DERRY — The GED Options program is available through a partnership between Pinkerton Academy Continuing Education program and The Upper Room, a Family Resource Center, funded through the New Hampshire Department of Education.
This partnership offers an option for students ages 16 to 21, who might otherwise drop out of school, the opportunity to stay in school and earn their GED, gain employment skills and form a connection to further education or job training.
"As a regional GED Option site, we are now able to provide a quality education for up to 40 youth who, in the past, might have dropped out of school and had a hard time supporting themselves," said Bill Foye, director of the PACE program at Pinkerton Academy.
"This has been an incredible partnership," said Kimberly Bavaro, executive director of The Upper Room. "We have been providing a GED prep program to young adults age 16 and over for many years and have had a great deal of experience helping them become successful. With the new law that took effect in 2009, which states that students stay enrolled in school until their 18th birthday, it has become even more critical that we offer individualized learning opportunities."
Bavaro said the goal of the partnership is to not only help students stay in school and earn their GED, but to give them the skills they need to become employable, go on to higher education and become self sufficient.
"Of the 27 students who tested for the GED exam last year, 25 passed, and all were connected with college and employment resources," said Brenda Guggisberg, GED coordinator at The Upper Room. "We have already enrolled eight students for fall 2010, and will hold two more pretesting dates and informational sessions on July 14 and Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m."
Students in the GED Option Program attend 15 hours of instruction per week. Classes are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for five hours each day. In addition to instruction in the five GED test areas of English, writing, math, science and social studies, students are exposed to a variety of career opportunities and further educational and training opportunities. Classes are held at The Upper Room, A Family Resource Center, on Tsienneto Road.
For more information, call Sandra Belair at 437-5200, ext. 1134, at Pinkerton Academy or Brenda Guggisberg at 437-8477, ext. 18, at The Upper Room to register for informational sessions and pretesting.
