By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
With another school year drawing to a close, the staff of Paintearth Community Adult Learning took the opportunity to thank their students with a lunch and learning event.
Hosting an event in both in Coronation on May 21st, and Castor on May 22nd, Cindy Heidecker and her staff hosted the event, using the time to get feedback on what has happened during the year.
Eighteen community members attended each event.
“We’ve had a very good learning year this year,” said Heidecker.
Paintearth Community Adult Learning has had 133 students register for various courses over the 2018/2019 year. Additionally, they have offered support to learners around 90 times, have invigilated 24 exams for various post-secondary students, and run a successful family-based Magic Carpet Ride program in Castor, Coronation, and Brownfield.
The common theme of the Lunch and Learning Dialogue was communication.
“We had some creative conversation,” said Heidecker.
“The common theme is continuing to keep the communication going. We’ve had many positive comments on the highway signs and our social media.”
Social media has grown for Paintearth Community Adult Learning during the current year, with Facebook posts reaching over 6,000 people and Twitter reaching over 8,000.
Both social media numbers are hoped to grow next year to further carry the message of Paintearth Community Adult Learning.
“We are asking for everyone to be a champion for adult learning,” said Heidecker.
“If anyone has any course ideas or something that they would like to instruct, just get ahold of us as we are always looking for instructors and course ideas.”
Paintearth Community Adult Learning will be shutting down for the summer break at the end of June and will reopen the last week of August in preparation for the fall and winter program starting in September.
The 2019/2020 school year looks to bring back many popular programs and some new ones.
“We are going to continue workplace training classes, spending time one on one with peers, public speaking with Toastmasters, family programming and general interest-type courses.”
The Paintearth Community Adult Learning offices are open in Castor Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, and on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays during the same hours in their Coronation office.
The Castor office is located in the same building as the Castor Library, and the Coronation office is located in the lower level of the Provincial building.
On Wednesdays there is also someone at the Battle River Innovation Centre in the old Gas Co-op building.
For more information, visit www.paintearthlearning.ca or call 403-578-3817 during business hours, and keep your eyes open for the fall and winter catalogue coming out in August.