The Adult Education Program in St. John the Baptist Parish will start the 2009-2010 school year at a new location with extended services. The new site is 152 Anthony F. Monica Street in Garyville, the previous location of the Redirection Center/Garyville Elementary School. The intake process for students will began on Aug. 13.

Offerings at the site will include daytime and evening classes in literacy (reading, writing and arithmetic), GED preparation and ESL (English as a second language) instruction. All classes are provided free of charge. “The center will offer literacy instruction for adults who are reading and writing at all levels from the very basic to any level above,” stated Precious Joseph, Adult Education Program Director.

The literacy classes can also help those who already have a diploma refresh themselves academically to help them prepare for a job or to enter a vocational school or college.

More than 95 percent of US employers consider GED graduates the same as traditional high school graduates in regard to hiring, salary and opportunity for advancement. (Source: American Council on Education) The GED program is open to anyone who is 17 years old or older who has not completed high school and is not currently enrolled in school. Instruction is designed to meet the student’s individual needs and educational levels. Interested students may also dual-enroll in afternoon classes at the Louisiana Technical College; these students must meet the college’s enrollment criteria. Although the GED program is free, students who elect to take these college courses must pay their own tuition for the college courses.

ESL is offered to students whose native language is not English. Instruction includes helping the students improve their oral and written skills in addition to helping them improve communication skills related to their job, family life and citizenship.

Additionally, the River Parishes YMCA’s Educational Services (YES!) Program, offering Adult Basic Education (ABE) assistance for those adults who function at the lowest literacy or numeracy levels, is also located at the Adult Education Campus in Garyville. YES!, a Community Partner of St. John Adult Education, is a St. John United Way Agency. YES! can also be contacted via our Adult Education Department’s phone number.

Class schedules are as follows:

Adult Education Campus in Garyville:

Adult Education Day Program

Monday through Thursday

8 a.m. — 12 noon

Adult Education Evening Program

Wednesday and Thursday

5 p.m. — 8 p.m.

ESL Classes

Wednesday and Thursday

5:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

St. John Unemployment Office (Cambridge Drive):

St. John One Stop Center

Friday 8 a.m. — 12 noon

For more information, call or e-mail: Precious Joseph, Director of Education, 985-535-2717 /pjoseph@stjohn.k12.la.us or Kim Scioneaux at 985-536-1106 Ext. 2203/kscioneaux@stjohn.k12.la.us.