From The Heart

San Mateo Adult School student Li knows it is very important to speak up now. More cuts to education - to our school and all schools - are possible. She has written a letter to Senator Leland Yee about how SMAS has helped her.

Here, with her permission, is her letter:

The Honorable Senator Leland Yee,

My name is Li, and I come from China. I write this letter just to let you know how much I deeply appreciate the San Mateo adult school from my heart. It has changed my life.
A few years ago, when I came to the USA, I couldn’t speak any English. I couldn’t help my kids with their school work or get involved at their school at all. I couldn’t see the doctor by myself. I didn’t have any entertainment. When my children and I needed to see a doctor, my husband had to take the day off to take us to see a doctor. When my husband or someone asked me to go to a movie, I couldn’t go, because I didn’t speak English and didn’t understand English. But the San Mateo Adult School helped me. I learned to talk, read, and write English at the Adult School. Now I can go to movies; I can see my doctor by myself; I can volunteer at my kid’s school; I can help our community; and I can do a better job when I teach Chinese to children in the US.
So, I like the adult school. I think it is very important for us, and very important for our community.

Yours Sincerely,

Li
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A Family of Schools

The San Mateo Adult School is not the only place helping people gain new job skills, complete their GED, stay healthy, learn English, become better parents, or develop new connections in their community. There are 340 adults schools across California,
serving more than 1.2 million people.

Learn more about them here.
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Share Your Story

Do you have a personal success story to share?

Do you know of students - ESL, Parent Ed, Fifty Plus, Vocational Ed - who have benefited from our programs and would like to share their stories with the public?

Now, in this time of crisis, when our school - like all public schools - is threatened by more cuts, we need those stories.

Contact Teacher Cynthia at cyn.eagleton@gmail.com if you have a story to share or know of someone who does.


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We're Standing For Us - We're Standing For You

Students and teachers took a stand today at the San Mateo Adult School.

They lined up early this morning to call attention to the cuts that have been made and the cuts that loom before us if we don't change our priorities.

They will stand again this afternoon on El Camino Ave from Millbrae Avenue to San Bruno.

Districtwide, students, parents, teachers, administrators, and members of the community are standing up for public education.

Come join us: Today, Thursday, March 4, 3:30 pm, El Camino Ave from Millbrae Ave to San Bruno.


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Students Speak Up

All across the state of California, students, teachers, parents, and members of the community are gathering on Thursday, March 4 to speak up for education, including right here at the San Mateo Adult School.

Read more about the actions planned for this day here.



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District Success is Adult School Success

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.





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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
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