CLEARLAKE — The Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) announced the new vision for its Southshore Campus at 6945 Old Highway 53 in Clearlake.
The campus formerly housed LCOE”s alternative education programs. Those programs were relocated to the Hance Education Center on Argonaut Road in Lakeport last year in an effort to consolidate programs and spending, according to Shelly Mascari, Child Care and Development Council coordinator.
The Clearlake Campus is now home to two programs: The Creativity School and the Career Technical Education/College-Going Initiative Department.
“These programs enable us to fully utilize this facility. We are pleased to be able to provide additional jobs and services in our Southshore communities,” LCOE Senior Director Brock Falkenberg said.
The Career Technical Education/College-Going Initiative Department is working to bring educational programs to Lake County such as a certified nursing assistant course, medical assistant course and a phlebotomy course, Mascari stated.
The Clearlake Campus is also home to the new community computer lab. High school students and adults can take classes on computer programs and tutorials on basic skills.? The lab also offers practice exams and customizable lessons for a variety of assessments, including GED, SAT and CBEST.
Students may choose to take scheduled classes or work independently for a flat fee of $25 per month, according to Mascari.
WorkForce Lake is also offering services out of the Clearlake Campus and will work with LCOE to assist with their educational and employment needs.
For information, call Tammy Serpa at 995-9523.
The Creativity School provides educational opportunities for students who have emotional difficulties and struggle in school, helping them build upon their strengths in areas that are not typically emphasized in the classroom such as robotics, growing a garden, raising chickens and selling eggs, Mascari stated.
“Our new school draws on the universal strength of creativity through project-based learning, the arts, and technology to re-engage students in academic and entrepreneurial experiences in creative, meaningful ways,” LCOE Senior Director of SELPA and Student Services, Ruth Aldrich said.
“For example, for this summer”s Ocean Odyssey thematic unit, our students took on the roles of project manager, architect, engineer, carpenter, and accountant and designed and built bridges out of toothpicks and full-size boats using only duct tape, cardboard and plastic bottles. Ultimately, our vision for the Creativity School is for students to gain the skills they need to make positive, healthy choices and successfully return to their home school with a renewed love of learning.”
For information on the Creativity School, call Principal Melissa Webb at 995-9523.
