Alexandria Public Schools Community Education

Smart, sustainable homeownership starts with solid factual information. "Home Stretch" Homebuyer Education Course is an in-person, classroom-style educational workshop, taught by experienced professionals. Participants will learn about the entire homebuying process by receiving objective, practical information, and gain the knowledge necessary to making future homeownership less overwhelming. Here are the topics you would be hearing about: Determine when it is appropriate to purchase a home, credit, learn mortgage and financing options, real estate 101, home inspections, insurance, down payment assistance, loans, first-time homebuyers and life has a homeowner. And to top it off, there will door prizes!  Participants will receive a Home Stretch certificate of completion which is eligible for some down payment & first-time homebuyer assistance funds and programs. 

To help prepare for ACT testing, we are offering this intensive test preparation workshop coaches high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to do their best on the ACT. In the five-hour ZAPS seminar, students will learn strategies for using partial knowledge to eliminate wrong choices, gain tips for improving in all four sub-tests: English, Math, Reading, Science; understand the most strategic ways to use limited testing time, take shortened practice tests that mirror the actual testing experience, reduce their test anxiety and gain confidence. Students receive a comprehensive study guide and 24 practice test workouts with detailed answer explanations. Students will also get suggestions for individualized study in the days leading up to the test. The vast majority of students who take this class say that they believe it helped them improve their test score!

October is fire prevention month. Get the inside scoop at our local fire station. You will receive a tour of the station, get up close with the insides of the fire trucks and learn about what firemen do to keep safe. You'll also hear about fire safety and prevention. 

Wish you knew how to use CPR and AED’s to save lives, or want to know what to do if someone you love is choking? If you don’t need a course completion card, this is the class for you. Cost includes a Family and Friends student manual. Class time – 2 hours.  Class size limited, register early!

Need to learn how to provide first aid, CPR, or use an AED to help save a life for your job or volunteer activity? Do you need a certification card? Heartsaver is the course for you. Cost includes the AHA Heartsaver student manual and course completion card. Class size limited, register early!

There’s nothing like fresh fruit grown in your own yard! Learn how to plant and harvest apples, and how to protect trees and fruit from disease and insects. Taste a variety of apples the instructor has grown.

When non-native species cause ecological or economic damage, they are termed "invasive species." Minnesota's natural resources are threatened  by such a species as zebra mussels, flowering rush, Eurasian milfoil and Asian carps. Learn about some of the local threats, what folks are doing to slow the spread, as well as what you can do. There will be a wide variety of speciments and brochures for participants, as well as several gift packages given as door prizes. 

Explore the stages of bread making, creative intermixing of recipes, and guidelines for converting standard recipes into no-knead refrigerated recipes. We will start with some basic recipes, introduce the levain method for sourdough, and bake many variations of breads from refrigerated or frozen dough that is prepared in advance of baking. This course requires the ability to stand for periods of time. 

Have fun learning this basic dance step of the big band era. The popular East Coast swing dance is adaptable to 50's, country and popular music. This class is for adult beginners.

Have you been in or near an emergency situation where someone was hurt? Imagine being able to help out in a situation where first aid is needed. Children can make a difference in an emergency situation. It is important to let them know basic first aid steps in different situations. Topics include: recognizing an emergency and knowing what to do, calling 911, basic first aid techniques, personal safety tips, tricky people, basic gun and fire safety.

Add 8/0 seed beads to tin thread to create this variation on the Sami Inspired bracelet. Finish by gluing ends into a magnetic clasp. By the end of this class you will have a completed bracelet. 

How sweet it is! Dr. Struthers will discuss how honey gets from the bee to the jar. Learn about collecting honey, pollination, life cycle, interesting instincts and characteristics, how bees organize their society and how to get a beehive started. You will have a chance to taste honey samples. He will also give you an annual schedule of the when, what and why of hive care. 

Artists are observers who see the world around them in different ways. Learning how to draw requires first learning to "look" with preconceptions. Students will practice the instructor's way of looking and drawing from observation and experiment with a number of drawing techniques that have been used by artists for centuries. This class is geared toward beginners but is suitable for those who wish to refresh their drawing skills or just need a class assignment to get them started. All supplies provided by instructor. 

Learn about needles, yarns, casting on/off and basic stitches, enough to do a simple scarf.  A supply list will be sent with registration confirmation.

Instructor Deb Kerr will take you start to finish on this throw-sized quilt which makes a great baby gift, living room accent or wall art for that large empty space. Finished quilt measures 52"x 64". There will be homework so you will need a working sewing machine at home. Cutting tools will be provided in class. By the end of this class you will have a completed quilt. You will have learned how to cut with a rotary cutter and ruler, piece simple quilt blocks, assemble quilts, quilt layers together, and bind.  

Great fun! Fast learning curve! And it is great exercise for your brain! This class is good for those just learning about string instruments and good for those that have taken the class before and want a refresher. Start where you are and grow from there! Holding, strumming, fingering, reading the music and basic chord sets will be covered. You will need a Ukulele, but you may wait until after the first class to buy one. Qualities, sizes, and styles of Ukuleles will be reviewed the first night. 

BINGO! We'll be using themed BINGO cards to make the game exciting and new. Win prizes as the night goes on and enjoy delicious root beer floats.