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Vol. 54, No. 42
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
CONGRATS, GRADS — Pictured is the 2024 Warsaw Adult Education graduation ceremony at Warsaw Community High School’s performing arts center. There have been 56 High School Equivalency graduates since this school
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
year started in August, with a goal of 97 by the time it ends in June. Photo provided by Warsaw Adult Education.
Warsaw Adult Education offers more than just By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer
DIPLOMAS
Between Kosciusko and Fulton counties, Warsaw Adult Education Director Leo Patiño said there are about 15,000 people without their high school diploma. The aim of WAE is not just to put diplomas in the hands of its students, but as the program continues to grow, to introduce more skill-learning opportunities. WAE holds free classes at Ivy Tech in Kosciusko County and the Learning Center in Rochester. Students seeking a high school equivalency diploma can take morning or
evening classes at WAE to prepare for the high school equivalency test, or HiSET. The program has access to GED testing as well, but passing either test counts as earning an High School Equivalency. For anyone struggling with a language barrier, English Language Learners classes are offered two evenings a week. The program has seen 56 HSE graduates since classes began in August. Patiño and Program Coordinator Diana Clark have set a goal of 97 HSE graduates by the end of the school year in June. Sixty-five ELL students have gone up a proficiency
level this school year. Clark is a former high school math teacher who’s been with WAE since 2013. “I used to see kids, when I taught high school, that struggled,” she recalled. “There’s so much going on in their life, school is on the bottom of that list. This program lets you get to those kids.” Adult education classes aren’t exactly like high school, “and that’s why people like it; it’s a lot more laid back,” said Clark. Students have classes on each of the five HiSET testing subjects: math, science, social studies, reading and writ-
ation students, VirginPatiño, left, has a chat with adult educ GETTING STARTED — Director Leo ga. All students take Orte ifer tation event. Also pictured is Jenn ia Sleighter and Cayla Lewis, at an orien to by Lilli Dwyer. Pho ing. learn on s e what they need to focu rmin dete to ses clas ing start re befo a test
ing. There are no homework assignments or grades, with more emphasis on preparing for testing. “Our classes are shorter and focused on what that student needs ... we make the best use of their time. It’s smaller groups, which a lot of our students like; they don’t get lost in the shuffle,” Clark went on. WAE sees students from a variety of age groups and backgrounds. Some are mothers who left school to care for their children, or members of the Amish community who want to continue past eighth grade. Some ELL stu-
dents just didn’t have the opportunity in their home country. “We are a family that immigrated from Mexico, so I see how a language barrier affected my family personally. So, for the ELL students in the program, I have a soft spot. I see my mom, my dad, myself,” said Patiño. Recent graduate Wesley Soliday said he wanted to finish his education for better job opportunities. After a death in his household, Soliday had joined the workforce in his senior year to support Continued on page 3
on for level 3 ELL PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE — A less visit in English. Lakevstudents involves simulating a medical , is pictured speaking rum iew Middle School nurse, Bianca Land ons focus on topics less r Othe bar. with student Rodrigo Esco of others. Photo provided like telling time and asking questions by Warsaw Adult Education.