BRIDGE TO COLLEGE:
A New Program from Top Floor Learning

Download the helpful and informative PDF flyer for this program here.

Fall Semester 2008 Calendar

All classes take place at Top Floor Learning, 3rd level, Palmer Public Library

All classes are from 10.00 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Orientation: Thursday September 4
• Session 1: Life Skills (1 of 2) Monday September 8
• Session 2: Life Skills (2 of 2) Monday September 15
• Session 3: Study Skills (1 of 2) Monday September 22
• Session 4: Study Skills (2 of 2) Monday September 29
• Session 5: Writing (1 of 3) Monday October 6
• No class October 13
• Session 6: Writing (2 of 3) Monday October 20
• Session 7: Writing (3 of 3) Monday October 27
• Session 8: Reading (1 of 3) Monday November 3
• Session 9: Reading (2 of 3) Monday November 10
• Session 10: Reading (3 of 3) Monday November 17
• Session 11: Math (1 of 3) Monday November 24
• Session 12: Math (2 of 3) Monday December 1
• Session 13: Math (3 of 3) Monday December 8
• Session 14: Wrap-up Monday December 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 16, 2008

Top Floor Learning (TFL) is pleased to announce an exciting new program, Bridge to College, designed to help Quaboag Hills residents prepare for and enter college. Applicants to the program, which is offered by TFL in partnership with Holyoke Community College (HCC), need to have a high school diploma or a GED, a willingness to commit to a year of intensive preparation, and demonstrate a strong desire to enter post-secondary education. Whether you are a recent high school graduate or have been out of school for a while, this innovative program is for you. If you want to return to the work force, get a better job, enhance your employment prospects, or simply want to be better-educated, TFL and HCC can help you achieve your goal.

The Bridge to College program, which will be launched in August 2008, will give students the support they need to be successful in college. TFL will enroll a cohort of 15 - 20 students who will commit to the year-long program which will include an academic-readiness course in the fall 2008 semester and 3-credit courses in both English and math in the spring 2009 semester. Each semester is 14 weeks long. Students will spend three hours per week in class for each course. During the week, one-to-one tutoring sessions will be scheduled as required and homework assignments will be given.

College-level work is demanding and students need to know what to expect. The academic-readiness course will orient and prepare students for this level of work and for campus life in general. It will be taught by TFL tutors and will include: academic reading and writing, internet research, writing academic papers, developing computer skills in Word, Excel and Powerpoint, study and note-taking skills, financial literacy and budgeting. During the fall semester, students will have the opportunity to visit the HCC campus where they will meet admissions and financial aid staff, visit the student services office, and sit in on a class to see what college is really like. The 3-credit courses in English and math will be taught at TFL by HCC faculty.

The advantages for Quaboag Hills residents who would like to enter post-secondary education are many: prepare for college-level work in a supportive, friendly environment; receive extra one-to-one support and tutoring when needed; get help with career-planning and goal-setting; attend classes close to home and save on fuel costs and travel time. There is a non-refundable registration fee of $35 for each class, a maximum of $105 for all three classes. Students will also be required to purchase textbooks.

If you, or anyone you know, are interested in taking part in this exciting new program, please call 413 283 2329 to make an appointment for an intake interview and register for the ACCUPLACER assessment which will be held on August 15, 2008. Check the website at www.topfloorlearning.org for further details about this and all the other programs that TFL offers.

Funding for the Bridge to college program is being provided by Top Floor Learning, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Verizon Foundation, and other corporate donors in the community.