When you are looking for lifelong learning, there are many places to go, large and not so large.
Of course the Club Ed program covers Kerrville and Boerne, offering hundreds of classes. Go down IH-10 to the east and you will find hundreds more classes hosted by Northside ISD. But don’t forget to dig in unlikely places, like deep in the hills in the small town of Center
Point.
[PHOTO: Cooking up new ideas, Center Point residents are diving in to classes such as Cake Decorating offered locally in the school’s new community education program. Shown: Sharon Kirby and her Pumpkin Cake. Photo by Shirley Wright]
I had heard that Center Point got its name from being at the “center point” of Texas when measured from east to west. More probable is that the name came from its central location in relation to the neighboring towns of Kerrville, Comfort, Bandera, and Fredericksburg. Now, thanks to Shirley Wright, the unincorporated town is becoming a nexus of lifelong learning with a new program of classes that the locals are embracing with enthusiasm.
When it comes to enthusiasm, Wright has an abundance. “I am having a ball,” she said of setting up and running her program. “My wheels are always turning, trying to think of different things to offer.”
Just started last fall, Center Point put out an ambitious catalog of 30 classes. The 3750 residents of the district could pick from such offerings as computers, martial arts, Spanish, quilting, cooking, and photography, along with some more unexpected topics such as yoga, acting, cake decorating, and bread dough basket weaving. All are held in the buildings of Center Point ISD, a Class 1-A school. Opening existing school facilities to the public has been the cornerstone of the community education concept ever since its introduction in the 1930s.
One innovative project is the new fitness center. Housed in the Center Point schools, the center is open to residents of the district and sports 10 new workout machines. It is available each school day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wright - who also wears the hats of librarian and cheerleading coach - enjoys the support of her board and Superintendent Cody Newcomb, as well as the support of the community. Most of her first classes “made” and she is eager to expand the program.
“Even if some of our classes don’t make, at least we are taking steps and offering you the chance to come learn something new,” she said. “I am very excited.”
If you would like to learn more about the Center Point ISD community education program, contact them online at www.cpisd.net or call 830-634-6124.
Lifelong learning has something for everybody, and it should be everywhere. There is lots to learn around every corner.
P.S. Any school district interested in adding a community education program of its own can find out more at www.tcea.com.
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For information on Club Ed or to sign up, click www.clubed.net, or call 830-895-4386.
1 comment:
Thank you for “plugging” our community education program in the Community Journal, it was a great article! Shirley Wright
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