The Melting Pot

September was an exciting month as we welcomed our students back to school! We are proud to have welcomed more than 900 new and returning students to our ESOL and HSE programs. Classes are now underway at Abisi Adult Education Center and our satellite locations, including LASA, CMAA, CTI, Lowell High School, as well as our remote classes.

This year, we are excited to welcome students representing 57 countries and 38 languages. Our diverse student community is one of the things that makes Abisi such a special place to learn and grow!

As we start the school year strong, we want to support you in staying on track and reaching your educational goals. Here are a few steps for success:

📚 Come to class

Regular attendance is an important part of your success. If you cannot attend because of illness or a family emergency, please communicate with your teacher.

⏰ Be on time

Arriving on time helps you get the most out of every class.

🤝 Use the resources around you

Sometimes life circumstances can make it difficult to attend class or focus on your education. We are here to help connect you with resources and support. If something happening at home, work, transportation, or another challenge is affecting your ability to attend, reach out to Zarais, our Student Support Services Coordinator.

We are excited to have you with us and look forward to celebrating your success throughout the school year!

HSE Classes

🎉 It’s time to celebrate! 🎉

This school year, Abisi Adult Education Center is celebrating 50 years of helping adults learn, grow, and reach their goals. 🥳📚 And we want our students to be part of this special celebration! ❤️

🏫 Abisi started in 1977 as a small adult education program. Over the years, it has grown into a diverse and welcoming community, with students from many countries and many different backgrounds. 🌎🌍🌏 Today, students come to Abisi to learn English, prepare for the HSE, build new skills, and create new opportunities for themselves and their families. 📖✨

🎈 Now, as we celebrate 50 years, we want to look back at our history — but we also want to look ahead. 🔭

Throughout this school year, Abisi will have special activities and events to celebrate our 50th anniversary. 🎊 The celebration will continue throughout the year and will culminate with our graduation ceremony in June. 🎓

💡 And here is where YOU come in!

What would YOU like to see? 🤔💭

We want to hear your ideas! 🗣️ What would make our 50th anniversary celebration special for you?

Maybe you have an idea for a special guest or someone from the community you would like to hear speak. 🎤 Maybe you would like to see an educational activity, a cultural event, a special class, a student celebration, or something completely different. 🎨🌎🎉

✨ All ideas are welcome! ✨

📬 Suggestion boxes will be placed on all three floors of the school. Write down your idea and drop it in the box. You can also suggest people you would like us to invite, activities you would like to participate in, or ways to celebrate the many cultures and languages that make Abisi special. 🌍❤️

As founder Fred Abisi told us, the school’s success has always been connected to its people. “In these past 50 years, together, we have been incredibly fortunate to witness the success of countless students as they learned English, earned their high school credentials and reached their milestones in their lives.” 💬

For 50 years, Abisi has been a place where people come to learn, improve their lives, and build their futures. 📚🌟 Now it is time to celebrate this incredible journey — together. 🤝

🎉 Happy 50th, Abisi! And let’s make this a celebration to remember! 🎓❤️

We want to extend a huge thank you to our satellite location partners who give Abisi Adult Education Center the opportunity to bring our programs into the community and offer ESOL classes at different levels and schedules.

Our partners at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA, photo on the left) and Love All Serve All (LASA) have been incredible supporters, helping us extend our programming beyond our main building and meet students where they are. By offering classes at different locations and times, we are better able to meet the diverse needs of our students and make education more accessible.

We also want to thank our other satellite partners at CTI Youth Services on Dutton Street, the Moody School, and the Pollard Memorial Library for welcoming our students and programs into their spaces.

Your partnership, support, and commitment to our community make it possible for us to reach more adults who are looking to learn, grow, and achieve their goals. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do to help make our programs accessible to our students! 💙

On September 15, 2026, we were excited to welcome Superintendent Liam Skinner to the Abisi Adult Education Center! During his visit, he had the opportunity to tour our hallways, see our students in action, and get a glimpse of the learning and community that make Abisi so special.

As he visited several classrooms, Superintendent Skinner took a moment to connect with our students and learn more about their backgrounds—including asking what countries they call home. He was mindful of class time while showing genuine interest in getting to know our students and their experiences.

Students also had the opportunity to learn that Superintendent Skinner is an immigrant himself, creating a meaningful connection and a wonderful moment of shared experience. 🌎💙

We are grateful to Superintendent Skinner for taking the time to visit our program, meet our students, and see the incredible work happening at Abisi firsthand. Thank you for your continued support of Adult Education! We look forward to welcoming you back for another visit soon! 🎉

The Abisi Adult Education Center is offering free 10-week U.S. Citizenship classes for students who meet the following requirements:

• Are Green Card holders and eligible for naturalization
• Have intermediate English skills
• Are able to maintain good attendance

What You’ll Learn

• Civics: Review the 128 history and government questions
• English: Reading and writing sentence practice
• Interview: Review of N-400 questions and key vocabulary

Class Options

Tuesday Class
📅 Start Date: October 6, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
💻 Online via Zoom

Wednesday Class
📅 Start Date: October 7, 2026
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
💻 Online via Zoom

Please choose one class day only. Classes meet once a week for 10 weeks.

For more information or to register, please contact Gail Forman.

📧 gforman@lowell.k12.ma.us
📞 978-918-3519

Starting on October 1st, English conversation classes are back!

Do you want to practice and improve your English? Join the Conversation Class at Abisi!

Every Thursday, from 9:30 to 11:30am, teachers Carrie and Daisy lead fun classes about real-life topics. In class, with the topics Speaking & Listening, Pronunciation, and Group activities, you’ll build confidence, learn new words, and practice speaking English with others.

There are spots open! Talk to your teacher or contact teachers Carrie and Daisy.

Abisi Adult Education Center Annual Food Drive is here!

• Salt, Flour & Sugar

  Cereal & Oatmeal
• Gluten-free Items
• Ethnic Foods
• Personal Hygiene Products
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Body Wash
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Razors & Shaving Cream
• Sanitary Pads
• Body Moisturizers
• Face Cream
• Spices, Seasonings/Herns
• Pasta, Rice & Noodles
• Canned Vegetables & Soups
• Coffee, Tea & Hot Chocolate
• Beans, Guandules & Chickpeas
• Soy Sauce
• Canned Tuna
• Cereal & Oatmeal
• Gluten-free Items
• Ethnic Foods
• Personal Hygiene Products
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Body Wash
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Razors & Shaving Cream
• Sanitary Pads
• Body Moisturizers
• Face Cream

Drop off box will be located outside of room 3.

Earn Points, Reach Goals, Get Rewards!

Your hard work deserves to be celebrated! The Reward Center is back this school year, giving students a chance to earn points for good attendance, reaching personal goals, and reading books.

See How It Works!

We will have a special Reward Center demonstration in October:

• October 6 – Classes that meet Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
• October 8 – Classes that meet Thursday and Friday

Come learn how the program works and how you can earn and use your points!

How Can You Earn Points?

🎯 Reaching your goals

📚 Reading books

Important: Your goals must be goals you achieved after you started studying at Abisi School year 2026-27. Tell your teacher about your achievements so they can be added to your Reward Center Goal Tracker.

Save Your Points!

The first real Reward Center shopping days will be:

November 10 – Monday–Wednesday classes and HSE
November 12 – Thursday–Friday classes

On these days, students will be able to use the points they earned in September and October to choose prizes. You can also save your points for bigger prizes, but you need to spend your points before the end of the School Year 2026-27.

Have a goal you reached? Read a book? Coming to class regularly? Keep it up — your hard work can earn you points!

Questions? Ask Giovanna, our HSE/ESOL Student Liaison, in the office at the back of Room 3.

Are you ready to take your GED or HiSET exam? 📚✏️ Schedule your testing appointment today and take the next step toward reaching your educational goals! 🌟

📅 October Testing Schedule

Weekend Testing — Friday Evening & Saturday Morning

HiSET Paper-Based Testing (PBT) & GED

📅 October 16 & 17

⏰ Weekday Testing — 12:30 PM
One subject test may be scheduled.

💻 HiSET Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
📅 October 6 & October 20

✨ Ready to get started? Schedule your testing appointment today on the GED/HISET website.

Do you have a question about testing? Go to our website or contact Denise Beal.

📩 dbeal@lowell.k12.ma.us

Domestic violence can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or background. This month, we recognize survivors, raise awareness, and promote resources for individuals experiencing domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs support, help is available 24/7.

Alternative House 24-Hour Hotline
📞 1-800-291-6228

Massachusetts SafeLink – 24/7 Statewide Hotline

National Domestic Violence Hotline
📞 800-799-7233
24/7 support and safety planning.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

A special thank you to Martha R., Carrie, and Daisy’s ESOL classes for taking the time to color these beautiful portraits 🎨🖍️ for us to display on our bulletin board as we celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month at the Adult Education Center! ❤️💛💚

🌟 2026 Theme:

“Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together” 🌎🤝✨

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities, with heritage rooted in countries throughout Latin America. The celebration begins on September 15, which marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, followed by Chile on September 18.

We are grateful to our students and staff for helping us celebrate and recognize the diverse cultures and histories that make our Adult Education community so special!

The Pollard Memorial Library is bringing the Bookmobile to Abisi Adult Education Center! 📖✨

Take this opportunity to learn more about the library, check out books, discover their programs and services, or ask any questions you may have. Whether you’re a longtime library user or have never visited before, everyone is welcome!

Stop by, say hello, and discover all that the Pollard Memorial Library has to offer! 💙📚