Many people may not realize that the San Mateo Adult School is part of the San Mateo Union High School District. We are under their auspices. Our success is their success and visa-versa.
As everyone knows, times are challenging nowadays. Unemployment has increased and funds for education have done just the opposite.
But that has not stopped the San Mateo Union High School District. The administration, led by Superintendent Scott Laurence, is working hard to deal with these challenges wisely, creatively, and prudently.
Visit the District website at www.smuhsd.org
and click on Budget Information and Update - Superintendent's Letter to learn more about how the District is meeting these challenges.
Click here to read the full post
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
On The Road To Citizenship
Cindy Rong Zhen Sun wrote this letter to the San Mateo Adult School and with her permission, we share it here:
Dear Administrators and Teachers:
I am a new American Citizen, Cindy Sun, and I have been studying English as a Second Language in the San Mateo Adult School for about three years now. I feel very good about our school. In Spril 2006, I attended the San Bruno English Class with Teacher Charlene Spediacci, a very fine teacher. When I could not speak or understand English, Charlene told me, "Don't worry. it takes a long time to show progress." I always remember Charlene's words. When I recited some lesson, she was very happy and encouraged me. This encouragement gave me greater confidence in overcoming my difficulties. She was my first teacher. I am grateful for her kind words.
Druing the past three years, I have joined many different classes and studied with many teachers and assistants who have helped me. They are Lisa Dolehide, Mark Tharp, Fredy Gold, Glenn Cunliffe, Betty Chen, Aleth Reilly, Hannelore, Tia Marlowe, and Carolyn Pannu. They teach different courses abd taught me many ways to learn English.
Right now I can read, write, and speak better, but understanding English is still difficult. I have studied a long time in Distance learning in Room 28. Teacher Carolyn is helping me write correctly. I feel Distance Learning is a good way for me to learn. Citizenship Class is teaching the history of America in Room 29 and also at the Senior Center. The teachers, Aleth Reilly and Bety Chen, helped me prepare to successfully pass my Citizenship test.
I am thankful to our school for giving me more knowledge. Many students and I need our school to stay open so that we an continue to study and more students can become valuable citizens in this country.
Sincerely,
Cindy Rong Zhen Sun
Click here to read the full post
Dear Administrators and Teachers:
I am a new American Citizen, Cindy Sun, and I have been studying English as a Second Language in the San Mateo Adult School for about three years now. I feel very good about our school. In Spril 2006, I attended the San Bruno English Class with Teacher Charlene Spediacci, a very fine teacher. When I could not speak or understand English, Charlene told me, "Don't worry. it takes a long time to show progress." I always remember Charlene's words. When I recited some lesson, she was very happy and encouraged me. This encouragement gave me greater confidence in overcoming my difficulties. She was my first teacher. I am grateful for her kind words.
Druing the past three years, I have joined many different classes and studied with many teachers and assistants who have helped me. They are Lisa Dolehide, Mark Tharp, Fredy Gold, Glenn Cunliffe, Betty Chen, Aleth Reilly, Hannelore, Tia Marlowe, and Carolyn Pannu. They teach different courses abd taught me many ways to learn English.
Right now I can read, write, and speak better, but understanding English is still difficult. I have studied a long time in Distance learning in Room 28. Teacher Carolyn is helping me write correctly. I feel Distance Learning is a good way for me to learn. Citizenship Class is teaching the history of America in Room 29 and also at the Senior Center. The teachers, Aleth Reilly and Bety Chen, helped me prepare to successfully pass my Citizenship test.
I am thankful to our school for giving me more knowledge. Many students and I need our school to stay open so that we an continue to study and more students can become valuable citizens in this country.
Sincerely,
Cindy Rong Zhen Sun
Click here to read the full post
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Antonia's Advice
Antonia Li is a success on many levels. Originally from Shanghai, China, Antonia moved here twenty five years ago. She learned English, worked in restaurants, and then ran her own restaurant. She is now retired - and still learning English! Antonia has a lot to teach others about both business and language learning success.
In her own words, here is a method that has helped her excel in many areas:
I study at home. I set a time to study every day, about two hours a day. I listen for one hour with a book on tape while I'm walking around the golf course nearby my home. It's like throwing a stone that catches three birds. Firt, by listening to a book on tape, it enhances my English listening capability. Second, I try to repeat every sentence from the tape at some point. It helps me to catch the words quickly and memorize them. It helps me to exercise my brain. Third, I get my workout done.
I use the second hour to learn English bya differnt approach - either by workong on my Distance Learning homework or working on the "Words, Words, Words" book I bought. It's easy to use and the Words games and activites for vocabulary building are fun.
It seems it is a perfect plan for studying English but the hardest part is how you stick to your plan.
I try to work on it.
Click here to read the full post
In her own words, here is a method that has helped her excel in many areas:
I study at home. I set a time to study every day, about two hours a day. I listen for one hour with a book on tape while I'm walking around the golf course nearby my home. It's like throwing a stone that catches three birds. Firt, by listening to a book on tape, it enhances my English listening capability. Second, I try to repeat every sentence from the tape at some point. It helps me to catch the words quickly and memorize them. It helps me to exercise my brain. Third, I get my workout done.
I use the second hour to learn English bya differnt approach - either by workong on my Distance Learning homework or working on the "Words, Words, Words" book I bought. It's easy to use and the Words games and activites for vocabulary building are fun.
It seems it is a perfect plan for studying English but the hardest part is how you stick to your plan.
I try to work on it.
Click here to read the full post
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
San Mateo Times Story
The San Mateo Times described the current challenge the Adult School faces:
more students than ever with less money to serve them.
In spite of that challenge, the Adult School remains committed to serving every student well, using a combination of smarts, experience, and frugality to wring learning from every allotted dollar. That's our job and a job we're proud to do.
You can read the story here.
Click here to read the full post
more students than ever with less money to serve them.
In spite of that challenge, the Adult School remains committed to serving every student well, using a combination of smarts, experience, and frugality to wring learning from every allotted dollar. That's our job and a job we're proud to do.
You can read the story here.
Click here to read the full post
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
An Artist In Our Midst
Jose came to ESL class pretty regularly, but always seemed very preoccupied. His teacher took time to talk tohim and discovered that he had extraordinary artisitc abilities, bu tneeded to channel them in an creative way.
His ESL teacher got in touch with Jeri McGovern, Coordinator of the Fifty Plus Program, to find out if someone in her art program could mentor Jose in some way. Now Jose accompanies Jeri to the senior cetners once or twice a week, has bought paints and other art supplies, and has found a "home" among the seniors who welcome him and his talent. "I'm so happy!" Jose told his teacher.
His talent has brought happiness not only to Jose but to the community as well.
Click here to read the full post
His ESL teacher got in touch with Jeri McGovern, Coordinator of the Fifty Plus Program, to find out if someone in her art program could mentor Jose in some way. Now Jose accompanies Jeri to the senior cetners once or twice a week, has bought paints and other art supplies, and has found a "home" among the seniors who welcome him and his talent. "I'm so happy!" Jose told his teacher.
His talent has brought happiness not only to Jose but to the community as well.
Click here to read the full post
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Power of a Positive Attitude
Francisco says, "I feel easier. When people talk to me, I can understand them."
He is a student in Distance Learning. In the past, he attended regular classes. Right now, he doesn't have time to come to those classes because he works a lot, so he uses Distance Learning in order to keep learning English.
His advice for other immigrants, "Study. Work hard. Don't feel bad because these economic problems are in the whole world, not only this country. But you need a positive attitude. Keep fighting for a good future because we, immigrants, need to make a good image for everyone. We need to change the bad image."
He smiles and adds, "Don't try. Do it! The energy is contagious."
Click here to read the full post
He is a student in Distance Learning. In the past, he attended regular classes. Right now, he doesn't have time to come to those classes because he works a lot, so he uses Distance Learning in order to keep learning English.
His advice for other immigrants, "Study. Work hard. Don't feel bad because these economic problems are in the whole world, not only this country. But you need a positive attitude. Keep fighting for a good future because we, immigrants, need to make a good image for everyone. We need to change the bad image."
He smiles and adds, "Don't try. Do it! The energy is contagious."
Click here to read the full post
Not For Sissies
Wanda Nelson writes:
I, hereby, wish to inform you that old age is not for sissies. It akes a great deal of effort, good genes and healthy living to become old, and when we arrive there, we sometimes, suddenly, find that we are unnecessary. With ouir tender, loving care, our children have grown into responsible adults with careers and families of their own, and they no longer want us on a daily basis. Many of my friends have moved away or passed away. Life changes radically. This crossroad can be a confusing, lonely journey as we ponder what we can do to make life worth living and interesting again. I believe this stage of life needs passion and purpose with challenge, contribution and community or we are in danger of emotional and psychological deterioration. It is important to make a contrbution to the world, even if it is only a small one. I am also convinced that the moment we give up our dreams or the fight, we begin to die whether we are eighty or twenty. I needed to find something with purpose that I could feel passionate about.
After redoing the house, installing new windows, adding safety features, and clearing out clutter, I found that I was left with piles of memorabilia, home movies, old photos, and a box marked "Thomspon/Stanley Family." There was a similar box marked "Herb's Family Stuff," which my husband had left for me to deal with, and yet another that said "Mom's Papers." I, instantly, became the family historian-genealogist with the help of a Fifty-Plus class called: "Beginning Genealogy." There I met other people with imilar interests and I found friends with whom I could compare notes and travel to Salt Lake City each year to do even more family research. This new passion involved travel, research, writing, meeting new people and new familiy members as well as learning more and more about my computer. As my community contribution, I became the secretary of the local genealogy society and expanded my social circle even more. My resarch proved that I came from intelligent, hard working people I could be proud of, and that I had many new "cousins" out there who were anxious to know me and hear my fmaily stories. I found a purpose and a passion. I had something to offer.
Writing my family story made me realize that I needed to begin by writing my own personal story. I enrolled in the Fifty-Plus "Writing Your Memoirs" class to get started. I am still there as this class has become a personal support group for me. It stimulates and structures my thought process and awakens some of my own buried memories as I listen to the life stories of others in the group. Most of my personal memoires are interlaced with family stoies, and they are my life expeiences to leave as a legacy for future generations of family as to what life was about as I lived it. This experience is revealing. It proved to me that I had led a much more interesing life than I first believed. That improved my self esteem. I have shared some of these stories wtih nieces and nephews who thanked me for my contribution to their knowledge of fmaily history and the world of my time. I feel fulfilled. I foudn more purpose and passion.
In addition, I have taken computer classes and for seniors that expanded my knowledge of technology and gave me confidence in this new twenty-first century world. That transition has not been easy for me. The exercise classes proved to be a fascinating experience. The QiGong class for healing body, mind and spirit came came at a time when I needed all of these things to keep me healthy and nimble.
Life is good. As Dylan Thomas said:
Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day.
Click here to read the full post
I, hereby, wish to inform you that old age is not for sissies. It akes a great deal of effort, good genes and healthy living to become old, and when we arrive there, we sometimes, suddenly, find that we are unnecessary. With ouir tender, loving care, our children have grown into responsible adults with careers and families of their own, and they no longer want us on a daily basis. Many of my friends have moved away or passed away. Life changes radically. This crossroad can be a confusing, lonely journey as we ponder what we can do to make life worth living and interesting again. I believe this stage of life needs passion and purpose with challenge, contribution and community or we are in danger of emotional and psychological deterioration. It is important to make a contrbution to the world, even if it is only a small one. I am also convinced that the moment we give up our dreams or the fight, we begin to die whether we are eighty or twenty. I needed to find something with purpose that I could feel passionate about.
After redoing the house, installing new windows, adding safety features, and clearing out clutter, I found that I was left with piles of memorabilia, home movies, old photos, and a box marked "Thomspon/Stanley Family." There was a similar box marked "Herb's Family Stuff," which my husband had left for me to deal with, and yet another that said "Mom's Papers." I, instantly, became the family historian-genealogist with the help of a Fifty-Plus class called: "Beginning Genealogy." There I met other people with imilar interests and I found friends with whom I could compare notes and travel to Salt Lake City each year to do even more family research. This new passion involved travel, research, writing, meeting new people and new familiy members as well as learning more and more about my computer. As my community contribution, I became the secretary of the local genealogy society and expanded my social circle even more. My resarch proved that I came from intelligent, hard working people I could be proud of, and that I had many new "cousins" out there who were anxious to know me and hear my fmaily stories. I found a purpose and a passion. I had something to offer.
Writing my family story made me realize that I needed to begin by writing my own personal story. I enrolled in the Fifty-Plus "Writing Your Memoirs" class to get started. I am still there as this class has become a personal support group for me. It stimulates and structures my thought process and awakens some of my own buried memories as I listen to the life stories of others in the group. Most of my personal memoires are interlaced with family stoies, and they are my life expeiences to leave as a legacy for future generations of family as to what life was about as I lived it. This experience is revealing. It proved to me that I had led a much more interesing life than I first believed. That improved my self esteem. I have shared some of these stories wtih nieces and nephews who thanked me for my contribution to their knowledge of fmaily history and the world of my time. I feel fulfilled. I foudn more purpose and passion.
In addition, I have taken computer classes and for seniors that expanded my knowledge of technology and gave me confidence in this new twenty-first century world. That transition has not been easy for me. The exercise classes proved to be a fascinating experience. The QiGong class for healing body, mind and spirit came came at a time when I needed all of these things to keep me healthy and nimble.
Life is good. As Dylan Thomas said:
Do not go gentle into that good night
Old age should burn and rave at close of day.
Click here to read the full post
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