By: Jaida Andrews
Seven Carlyle High School students are enrolled in the Kaskaskia College Certified
Nursing Assistant class through the KC Now program.
Sydney McIntosh, Faith Weaver, Ella Snow, Ella Rolfingsmeyer, Asher Barrett, Patience
Crawford, and Elizabeth Morado each attend class at Kaskaskia College in the morning and then
return to school during lunch.
A CNA is an entry-level healthcare position where individuals provide basic care to
patients, including assisting with activities of daily living like skin care, bathing, dressing, eating,
and mobility, under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
Classes for the CNA program are held Monday through Thursday every week. These
classes require hands-on experience in healthcare and the flexibility to balance studies.
“Going into the CNA class, I was nervous but also eager to get a headstart into my career.
For me, taking accountability for the time to study and making quizlets made the biggest
difference when it came to getting good grades on my tests,” said Sydney McIntosh.
Students who apply to take KC Now classes must have earned at least 21 Carlyle High
School credits at the end of their junior year. Through the KC Now program, seniors can enroll
in up to fifteen credit hours per semester, which allows the student to earn college credit and
meet high school graduation requirements.