By Ed Wendell
You can change someone’s life by just letting them know about this tuition-free program right here in Woodhaven. They offer a comprehensive, full-year GED course and six levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Starting this year, the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center for Women is also offering a digital literacy course so women can add Microsoft 365 Suite skills to their resumes.
Today you have an opportunity to help change someone’s life, and it won’t cost you a penny. All you need to do is tell someone you know about the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center for Women right here in Woodhaven.
Perhaps you know a woman who never got the opportunity to finish high school. That diploma can often be the key to a better future. It can open the door to better job opportunities or maybe even a promotion in a current job. Or maybe a high school diploma can even be the first step in going to college.
The School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center for Women will begin holding open registration for their tuition-free classes for the 2024-2025 school year, which begins on Monday, September 16th at 9 a.m.
To register for classes in September, come to the Center on one of the dates and times below:
** Tuesday, August 27th, 9:00-1:00
** Wednesday, August 28th, 9:00-1:00
** Monday, September 9th, 9:00-1:00
** Wednesday, September 11th, 9:00-1:00
** Thursday, September 12th, 9:00-1:00
While there is a $40 fee to register, there is no fee for any of the classes or the books.
These classes are for women who are 20 years of age or older; committed to working toward their high school diploma; and can attend classes from 9 am to 1:30 pm Monday through Thursday. They should also have sufficient background and reading and writing skills in English to work on the high school equivalency curriculum.
And if you know someone whose English skills need some work, or perhaps they cannot speak the language at all, the School Sisters also offer ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) courses.
Again, these classes are tuition-free and are offered on six levels, from Introductory to Level 5. Classes are scheduled between Monday and Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm (the schedule will vary depending on the level of the class).
All women must take a placement test to determine the best level to begin. This test will be given on Thursday, October 17th at 10am. Please do not bring children to the test. Students who take the placement test can register the very next day (Friday, October 18th). Classes will begin the following week.
“For the past 20 years, our center has been serving the immediate, educational needs of the women in our Woodhaven and surrounding communities,” says Francine E. Poppo, the Executive Director of The School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center.
“While our core specialties include a comprehensive, full-year GED course and six levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), this year we are adding a digital literacy course so women can add Microsoft 365 Suite skills to their resumes.”
“Our approach to educating women is holistic, which is why we also include relevant field trips, weekly yoga, and a four-part women’s health education initiative.”
Well over two thousand women have been helped by the School Sisters in the years since they opened their doors. And as a byproduct of these classes, their children and entire families are helped. As a result, this can only help improve our neighborhood.
And the center has convenient access to transportation (they are near the J train and the Q56 bus along Jamaica Ave., the Q11, Q21, Q52Ltd, Q53Ltd, and QM15 along Woodhaven Blvd. and the Q24 along Atlantic Avenue).
If anyone has any questions the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center for Women in Woodhaven can be reached by phone at 718-738-0588 or by email at ssndec@aol.com, or you can visit their website at www.ssndecwomens.com.
I have been honored to witness the students of SSNDEC over the years and watch them thrive in the warm, encouraging environment provided by the teachers there. I’ve been told that many students have heard about this wonderful program through the pages of this newspaper from friends or family. Now it’s your chance to help someone!
