WLGOS

CONGRATS

It is time to say to those Cadets who are still here... CONGRATULATIONS! This is not easy and you are making the effort to succeed.

School has now been in session for a week and cadets have been here for two weeks. We encourage mail... send letters and cards of encouragement to your cadet.

Cadets.. be proud of what you have accomplished by being here for this time and that YOU will complete this.

Pictures from today, March 19, have been uploaded to Picasa Pics. Two videos are in Capzles.

School Begins

The first day of classes was Monday, March 15th. Students received their books and supplies and have followed their schedules.

Class periods are 40 minutes and there are 9 periods a day. Students attend a Math, Science, Literacy/Reading, Writing/Grammar, and Social Studies class in preparation for the GED. They also have JROTC, Auto/Building construction and Physical Education each day.

IT is a full day.

WIA

Hello everyone!!

My name is Catrina Graham. I am the WIA (Workforce Investment Act) Coordinator here at Wil Lou Gray. The Youth WIA Program, Success for Life, is a Federally-funded Department of Labor program designed to assist individuals seeking the academic and occupational skills training demanded in today’s competitive job market. Family Service Center of SC, in collaboration with the Midlands Workforce Development Board have a partnership with the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School. Through this partnership we are able to enroll students from Wil Lou Gray into the WIA program. Students at Wil Lou Gray really enjoy being a part of the WIA program. In a recent survey, forty-four out of fifty students said that being a part of the WIA program has changed their attitudes and behavior. I know that the incentives for being in the WIA program kept a lot of students in line. Of course if you misbehave then you get privileges taken away. Being in the WIA program is an honor and a privilege for our students because this program gives a few incentives to include the following:

GED - $500.00 for passing
TABE - Students who are indentified as Basic Skills Deficient will receive $500.00 for increasing score by one grade level.
WorkKeys:

1. 1. Bronze level certification a $50.00 incentive payment

GED - $500.00 for passing
TABE - Students who are indentified as Basic Skiils Deficient will receive $500.00 for increasing score by one grade level.
WorkKeys:

1. 1. Bronze level certification a $50.00 incentive payment

2. Silver level certification a $125.00 incentive payment

3.Gold level certification a $225.00 incentive payment

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Paid tuition & books for students enrolled in COL 103
Field trips –job skills related- (cost & transportation) for WIA students
Tutoring
Workshops/speakers for Phase II
W.I.A funded computer lab including desks & chairs

The WIA program requires participants to take WorkKeys. All of our WIA students are assigned to a case manager who assist these students with their future goals while they are enrolled here and they also continue to help 90 days after they graduate. We do have some success stories from former students about what the WIA program did for them. Check out our WLGOS blog link. You should also visit the Midlands Workforce Development Board website and click on our services. Also go to Midlands Onestop and click on Success for life YouthWIA.

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College 103

College 103 is a course of Midland's Technical College. Students meet regularly to complete the number of required hours of Midlands tech. The class is taught by a professor from the college.

Students study the following:

Listening and taking notes
Conducting research
Discovering and using their learning styles
Processing information into their memory systems
Using twelve principles of memory
Becoming a time manager and goal setter
Developing self-management skills
Test taking skills

Students have weekly class time, complete homework assignments, complete projects, and take tests. This course is designed to help prepare cadets for college courses. It is an excellent opportunity for those who are eligible to participate.

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Guidance

My name is Mark Ready and I am the Guidance Counselor at the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School. My primary focus is to help our students determine a career path and develop a plan for reaching their goals. As with most 16 to 18 year olds, many of our students have no idea where they are heading. As a means of addressing this issue, we have all of our students complete the PIC DV 2000 Interest Inventory. For those who continue to struggle (or for those who so choose), we follow up with the Kuder Interest Inventory. We also address the unrealistic expectations of what GED recipients are capable of achieving in the short term by investigating the requirements for entering certain employment fields and universities, to understand that “we can not be anything that we want to be, BUT we can be anything that we work to be.” Lastly, we try to set their plan into action by completing employment and college applications, discussing the most successful job search strategies, and practicing interview skills. In short, the goal of guidance at WLGOS is develop the skills that will lead our students towards becoming a responsible and productive citizen.

Mr. Rod Rogers is from the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and is an on site counselor. His responsibilities will generally mirror those of Mr. Ready with a select group of students. Many of the group activities will be carried out with the two of us working as a team. We are very happy to have him join us in our efforts to help the students of the Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School.