2 Hearts Academy is a Drop out Retrieval Program that offers classes for students preparing for the GED test. We offer free pretesting and guidance for students wishing to take the GED test. We do not offer high school credits. We will do everything we can to provide a free, safe, learning environment for students ages 16-21 and assist in their efforts to stay in school and move forward with their life goals. For those students who are interested, we help them apply for enrollment at FRCC. We have several motivational speakers, great volunteer teachers for math, science and writing. We take field trips and learn through experiential experiences whenever we can. Our program is very small so that students can get one on one attention.
Students must apply to be accepted into our program and are required to attend from 9-3 Tuesdays through Fridays. We are a closed campus. Students also must turn in ipods, phones and other distractions for the school day. Students need to fill out an application and call for an interview before enrolling.Transportation and Lunch needs to be provided by the student.
If you have any questions, please call our office at 266-9652.
We have had a good fall semester. We have pretested over 30 students since August. 2 Have completed their actual GED tests with flying colors. Three have taken a few of their actual tests and are still studying. I have older students coming in who have high school diplomas who want to study for the police academy exam and the firefighter school. We have Larry, Ginger and Gabe teaching Math three days a week. Pat is teaching Science and Kori continues to come from the health department and teach health to our students. All of these amazing people volunteer their time and are one of the main reasons these kids are progressing so quickly towards their goals. I have had wonderful interns from CSU's social work department helping with fundraising, social networking and student assistance. Some very generous folks from our community have donated funds, supplies and support this fall as well and we are very grateful. We have started a group called the youth drop out retrieval task force which is meeting once a month to share ideas, support, services and problem solve getting kids back into programs that keep them engaged in positive life decisions. If you would like to join this group please call the office. Our next meeting is Jan. 21st at 7pm at 2 hearts. We are also coordinating a community graduation for kids who have completed their GED by April 20th, 2010. The date of the graduation is MAY 1, 2010 at the Lory student center at CSU at 2pm. If you know a student who would like to be part of this ceremony please have them call us.
I am also going to be posting a monthly writing series from students who journal with Duane every week. Duane teaches journalism at CSU and works with students to find their voices with writing. Some pretty amazing things happen when Duane is here. He is featured in an HBO documentary called Mario's Story. We are trying to get Mario to speak at our graduation in May.
A lot of exciting things happening in our little school. Thank you for your interest and support. Happy Holidays
Sincerely,
Wendy Cohen (& lacy)
May 2009
Dear Friends,
Since we opened our Academy doors February 2008, we have had over 100 students come through our doors who have either tested or gone through classes and tested with us. This spring, 4 have gotten a high school diploma, 30 have passed more than one GED exam. 10 have taken acuplacer tests at FRCC and 10 have passed their GED test with flying colors. Many have gotten jobs, graduated out of drug court, gotten off of probation, become parents,become closer to their parents, become caring citizens in the community and have even started to believe in recycling. They are wearing their seat belts, practicing good manners and becoming the wonderful young men and women they were created to be. Some have decided to continue their life styles and aren't moving very quickly down a more positive path but the seeds have been planted.
Our volunteer teaching base since December has gone from 2 to 10. We had volunteer teachers who all have college degrees or are in the process of becoming teachers or social workers for Social Studies, Math, Writing, Science and Health. We have visited the wild life sanctuary, CSU campus for many occassions and had amazing inspirational and educational speakers come to our building.The Social Work Department had a class who adopted us and put on a bowling fund raiser that raised several hundred dollars for the school. It has been a great year. Classes will start up again the end of August. If students want to take a pretest this summer, they need to call the office to set up a time.
December 2009