Windham/Raymond Adult Ed celebrate new digs with an open house

By Lorraine Glowczak

Over 50 community members visited the new building that houses the Windham/Raymond Adult Education program at an open house event on Wednesday, May 22. The celebration included a variety of foods and desserts as well as prizes donated by local businesses.

Adult Ed Director, Tom Nash stated that students feel safe in the new building and are grateful that

Director, Tom Nash with Rep. Mark Bryant

there is a separate structure dedicated to adult students. “The new building provides a clean, fresh, modern space that is a warm, welcoming learning environment,” Nash explained. “There is a lot of natural light, large classrooms, and new technology – a computer lab, laptops, SMART Boards, a TANDBERG Videoconferencing system and even a SMART TV.”

The students and staff officially moved into the new space, that sits behind the Windham High School, on January 18. Nash explained that they had to delay the start of classes by a week to unpack and organize the offices.

Nash also said that the new space is available for community groups to use, usually at no cost unless there is an unusual request that would require set-up and cleaning before Monday morning classes. “We currently have Lighthouse Knitters Guild of Maine using our space one Saturday per month,” he said. “The Windham White Rock Extension Homemakers will be using the space in the fall.”

The adult education program strives to provide lifelong learning opportunities, academic classes and support along with quality workforce training for adults in the greater Sebago Lakes Region. “Our new space sends a positive message to our students that their educational journey is supported by the district; so much that they were given their own building in which they could pursue their dreams,” explained Nash. “They feel respected and valued by staff and each other in this vibrant learning community.”

A big thank you goes to the following business who provided door  prizes for the open house celebration: Attorney Dawn Dyer, Cakes by Debbie, Colonial Mast Campground, Freedom Massage and Wellness, Restoring through Nature, Siochanta Farm, LLC., Spring Meadows Golf Club, Windham Raymond Adult Education and Windham White Rock Extension Homemakers.