Driver's ed, SAT course on horizon for SKIES

By Amy Guckeen Tolson (Redstone)March 14, 2012

Driver's ed, SAT course on horizon for SKIES
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

When life's major milestones await, look no further than Child Youth and School Service's SKIES Unlimited program to help your teenager prepare.

SKIES (Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills) Unlimited is taking the program's instructional approach to the next level by teaching teenagers not just a new instrument or sport, but rather, the tools needed to help them succeed in life beyond adolescence. Driver's education, as well as an SAT preparation course are slated to join the SKIES class offerings this spring.

"These 15 and 16 year olds are now young adults," Karvellis Lee, SKIES director, said. "They now see the light at the end of the rainbow. They need a car to get a part-time job. Once they get that part-time job, they realize they don't want to get stuck at seven or eight dollars an hour, so they need to go to college."

Driver's education classes are estimated to begin around April 9, according to Lee, who was prompted to add the course to the SKIES program after Sparkman High discontinued their driver's ed program. Tentative cost is $350; the class is open to anyone with access to the Arsenal, ages 15 to 19. Students must have their learner's permit prior to getting behind the wheel of the driver's education vehicle.

The course will be held in two portions, an initial classroom phase which will cover the rules of the road and safety through videos and presentations, and then actual time behind the wheel, including parking, backing up and navigating area highways. The initial phase will be held Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at the Youth Center, building 3148. Families will schedule behind the wheel time as their schedule allows. Students will be matched with three other students who will take turns behind the wheel.

"Not only do they drive, but they observe the other person driving so that they can pick up on the mistakes," Lee said. "It's not just one hour and you get off, you still have to be in that car watching other people so you can learn from them, too."

Upon graduation from the course, students will receive a certificate of completion that they can take to their insurance company to get a reduction in rate.

Lee is searching for an AP English and math teacher to conduct the SAT preparation course that is also slated to be held Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Tentative cost of the course, which would run for four weeks, is $120. At the end of the four weeks, students would take the SAT the following Saturday to ensure all they've learned is still fresh in their minds.

Unlike many similar programs offered in the area, Lee aims to make the SKIES SAT prep course unique, by only offering it to 10 students at a time.

"The typical kid will improve their score by 20 to 30 points," Lee said. "It's not going to be magical -- but we can get you 25 to 30 points that might get you to the college you want to be accepted to."

For more information, call Lee at 876-6844.