Windham Raymond Adult Education prepares to offer online classes this fall

Windham Raymond Adult Education will transition to online
classes and online registration because of COVID-19 restrictions.
A digital catalogue of courses offered by the program this fall will
be available for the public at the end of August.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE

By Ed Pierce

Across America and even right here in Windham and Raymond, a movement is under way for adults to learn new career skills and knowledge and transform their lives, especially as the country struggles in the age of COVID-19.

Through the years, Windham Raymond Adult Education has been a path taken by thousands of adults by providing a range of instructional services to help them develop skills for further educational opportunities, job training, find better employment, and to realize their full potential as productive workers, family members and citizens of the community. As the fall term nears, many Windham Raymond Adult Education classes will be offered online because of COVID-19 but it hasn’t dampened enthusiasm for the program.

“We provide a safe place for students to learn, to get back on their path. We also help them to continue to navigate that journey, helping them to overcome barriers to their persistence with us. All of which helps to assist with their social and emotional well-being,” said Thomas Nash, director of Windham Raymond Adult Education. “Adult education not only contributes to our adult students’ educational attainment, but their employment options, their health and family development.”

Nash said that the program sees its students as the original ‘interrupted education’ population.

“Adult education supports parents/caregivers role in their child’s education, helps train essential workers, assists in creating digital literacy and equitable digital access, assists with immigrant integration and ‘poverty reduction’ getting adults of all ages the skills they need for new jobs or moving up the career ladder as the economy shifts,” Nash said.

He said that some students take classes to transition to new careers more relevant in the 21^st century, while others are looking to prepare to take the HiSET, the high school equivalency exam. Others have enrolled to better their computer skills, to earn their high school diploma, to complete English as a Second Language classes or for health and recreational purposes.

 

With a staff of about 75 instructors, Windham Raymond Adult Education was offeri8ngt about 300 different classes each year before the pandemic struck.

Nash said that many of those classes will continue to be offered to adult students except during the pandemic, they are being shifted online.

Along with online classes, registration for fall classes offered by the program will be available only online this fall.

“Our entire catalogue of fall classes will be available online at the end of August,” Nash said. “We will not be mailing out a catalogue this fall. We used to conduct in-person registration, but because of COVID-19, we changed that to strictly online registration.”

Because of the shift to online classes and online registration, Nash said Windham Raymond Adult Education is striving to stay as connected as possible to students without seeing them in person every day.

“Establishing relationships during the day and age of COVID is a challenge,” he said. “Some students preparing for the HiSET may not do as well need away from the classroom and need all the support and encouragement we can offer to them. We are trying to do the best we can given the circumstances related to the pandemic.”

Nash also said many in the community enjoy Windham Raymond Adult Education classes, such as yoga, so it’s disappointing to the staff not to see those people. It takes away opportunities people had, but it is a reality that we have to deal with.”

For many adult students, making the transition to online classes won’t be new.

“We transitioned to online classes in the spring because of the pandemic,” Nash said. “Some classes continued that way this summer.”

According to Nash, the feedback Windham Raymond Adult Education has received about online classes has been mixed.

“Some had reservations at first,” he said. A lot depends upon the level of the course they were taking. But other students were accustomed to learning online and were fine with it. The verdict is still out if many of the fall classes will lend themselves to that format.”

He said that the program is doing all it can to provide the best experience for adult students this fall and believes that this could be a genuine opportunity for some students to continue to explore what courses are available at Windham Raymond Adult Education or through other nearby schools online.

“Some students may find classes elsewhere that we do not offer and discover they are able to sign up for those classes through the remote option.” <      

Successful Family Literacy Fun Day inspires young readers - By Lorraine Glowczak

Exuberance filled the air at the 10th Annual Family Literacy Fun Day held last Saturday, November 5th at the Windham Primary School. Free and open to the public to promote literacy in a fun and engaging way, children of all ages anxiously waited to hear their favorite author and illustrator discuss the various aspects of writing and illustrating children’s books.

“I want kids to realize that books are written by people and they have stories to share beyond what’s written in the book,” Laurel T. Parker, Windham Public Library children’s librarian, stated, explaining one of the missions of the literacy day event. “Also, it is import to note that reading 15 minutes a day can make a great impact on the future lives of children.” Parker continued. “Even if you can read to your children while they are eating breakfast, it will benefit their future educational success.” To meet the mission and goal of family literacy, six authors and illustrators were available for the three-hour event and provided 15 minute presentations giving children the opportunity to ask questions. The authors were also available to sign copies of their books.

Author and illustrator Scott Nash was the first to make his presentation. Reading from the book, “Over the Moon”, Nash had children and adults laughing while he read the comedic rendition of the nursery rhyme. Nash also discussed his new non-profit art organization, Illustration Institute (II). The mission of II is to promote the work of illustrators as well as inspire the hidden artist in everyone. Workshops and lectures will be held at the Portland Public Library throughout the year, beginning with famed illustrator Ashley Bryan from Islesford on Little Cranberry Island. That program was also held on Saturday afternoon at the Portland Public Library and many families in the lakes region were excited to join that event as well. The next II event will be the Portland premiere of Floyd Norman, An Animated Life, a new film about the first African American animator to work at Disney and PIXAR will premier December 9th at 6:30 p.m. at the Portland Public Library.

 

The other author/illustrators read from their books as well, sharing the thoughts behind their writing. “I talk to students as writer to writer. I want them to know I am a colleague,” Jennifer Jacobson explained when she began her presentation. It is her goal to let students know that she has to make difficult revisions as she writes her books, much like a student does when they write for an assignment. 

Chris Van Dusen spoke to a crowded room overflowing with fans as he read from a book he wrote and illustrated, The Circus Ship. It was an article about an old ship wreck off the coast of Vinalhaven that was published in Downeast Magazine that inspired Dusen to write and illustrate the story about a ship filled with circus animals that beached off the coast of Maine.

Kevin Hawkes shared the personal story about growing up in a military family, always finding himself in a new neighborhood, a new school with a new teacher. “What remained the same was the library. Libraries became a place of comfort to me,” Hawkes explained. As a result, he writes books to be comfort food for his readers, reminding them that everything is going to be okay. Lynn Plourde made her fans very happy when she announced she had four books published this year including “Maxi’s Secret”. “Maxi’s Secret” is a funny and yet bittersweet story about a deaf dog who meets a blind neighbor, providing important lessons along the way.

Matt Tavares made the last presentation of the day by speaking briefly about his book, “Growing Up Pedro”. “When illustrating a book, I try to write the story with pictures,” Tavares said, explaining that through his images, the reader can comprehend most of the tale. “Having a real person pose in front of me makes my pictures look real” he stated before having one of his fans, Lucas, pose while he drew a picture of him in front of the audience.

The successful morning included not only children, but parents and grandparents as well. Many busy families such as Carrie Chojnowski and her two sons, Evan and Jack, who came to the event in between swim lessons and Saturday errands to see their favorite author, Chris Van Dusen, and to have their books signed by him.

Some families were able to stay for the whole event, participating in the day’s activities that included crafts, door prizes, book swaps, games and resources for families. Adam Miele and his two daughters were there to hear all the authors speak but came specifically to see Kevin Hawkes, who is not only their favorite author but a friend of the family. Young Evelyn Demar was there for all three hours, attending every presentation. “I have read a book by every author who is here today, with the exception of one,” she said. “And, ‘If I Built a House’ by Chris Van Dusen is my favorite book.”

Also present for every authors’ appearance was the young and budding author/illustrator, 3-year-old Anya Andre. When Tavares ended his presentation, giving his quickly and impressively drawn illustration to Lucas, the future author/illustrator made an offer Tavares couldn’t refuse, “How about you draw a picture for me and then I will draw one to give to you.”

The Family Literacy Fun Day, which obviously sparked imaginative learning and the love of reading, writing and illustrating among the young children present, was made possible by the collaborative efforts of The Friends of the Windham Public Library with the author visits courtesy of the Richard Clark Library Fund, Windham/Raymond Adult Education and some past and present teachers of the Windham Primary School. Special thanks to volunteers Pam Whynot and Joyce Greenacre, former kindergarten teachers and Dodie King, current kindergarten teacher at Windham Primary School.  RSU14s Melissa Boire also lent a hand.