College and Career News

Wow!

How is it December already?? Our first semester of 2024-2025 has just flown by! We hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and that you're back for one more big learning push before Winter Break! Don't let this sudden cold weather zap your energy just yet!

Some good news:

-We **officially** have 6 graduates!! We know this number will go way up by December 18, but just in case....

-I am issuing a Graduate Gift Card Challenge! All graduates between now and December 18, our next Community Day celebration, will be entered into a special gift card giveaway and raffle. Top prizes include a $50 Visa card, a $25 Walmart card, numerous Starbucks cards, and more! If you are close to finishing all of your HSD courses or GED subtests, this contest is for you...now is the time to finish strong!

-It's not too late! "No Chill November" is a community service project we want our students and staff to embrace by donating gently used "winter" clothing and/or new personal grooming items to be distributed at the next First Friday event on December 6. Collection bags will be available in the front office and in your classrooms. As a bonus and thank you for participating, the class who donates the highest percentage of items will receive a doughnut breakfast or pizza lunch party. Might just have both!

More events coming up:

December 5: Last day for "No-Chill November" Donations

December 9: EOC testing for HSD begins

December 10: Leadership Florence Visit and Tour

December 12: Counselor Small Group, 10:30 room 121

December 17: Field trip to the Farm at Florence One

December 18: Adult Education Community Day and Holiday Celebration, 10:30 Yellow Jacket Room

December 19 through January 9: Winter Break (yes, 3 weeks!)

January 7-9: AE Teacher Workdays

January 13: AE students return to class

A few reminders:

1. All students need to complete our online orientation. Ms. Howard and Ms. Moss are in charge of assigning and following up with you about it, so please be sure that you've joined the Google classroom and responded to all of the surveys and forms it contains. There are only five assignments...here's the link to the step by step instructions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JdAeRokd1GOqjtR28xxEEzku9uaIodROpyPynP9EdPA/edit?usp=sharing

2. Please keep in mind that everyone signs the Student Expectations form during enrollment, and this document is reviewed during orientation. With your signature, you have agreed that you will uphold our standards for commitment to learning and engaging in the process of adult education. If anything you do in that process interrupts your own progress and/or the learning of others, you will be addressed and corrected as an adult. Corrections can include a conversation, an invitation to leave for the day, or an actual suspension/expulsion from our program. Adult Education is not "do whatever I want" education. That's not what we do here!

3. Our yearly academic calendar is included in this newsletter. Copies of this calendar will be available in classrooms. Each month, we will also create a separate activities calendar, and post it in classrooms as well as send it out in the newsletter.

Thanks for taking the time to read over our newsletter and to stay informed. We appreciate you!! We are #oneteam, #onevision, #onemission...F1AE!

Many thanks,

Dr. Lisa Justice

843-758-6411 office

843-615-4436 work cell phone

ljustice@fsd1.org

#AdultEducationMatters

Florence 1 Schools Adult Education recently received several awards from the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE), highlighting several of the program’s achievements from the last year, including program growth and student success.

Earlier this month during the SCDE Office of Adult Education annual meeting, Florence 1 Adult Education was announced as a ‘Celebrating Our Success’ Award Winner. One of the three awards they received was the Enrollment Growth Award. From the 2022-2023 school year to the 2023-2024 school year, Florence 1 Adult Education saw a 32 percent increase in enrollment from 622 students to 839 students.

Florence 1 Adult Education also received an award for the ‘Highest Number of High School Diploma Completers.’ Director Dr. Lisa Justice said that across the state, over 900 adult students earned their high school diploma last school year. 132 of those students were in Florence 1’s program.

“The support that we receive from Dr. O’Malley and Florence 1 has allowed us to be very successful with our high school diploma students,” Justice said. “We have more than just young adult students in our program; we also have a considerable number of older adults who come back to get their high school diploma because it is something they have always wanted to do.”

The third award Florence 1 Adult Education received was the Integrated Education and Training (IET) Award, which is given to programs in which students “made measurable skills gains while participating in the IET program.”

Justice said that many students come to Florence 1’s Adult Education program through word of mouth because someone they know found success there.

“We tend to be the place where people find a good fit no matter their backstory or history,” Justice said. “They can come here and find success. We can be a bridge, we can be a jumpstart. A lot of our students find a home here and they didn’t find that in school, wherever or whenever that was. We have a very supportive staff and we give everyone an equal opportunity for success.”

Justice said that along with offering GED and high school diploma courses, Florence 1 Adult Education also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, workplace literacy courses, and integrated education and training classes. Students can enroll all year long for courses by calling 843-664-8152. Online registration, and additional information about Florence 1 Adult Education, can be found at f1adulted.f1s.org. Community education courses such as sign language, conversational Spanish and Intro to Computers will begin enrolling in the Spring 2025.

Let’s celebrate our two outstanding students, Jahmere Douglas and Jasmine Laurie, for this past month's FAB Friday students. They have been recognized for their exceptional work and dedication in completing their classwork and pre-apprenticeship to advance to the MUSC apprenticeship for CNA. For more information about them, please visit our Facebook page. More students will be recognized each Friday in December!

On November 6th, F1AE held a vibrant resource fair aimed at empowering students and their families. The event featured participation from twenty-one diverse community agencies, each eager to share valuable support services and resources. As students navigated the fair, they actively engaged with representatives, exploring various options to meet their individual needs and obtain the assistance crucial for their success. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and collaboration, fostering a sense of community and support.

In honor of Veterans Day, we welcomed Sergeant Major Leroy Sanders of Florence as our special guest speaker this morning. A veteran with nearly 30 years of service in the Army and National Guard, SGM. Sanders served in combat positions in both Vietnam and Operation Desert Shield. He shared a powerful message with our students about serving his country and the impact of his military career. He wanted our students to understand the sacrifices and the opportunities of a military commitment. Student speakers were able to participate as well, and questions from the audience allowed for even more thoughtful and meaningful discussion! We can’t thank Sgt. Sanders and other veterans enough for all that they have done for our freedom!

On November 12th, the F1AE group visited the FDTC campus. During their visit, students explored different areas of the college and learned about the various programs offered. They spoke with faculty and staff to understand the unique features and benefits of each program.

On Thursday, November 21st, we held an engaging "Chop It Up with the Counselor" session, where students gathered to explore the concept of SMART goal-setting. During this interactive session, they learned how to create specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. Each student took the opportunity to identify personal short-term objectives they plan to accomplish by April 2025.

We celebrated with district staff on Tuesday, November 19 with a special luncheon in the Yellow Jacket room. On Thursday, students were treated to a special breakfast and more treats! We wore jersey's and team gear to get ready for holiday game-watching and family time!

Ms. Jennifer Allen and

Ms. Lakisha Scott

will be in room 121 beginning at 9:00 AM on Mondays

-overview of program opportunities for AE students

-specific information on qualifications and student incentives

-check out their new office area

-a full orientation presentation will be scheduled monthly (next session in January)

-regular office hours will be every Monday from 9 am to 12 pm

SIGN-UP COMING SOON!

We welcomed Florence City Fire Department yesterday for a fun and informative fire safety visit. Sponsored by our Family Literacy Coordinator Cleo Martinez, all of our students received valuable tips from Firefighters Graybill, Parnell, and Richardson as well as great tour of the truck and various equipment. All three team members were impressed with our students’ professionalism and engagement. Not only did they share about fire safety, but they were able to give career advice as well. Firefighting is a tough job, but all three of our guests choose to stick with it because they love what they do! Kudos to our local fireman and our students for a job well done!

Family Literacy at F1AE sponsors a lot of activities throughout the month in support of our students who are also parents. If you are one of our students and a parent of a child 8 or under, please see Ms. Kaitlyn in the front office or Ms. Cleo in room 103 for more information about joining our GFLS program! You don't have to take advantage of our child care center to participate.

On November 14, the ESL class took a tour of the Florence County Judicial Center to learn about civics, government, and the community. During the visit, they explored a courtroom and other facilities within the building.

ESL celebrated Veterans Day by visiting Veterans Park in Florence, SC. During this visit, students had the opportunity to see various historical artifacts and artwork that pay tribute to significant moments in military veterans' history. Throughout the tour, students learned detailed information about the art and artifacts displayed in the park.

All F1AE students can receive a bus pass for unlimited rides during the school year after completing 12 hours of class time. Click the button for a link to website. Download the PDRTA App for your smartphone or call (843) 665-2227 for routes and schedules. Bus passes expire at the end of June 2025.

All are invited to attend the First Friday event below. The event is similar to our "resource fair" in which many agencies gather under one roof to serve clients efficiently.

See below

Dr. Lisa Justice, Director

Anna Miller, Assistant Director

Dana Marsh, College and Career Navigator

Janice Howard, College and Career Navigator

DeAsia Williams, School Counselor

Eylen Atacho, Data Specialist

Doris Baker, Testing Coordinator

Kaitlyn Moss, Intake Coordinator

Taylor Bunn, High School Diploma Teacher

Katrina Powell, GED Teacher

Martha McCall, Student Services Teacher

Cleo Martinez, Family Literacy Coordinator

Claudia Hernandez, ESL Teacher

Claudia McClellan, ESL Teacher

Gaye Dawn Gibbs, GED Teacher

Dr. Machel Sprauve, GED & HSD Teacher

Ida King, GED Teacher

Laura Kirven, GED Teacher

Summer Williams, Day Care Worker

Jackie Shuler, Testing Assistant

Patricia Hyman, VR Teacher

Barbara Hicks, VR Testing Assistant

Vickie Scipio, FCDC Lead Teacher

Angie Cooper, FCDC Teacher

See our website for emails and other contact information: https://f1adulted.f1s.org/about-us