
Education for Life!
Newsletter of Piedmont Adult School - March 2024
Literary Evening a Great Success
The literary talents of Piedmont Adult School students were on display at a recent event, “A Spring Reading of Piedmont Adult School Writers.” The informal evening provided an opportunity for writers to read their work and listen to the work of fellow students. Subject matter ranged from the humorous to the deeply personal.
Most of the participants were students in the Piedmont Adult School class, Family Stories and Memoir Writing, taught by former Piedmont resident Denise Bostrom. “This event was a great opportunity for students to read their writing in front of an audience,” says Bostrom. “It was a lovely evening, and a great chance to showcase the work of these talented writers."
Pictured below are the readers from the evening.
Front row, L to R: Rosalie Marshall, Rachel Brown, Angelica Matsuno, Julia Po, Kat Yoas, Ron Ellis
Back row, L to R: Tom Ventresco, Denise Bostrom, Annemarie O'Brien, Richard Turner, Carmen Hartono
Still Time to Sign Up for Spring Classes!
A number of our spring classes still have space! Check our website, piedmontadultschool.org or call (510) 594-2655 for availability and to register. Read about some featured classes below:
Learn to Draw Songbirds with Colored Pencil: Mondays, April 15 - May 20, 6:30-8:30pm
Spring is in the air, and it's a great time to learn something new! Come take our new class, Learn to Draw Songbirds with Colored Pencil. In this introductory course, you will learn a wide variety of techniques and tips, such as layering, blending, and adding texture, to help bring your birds to life. The instructor will demonstrate how to simplify each bird using shapes, light, and shadow, capturing their form and proportions.
Instructor Jennifer Linderman is a mixed media artist with over 13 years of teaching experience.
Introduction to Mindfulness and Compassion, Tuesdays, April 16 - May 21, 7:00-8:30pm
Do you need a break from the stresses of daily life? Mindfulness is the practice of focusing attention on the present moment. It has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress, improve emotional and physical health, and even improve relationships. In the class, Introduction to Mindfulness and Compassion, students will learn and practice basic mindfulness techniques and loving kindness practices. Beginners and non beginners are all welcome.
Instructor Nani Vohryzek has been a psychotherapist for more than 26 years, specializing in somatic therapy. She enjoys facilitating groups that support people in being mindful, aware and friendly towards their experiences.
iPhone 101, Tuesdays - Thursdays, May 21 - May 30, 7:00-9:00pm
In the eight-session class iPhone 101, you'll learn the basics of using your iPhone. Whether you want to make a phone call, use FaceTime to see who you’re talking to, surf the web, send an email, make a grocery list, listen to music, or more, we’ll touch on it in this class. Bring your iPhone (updated to the latest version of iOS) and your questions and get more out of your iPhone than you ever thought possible.
Instructor Mike Matthews teaches a range of very popular courses on how to use Apple products. Mike is a member of the Apple Consultants Network and has been teaching classes about Apple products for over a decade.
Instructor Spotlight: Chat Mingkwan
The Asian cooking classes at Piedmont Adult School are taught by instructor Chat Mingkwan. A native of Thailand, Chat began preparing Thai food as a child, working alongside his mother and aunt in their successful restaurant and hotel. He was classically trained in cooking in Rayon, France. Chat has traveled throughout Southeast Asia, studying the local cuisines. He is currently a cooking teacher, author, food and restaurant consultant, and Asian antique trader.
There are still a few spots left in upcoming spring session classes -- join Chat for Asian Grills & Barbecue, Indonesian Cuisine, and International Crepes! In our summer session, Chat will offer a range of classes, with new offerings including Vietnamese Summer Meal and Summer Sushi Workshop. Grab a friend and come learn to create delicious Asian dishes!
Celebrating our High School Diploma Students
There are many reasons an adult may not have a high school diploma -- including academic challenges, financial instability, family relocations, or having attended high school in another country. “It takes great motivation and determination to pursue a high school diploma as an adult,” says Shannon Fierro, director of Piedmont Adult School. “We are so proud of our students for pursuing this path, and we are committed to helping them throughout the process.”
Piedmont Adult School's diploma program is free, fully-accredited, and flexible, making it a good fit for adults who are working or have other obligations. For more information, see our website at www.piedmontadultschool.org or call (510) 594-2717.
ESL Program Expanding
Our English as a Second Language (ESL) Program has had a very successful year, offering evening classes for Beginning, Intemediate and Advanced students. We look forward to expanding the program in 2024-2025, increasing the number of classes and times offered. Our current ESL classes will end in June, and re-start in September. Call (510) 594-2717 for more information.
Get Ready for Summer Session, June 3 - August 3
Our summer session is short, but packed with great classes! The Summer Moonlighter catalog will be available on our website on April 22. Registration will open May 13. To register, visit our website, piedmontadultschool.org, or come to our office (see address and hours below).
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Piedmont Adult School
Tel: (510) 594-2655
Email: pas@piedmont.k12.ca.us
760 Magnolia Avenue, Piedmont CA 94610
Hours: M-Th 10am - 7pm