My last entry was submitted seven months ago! So, here's a short update:

As we wrap up another program year and reflect on our many accomplishments, I am once again proud of the achievements of both our Northside ABE learners as well as staff.

Some of those new accomplishments include refining our ABE/GED leveled math class, continued and intensive outreach in the community, interesting ELL field trips in both the day and evening programs, a bi-weekly, Gretchen-run coffee and snack break, new technologies added to our computer lab (Computer on Wheels or COWS, document cameras, digital cameras) and most importantly, our teachers have taken the time to learn these new technologies and use them in the classroom (thanks in large part to Josh Craig, MPS ABE Technology Integration Specialist, who has that rare combination of gifts---a strong technology person as well as a patient, effective teacher/communicator), a visit to both our day and evening programs by the prestigious 10,000 Things Theater Company, Listening is an Act of Love Book Club (along with a fantastic slide show of this teacher-driven event!), new classes and added instructional hours for the summer (Listening Lab, Intro. to Citizenship, GED-i, a GED distance learning program), the publication of many of Northside's student writings through JOURNEYS (a MN literacy journal published by the Minnesota Literacy Council), and greater emphasis on helping students transition to post-secondary training and ed. programs. There are undoubtedly other successful projects and endeavors that I have failed to mentioned; there are that many!

Thank you staff, and thank you students, for making Northside ABE the dynamic education site it is today.