Today (and every first Wednesday of the month), we have potential new students joining us to complete the GAIN. GAIN stands for “General Assessment of Instructional Needs.” This helps us know a student’s approximate education level and how we can best get them started in our program. We currently have seven potential new students who have signed up to join us for the GAIN today. We are looking forward to meeting them and, Lord willing, getting them started in our program!
July Term begins soon!
We will begin our July mini-term on Tuesday, July 9. During our mini-terms, students are able to attend Math and Language classes and start to get a feel for what it’s like to be back in the classroom. We will also welcome potential new students for assessments on Wednesday, July 10. This gives us an opportunity to get them ready to start our full semester with us on August 13!
Last week of June term
This week will be the last week of our June mini-term. We have had 25 students attend classes this month. Many of these are new students who were able to get a head start in Math and Language before they jump into our next full semester which will begin in August. Please pray with us and for our students as we get ready to start another mini-term in July. We are looking forward to the opportunity to continue this work!
Summer School
Today is the first day of Summer but that hasn’t slowed down our students and instructors! We have been conducting what we call a mini-term this month, offering just Math and Language classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We’re thankful that school’s not out for Summer around here. And, of course, we’re thankful for the hard work our students are doing and for the time our volunteers are giving!
Look at God!
LaQuita first stopped by The Learning Center after an appointment at Kid’s Connection, just down the sidewalk. It was Fall 2018 and she was interested in attending classes and getting her GED. She got started with us in the Spring of 2019. One of my (Ryann’s) favorite things about LaQuita was her response anytime something great happened. The first thing she always said was, “Look at God!” She was always so impressed (and maybe a little surprised) by what God was able to do in, and through, her. Through his work in her and the hard work she put in, LaQuita was able to finish her GED in the Spring of 2019. She is now working to officially obtain her Cosmetology license so she can either work in a beauty shop and work normal hours, allowing her to be home in the evening with her kids, or to maybe travel and do hair one day. She said she would like for her kids to know there’s more to the world than just Birmingham, AL. Earning her GED will allow her to show that to her kids in a way that wasn’t possible before. Congrats, LaQuita! We’re so proud of you and thankful for the reminder to “look at God!”
June Mini-Term starts Tuesday, June 11!
Our June mini-term will begin next Tuesday, June 11. We offer mini-terms between our full semesters (Fall and Spring) so students can stay engaged in the learning process. We also think this is a great opportunity to assimilate new students into our classroom setting before they jump into the 12-week commitment of a full semester. If you are interested in starting with us in our July mini-term, you can contact us here!
June Schedule
June starts tomorrow. How did that happen? In June, we will have assessments for potential new students on Wednesday, June 5 at 10:00am. Contact us here, if interested in taking or volunteering for classes! We will start our mini-term on Tuesday, June 11 and those classes will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays through June 27. The time for those is 9:30-12:30 with Math classes from 9:30-11:00am and Language/Tutoring from 11:00-12:30pm. We are looking forward to working with our students and volunteers to see the progress our students can make in these weeks!
Building Community
In this picture, you see two of our graduates, JaRaun (right) and Quontarius (left). JaRaun started at The Learning Center of February 14, 2017 – our very first day or classes. Quontarius started in our Spring semester of 2018. These two were in Bible Study as well as other classes together and formed a solid friendship. At Graduation last Monday, Quontarius said there were times he started to doubt that he could get to the “finish line” and actually pass all four sections of the GED. Each time, he thought about JaRaun who had been diligently working and managed to complete his test last June. JaRaun continued coming to TLC on a regular basis and Quontarius was always encouraged by his words that he could do it too. And he did! Just a reminder that The Learning Center helps our students with their education but, Lord willing, we’re also helping them build strong faith communities and confidence as well.
REMINDER: Graduation is Monday, May 20!
You are invited to join us at a Graduation Ceremony at the Dawson Family of Faith North Chapel (1114 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham, AL 35209) at 6:00pm. We are looking forward to celebrating the achievements of all of the graduates from both our Homewood and Avondale locations. Please make plans to attend and praise the Lord for the work He’s done in our students lives this year!