As part of its mission to provide “dynamic, multicultural services in an atmosphere of ... acceptance of all," Vernon Regional Adult Based Education offers adult and family learning programs to dozens of students here each year.
VRABE, as it is commonly known, operates classes over three trimesters each year at the Lutheran Church of St. Mark, 75 Griswold St. and at Glastonbury High School, 330 Hubbard St.
The classes at St. Mark’s are part of VRABE’s Family Learning Program, which allows parents to bring their young children and get free child care, provided by the YMCA, while they attend classes, says Cortney Gerlach, the acting director of VRABE.
The courses at St. Mark’s include three levels of English - beginners, intermediate and advanced - for English language learners. VRABE also offers General Equivalency Diploma classes (GED) - for students who want to earn their high school diplomas.
“For GED we have a wide range of students,” Cortney says. “Some have recently dropped out of high school and are 17-18 years old. We also have students in their 70s and 80s."
At the high school, VRABE offers its English language learning courses and the GED class in night courses for adults who work during the day. The high school program does not include daycare services.
The English courses provide an important service to people who don’t speak the language proficiently, largely newer immigrants and even refugees who have recently come to the country, Gerlach said.
The course trimesters run from September to May and the second term of this year starts Dec. 5. All of the courses are free and are operated in conjunction with Glastonbury’s education system and allows the town to fulfill its state-mandated GED and English language learning requirements.
VRABE, which provides a wide variety of adult education programs to hundreds of clients in 14 towns, also offers summer courses online for its Glastonbury clients. For more information, to view an online brochure, or register, visit VRABE.com or call 860-870-6060.
