By JODI WOLFE
Staff Writer

ARTISTIC VISION – Marilyn Ross of Pembroke works on a painting during a watercolor class that is put on by the Renaissance Project at Pembroke Academy. (Jodi Wolfe Photo)

The Renaissance Project is successfully continuing after its $2 million grant has run out.

In 2001, the Renaissance Project received the 21st Century Community Learning Grant to put on educational programs for the community.

The grant expired June 21, but the project budget was managed well enough to carry over after it ended, said Executive Director Mark Marony. However, where money will come from in the future is yet to be determined, he said.

“We hope to continue this project for a long time,” Marony said. “It was always our intention that any programs started from this grant would continue. I think that we’ve been pretty successful in that.”

Before June 21, there were more than 20 programs in the Renaissance Project. Some programs which didn’t look like they could make it on their own were discontinued, he said. For instance, the after-school programs were sent over to the Concord Boys and Girls Club.

What it’s achieved

Overall, the Renaissance Project has grown significantly, Marony said.

The Renaissance Project runs a two-week summer program for incoming ninth-grade students at Pembroke Academy to address their academic, social and emotional needs. This program began with 13 students and, this past summer, 130 students participated, Marony said. Parents called to sign their students up months ahead of time, he said.

Upcoming workshops: PEMBROKE – The following classes and workshops are offered through the Renaissance Project at Pembroke Academy: Arts and crafts Watercolor II – $40, Mondays Nov. 15 to Dec. 6 7 to 9 p.m. Pastel II – $40 Tuesdays Nov. 16 to Dec. 7 7 to 9 p.m. Acrylic Collage II – $55 Thursdays Nov. 11 to Dec. 9 7 to 9 p.m. Paper-making – $30 Tuesday Dec. 7 6 to 8 p.m. Herbal Gifts – $30 Tuesday Nov. 16 6 to 8 p.m. Health and fitness Tai Chi II – $65 Tuesdays Nov. 23 to Jan. 4 6:30 to 8 p.m. Vegetarian cooking Vegan Baking for Beginners – $20 Tuesday Nov. 30 7 to 8:30 p.m. Simply Vegetarian – $20, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Holiday gifts Decorative Fireplace Screen – $65 Mondays Nov. 15 to Dec. 20 7 to 9 p.m. Real estate How to Stage Your Home for Sale in Today’s Market – Tuesday Jan. 11 6:30 to 8 p.m. State safety education Marine Patrol Boater Safety Education – $20 Tuesdays and Thursdays Dec. 7 and 9 Jan. 11 and 13 6 to 9 p.m. To register, call 485-3335, fax 485-1824, or e-mail mmarony@sau53.org.

The summer program also helps the incoming participants integrate with students from all the towns that attend Pembroke Academy.

“It’s has been so positively received,” Marony said. “I’m sure it will continue.”

Other programs include the adult and community education classes from watercolor to line dancing and high school diploma classes.

Classes run Monday through Thursday on a varying schedule. Some run four weeks while some are one-time lectures. Terms run from September to January and February to June, with an abbreviated term during the summer.

“We have wonderful, fantastically enthusiastic teachers,” Marony said. “They are as much dedicated to the program as (my office manager) and myself are.”

Marony said he receives calls of anticipation just before the course brochure comes out from people who want to make sure they didn’t miss it.

Diploma program

With the high school diploma program, students receive a diploma from Pembroke Academy when they complete their classes. The high school diploma preparation receives help from the state department of education.

When the high school diploma program started three years ago, six students graduated at the end of the year from the program. After the end of the second year, 12 students graduated.

“I would anticipate from here on out we’ll continue to graduate anywhere from 12 to 18 students,” he said.

Best friends Miranda Clark, 19, and Melissa Buckingham, 19, are taking high school diploma courses at night while working full-time.

Clark, a Pembroke resident, started classes through the Renaissance Project last semester after dropping out of Pembroke Academy.

“This is a really good opportunity,” she said.

Clark found the night classes easier for her schedule. The high school diploma classes are more focused.

“You accomplish so much more than being in a building for eight hours,” she said. “You get to work, hang out with friends and go to school.”

It’s a convenient schedule to work around, said Buckingham.

“They don’t have a lot of alternate stuff you have to do to graduate,” she said.

Alternative studies

Both are taking a film studies class this term, which they find interesting.

“It makes you think about what the director would want you to see,” Clark said.

Jill Dater, who teaches the film studies class, has been teaching English classes with the Renaissance Project for three years.

“There’s been a lot of flexible learning going on now with online classes,” she said. “(But) this gives them a place where other people are doing the same thing.(Compared to online) this is much more a classroom setting.”

The classes are in a more relaxed setting, which seems to work better for her students.

“I’ve seen people get their diploma who wouldn’t have gotten it otherwise,” she said.

There is more individualized attention for students.

“The Renaissance Project is really good about following up with people,” she said.

Separate from school district

While Marony’s office is located in the guidance department of Pembroke Academy and the Pembroke School District first received the grant money, the Renaissance Project is operated separately from the school district.

Currently the project is run by Marony who works 11 hour days. Joan Nelson, serves as a the office manager for the Renaissance Project, organizing the databases, records, and finances.

“I would be lost without her,” Marony said.

Concord High School has had a similar, yet more developed, program for a long time. The Renaissance Project is a baby version of Concord High’s project, Marony said.

“Its an excellent program over there,” said Marony. “We would like to provide the same service.”

The Renaissance Project offers Pembroke residents the convenience of having the program in their back yard instead of traveling to Concord, Marony said.

“PA is really the center of town, he said. “We are trying to make it into a community center.