Calendar: March - April 2009

MARCH
01 — American Red Cross Month begins
02 — Thelma’s birthday
08 — International Women’s Day
09 — Winter quarter Basic English classes end this week.
13 — Time cards due for period of March 1 – 15
17 — Electronic time entry due for period of March 1 – 15
17 — St. Patrick’s Day
21 — UN Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination begins
27 — Time cards due for period of March 16 – 31
30 — Spring quarter Basic English classes begin this week.

APRIL
01 — Electronic time entry due for period of March 16 – 31
01 — April Fools Day
02 — International Children’s Book Day
05 — Palm Sunday (Christianity)
07 — No Housework Day
08 — Buddha’s birthday (Buddhism)
12 — Easter (Christianity)
12 — National Library Week begins
13 — Time cards due for period of April 1 – 15
15 — Tax Day
16 — Electronic time entry due for period of April 1 – 15
19 — Administrative Professionals Week begins
21 — Birthday of the Prophet Mohamed (Islam)
21 — Festival of Ridvan (Bahá’í)
22 — Earth Day
22 — Administrative Professionals Day
25 — World Penguin Day
28 — Time cards due for period of April 16 – 30
29 — Arbor Day
30 — Electronic time entry due for period of April 16 – 30

New Basic English booklet

Copies of the new Basic English information booklet are in your mailboxes. Please review this information and let me know if you have any questions.

New Academic Enrichment courses

Please announce to students in Basic English 4 and above: In Spring quarter, there will be two new courses in the noncredit Academic Enrichment program: Accelerated Language Arts and Accelerated Math. For more information, students should contact the Noncredit Registration Office (WD 1090).

Testing schedule - Winter 2009

Here is the drafted testing schedule for Winter 2009. [NOTE – It is being updated as changes are made. Changes from the original drafted schedule are indicated in red.] Please let me know if you have any questions or if a change is needed.

English for Success (Test = BEST Form C)
Anna-Marie’s class Wednesday, March 5
Mike’s class Wednesday, March 5
Abdi’s class Wednesday, March 5
Carlotta’s class Thursday, March 6

Basic English 1 – 3 & Basic Communication
-- The exit tests for Basic English 1, 2, and 3 are given on the last or next-to-last day of class.
-- Performance in Basic Communication 1 and 2 is evaluated through a final speaking exercise administered by the instructor. Results are marked on a summary sheet. Sheets are available in the milk crate across from the mailboxes.

For Basic English 4 & 5, as well as the Basic English for Health Care, Basic Writing and Basic Reading classes, consult the Basic English Information booklet that was sent out today to be sure you pick up the correct test kit for your class(es).

Basic English 4
Beverly’s class (M-Th, 8:00 a.m.) Wednesday, March 11
Beverly’s class (T/Th, 9:30 a.m.) Wednesday, March 11
Rachelle’s class (S/Su, 1:00 p.m.) Saturday, March 14
Tafsir’s class (T/Th, 5:30 p.m.) Thursday, March 12

Basic English 5
Manning’s class (M-Th, 8:00 a.m.) Wednesday, March 11
Wendy’s class (M/W, 9:30 a.m.) Monday, March 16
Tafsir’s class (S/Su, 1:00 p.m.) Saturday, March 14
Tafsir’s class (M/W/F, 6:00 p.m.) Wednesday, March 11
Manning’s class (M/W/F, 6:00 p.m.) Friday, March 13

Basic Writing 1 Seth’s class (M/W 9:30 a.m.)
Basic Writing 2 Seth’s class (T/Th 9:30 a.m.)

Basic English for Health Care
Beverly’s class (M/W, 9:30 a.m.) Monday, March 9
Beverly’s class (M-Th, 12:30 p.m.) Wednesday, March 11

Basic English at Centro Esperanza Latina
Manning’s class Wednesday, March 4
Seth’s class Wednesday, March 4

Basic English for Health Care at Centro Esperanza Latina
Manning’s class Tuesday, March 3
Seth’s class Tuesday, March 3

End of Winter - Beginning of Spring

Quarter, that is. The current term ends the week of March 9. Spring term begins the week of March 30.

Attached is the drafted schedule. Please let me know if you are interested in teaching, and, if so, what would be best for you. As always, I do my best to accommodate as many preferences as possible.

BE information board

I’ve posted a board in the office area (near the mailboxes – you can’t miss it!) with frequently-requested information. Please check it out and let me know if there’s anything else that should be there. Updates will be made as needed.

Basic English course grades

We will start entering Basic English course grades (pass/nonpass -- or in Colleague terms, MET/NMT) as of Spring quarter. We had hoped to be able to start this term, but Colleague grade schemes cannot be changed once a section is already set up. We've now made the changes on the course level and the new sections (Spring quarter and forward) will require grades to be entered.

New Basic English course flow

As of Spring 2009, incorporating Basic English 6 and the new testing process through Admissions.

Click to enlarge.

LI Update - February 12, 2009

Happy 200th Birthday! Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born on this day in 1809.


Dry-erase markers. There are more dry-erase markers in the cabinet. Note: Please do not put empty marker boxes back in the cabinet!! They should be put in the recycling bin OR in my mailbox (as a sign to me that I need to order more).


Grammar Form and Function 1A. A new edition of this book (the textbook for BE3) has been released and will be used starting next term. I’ll get copies for instructors before the beginning of Spring quarter.

Letters of Agreement. A few of you have still not turned in your signed Letters of Agreement for teaching. Please do so immediately. THANK YOU to those of you who turned them in so quickly.

Presidents Day 2009

Please keep in mind (and be sure your students are aware!) that Columbus State will observe Presidents’ Day on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27. There will be no classes (on campus or at the off-campus sites) and all campus offices will be closed.

There will be classes on Monday, February 16.