WLGOS

On Tuesday, February 03, 2010, speakers from Operation Get Smart of the SC Department of Corrections came to the WLG campus and spoke to us in an assembly program. They shared their stories... their stories of making bad choices that ultimately led to their incarceration... prison. They did not start out as children with the goal to go to prison. They did not make that their goal as teenagers or even adults. Their choices and bad decisions, I repeat, their choices and bad decisions led them to prison. One theme that runs in each person's story is that they accept it was their choice... nobody made them. It is called accountablility. They asked cadets to Get Smart and STAY smart.

We thank them for coming and sharing honestly with us, for answering our questions and for caring that we make positive choices.

Find out more about Get Smart at SCDC/programs

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January 28, 2010 

Wow! Thirty-one...count them...31 cadets raised their Post TABE score by at least 2 years (2.0) or topped out at 12th grade 9 months (12.9) As a reward for this, they went to the Riverbanks Zoo and enjoyed the day. Cadets enjoyed the sunshine, the animals, being together in a relaxed environment, food and to top it off, a late lunch at McDonalds. It was indeed a great day. Four cameras were handed out and cadets took some great pictures. Pictures are in PICASA and a video will be posted next week. 

Congratulations to them all.  

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 January 28, 2010

Mr. Kilgore and I would like to praise these young men on the great job they did today for habitat for humanity. They spread about 8 tons of dirt around two new homes. They also learned some valuable lessons in service to others. This was the hardest working group we’ve ever taken. I would be proud to have them on my crew if I owned my own company. Mr. Davis at central Midlands Habitat loves Wil Lou Gray and wants more help from us when possible.

 Gleason- Carson, James- Floyd, Michael- Porcher- Sechrist- Tate-  Dick

 Mr. Griffey, Thanks for a great lunch! The quantity was greatly appreciated by us all!

pictures have been posted to the Picasa link.

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Once the Pre-GED test is given, Ms. Flynn begins the art club. They meet after school in the art room. We have some truly talented Cadets!Thanks Ms. Flynn for doing this.

Pictures are in picasa.

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Career Day was held on January 22 in the canteen.

Cadets went in small groups to talk with the vendors who were here and receive up give away materials.

A list of participants will be added to this report on Minday, 01.25.10.  

More pictures are available in picasa.

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The Pre-GED was given on January 19th. The results of the testing will not be made known until the week of January 25th. Cadets were divided into small groups for testing (approximately 6-8 per group). Math, Writng and Social Studies areas were tested before lunch. Science and Reading were tested after lunch.

The Pre-GED is not as long as the actual GED but gives a good assessment of the probability of one passing the  GED.  

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We are very pleased to have Bill Kellum volunteering as a tutor. Bill meets with Cadets during the day when he is able to come to Wil Lou Gray.  

Thanks Bill. 

More soon 

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On Tuesday, January 12^th, 2010, a group of 12 students took a field trip to the Columbia Fire Department Station 1 and Museum.  Officer Michael Thomas spent nearly 2 hours talking to us about fire prevention, fire fighting, fire containment, and other functions of the fire department.  We met and heard firemen assigned to Rescue 1 and Hazmat 1 and learned of their training and responsibility.  There is far more going on within the fire department than putting out fires.  If you have a strong desire to help people, have a craving for adrenaline, and are physically fit, firefighting may be a job to consider.

On Thursday, January 14^th, 2010, another group of students had the opportunity to tour the Vulcan Granite Quarry located in Olympia.  Vulcan is the industry leader in construction aggregates, the granite used in building materials.

Mr. Sandy Rogers and Mr. David Smith hosted a great morning showing us sights that many in South Carolina will never see.  Located on the banks of the Congaree River, the quarry is over 400 feet deep with over 3 ½ miles of conveyor belt.  Some of the equipment is so large that the tires alone cost over $1000.00.  It is one big hole and it is located within sight on the state capitol building.

More to follow. Pictures are on Picasa and video is in Capzle.

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WIA fieldtrip to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport

January 05, 2010. A group of WIA students went to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport for a tour. This was the first time to this airpport for many of the cadets. The tour provided an indepth look at the operations and people needed to make the facility function well. It is surprising to discover the variety of jobs and skills needed.

We enjoyed our visit and appreciate this opportunity.

There is a video on capzles and pictures are in picasa.

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Ms. Graham and Mr. Ready took a group of WIA members to visit the SC Emergency Management Center. This site is the hub for all agencies of the state in the event of an emergency. It could be a hurricane, flood, ice storm or any type of emergency requiring coordination and communication of services.

The National Guard also has a hub at this site. Cadets discovered that there are many jobs they have not considerd. IT was a good visit and much was learned.

Pictures are on Picasa and a short video on Capzles.

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Two graduates of Wil Lou Gray from the 70s stopped by to visit and see the campus. They met here at WLGOS and have been friends for over 30 years. Theor comments sound like students from last cycle. Adolescence today sounds much like the 70s and any other time.  Check out the video on Capzles.

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11.20.2009

Today cadets, who earned the priviledge, enjoyed the delicious aroma of cookies baking in class in Ms. Flynn's class. Needless to say, the cookie smell woofed down the hall and everyone raised their heads to catch a wiff of the fresh baked chocolate chip  cookies. Sometimes doing right does have its' reward. Some of those cadets are featured in a video on Capzles.

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Students are in the library on a regular basis. This particular day, PE classes met in the library due to the illness of the teacher. Cadets read, played chess and checkers and some helped to put many new magazines out. It was a pleasant day and cadets and I enjoyed it.

                                            Video of this day is on Capzles (in the navigation bar)

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       The Friday of our first week, we had orientation to school and met our homeroom teacher. This is the person to whom we reported first thing the following Monday.

There is much to learn in our classes and we each have a GED book to study in the dorm. We are given this book on Friday and everyone is eager to get started.

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 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 Skiils 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 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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