On Thursday, June 12, 2008 Graduation was held for the students who attended the third year of the program.

AFSCME 1153 and Westboro State Hospital have a five year grant through the Department of Education to allow the workforce to attend classes that include both verbal and written communication skills, spelling and grammar, and some computer skills.

Some of the students have attended from the beginning, moving through different classes each year and some were new to the program this year. The flexibility within the classes is wonderful as it allows for that to occur. Sometimes students only need one of the classes and that works fine also.

This year there were 18 members who received certificates through the program. One student received an award for her writing from the SABES "Do The Write Thing" program.We saw 2 promotions occur from the group as folks gained skills and confidence in themselves, and another will take her GED test soon.

The ceremony featured speakers Donna McGoldrick, the program coordinator, Lisa Kelly, a member of WBSH Staff Development Department, Elaine Fox, Dir. of Workforce Development for the Mass AFL/CIO, Mike Foster, Senior Staff Representative form AFSCME Council 93, and Chrys Zarazinski, Local 1153's president.Student speakers were Coraline Davidson, Cynthia Ramsdell and Joan Yeboah. 

Certificates were presented and then all were treated to a wonderful video putting pictures from the past three years classes to music. All then celebrated with a light buffet and time to socialize.

Once again we thank Donna McGoldrick, program coordinator as well as Pauline Lorden, Jackie Kaczowka, and Jacqueline Lynch, our three teachers for a very successful year.

Registration for fall classes will be held on Thursday, August 26th from 2-4 PM at the Rodrigues Auditorium in the Hadley Building. All AFSCME 1153 members are invited to sign up!

Orientation for new and returning students will be held on Thursday, September 4th at 2pm in the Hadley Building and class will resume on Tuesday, September9th at 2 PM.

For more information, pictures,etc. you may visit the class website or contact Chrys (x62510) at the Union office.