Barstow Unified School District
Barstow Adult School Sets Graduation Record
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barstow.AEBG@gmail.com
May 19, 2023
Barstow Unified School District is proud to announce a record 80 Barstow Adult School (BAS) students have fulfilled the requirements to receive their high school diploma or GED. The graduates will be honored and recognized in a graduation ceremony Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Barstow Fine Arts Academy, 500 E Avenue G, beginning at 10 a.m.
Of the 80 students to graduate or receive diplomas, 42 have transitioned to Barstow Community College, according to Adult Education Coordinator Michelle Colleoc.
Relationship building was one of the keys to success for this year's graduating class.
"We found the more we personally communicated to them through phone calls and in person, the more receptive they were to completing their work," teacher Amy Bawden said. "Overall, this year's graduating class was determined to earn their diploma."
Student working collaboratively also played a major role in the success of the class.
"They have been so encouraging to one another, so willing to help each other," teacher Emily Escajeda said. "From carpooling to creating study groups to just offering words of support, this class has set a precedent for having a family environment within an academic setting."
Colleoc says keeping the momentum going at BAS will require "building relationships with students and offering various modes of instruction: Hybrid, Online and in person."
Director of Barstow Area Consortium for Adult Education, Elena Rivera, praised the staff of BAS for coming together to address student challenges and set them up for future success. "The students have a more personalized connection with their teachers and additional services to help them stay motivated and on track," Rivera said. "We also have seen an uptick in enrollment since the pandemic. Students are driven at the prospect of improving their employability."
