PCFES classes funded by NJC
Funding streams for English as a Second Language and General Education Development diploma classes have changed for Phillips County Family Education Services this school year. Executive Director Trisha Herman is excited to announce that Family Education Services is teaming up with Northeastern Junior College to provide ESL and GED classes to local residents.
Herman said this will be beneficial for all involved as it supplies the tools Family Education needs to provide these services to the community. At the same time, the collaboration meets NJC’s outreach goals by providing assistance while not overlapping services in the northeast region.
Toby From is the instructor for the ESL classes, which are held Monday through Thursday afternoons from 1:30-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, Sept. 6. Herman noted that being a partner with NJC will provide From with professional development opportunities, resources and connection with other educators.
Herman said that NJC will provide the online GED courses and Family Educations Services will provide the distance learning lab with facilitators on site.
For now, GED classes are by appointment only. However, once the online program is in place and facilitators have been trained, GED classes will be offered Monday through Thursday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m., which will allow for a regular schedule for participants.
There is a one-time registration fee for both ESL and GED classes. Registration is Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the Biesemeier Room at the Phillips County Event Center. For more information, contact Herman at 970-854-2595.
Family Education Services also offers a free Early Childhood Education Program to children ages 6 months to 5 years whose parents attend the afternoon ESL and GED classes.
They also offer a free afterschool program from 3:45-5:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday for Holyoke students grades K-12. It provides a safe, reliable place for students to do homework and participate in educational activities, snack time and outdoor activities. Busing from school is provided.
A free computer lab, which is open to the public from 1:30-7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, is available as well as citizenship information. They provide workforce leads through Connecting Colorado, and a representative from the Sterling Workforce Development Center is on site twice each month.