th where the application was approved with the chapter designated the “Canaan Memorial Chapter”. Canaan Memorial High School principal Debra Lynch stated, “This is a way to honor whats always been inside a person but never brought to the surface.”

Identifying outstanding students on their transcript or in their portfolios will result in better opportunities for employment or acceptance to tech school or college. “We have outstanding students graduating in Canaan” says Stransky. “Yet most of their applications can become buried in the stack without something extra to bring their application to the top of the pile.”

NEKLS interim executive director Michelle Tarryk said, “We are pleased that our adult eduction and literacy students are being afforded the opportunity to earn national recognition for their academic achievements. It is our hope that this recognition will afford them opportunities as they transition into further education or the workplace.”

National Honor Society administrator Janice Wheeler accepted the new chapter application the following morning noting that the new Canaan Memorial Chapter is, “… the first chapter in Vermont”.