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Log inDiploma honors perseverance
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Diploma honors perseverance
by Outspoken on Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:05 am
Diploma honors perseverance
BY MECHELE COOPER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA -- A traumatic event at age 10 left Chelsea Edgar of Whitefield unable to attend school most days.
But she continued her school work through an alternative education program, and earned the state's first-ever Maine Diploma, awarded in a Blaine House ceremony Thursday.
"I do not stand here a naive child," Chelsea said as she stood behind the podium at the Blaine House. "I stand here a well-educated woman."
Chelsea, in a white gown and cap and carrying a bouquet of flowers, marched from the sun room to the reception room where guests were seated. She marched alone to a rendition of "Pomp and Circumstance."
A new law passed last year by the Legislature allows the state Department of Education to issue diplomas to students who have experienced education disruption for reasons such as hospitalization or homelessness.
The diploma is intended for students who meet the minimum requirements of Maine Learning Results tests, but who are not able to meet the graduation requirements of their local school system. That might be due to poor attendance or other requirements.
In Chelsea's case, the 18-year-old has an anxiety disorder that affected her health and caused her to miss too many days of school.
Driving her anxiety was the loss of her father eight years ago.
Chelsea was 10 when she got off the school bus one day and found her father's body. Her dad, David Edgar, had died of a heart attack.
Seeing that she was having difficulty meeting the level of knowledge and skills required by Maine Learning Results, school officials decided an alternative education program offered by Union 132 at the superintendent's office, might be the best way for her to succeed. Union 132 includes Chelsea, Jefferson and Whitefield.
Susan Gendron, commissioner of the state Education Department, said Chelsea's achievement exemplifies what the Maine Learning Results tests are all about: providing multiple pathways for students to learn.
She said Chelsea had to prove to the review team that she had met the Maine Learning Results standards.
"She had to produce evidence that she met the standards of the Learning Results," Gendron said before the ceremony. "She provided a portfolio and brought in milk crates of the work she had done, and answered questions asked by the panel and demonstrated all she achieved. And let me tell you, she blew their socks off."
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/5258640.html
Staff photos by Andy Molloy
BY MECHELE COOPER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA -- A traumatic event at age 10 left Chelsea Edgar of Whitefield unable to attend school most days.
But she continued her school work through an alternative education program, and earned the state's first-ever Maine Diploma, awarded in a Blaine House ceremony Thursday.
"I do not stand here a naive child," Chelsea said as she stood behind the podium at the Blaine House. "I stand here a well-educated woman."
Chelsea, in a white gown and cap and carrying a bouquet of flowers, marched from the sun room to the reception room where guests were seated. She marched alone to a rendition of "Pomp and Circumstance."
A new law passed last year by the Legislature allows the state Department of Education to issue diplomas to students who have experienced education disruption for reasons such as hospitalization or homelessness.
The diploma is intended for students who meet the minimum requirements of Maine Learning Results tests, but who are not able to meet the graduation requirements of their local school system. That might be due to poor attendance or other requirements.
In Chelsea's case, the 18-year-old has an anxiety disorder that affected her health and caused her to miss too many days of school.
Driving her anxiety was the loss of her father eight years ago.
Chelsea was 10 when she got off the school bus one day and found her father's body. Her dad, David Edgar, had died of a heart attack.
Seeing that she was having difficulty meeting the level of knowledge and skills required by Maine Learning Results, school officials decided an alternative education program offered by Union 132 at the superintendent's office, might be the best way for her to succeed. Union 132 includes Chelsea, Jefferson and Whitefield.
Susan Gendron, commissioner of the state Education Department, said Chelsea's achievement exemplifies what the Maine Learning Results tests are all about: providing multiple pathways for students to learn.
She said Chelsea had to prove to the review team that she had met the Maine Learning Results standards.
"She had to produce evidence that she met the standards of the Learning Results," Gendron said before the ceremony. "She provided a portfolio and brought in milk crates of the work she had done, and answered questions asked by the panel and demonstrated all she achieved. And let me tell you, she blew their socks off."
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/5258640.html
Staff photos by Andy Molloy
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
