KENNEWICK, WA – The TC Futures 2023 Winter Graduation, held November 9, 2023, celebrated the accomplishments of all those who have earned their GED academic certification at the center since August 2023. TC Futures holds two graduation ceremonies a year to honor the hard work these young adults put into earning their GEDs and preparing for their futures. Since the start of the 2023-2024 school year, 30 youth have completed their GEDs at the center.
“Earning a high school equivalency (GED) is truly a starting point and the ticket that helps you earn entrance into another realm of opportunity,” says Melanie Olson, TC Futures Director.
TC Futures, run in partnership by Educational Service District 123 and the Benton Franklin Workforce Development Council, provides a welcoming environment and resources for out-of-school youth and young adults (ages 16-24) seeking to finish their education and/or connect with employment opportunities. Last year, TC Futures served 509 out-of-school youth and young adults through the Open Doors GED completion program alone, with 82 having completed their GEDs over the 2022-2023 school year. In total, the center served more than 700 youth in completing an academic credential (GED), participating in paid internships and work readiness skill building, and engaging in employment.
For more information, please contact Melanie Olson, TC Futures Director, at 509.537.1706 or molson@esd123.org.
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About ESD 123: Educational Service District 123, based in Pasco, WA, is one of nine ESDs in Washington. Dedicated to delivering collaborative solutions that promote learning, ESD 123 serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington. Under Superintendent Steve McCullough and its board of directors, this legislatively mandated, not-for-profit educational organization provides efficiency of educational systems and equity of learning opportunities for over 70,000 Washington students. For more information about ESD 123, please call 509-544-5700 or 888-547-8441 or visit www.esd123.org.
BFWDC is based in Kennewick, WA and has been designated by the Governor as a local workforce area for Benton and Franklin counties, based on population, size, prior education, training performance, and fiscal integrity. The BFWDC is responsible for coordinating the local workforce development programs, coordinating local employment and training activities, establishing a youth committee, negotiating local performance standards, and developing a local Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) plan. For more information about BFWDC, please visit www.bentonfranklinwdc.com.
TRI-CITIES, WA – Are you or someone you know passionate about sharing strategies to foster arts education for young children? Educational Service District 123 is thrilled to partner with ArtsWA and Washington State Wolf Trap to offer early childhood educators a seven-week artist residency program. Artists from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for school-based residencies through Washington State Wolf Trap. Applications are open now through November 27th at https://tinyurl.com/4jf7sett.
ArtsWA is a new affiliate of Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. Since 2019, ArtsWA has awarded ESD 123 a Creative Start grant. For the 2023-24 year, ESD 123 was selected to pilot the Washington State Wolf Trap residency program. Through Washington State Wolf Trap, ESD 123 will integrate resident artists into twelve preschool classrooms over seven weeks. Wolf Trap uses arts integration to create joyful, active learning experiences that engage children in ways that can increase academic and social emotional development for all learners.
The seven-week residency through ESD 123’s ECEAP preschools program will take place in Pasco and Walla Walla, and will include observation, collaborative planning meetings, and in-class sessions. During a classroom residency, a Washington State Wolf Trap Teaching Artist partners with an early childhood educator to design performing arts strategies that meet the instructional goals and objectives of the teacher and the classroom curriculum. Within this collaboration, early childhood educators (the ECEAP preschool teachers and staff) gain an understanding of the important connection between the performing arts and a child’s learning process. After the completion of the classroom residency, the teacher has acquired the skills necessary to embed arts strategies within daily practices and apply them in current and future classes to further the success of children.
Artists experienced in theatre, music, puppetry, dance/movement, and storytelling are encouraged to apply for the Wolf Trap Teaching Artist residency by the November 27 deadline. For more information, contact ESD 123 Director of Communications Molly Curtiss at 509-544-5787 or mcurtiss@esd123.org, or A.R.T.S. Coordinator Lisa Brouwer-Thompson at lbrouwer@esd123.org or 509-391-0364.
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About ESD 123: Educational Service District 123, based in Pasco, WA, is one of nine ESDs in Washington. Dedicated to delivering collaborative solutions that promote learning, ESD 123 serves 23 school districts in seven counties of Southeastern Washington. Under Superintendent Steve McCullough and its board of directors, this legislatively mandated, not-for-profit educational organization provides efficiency of educational systems and equity of learning opportunities for over 70,000 Washington students. For more information about ESD 123, please call 509-544-5700 or 888-547-8441 or visit www.esd123.org.