MWCC News & Events: What's Up at the Mount

MWCC's Weekly e-newsletter

Fri., Oct. 3, 2003

MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE COMCAST GARDNER CABLE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FROM THE ANNENBERG/CPB CHANNEL

By LeaAnn Erickson

	Gardner Superintendent of Schools Anne Towle is pictured here with MWCC's Vin Ialenti who was instrumental in bringing the new educational channel to Gardner.

The Annenberg/CPB Channel featuring free educational programming is now available to members of the Gardner community, thanks to a new alliance between Mount Wachusett Community College, Comcast, and Annenberg/CPB of Washington, D.C.

The Annenberg/CPB Channel is available 24 hours day on the Comcast channel 9 in Gardner.

The nationally distributed Annenberg/CPB Channel features renowned Annenberg/CPB educational series in all areas of the high school and college curriculum, professional development programming for educators, and workshops for K-12 teachers.

“ We thought this was a natural for Mount Wachusett Community College,” said President Daniel M. Asquino. “We have strong ties to our communities’ educators and a great broadcasting program. It’s the perfect fit.”

Gardner Public Schools Superintendent Anne Towle said the new venture offers a great opportunity for teachers. “It’s a wonderful resource,” said Towle. “Especially helpful are the courses in various content areas.” She explained that, as part of the re-certification process, teachers are required to take courses in their content areas. “This allows them to get content area PDP’s (professional development points) in the convenience of their school or their home.” Towle said she may even organize study groups for teachers around channel 9 programming.
She stressed that the programs are also a great resource for parents. “I watched the math program on how to teach long division,” said Towle. “I can envision a parent and child watching it together.”

The Channel Web site can be found at www.learner.org. The Channel has no commercial advertising, and is produced by Annenberg/CPB with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Upcoming Campus Events:

• Mount Wachusett Community College will offer a free three-credit course for high school students as part of its Decade of Civic Engagement initiative. The Citizenship Academy will offer the course Massachusetts and the Federal System to students at the college’s Gardner, Leominster and Devens’ campuses. The course is an introduction to American constitutional government and politics with special emphasis on how state and local government works in Massachusetts. Major topics include the state constitution, the legislative process in the Commonwealth, state administration, the Massachusetts judiciary and the city and town budgeting. As part of the course, students will be required to participate in a public affairs project and interview local, state or federal lawmakers. The course is free and is funded by a benefactor through the MWCC Foundation, Inc. Students are required to submit an essay and complete an application by Fri., Oct. 3. The course begins, Sat. Oct. 18, and runs through Sat., Feb 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. For more information, contact Academic Affairs at (978) 630-9208.
  

• The Gardner News will be hosting a series of candidate debates at the College next week. Candidates for school committee and ward council will be held Wed., Oct. 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mayoral and councilor at large candidates will face off Thurs., Oct. 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Candidates will answer questions from a panel of journalists and from audience members through the moderator. In addition, the College will host a voter registration drive as part of its Decade of Civic Engagement initiative. For more information on the debates, call Jim Fessenden at the Gardner News at (978) 632-8000. For more information on the voter registration drive, call Emily Ball at (978) 630-9564.
  

• Attend a Practical Nursing Information Session and learn how you can gain short-term education leading toward a rewarding healthcare career. College credit earned in this program may be applied toward a nursing degree. The next session will be held, Thurs., Oct. 16, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., in the boardroom at the Gardner campus. To pre-register for one of these events, call Lisa Williams at (978) 630-9110 or email admissions@mwcc.mass.edu.
  

• Theatre at the Mount continues its season with Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale’s comedy, Scapino!, opening, Fri., Oct. 3. Directed by Craig Cormier, this classical romp features one of theatre’s most rascally rogues, Scapino. Slapstick is the order of the day with servants and masters outdoing one another in physical comedy. Performances of Scapino will be October 3, 4, 9, and 10 at 8:00pm and October 12 at 2:00pm. Tickets are $15 for evenings and $12 for the matinee. For information and reservations, call the Theatre at the Mount box office at 978 632-2403 or purchase tickets online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu.
  

• Theatre at the Mount announces a change in its 2003 fall theatre line-up. The children’s musical Just So Stories, originally scheduled for October and November, has been replaced with The Fabulous Fable Factory. Production dates remain Nov. 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mount and tour dates on Oct. 9, 10, 23, 24 and Nov. 7. Tickets for Just So Stories may be used for Fabulous Fable Factory and need not be exchanged. For more information, contact TAM box office at (978) 632-2403.
  

• The Financial Aid office in conjunction with the Student Life office are now collecting books for a Used Book Sale Fundraiser to be held October 23 - 25. Proceeds will benefit the Emergency Student Fund and the MWCC Library. In order for the event to be successful, donations of used books (including children's books), CDs and videos are needed. Please bring your donations to the financial aid office, room 164 of the administration building, Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Please do not leave items elsewhere in the college, or outside the office when it is closed. Donations will be accepted beginning immediately. All items should be in good condition, and no encyclopedias, magazines or damaged items will be accepted. Call (978) 630-9169 for more information.
  

• The college will host a Transfer Fair, Fri., Oct. 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for MWCC students, parents, faculty and staff. Representatives from over 35 colleges and universities will be present to answer questions about their institutions. It is never too early to begin the transfer process. Even if you are not sure if you will ever want to transfer, come and learn about four-year colleges. Admission to the fair is free of charge. For more information call (978) 630-9321.
  

• The college will offer a free and open forum on, "Tenants Responsibilities and Rights Awareness," Tues., Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m. The event, part of the college's Decade of Civic Engagement initiative, will feature remarks by Attorney Michael DellaMonaca. The event is free and open to the public, but door prizes will be available to those who pre-register by Fri., Oct. 10. For more information, contact Susan Sayball at (978) 630-9219. Refreshments will be provided.
  

• The college's Winchendon Skills Program is offering ABE and GED courses this fall. The weekly class schedule is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. at the Community Action Center in Winchendon (273 Central Street). For more information, contact Janet Brown at (978) 297-1667 or Beverly Hobbs at (978) 630-9259.
  

• To celebrate the 40th anniversary of MWCC, MWCC Foundation, Inc. produced Mountopoly, its own version of the popular board game featuring advertising by local businesses and friends. Order today games are only $25 each. For further information, stop by the foundation office (room 118) or contact Diane Hamilton at (978) 630-9387 or email dhamilton@mwcc.mass.edu. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover). Make checks payable to: MWCC Foundation, Inc.
  

• This will be the third year in a row that Mount Wachusett Community College will participate in the Lee® National Denim Day program in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Participating students, staff and faculty will make a $5 donation to the Foundation thereby raising awareness by wearing their jeans to class/work on Fri., Oct. 10th. The Komen Foundation receives 100% of the donations collected to fund research, education, screening and treatment programs. In addition, Pro Health, in conjunction with the Health Services office and the Student Life office, will sponsor information on breast cancer detection and research on Thurs., Oct. 9th. For more information, call (978) 630-9136.
  

• The Fitness & Wellness Center at Mount Wachusett Community College will host a FALL FITNESS OPEN HOUSE on Sat., Oct. 4th from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The day will feature free use all day (must be 18 yrs. or older unless with parent), free classes, raffles, and more! For further information, call (978) 630-9212 or visit the website at http://fitnessctr.mwcc.edu

Lea Ann Erickson
Director of Community Relations
Mount Wachusett Community College
Phone: (978) 630-9322
Fax: (978) 630-9561
cell: (508) 517-5202
l_erickson@mwcc.mass.edu

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