Ged

It was not just the graduates who beamed with pride last Thursday at the Jessamine County Adult Education's GED graduation, but also the many instructors, who in their own way, passed with flying colors. “We reached 150 percent of the state-mandated GED graduation goal,” program director Janice Crane said. “This is just a wonderful testament of the incredible instruction that goes on at the adult-learning center.” This year was the program's highest percentage of student gains ever with a record number  of 111 of graduates and also a record number of students enrolled to one day earn their GED, Crane said.

Devin Zahibi-Sutton will go on record as the last graduate of the Winchester-Clark County Adult Literacy Program. Zahibi-Sutton was the final student to walk across the platform at First Christian Church to receive his diploma during graduation ceremonies Saturday for the 73 students who made up the final class of the Adult Literacy Center. The class consisted of students ranging in age from 17 to their 50s, all of whom, for various reasons, had dropped out of high school before graduating.

The Jessamine County Adult Education and Family Literacy Program held its GED graduation ceremony Thursday at East Jessamine High School. The adult education center offers GED and college preparation classes, as well as reading, writing, computer and English as a second language classes and all instruction is free. The program has had 89 students receive their General Education Diplomas this year and its 87 percent passing rate for GED tests is on of the highest in the state.

A GED practice test will be given 9 a.m. May 17 at the Danville Adult Education Literacy Center, room 201, Danville High School. For more information and an appointment, call (859) 238-1303.

Jessamine County Schools honored the hard work of its Adult Education Center graduates last Thursday night at East Jessamine High School. Approximately 70 students earned a GED this fiscal year, said Joann Caras, a social worker and instructor with Jessamine County adult education. The annual ceremony recognizes students who complete the program throughout the entire year. "I wish that everyone that passed the GED test would come out to be recognized," said Janet Crane, Adult Education program director.

The Jessamine County Adult Education and Family Literacy Program held its GED graduation ceremony Thursday at East Jessamine High School. The adult education center offers GED and college preparation classes, as well as reading, writing, computer and English as a second language classes and all instruction is free. The program has had 89 students receive their General Education Diplomas this year and its 87 percent passing rate for GED tests is on of the highest in the state.

First Assistant Jessamine County Attorney Anna Roberts-Smith spends a large portion of her time each week in court prosecuting contempt of court cases of people who fail to pay child support for one reason or another. Time and again over the years Roberts-Smith has heard individuals claim they couldn't pay because they couldn't find a job. In looking at the majority of those individuals, she found one common denominator which was hindering them from obtaining a job; the lack of a high school diploma or GED certificate.

Since 1991, the Clark County Adult Education Center has been giving students, like those assembled for its graduation ceremony Saturday night, a second chance to get their high school diplomas. They dropped out of high school for a variety of reasons. But, whatever the reasons, most soon realized that in today's job market, a high school diploma is not a luxury. More often than not, it's a requirement. Some of the graduates had only been out of high school a few years.

HATTON REUNION The descendants of John W. Hatton Sr. will have a reunion at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Clark County Fish & Game Club on Water Works Road. A potluck dinner will be served, and the event is open to all friends and relatives. GED GRADUATION SATURDAY The Winchester-Clark County Literacy Council Inc. will conduct the annual GED graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Extension Office, 1400 Fortune Drive. Clark County School Superintendent, Dr. Ed Musgrove, will be the featured speaker.

2008 GED graduate Jeremy Richardson of the Winchester/Clark County Literacy Council Adult Education Center, was the recipient of the $500 Eugene Woestman Scholarship from BB&T. Making the presentation was John Austin, BB&T vice-president. The scholarship was named to honor Woestman, a supporter of the literacy council, while he served on the board of directors of Peoples Commercial Bank before it became BB&T.

The GED test will be free in Kentucky from May 15 to July 31. Kentuckians taking the test during that time frame will not have to pay the usual test fee, which will be paid by Kentucky Adult Education, a unit of the Council on Postsecondary Education. “Our message is don't wait until later in the year to start work on your GED,” said Reecie Stagnolia, vice president, Kentucky Adult Education. “Get started now to take advantage of the free testing.” The GED test provides adults who did not finish high school with the opportunity to certify their attainment of high school-level academic knowledge and skills.

The Winchester Clark County Literacy Council conducted its final commencement ceremony for graduates in its Adult Literacy GED program on June 24. The program that had provided hundreds of Clark County adults with an opportunity to finish their high school educations over the past 20 years ended after the council lost its bid to continue providing the services in May. Although Bluegrass Community and Technical College will take over the program...

It was not just the graduates who beamed with pride last Thursday at the Jessamine County Adult Education's GED graduation, but also the many instructors, who in their own way, passed with flying colors. “We reached 150 percent of the state-mandated GED graduation goal,” program director Janice Crane said. “This is just a wonderful testament of the incredible instruction that goes on at the adult-learning center.” This year was the program's highest percentage of student gains ever with a record number  of 111 of graduates and also a record number of students enrolled to one day earn their GED, Crane said.

Devin Zahibi-Sutton will go on record as the last graduate of the Winchester-Clark County Adult Literacy Program. Zahibi-Sutton was the final student to walk across the platform at First Christian Church to receive his diploma during graduation ceremonies Saturday for the 73 students who made up the final class of the Adult Literacy Center. The class consisted of students ranging in age from 17 to their 50s, all of whom, for various reasons, had dropped out of high school before graduating.

A job. For nearly 2,000 Jessamine Countians, it's the item on the top of their Christmas wish lists. But getting one isn't nearly as easy as writing a letter to Santa, or camping out in the wee hours of the morning in front of a department store on Black Friday. Times are still tough, and there just don't seem to be enough jobs for everyone. The national unemployment rate hovered around 9 percent for the month of October, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The new common core state standards implemented in schools across Kentucky and 42 other states at the beginning of the school year have changed the academic landscape for all students. The new standards were designed to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn in a way that is relevant to the real world, and to reflect the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in postsecondary institutions and careers. The new standards have also changed the expectations and rigor for those students who have dropped out of school and are looking to get a General Education Diploma (GED)

Janice Crane has moved locations half a dozen times in her 21 years directing the adult-education program in Jessamine County, including one stint working at a desk partitioned off in a high-school classroom. But Crane and her staff have made the move this summer to the most comfortable facilities the program has enjoyed - its new location on Computrex Drive. And Crane said those who show up looking for the Jessamine County Adult Education and Family Literacy Program at its old location in the Coolidge building off East Maple Street should not be discouraged.

The Jessamine County Adult Education and Family Literacy Program saw a record number of students obtain their General Equivalency Diplomas this year, recognizing 123 program graduates at a ceremony in the East Jessamine High School auditorium Thursday, June 23. “We have much to celebrate tonight,” program director Janice Crane told a nearly full auditorium last Thursday. “We have definitely had a year of excellence with our highest percentage of student gains ever, a record number of students earning their GED, and a large number of those students have started or are getting ready to start a post-secondary program.” The night was especially exciting for Lisa Salyers of Jackson, who earned her GED while at the Jessamine County Detention Center.

They dropped out of high school for a variety of reasons. But the 65 students assembled for the Clark County Adult Education Center GED graduation ceremony Saturday had one thing in common: They had the courage to go back to school to get their high school diplomas, and get a second chance to make a better life for themselves and their families. While it wasn’t easy, it was definitely worth all the hard work, said class valedictorian Damon Luxus Sr., who dropped out of high school as a senior in 1991.

Clark County residents who don’t have a high school diploma have a chance for the next 12 weeks to remedy that situation and take the General Education Diploma (GED) test at no cost. The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is providing the funding so residents in all 120 Kentucky counties can take the test through any local adult education program. The latest census figures released last month showed that 25 percent of all Clark County adults don’t have a high school diploma, and Jim Porter of the Clark County Adult Education Center said the offer is something those people should jump to take advantage of. “This is a wonderful opportunity they’re offering,” Porter said.