Winchester Alumni Association’s Post

Celebrating the Launch of Goodwill Academy! We are thrilled to announce the official introduction of Goodwill Academy in central and coastal Virginia! This month, Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia celebrated with ribbon-cutting events at our Richmond and Hampton support centers. Our events were honored by the presence of CEO Mark A. Barth, members of Goodwill’s Board of Directors, state and local officials, and VIP guests such as Attorney General of Virginia Jason Miyares and Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater. Goodwill Academy is dedicated to advancing associate learning and development, providing fair chances for returning citizens, and fostering community partnership opportunities. The Academy focuses on the essential skills needed to secure and maintain employment, be it with any employer or as an entrepreneur. Our mission at Goodwill Academy is to create a pipeline of dependable, qualified workers by building on our extensive experience in training individuals facing employment challenges. The curriculum is designed to provide foundational skills crucial for success in any job with any company. At Goodwill Academy, participants have the opportunity to "earn while they learn," with active support and assistance to secure better jobs and wages outside of Goodwill if they choose. Additionally, participants can explore opportunities for growth within our organization, across our retail, business services, and support teams. Goodwill of Central and Coastal Virginia's mission is changing lives—helping people help themselves through the power of work. We believe that work is the cornerstone for empowering individuals, strengthening families, and creating prosperous communities. https://lnkd.in/eQuGhzmf #GoodwillAcademy #WorkforceDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment #RibbonCutting #GoodwillVirginia #EmploymentOpportunities #EarnWhileYouLearn

We're excited to share a new blog post! Pierre-Michel FIDMA, a Patrick's Kids Foundation scholarship student, that has completed his first year at Université Publique du Sud aux Cayes and is grateful for the chance he's been given. Read more at https://lnkd.in/e_gBfYqC and learn how you can contribute at https://lnkd.in/emzap5z4. #education"

Why Taking a Sabbatical Can Transform Education Join Dr. Jason McGhee as he embarks on a transformative sabbatical, exploring future plans and the evolving landscape of education. Discover the significance of taking a break to reflect and innovate in the educational system while engaging in meaningful conversations with students and teachers. Don't miss this insightful journey! #Sabbatical #EducationRevolution #FutureOfTeaching #ReflectAndInnovate #DrJasonMcGhee #TeachersTalk #EducationalInsights #CareerBreak #InspireChange #LearningJourney

And that’s a wrap on my Churchill Fellowship. Across a total of 9 weeks, I’ve researched how areas in Australia, Canada and the USA use specialist court models to respond to domestic abuse in the justice system, with a view to using my findings to design a new model which should be piloted in England and Wales. Receiving this award has been life changing. It allowed me to visit 11 towns and cities across four countries, visit 9 courts, meet dozens of leading professionals working in my field, make new friends and see old ones. As I conclude my travels, I am filled with gratitude for this opportunity and am still processing the fact that someone like me was able to pursue a project like this. Like many other individuals in the sector, I work in domestic abuse because of my lived experience. Researchers in this field have found that the early years of a child’s life are instrumental to their development and their life chances. My first years were spent living with a father who was physically and sexually abusive and who had severe substance abuse issues and our life after we fled was permeated with financial hardship and instability regarding where we lived. Statistically, my life chances were set out to be pretty poor. As a result of my background, I have spent the majority of my life feeling an extreme sense of imposter syndrome and never feeling like I’m quite good enough. The good grades, the academic scholarships, the good jobs have always felt surreal and have never placated that feeling that these things weren’t for people like me, mainly because no one else seemed to come from similar backgrounds. However, receiving and completing this Fellowship was genuinely the first time that I felt that this was something which I had earned and was confident in my capacity and capability to complete. I knew I’d worked hard to develop the expertise which merited this Fellowship and I knew that if I was awarded it, I would do it justice. And I truly have. Being able to see first hand how these courts are run and meeting with stakeholders across the justice system has given me a robust understanding of best practices which should be implemented, as well as allowing me to identify some of the international challenges which exist in this area. I’m excited to write up my findings and devise an implementation strategy for this work. I’ve learnt so much from this project, but one of the most important things has been to believe in myself. These opportunities ARE for people like me. And over the years, I’ve learnt that even when I don’t feel like they are, there is no harm in just trying, because even though I might not believe in myself, other people will.

Sharing this terrific Q&A showing the value of alumni engagement and how it factors into how colleges advance and thrive ... it makes a good "case" for remaining connected and engaged with your alma mater! (Pardon the pun!)

As part of our environmental education aims, we offer student work experience placements to local secondary schools. This week, our Founder and Director, Clare Matheson, has been sharing her environmental and business knowledge and expertise with 2 students from The Woodroffe School in Dorset (pictured). In their feedback forms, both students recommend their placement, scoring it 9/10 in relation to their desired future career paths. Both rated the knowledge gained as 10/10, and they enjoyed the tailored tasks set for part of the week. Amelie stated, "Knowing Clare's experiences and career path was a huge eye opener. I have come away with so much knowledge and have a good understanding of business as a career and how to start. I love the tasks that were set and the ease of asking questions." Penny added, "I have gained useful knowledge that'll help me in my future career. I really enjoyed doing the research task and Clare gave me full control of this topic, which was helpful. I also felt comfortable to ask for help when needed." Little Green Change has previous delivered highly rated work experience placements for students at Colyton Grammar School Academy Trust Devon, and The Sir John Colfox Academy. littlegreenchange.com #littlegreenchange #environmentaleducation #awardwinning #nonprofit #socialenterpriseuk #workexperience #secondaryschool #dorset #careeradvice #greencareers #businessknowledge #careerpathways

Do you think it’s worth it to pursue a dream if it won’t lead you to traditional forms of success? 🤔 Randy is a 49 year-old fisherman who only got as far as 5th grade in school because he lives on a remote island with no electricity and a challenging way to the main town (where the public school is). When I met him in July, he was eagerly going through take-home study modules to earn his junior level of high school. When I shared Randy’s story with a friend, she asked: “Why is he studying? It’s not like he’s going to go quit his job as a fisherman and become a consultant!” As blunt as this comment may sound, there’s some truth to it. Randy is probably going to continue being a fisherman and perhaps achieving his dream of getting his high-school degree may not change his life drastically at this point. So, should he still do it? Why? I have my own opinion but I’d love to know how other people see it. Please comment your thoughts below! 💭 #inclusion #socialimpact #personalgrowth #socialentrepreneur #Philippines

The RISE program is offering two new and fully virtual classes in the new year! These course are exclusively for people with a brain injury, and since they're fully virtual, you can participate from anywhere in the state! Learn more and register at www.arapahoe.edu/rise. ELMS-Executive Life Management Skills January 28, 2025 – March 18, 2025 This dynamic virtual non-credit course focuses on developing the essential executive skills necessary for effective life management. From self-assessment to goal setting, organizing to problem solving, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of these skills and how they can be impacted by brain injury. By equipping you with practical strategies, the course aims to enhance their ability to manage your own life and return to productive activities, such as work, school, or volunteering.  In this course we will work on the following:  Self-assessment/Awareness (strengths and challenges) Goal-setting and Goal Persistence  Organizing, Prioritizing, Breaking into Steps Remembering (including notetaking) Planning Problem Solving ELMS-Executive Life Management Skills January 28, 2025 – March 18, 2025 This dynamic virtual non-credit course focuses on developing the essential executive skills necessary for effective life management. From self-assessment to goal setting, organizing to problem solving, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of these skills and how they can be impacted by brain injury. By equipping you with practical strategies, the course aims to enhance their ability to manage your own life and return to productive activities, such as work, school, or volunteering.  In this course we will work on the following:  Self-assessment/Awareness (strengths and challenges) Goal-setting and Goal Persistence  Organizing, Prioritizing, Breaking into Steps Remembering (including notetaking) Planning Problem Solving #braininjury #traumaticbraininjury #tbi #bi #arapahoecommunitycollege #acc

Hello, hello! 🎤 🚀✨ I’m thrilled to be speaking at the Texas Public Charter Schools Association Texas Public Charter Schools Association next week! I’ll be teaming up with Alina Mitchell to lead two discussions focused on some of the biggest talent challenges charter schools face today. If you’re attending, here’s what we’ve got lined up: 👉 Oh No: Strategies for Navigating Mid-Year Leaves We’ll be sharing proactive, active, and reactive approaches to handle unexpected transitions and keep your school running smoothly. 👉 Play the Long Game: Retain & Invest in Talent Learn how to retain your team by investing in them through comprehensive strategies like Total Rewards and professional development that ensure long-term success. ☕ If you’re attending and want to connect on how we can collaborate or discuss talent strategies, let’s grab a coffee or meet up—I’d love to chat! #TPCSC #CharterSchools #EmployeeBenefits #Retention #WorkTogether

No one knows everything. Even the cleverest of people will tell you that knowledge and skills are acquired a little at a time. Here’s wishing you a successful learning journey in the year ahead! To find out more about Compass Community Schools, please follow this link https://loom.ly/2MWDZHs #sendeducation #semheducation #specialeducationclassroom