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UT Martin Offers ACT Prep on its Jackson Campus

act_prep_jacksonJust like Christmas, test taking season comes every year. Granted, kids probably look forward to one more than the other. If you have a high school junior or senior who plans to continue their education beyond high school, ACT testing is somewhere in their future. The score your child earns on the ACT can make the difference between what school they attend to the amount of scholarship money they are offered. UT Martin is offering high school juniors and seniors ACT prep workshops on its satellite campus in Jackson. The workshops are geared towards helping them prepare for taking the ACT. Students may attend the one-day workshop that will cover English, reading and math to help them prepare for the exam.

If your student has already taken the ACT, they can still benefit from the workshop. Students are able to take the ACT exam more than once and may choose which score in each subject they want to use when applying for scholarships and college admission (see other benefits of taking the ACT). Attending the workshop could lead to your child scoring higher on the exam.

Although calculator use is not necessary, if your child wants to use one, it must be an approved ACT calculator.

The ACT test will be offered again on Saturday, February 11 (registration deadline Friday, January 13, 2017), April 8 (registration deadline Friday, March 3) and June 10 (registration deadline Friday, May 5) in 2017. Local test centers are Lane College for April 8 and Jackson Christian School, Union University and University of Memphis at Lambuth for all of the dates. See more test locations.

UT Martin Jackson
One-day Workshop
Date: Saturdays – November 19 and December 3, 2016 and January 28, March 25 and May 20, 2017
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: UT Martin Jackson Center, 3031 U.S. 45 Bypass, Jackson, 38305
Registration Fee: $45 per student

Registration may be done online.

Call (731) 881- 7080 or (800) 482-5199 for more information.

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©2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Preschool Registration for 2016-2017 Now Open in Madison County

preschool_registration

Although it has been many years since I have had a child in preschool, l still remember that period being full of a lot of change. It is a turning point in a child’s development as they begin their journey in school where they will be educated, learn more independence and make new friends. Starting today, Monday, February 1 through Friday, May 20, you are able to register your preschool age child as they ready to take their next step as a Jackson Madison County School System (JMCSS) student.

Students must be four years old by Monday, August 15, and meet state mandated income eligibility requirements to apply. Parents are encouraged to enroll their child early. This will allow students to be placed and parents notified of acceptance to the program by the first week in May. Preschool locations for the 2016-2017 school year are Alexander Elementary School, Arlington International Leadership School, Denmark Elementary School, East Elementary School, Isaac Lane Technology Magnet Elementary School, Lincoln Magnet School For Mathematics and Science, The Montessori School at Bemis, Rose Hill Middle School, South Elementary School and Whitehall Pre-K Center.

Applications will be accepted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Whitehall Pre-K Center in Jackson. Along with the application, parents will need to bring the following documents:

From the JMCSS
1. Copy of the current year’s physical and immunizations on the Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization Form. The form must be signed at the top right hand corner for the physical, and checked on the bottom left hand corner and signed at the bottom right hand corner for the immunizations. Blue cards or Health Department Immunization printouts cannot be accepted.

2. Copy of a state certified birth certificate. A mother’s copy or hospital copy cannot be accepted.

3. Copy of Social Security card or verification of Social Security number from Social Security office.

4. Household Income Verification (most recent check stub, most recent year’s tax return, public assistance case number, SSI pay stub).

5. Three (3) Proofs of Residency in Jackson, Tennessee or Madison County (mortgage documents or property deed, apartment or home lease, utility bills, driver’s license, voter precinct identification, automobile registrations).

Contact Secretary Ms. Keviunna Corley at (731) 427-6396 or by e-mail to learn more about the JMCSS preschool program.

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©2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.

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Bridging the Communication Gap through Sign Language

{This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.}

If you have ever considered learning a second language, American Sign Language (ASL) is a great one to learn with the family. Classes will be held weekly by Bridges of Hope Language Ministries at the Jackson Seventh-day Adventist Church starting on Monday, January 11.

The first sign language class held at That Church Medina.

The first sign language class held at That Church Medina.

“It is good for families to take this class together, as it gives everyone a way to practice at home and outside of class. That can be a great advantage to the students,” said Jake Mabile, who will be teaching the class. “Learning ASL is beneficial for everyone, as it provides a valuable method of communication. It also helps to break the communication gap, and invite them into a community of people who share a common language. Furthermore, it provides tons of opportunities in the future like interpreting, teaching and performing.”

Jake, who wanted to reach his community, first offered ASL classes in his home. He eventually moved them to That Church Medina, which was a larger location, to accommodate student interest. The move to Jackson is in response to the number of students he has coming from that area to attend the classes.

Sign language class rehearsal.

Sign language class rehearsal.

“I felt a calling to share my knowledge of ASL with others,” said Jake. “I currently serve as a volunteer interpreter for Therapy & Learning Center’s Rein-Bow Riding Academy, and interpret for That Church Medina and the Jackson Seventh-day Adventist Church. I also teach private “Total Communication” sessions for families with autistic/non-verbal children helping them to develop communication by using sign and speech simultaneously.”

The purpose of the Bridges of Hope ASL class is to teach families how to sign in order to bridge the communication gap between the hearing and deaf worlds, which explains the name of the ministry. Although the class is not a certified ASL program, it is comprehensive in instruction and students may join at any time, because each class begins with review. There is also no fee to attend, but donations/free will offerings are accepted.

Jake began learning ASL at a young age from a neighbor, who was an interpreter. He later learned more from a family he met at his brother’s special needs martial arts class.

“It really interested me, so I picked up some books, found some websites, attended meetings at our local National Association for the Deaf and gained experience by spending time with people in our local Deaf community” said Jake. “Jackson (West Tennessee) is a great Deaf cultural center, as we are home to the West Tennessee School for the Deaf (WTSD) and the Jackson Chapter Tennessee Association of the Deaf.”

Students will have many opportunities to apply what they learn in the class. They may participate in various performances presented by Bridges of Hope, and attend events and conferences where there are opportunities to use their ASL skills in a practical sense.

A selfie taken at the Bridges of Hope Christmas program.

A selfie taken at the Bridges of Hope Christmas program.

“I have made many friends who are Deaf. Knowing the language is your key into the Deaf community and it has strengthened those friendships,” said Jake. “It provides a way to independently communicate with them and it means a lot to them for you to be able to speak in their language. Basically, learning sign says ‘I care’ to them, as it means you took time to learn how to communicate effectively.”

Jake noted the ASL class is not religious, but educational.

“You do not have to be Adventists to join the class! We welcome people from all different faiths and all of our events are open to the public, so we encourage students to invite friends and family,” said Jake.

The Bridges of Hope Language Ministries Community Sign Language class: Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Hines Memorial School on the campus of the Jackson Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1902 Campbell Street, Jackson 38305. Call Jake Mabile at (731) 616-4168 or e-mail him for more information.

All pictures courtesy of Bridges of Hope Language Ministries.

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©2016 Kid Madison. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://kidmadison.com/.