B eginning January 2, 2014, the state of Louisiana will be using the new ETS High School Equivalency Test. This test will replace the GED Testing Service’s GED Test presently being used. PEPI will continue to administer the new test in Iberia Parish. New High School Equivalency Test Fall 2013 continued on page 4 Rayna T wenty-three PEPI adult learners from the 2012-13 school year received their GED. To honor them, PEPI hosted “A Celebration of Achievement” for the graduates, who were able to invite their family and friends to applaud their success. Adults who passed their GED test received their diploma from the Louisiana State Department of Education. Sadie Carline received the highest score award, and Alexis Viscardi had the second highest score. The ceremony and reception were held at the SlimanTheater in downtown New Iberia. PEPI Honors Graduates PEPI graduates who attended the Celebration of Achievement: (front row, from left) Sadie Carline, Amber Crosby, Fouzia Elkhanoufi, Joshua Webb, and Tanya Ledet. (back row) Sister Barbara Kraus, Haleigh Romero, Zhane Thibodeaux, Alexis Viscardi, Amal Malahmeh, William Thomas, Zachary Chauvin, and Loure Sigure.
Transcript
Beginning January 2, 2014, the state of
Louisiana will be using the new ETS High School Equivalency Test. This test will replace the GED Testing Service’s GED Test presently being used. PEPI will continue to administer the new test in Iberia Parish.
New High School Equivalency Test
Fall 2013
continued on page 4
Rayna
Twenty-three PEPI adult learners from the 2012-13 school year received their GED.
To honor them, PEPI hosted “A Celebration of Achievement” for the graduates, who were able to invite their family and friends to applaud their success. Adults who passed their GED test received their diploma from the Louisiana State Department of Education. Sadie Carline received the highest score award, and Alexis Viscardi had the second highest score. The ceremony and reception were held at the SlimanTheater in downtown New Iberia.
PEPI Honors Graduates
PEPI graduates who attended the Celebration of Achievement: (front row, from left) Sadie Carline, Amber Crosby, Fouzia Elkhanoufi, Joshua Webb, and Tanya Ledet. (back row) Sister Barbara Kraus, Haleigh Romero, Zhane Thibodeaux, Alexis Viscardi, Amal Malahmeh, William Thomas, Zachary Chauvin, and Loure Sigure.
Every New Year at PEPI brings about change – hopefully for
the better – and this year is no exception. In an attempt to meet the needs of the adult learners in Iberia Parish, we try to entertain changes that will bring about
positive outcomes for our learners. We begin this year with a change in the way new learners enroll in our classes.
In September, we inaugurated a two-day orienta-tion process. Every month, we hold our orientation process for the first 36 adults who show up. During the two-day process, we test prospective learners, explain PEPI’s program, review the handbook, complete intake forms, etc.
We have added, however, having different speakers do presentations on issues we feel are important to our learners. Among our presenta-tions for September was a SLCC (South Louisiana Community College) representative who shared the process for entering the SLCC system, courses offered at different campuses and other pertinent information needed for those contemplating getting
a certificate or degree. Other speakers included a representative from the Workforce Commission, a former PEPI graduate who began her own business, two motivational speakers to encourage the adult to “stay the course” in achieving their GED and a business owner who shared his expectations for his employees.
Staff changes have also occurred at PEPI. Sister Thomasette Pittari, SSND, our computer lab instructor, moved to Houston and Sister Mary Ellen Theriot, SSND, took over that position, which left us looking for a math instructor. We were able to hire Ms. Gabriella Jones for the math position (see box below). We wish Sister Thomasette blessings on her new assignment and welcome Ms. Jones to our staff.
This year, the School Sisters of Notre Dame celebrate our 180 years as a congregation. Our foundress, Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, would certainly approve of our work at PEPI. Our Mission as School Sisters of Notre Dame is the empowerment of persons so that they may develop to their fullest potential. We educate with the convic-tion that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons.
All the above could not be accomplished without the encouragement, work and support of our Board of Directors, staff and the wider community. Thank you all!
From the Director – Barbara Kraus, SSND
Ms. Gabriella Jones joined the PEPI staff in September 2013 as the new Math instructor. Ms. Jones is a graduate of the University of Loui-siana at Lafayette. While at ULL, she participated in wom-en’s track and field. She is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, Kappa Delta Pi, and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Ms. Jones lives in Jeaner-ette, Louisiana, with her two young sons.
Virgil
Joan Duplessis Jack & Nina GodfreyMr. & Mrs. W. LabauveJoyce FirminMr. & Mrs. Leonard Lalla
Patrick & Gretchen LandryJoAnn SeguraSister Leah Sellers, O.Carm
DONORS
For the 2013-14 school year, the ELL class has 11 students with several on the waiting list.
There are 10 learners for whom Spanish is the first language and one learner for whom Liberian is the first language. There are 10 females and one male learner.
Learners meet for three and a half hours each day with their instructor, Sister Magdalen Broussard, who is a Marianite of Holy Cross. Sister Magdalen uses textbooks in English, Math and citizenship to teach culture as well as the English language. Videos, computer programs, written assignments, oral reading, repetition and practice dialogues are all used to improve English and increase academic skills.
Some ELL learners come to PEPI to take a step toward gaining U.S. citizenship. Others want to improve their English so they can help their children. Still others have as their goal to gain a GED so that they can pursue education or work opportunities. This year, two learners started in the GED program after spending time in the ELL class. Several others are close to entering the GED program as well.
“These adult learners work very hard to gain fluency and reading comprehension in English,” says Sister Magdalen. “Working with these learners is a joy and very rewarding.”
ELL (English Language Learners) Class Aims High
Evaly Hernandez and Clara Martinez study English
Sister Magdalen with ELL Class
On October 24, 2013, the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), celebrated the 180th anniversary
of their congregation. On October 24, 1833, Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger and two other young women began to live together with the aim of showing the love of God through the education of children. Today the School Sisters of Notre Dame number more than 3,500 School Sisters of Notre Dame work in 36 countries.
As a sponsored ministry of SSND, PEPI contin-ues the spirit of Blessed Theresa in many ways. At each monthly staff meeting, members reflect on one part of the life and ministry of Blessed Theresa. At the monthly PEPI Board of Directors meeting, the
Mother Theresa’s Vision Alive at PEPI
board members also read together about the spirit and values of Blessed Theresa.
On Foundation Day this year, students each received a bag of snack chips and a bookmark with a quote from the SSND constitution after a short talk about the legacy of Blessed Theresa. Also, at graduation each year, the graduate who receives the highest score on the GED test receives the Mother Theresa Award and a brief explanation about Blessed Theresa is given.
A sponsored ministry of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
Central Pacific Province
Equal Opportunity EmployerUnited Way Partner Organization
Board of Directors2013-14
Evelyn Jefferson, PresidentLarry Richard, Vice President
Davis Collins, TreasurerJoAnn LeJune, Secretary
Dr. Camille JarrellEllen Bordelon
Alicia Butler JohnsonS. Johnette Waguespack, SSND
S. Nancy Flamm, SSNDS. Kathryn Frank, SSND
PEPI is in the process of working with the SLCC (South Louisiana Community College New Iberia) to use classroom space to accommodate adults wishing to take the test either paper- or computer-based.
We have been working diligently to prepare our adult learners for this new test. Staff members have attended training by ETS to ensure that we are familiar with the test. ETS will provide several practical test preparation tools to help candidates get ready for the test.
However, PEPI learners are not waiting until January to get their diploma. PEPI is proud to announce that 12 adult learners have already received their diplomas since August. What an accomplishment! We also have a number of adults signed up to test in November and December.
Mark Your Calendar!Graduation/Celebration of Achievement 2014: May 20
