By Arden White | Staff Intern
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church will be having an education expo Saturday, Nov. 14, to help teach parents and students about what students need to graduate from high school.
“I think that parents really need to come and be involved in such an important aspect of their child’s life,” Keith Jackson, local social studies teacher and minister at Bethel, said. “I always see a lack of involvement from the parents, especially during conferences, and I think this program could help increase the participation.”
The expo will have experts from various fields to educate participants. There will be lessons on course selection to make sure the students are taking the right classes for graduation.
“We will have everything from social workers, contacts for food and clothing services, reading and math coaches and a police officer to speak on security,” Jackson said. “We also hope to have an AVID speaker from Plant City High School to touch on the importance of college.”
The idea to do this came from the want to fill a need of information in the community.
“It’s important to let community members know what’s available to them and their families,” Jackson said. “We hope people will come join us this year and is something that we want to build on in the future. In fact, we will be going to other local churches to advertise for the event.”
Jackson is looking forward to seeing how the expo will improve the community.
“I didn’t have anything like this growing up, and I wish I would have,” Jackson said. “I was a untraditional student, however, this will help any type of student and their parent.”
Those with questions about the expo can contact the church at (813) 754-1428.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Education Expo
WHEN: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14
WHERE: Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 2506 E. Trapnell Road
CONTACT: (813) 754-1428
Graduation
requirements
There are four options students can choose to reach their graduation requirements:
• Twenty-four credit program
• Eighteen-credit, Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning
• An International Baccalaureate curriculum
• An Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum
SOURCE: Florida Department of Education