from the director’s hair talking with samuel byndom the...
TRANSCRIPT
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Index From the Director’s Chair pg 1 ESL Students Write Book Reports pg 11-12 Health and Life pg 1 Cultural Exchange pg 13 Healthcare Resources pg 2-3 From Pip to Fledge pg 14-15 Hot Pop pg 4-5 A Note of Appreciation pg 15 Life changer of the Year pg 5 Class Act Staff pg 15 Staff Spotlight, Marcellos Gray pg 6 Staff Spotlight, Arlene Anderson pg 7 Staff Spotlight, Edwin Vega pg.8 Knowing Your Rights pg 9-10
From the Director’s Chair Talking with Samuel Byndom
__________________________________
Dr. Byndom Director of Urbana Adult Education
By Jonathan Kenoly and
Bruce Stennis
We asked Dr. Byndom how it is that the
staff of Urbana Adult Education pushes
forward with innovative ideas to help
students achieve success as they work
toward graduation and beyond. He
reported that we are creative, goal-
oriented, and logical when we plan; we
are not afraid to think outside the box.
A case in point is our recent switch to a
credit-based system for student
transcripts. Our growing list of elective
class offerings to enrich student
learning is another example.
Additionally, we are continually striving
to create new business partnerships for
student internships. We have been
contacting and negotiating with local
businesses including:
The Urbana Park District,
Salt and Light,
The Windsor Road Church of Christ,
Dr. Preston Williams Elementary
School,
The Mahomet Forest Preserve and
others.
These internships will provide great
learning opportunities for students.
Urbana Adult Education
Vol. 9 January-February, 2017
The Class Act
HEALTH AND LIFE
Why It Is Important to Keep Up with Your Health…
By Gwenda Harris
Whether you are young or old, it is so important for us to
get regular check-ups, blood work, and other medical
treatments done - mammograms, cancer testing, yearly exams,
etc. Just think of how many people die each year, simply
because they didn’t go to the doctor and didn’t get tested for
years and years. Please get yourself and your kids tested; get
check-ups, and take care of yourselves.
The reason I say this is because my son, who is 30 years
of age, didn’t think he needed to go see a doctor. One day, he
got sick and finally went to the doctor. He found out that he
didn’t have a cold – it was Hepatitis-C. He had been infected for
years and didn’t know it. His kidneys began to stop working and
he had to be put on dialysis. He was told that he could die. It
was so hard seeing my child laying there when all it would have
taken to prevent this was to see the doctor once or twice a year.
It is also a good idea to get a second opinion from a
different doctor, or even a third opinion, so you can know for
sure if you have an illness, and find out what the best treatment
is for you. And please ask your doctor questions about your
health! How are you going to learn if you don’t research the
things that they say are going on with your body? We all need
more knowledge about healthcare. Take care, get that check-up,
and may God be with us all.
*Healthcare resources follow on page 2.
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Healthcare Resources By Olivia Whitman
The Champaign-Urbana community is fortunate to have several affordable options for good quality
healthcare. In addition to the two larger clinics, Carle Clinic and Christie Clinic, there are numerous
independent physician practices and several no-cost or low-cost clinics to choose from.
Frances Nelson Health Center (217) 356-1558
819 Bloomington Road
Champaign, IL 61820
Frances Nelson Health Center provides convenient care, a walk-in clinic, school and work physicals, eye clinic,
lab services, prenatal care, health education, and mental health counseling. They provide discounts
determined by income and have interpreters in Spanish, Mandarin and French. The types of insurance the
Health Center accepts are: Medicare, All Kids, Medicaid, Blue Shield, Health Alliance Connect, other private
insurance, Molina, and self-pay patients are also accepted. Because they recognize that a serious illness is
sometimes a surprise, emergency appointments can be made quickly and there is a walk-in clinic for
convenient care. Frances Nelson operates Monday through Friday.
Smile Healthy Dental Center, an extension of the Frances Nelson Clinic, provides extractions and fillings,
cleanings, restorations, full exams, and dental health education. The Dental Center was created in 2002. The
Dental Center accepts private insurance, Medicaid and self-pay patients.
Frances Nelson Health Center was created in the 1960’s in order to help lower the number of infant deaths
among African-Americans. It is now used to provide medical services to the underserved in Champaign-
Urbana primary health care. They accept new donations of toothbrushes, toothpaste, disinfecting wipes and
re-sealable bags. They do not take medication donations. There are opportunities for volunteering and
internships, so call them if you’d like to help.
Avicenna Community Health Center (217) 403 5498
819 Bloomington Road
Champaign, IL 61820
Avicenna Community Health Center is a free clinic for people who are uninsured or underinsured in our
community. The clinic is run by a team of medical professionals, students and volunteers. Avicenna’s mission
statement is:
To provide healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured
To engage in preventive healthcare through community health screenings
To promote health awareness through education and information dissemination.
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The Avicenna Center was founded by the local Muslim Community, an outgrowth of the Central Illinois
Mosque and Islamic Center. Although the clinic emanates from a faith based organization, Avicenna serves
those in need of medical services regardless of race, color, national origin, religion or lifestyle. This clinic does
not offer emergency services, dental or mental health care; and is not a resource for cancer treatments, HIV or
STD testing, children's health services, or immunizations. But, Avicenna specializes in care for:
Physical exams
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Thyroid issues
Coughs and colds
Skin issues
Diet and exercise counseling (lifestyle management)
Social Work services
Prescription assistance services
and more.
If Avicenna cannot provide you with what you need, then Avicenna will help you figure out where you can go
for help.
Promise Healthcare at Champaign County Christian Health Center (217) 402-5683
1400 W. Park St.
Urbana, IL 61801
http://www.promisehealth.org/
Champaign County Christian Health Center is a not-for-profit health center which was founded in 2003. Like
Avicenna, this clinic is an outgrowth of a faith community. Their mission is to show and share the love of Jesus
Christ to the residents of Champaign County by providing holistic, free, and quality health care services.
Promise Healthcare at the CRC can be found behind Presence Covenant Medical Center near their emergency
department. The clinic welcomes new patients and walk-ins. The hours of operation for this clinic are:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursdays 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Fridays 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
“Whether you are young or old, it is so important for us to get
regular check-ups, blood work, and other medical treatments
done - mammograms, cancer testing, yearly exams, etc. Just
think of how many people die each year, simply because they
didn’t go to the doctor and didn’t get tested for years and years.
Please get yourself and your kids tested; get check-ups, and take
care of yourselves.” --- Gwenda Harris
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Hot Pop
By Donnika Caldwell
It’s getting cold outside but the nation’s heart is burning hotter with each day; from people protesting
against Trump’s “Victory” with Safety Pins to Rob Kardashian’s new found happiness with his new
daughter. So, snuggle up with a warm cup of whatever people drink in the winter and a copy of this
issue’s “HOT POP” article in our very own Class Act.
Safety DePINs on Us
Recently, violent and disturbing acts have been occurring due to President Donald J. Trump’s election.
While I may be the last to say Trump is innocent, these acts of hate crimes were not done in his name or
by his hand. It has been strongly stated, however, that Trump’s “outward messages” may have
influenced these crimes. It seems to a majority of the nation that Trump’s campaign allowed (and
revealed) the bigots and the ignorant among us and allowed them to come out into the open. On the one
hand, Trump did not personally direct them, while on the other hand, he has not yet done much to
discourage these acts and calm the public. In fact, Donald John Trump was quoted at a Las Vegas Rally
saying, “I’d like to punch [a peaceful protester] in the face.” CNN politics had this to say about it: “Trump
claimed the protester was "nasty as hell" and accused the man of trying to punch the security officers,
forcing him (the protester) out of the rally, though the man did not appear to be fighting off those
officers.” (CNN.com/Politics) In order to spread a passive and concerned message (peacefully, mind you)
people all over the world and country have begun wearing a safety pin. The safety pin represents a way
to hold something together while a solution is being found. It wishes for the safety of everyone, man or
woman, gay or straight, black or white. So, next time you find a safety pin, rock it on your shirt! Pin on
our future of safety! Check out President Trump’s ridiculous twitter @realdonaldtrump.
Once upon a Kardashian
Yes, the beautiful baby girl is here and she is a dream - literally. Dream Renee Kardashian was born to
Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian on November 10th, 2016. (She’s a Scorpio!) The world thought this
would be the one Kardashian child to be low-key. NOPE! Dream was not only born as her mother was
doing a “Mannequin Challenge”, but she already has instagram, snapchat, and twitter accounts. You can
see Dream’s first photo on her Instagram and many others (@dream). They paid for her to have that
handle...really? Did I mention she was born with eyebrows on fleek and real, natural lips? (No shade
Kylie, just Tea.) The name is in typical Kardashian fashion, but it actually has a meaning! (Right, Kim?)
Chyna and Rob say that Dream was their “dream come true”, a dream they knew they’d share. Whether
this will turn out sanely or not is questionable or whether it becomes a miracle (or not), we can all agree
that Rob and Chyna will change the Kardashian baby game.
Continued on page 4
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Life Changers of the Year at UAEC
UAEC’s very own Arlene Anderson and Peggy Buck were nominated for Life Changer of the Year Awards for
the school year 2016-2017. National Life Group Life Changer of the Year is a program funded by the National
Life Group Foundation to “recognize school employees who exemplify excellence, positive influence and
leadership.” If you’d like to view the written nominations for Ms. Anderson or Ms. Buck, visit
www.LifeChangeroftheyear.com. You can also view other nominees in our area, leave a comment on our
nominees’ profiles, or make a new nomination. Thank you to Edwin Vega, Marcellos Gray, and Dr. Amanda
Harris for taking the time and energy to make these nominations!
Hot Pop continued from page 3…
Hamming It Up
So, this article may be a bit biased, but stay with me! Hamilton, the American musical, can teach you a
thing or two about, well, everything. “’Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’. We fought for these
ideals; we shouldn’t settle for less. These are wise words; enterprising men quote ‘em. Don’t act
surprised, you guys, cuz I wrote ‘em.” (Jefferson, previously played by Daveed Diggs in Hamilton) It’s a
beautiful blend of modern music and traditional ideals, all while telling the story of our Founding Father,
Alexander Hamilton, and his life journey. The musical was written by Lin Manuel Miranda, affectionately
known by us fan members as LMM. He also wrote the music for Moana! Talk about accomplished! If you
haven’t gotten to hear any of Hamilton, then hop on YouTube and check out a few songs. I’ll put out there
my top three recommendations: “The Story of Tonight” (original and reprise) which are really touching:
“Say No to This”, and RnB jam that anyone but Hamilton can get with, “Washington on your Side”, a nice
little ditty to get stuck in your head! Just listen - you’ll thank me later!
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Staff Spotlight: Getting to Know…
Marcellos Gray – A Rockin’ Runner
Interview by Crystal Collins and Gwenda Harris
Crossing the finish line in Brooklyn, NY
Introduction: Mr. Marcellos Gray is the Development and Finance Coordinator here at UAE. When he’s not working on bookkeeping, payroll, and establishing important collaboration opportunities for UAEC in the community, you might find him running (literally) around C-U – or any city! Q: What is something you enjoy doing outside of work? A: I like to run. I run half-marathons, or 13.1-mile races (a full marathon is 26.2 miles). Running a half-marathon is challenging. You typically have to prepare by training for 2-3 months leading up to the race. This past October, I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Brooklyn, New York. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series sponsors runs throughout the country. What’s neat about it is that they always have a band playing at the race, and there is always a big concert and celebration afterwards. I like their organization and how they combine music and entertainment with running. A tracker is placed on your shoe while you run to measure your time and speed during the race. My goal for this particular half marathon was to run it in 2 hours and 10 minutes and I ended up finishing in 2 hours and 12 minutes. After the race, runners can view their official time and compare their results on runrocknroll.com
Q: How do you feel after accomplishing a half marathon?
A: At 47, it feels good to still get out there and run for leisure, recreation, and fitness. I’m committed to
staying healthy – that’s the key. I feel like a healthier person afterwards.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is interested in running a half marathon?
A: First, talk to your physician to make sure that it’s a good goal for you to have. Then, google different race
clubs in your area. Race clubs are training groups for beginning runners that need support. You could also
volunteer at a half marathon to get an idea of how it works – that’s how I was introduced. Anyone can
volunteer. After you research different races online and register for the race of your choice, make a
commitment to it and just have fun with it! Racing is not about time or performance, but about fun and
completion.
Way to go, Mr. Gray!
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Staff Spotlight: Getting to Know… Arlene Anderson – A Life Changer
Interview by Kaylee-Ann Hopkins
Arlene Anderson is the Director of Student Services at the Urbana Adult Education Center (UAE). Arlene
has been working at UAE for about 23 years now. She absolutely enjoys her job and working with all the
students to help them achieve their goals, especially those students who are having a hard time. Arlene is
from Champaign, Illinois. She attended both Centennial and Central High Schools. After high school, she went
on to college at Parkland where she received her Associate's Degree. She then went on to Eastern Illinois
University where she received her Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees. Her Master's Degree, which she values
most, is in Education (Guidance and Counseling).
Some of Arlene’s hobbies include: reading, counseling, watching Broadway plays and watching movies - her
favorite movie is Godfather Pt. 1. She really enjoys watching movies about Black History, as well. In her free
time, she likes to spend time with her husband whom she has been with for over 36 years. She also likes going
to church and taking Sunday afternoon naps, but the majority of her time is spent at work. Here are a few
other interesting things about Arlene: she has been to 34 U.S. states, plus the countries of Mexico and Canada;
she is motivated by the sunshine and other people’s happiness; she enjoys reading Mary Higgins Clark novels;
and her greatest fear is mice.
As far as Mrs. Anderson’s family goes, her parents were together for 67 years before her father died. They
had 9 children and she was the middle child; there are six children remaining. She has three children of her
own – two daughters and one son. Arlene became a parent at a very young age (16). Being a teen parent was
very rough on her and was also the reason for her transition from Centennial to Central High School. She now
has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She considers her family to be very supportive and close.
They often have get-togethers where they have huge family dinners, celebrate birthdays, and (in the summer)
have themed cook outs.
When speaking to staff member, Ms. Tarawallie, she described Arlene as “intelligent, nice, caring, and
honest”. Another staff member described Mrs. Anderson as “impactful”. After speaking with her yesterday, I
would like to add that she is very giving as well, especially towards her students. She puts her time into
helping and supporting her students which is something not everyone does. She also provides food for her
students since the Urbana Adult Education Center does not always have the funds for those items.
Arlene has so far had a very good and blessed life, even through the hard times. She said she uses all of the
experiences in her life and channels them into her counseling. Mrs. Anderson even received a ‘Life Changer of
the Year’ award while working her dream job (counseling). As far as Urbana Adult Education goes, Arlene says,
“It’s a great program that provides people of all ages with an opportunity to reach their goals, and has
wonderful staff members to help students achieve them”.
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Staff Spotlight: Getting to Know…
Edwin Vega: Transition Coach Interview by Kaylee-Ann Hopkins
Edwin Vega is a Transition Coach at the Urbana Adult Education Center. Mr. Vega went to school at the University of Oregon and graduated in 2004. He also attended the University of Illinois. He received his master’s degree in history and is now working with students of all ages to help finish what they started, their high school diplomas. He so very much likes his job as a transition coach and enjoys working with the staff and students.
Edwin is originally from Los Angeles, California - he grew up there with his mother, father, and younger brother. He describes his family as being very loving, supportive, hardworking, and he loves them wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, Edwin doesn't get to see his family very often since he now lives in Illinois and they remain in California. Vega said there was never a dull moment when growing up in Los Angeles. He was very active both at school and in his community. He did lots of volunteering and participated in wrestling, cross country, and track.
In Edwin’s free time away from work, he enjoys listening to music, reading, writing poetry, yoga, and taking walks. He enjoys taking a good nap after work and laying back and watching television - the kinds of things we all enjoy. Something Edwin also enjoys is creating silence by going into public spaces and consciously remaining silent and being anonymous, not engaging others. This is something I have never personally tried before, but I might. Creating silence might just be the remedy to our fast-paced, digital, stressed-out lives. Edwin’s dream job is to be a doctor and cure the sick. He has a couple of other things he hopes to achieve in his life; he wishes to someday be a sushi artisan and to visit Montreal, Canada. Don’t you wonder why Montreal? Start up a conversation and ask him!
For people considering the decision of coming to the Urbana Adult Education Center, I’m happy to report that Edwin Vega welcomes you and is glad to help! And for anyone having a hard time, Edwin’s piece of advice is to, “Take a deep breath; go get some of your favorite ice cream; take another deep breath; and remember tomorrow is a new day”. If you want to have a good conversation on just about any topic, Edwin Vega is your man; he has eclectic tastes and is well-read on many topics. Get to know Edwin Vega!
“Take a deep breath; go get some of your
favorite ice cream; take another deep
breath; and remember tomorrow is a
new day.”
Try creating silence.
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Knowing Your Rights in a Changing Political Climate
A Presentation by Dr. Amanda N. Harris
In November of 2016, Dr. Amanda Harris, Urbana Adult Education’s English Language Acquisition Coordinator, gave a presentation to students and staff about learning to protect our human and constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status.
Dr. Harris began her presentation by having students use iPads to play an interactive game on the website “Kahoot.” Students were able to test their knowledge about constitutional rights by answering true/ false questions and then discussing the answers aloud.
Basic Civil Rights and Guidelines
The National Immigration Law Center advises that, “No matter who is president, everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution. Undocumented Immigrants have these rights too. It is important that we all assert and protect our basic rights.”
Local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Trends
Raids, or redadas, are more frequent at the beginning of the year. ICE usually comes in the morning when people are leaving for work. ICE often intercepts people at the courthouse too. Under the Secure Communities and the PEP (Priority Enforcement Program) ICE has prioritized capturing
people with DUIs and other minor offenses. The majority of people caught up in the raids are not listed as priorities; they are uninformed and
unprotected relations of people targeted as priorities. Detainees are usually sent to jails in IL, and later to other jails that rent out beds to ICE in other states,
pending deportation. Urbana Law Enforcement has not cooperated directly with ICE under recent programs, though this may
change.
What UAEC Students Should Know
You have a right to remain silent.
Do not open your door. Once you open the door, defending your rights becomes more difficult.
Do not answer questions about yourself or others. If they say they have a warrant, do not open the door. Have them slide it under the door for you to review.
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Contingency Plans
You may be a member of a population that may be profiled and targeted, and you should know your rights and make a household plan.
You should have a central location for all important documents, lawyer contact information, and ATM pin numbers for family members in case of detention.
You should have phone numbers of family members and child care providers memorized. You should have an attorney or community resource person‘s phone number on hand in case you
are detained. If you are on medication or have a diagnosed medical condition, have all prescription information
on your person in order to gather and/or obtain medication if detained. Bust Card from the NILC ACLU Bust Card
Websites for helpful information:
ACLU on immigration rights and due process: https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/ice-and-border-patrol-abuses
Your rights on a phone app (eng and span): http://unitedwedream.org/thank-deportation-defense-card-handy-phone/
National Immigration Law Center (with list of online resources):
https://www.nilc.org/get-involved/community-education-resources/know-your-rights/ Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum:
http://immigration-forum.blogspot.com/
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
https://www.weareoneamerica.org/human-rights-immigrant-rights-fact-sheet
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Intermediate ESL Students Write Book Reports By Gwenda Harris & Kylie Mercer
The evening Intermediate ESL students, taught by BuuLinh Quach, each read a book of their choice throughout
the fall semester. As a final project, they were asked to write a book report. The two students pictured below
won first prize for their reports, and were each awarded a gift card for their hard work!
Christiam Muñoz is from Bogotá,
Colombia. He came to the U.S. to do an
internship at the University of Illinois. Christiam
obtained his bachelor’s degree in animal science
in Colombia. He continues to study animal
science, and he has a two-year contract with
UIUC to work in the animal science lab and
experiment with different types of animal food.
For his book report, Christiam chose to read the
book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. While he
says that the book was a bit hard to read,
because the story was moving a bit slowly at first,
he said that he used his imagination to
understand it better. Overall he liked the book
better than the movie! Christiam says that if you
are learning English, and you want to read a
book, try reading a book for teenagers, since
those are a bit simpler. This will help you develop
English reading skills.
Mical Tshala is from the D.R. Congo. She won
the lottery to come to the U.S. as an immigrant.
She is married and has five children, and she
was a nurse in the D.R. Congo. She is hoping to
learn more English so that she can further her
education and get a nursing degree in the
United States. For her book report, Mical chose
to read the book Sunny Sweet Is Not So Sorry by
Jennifer Ann Mann. She enjoyed the book and is
looking forward to reading more books in
English in the future!
Where in the World?
Colombia
Democratic Republic of Congo
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Enjoy Mical’s book report below!
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The Cultural Exchange – Appreciate the Differences – Learn a Phrase to Share
By Brendan Wells
People from all around the world wind up in Urbana, Illinois,
some who don‘t even speak a certain language such as English;
but, we should all be able to communicate and agree on one
thing: Life Is Good. Each newsletter we will present a common
English phrase in several different languages. The newsletter
staff would like to encourage all of our readers to try out a new
phrase, start a conversation with another student, welcome
the visitors and newcomers to our community. This month’s
phrase is: Happy New Year!
Language Phrase Pronunciation
English Happy New Year!
German Frohes neues Jahr! French Bonne année!
Spanish ¡Feliz año nuevo! Polish Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku!
Irish Bhliain nua sásta!
Croatian Sretna Nova godina! Chinese 新年快乐! Xīnnián kuàilè
Czech Šťastný nový rok! Afrikaans Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar!
Swahili Heri ya mwaka mpya! Russian С новым годом!
Arabic سنة جديدة سعيدة sunnat jadidat saeida
Greek Ευτυχισμένο το νέο έτος! Korean 새해 복 많이 받으세요! saehae bog manh-i bad-euseyo
Turkish Mutlu Yıllar!
Vietnamese Chúc mừng năm mới! Japanese 明けましておめでとうござ
います!
Akemashiteomedetōgozaimasu
Italian Felice anno nuovo!
Theknowledgetree.com
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From Pip to Fledge – The World’s Most Popular Bald Eagle Family
If you’ve been at UAE recently, you may have noticed the computer in the testing area that displays a live
webcam feed of a bald eagles’ nest. As you watch the happenings of the nest, you are not alone – millions
of people are also viewing the live feed! Take a break from the ordinary and behold the wonders of nature.
The Eagle Cam can be found on http://www.dickpritchettrealestate.com/eagle-feed.html (or just google
“Southwest Florida Eagle Cam”). The nest is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and the “Cam” was set up by Dick Pritchett
Real Estate in October of 2012, making 2016-2017 the fifth season that the nest has been filmed live. If you watch the
feed, you will see two adult bald eagles, named “Harriet” and “M15”, and their baby eaglet, which has yet to be named.
Back in 2012, Harriet (the mother of the nest) and her original mate, “Ozzie” raised their first 2 eaglets in the
nest from pip (pip = the first crack in the egg) until fledge (To fledge = to leave the nest. A baby bird “fledges” when its
feathers and wing muscles are developed enough to be able to fly). Bald eagles mate for life, but sadly, in September
2015, after the third season that Ozzie and Harriet were featured on the Cam, Ozzie was injured and passed away. In the
years that Harriet and Ozzie were filmed, they hatched and raised 5 different eaglets together.
Thankfully, after Ozzie’s passing, Harriet was able to court a new mate, “M15” (short for Male 2015). This
season, Harriet and M15 laid 2 eggs. One eaglet hatched at the end of December 2016, but sadly, the other egg never
hatched. We have watched the newest eaglet grow from a little gray ball of fuzz into a much larger juvenile with patchy
brown and white feathers. If you look closely at the nest, you might still be able to see the little egg that never hatched.
Comparing it to the eaglet’s current size can give you an idea of how much it has grown over the past month!
Harriet and M15 are excellent hunters. Using their huge and powerful talons, they constantly catch fish and
other prey, which they bring back to the nest to feed to their baby. Sometimes, it’s hard to identify the unfortunate little
creature they have captured – we (UAE staff) like to play “What’s In the Nest,” where we try to guess what the prey
might be. Although it’s usually fish, we’ve also seen possums, squirrels, and even a piglet. Yikes! If you haven’t yet taken
a look at these incredible eagles, stop by the computer in the testing area. You never know what you might see!
-Story continued on page 15-
Harriet and M15 keeping watch
“Feed me, Mom!” The tiny eaglet (only a
few days old) looks ready for a snack.
The eaglet is now about half the
size of its parents.
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Works Cited
"Federal Laws to Protect Bald Eagles." Federal Laws to Protect Bald Eagles. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 20 Apr. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2017. <https://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/protect/laws.html>.
Mosco, Rosemary. "14 Bold Facts About Bald Eagles." Mental Floss. N.p., 3 May 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.
<http://mentalfloss.com/article/79468/14-bold-facts-about-bald-eagles>.
Class Act Staff and Contributors
Student Class Act Staff Trevon Ayers
Balqees
Jo’Ia Brown
Crystal Collins
Alexander Colvin
Vincent Edwards
Elizabeth Ferguson
James Franklin
KY’yon Gray
Coderius Griffin
Constance Griffin
Gwenda Harris
Kaylee-Ann Hopkins
LaRon Howard
Fernando Magdaleno
Timothy Maiden
Kylie Mercer
Isaias Perales
Kentrell Pickett
Hayven Rosenberger
Bruce Stennis
Kristen Sweeney
Brendan Wells
Olivia Whitman
Staff Advisors and Contributors: Peggy Buck
Amanda Harris
Addie Placido
BuuLihn Quach
A Note of Appreciation
Thank you to those agencies that are responsible for providing the funding to make our programs possible. This
year they include the Illinois Community College Board division of Adult Education and Family Literacy, Carle
Foundation Hospital, The Champaign County Regional Planning Commission's Workforce Investment Act,
Illinois Humanities Council-Odyssey Project, Illinois State Board of Education's Truants' Alternative and
Optional Education Program, Orange Crush Foundation, United Way of Champaign County, 21st Century Grant-
US Department of Education, Altrusa International, Champaign West Rotary Club, Individual Donors and the
Urbana School District. A big thank you to all of our sponsors!
Because of you all, we are able to continue to serve our adult education students during this difficult financial
time in our state.
FAST FACTS
The bald eagle is the national bird and national animal of the United States.
Young bald eagles have mostly brown heads. Their head plumage does not turn completely white until adulthood.
Bald eagles build the largest nests of any North American bird. On average, nests are 2-4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide, but the largest on record was 20 feet deep and 9.5 feet wide!
Bald eagles’ wingspans can extend up to 7.5 feet.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act, passed in 1940, makes it a crime to take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, or transport any of a bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, unless you have a permit. “Felony convictions carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or two years of imprisonment…Rewards are provided for information leading to arrest and conviction for violation of the Act.” (“Federal Laws that Protect Bald Eagles”, 2016). If you are lucky enough to spot an eagle in the wild, maintain your distance and enjoy from afar.