English for Success - 2009 update

There have been several changes in this program with the new contract. These are outlined below.

TIME FRAME
Each session is eight weeks long (10 hours per week). It is expected (and hoped!) that students will take at least two sessions, and achieve two skill attainments each (one at the end of each session).

Last year there were breaks between sessions. This will no longer be the case. Sessions will run continuously. Here is the expected schedule of sessions for Main campus, Somali Senior & Family Services and Bending Brook:

• January 12 – March 6
• March 9 – May 1
• May 4 – June 26
• June 29 – August 21
• August 24 – October 16
• October 19 – December 11
• ALSO — Continuing time for (a) those required to attend courses for benefits and/or (b) those needing final make-up opportunities: December 14 – 23.

The following is the expected schedule of sessions for Centro Esperanza Latina:

• January 19 – March 13
• March 16 – May 8
• May 11 – July 3
• July 10 – August 28
• August 31 – October 23
• October 26 – December 18

CLASS TIMES
Here are the class times at each site:

Main campus (Begins 1/12/09)
M T W Th 10:00 - 12:30

Somali Sr. & Family Svc. (Begins 1/12/09)
M T W Th 9:00 - 11:30
M T W Th 4:00 - 6:30

Centro Esperanza Latina (Begins 1/19/09)
M T W Th F 10:30 - 12:30
M T W Th F 6:00 - 8:00

Bending Brook (Begins 1/12/09)
M T W Th 9:00 - 11:30


NUMBER OF CLASSES
Because of the required change to continuously running classes – and the added cost that goes with that – we are unable to have as many classes as before. Therefore, instead of having four classes at a site, we can have only two.


TESTING
Pre-tests and post-tests will be done this year using the BEST (Basic English Skills Test) rather than the TABE. A skill attainment will be considered to be one level of increase on the BEST.


CURRICULUM
The curriculum has changed. I sent the new curriculum out to the English for Success instructors this morning. Books will be made available as soon as they arrive from the publisher. Please let me know if you have any questions.


ATTENDANCE
Attendance must be taken each day by the instructors and must include time in and time out. A student will be considered to have completed a class when he or she has attended 80 contact hours.

Instructors must turn in attendance to Kimberly each week.

If a student misses a day, then the student must make up that day, even if it means continuing into the next session of classes.

Students who do not regularly attend class will be removed from the class so that those who have a strong interest in learning can attend.


DRESS CODE
Students are expected to dress in a manner that would be appropriate for an indoor workplace such as an office. If you have any questions regarding what is appropriate dress, please let me know.