Alexandria Public Schools Community Education

The supposedly true story of a 23-year-old otaku (Japanese geek) who intervenes when a drunk man is harassing several women on a train. The otaku ultimately begins dating one of the women, and posts on a website asking for advice every step of the way. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Deb Trumm

A humble orphan boy in 1810s Kent is given the opportunity to go to London and become a gentleman, with the help of an unknown benefactor. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Mary Pohl

When 78 eligible bachelors from a small Minnesota town advertise for female companionship, women from 37 states and four foreign countries arrive, changing the men's lives forever. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Van Gooch

An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Dave Anderson

As a war rages on in the province of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, a young girl becomes transfixed by the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations, which is being read at school by the only white man in the village. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Shari Johnson

After living a long and colorful life, Allan Karlsson finds himself stuck in a nursing home. On his 100th birthday, he leaps out a window and begins an unexpected journey. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Jim Pohl

Marc-André Leclerc climbs alone, far from the limelight. The free-spirited 23-year-old makes some of the boldest solo ascents in history. With no cameras and no margin for error, Leclerc's approach is the essence of solo adventure. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Dave Anderson

Political documentary and personal memoir collide in this exploration into the complex truth behind the unraveling of two Brazilian presidencies. Post-Film Discussion Leader - Shari Johnson

We love our lush green lawns, maybe a bit too much? Join us to learn what else we can plant to benefit the bees and birds, while also keeping some green turf. We will discuss lawn alternatives that are more environmentally friendly that will keep your backyard buzzing. Small changes can go a long ways towards the environment while saving you time and money. Participants will receive an informational folder full of great publications, and several door prizes will be given away from local plant specialists. An email invitation will be sent with a PDF version of the PowerPoint and the Zoom link to the meeting prior to the presentation date. You will be able to interact live with the instructor during the online presentation to answer any of your questions.

Improve your driving skills during this initial 8-hour online course over 2 days, and if you're 55 or older, get a discount on your personal auto insurance. The Defensive Driving Course, developed by the National Safety Council, teaches basic crash prevention techniques and has a proven record of reducing traffic violations and incidents. It's taught by experienced, professional traffic safety instructors, including officers of the Minnesota State Patrol. The class consists of lecture, films and discussions using Zoom virtual technology. There is no behind-the-wheel driving and there are no tests. According to Minnesota state law, people age 55 and older who complete a state approved defensive driving course are eligible to receive a 10 percent, three-year discount on auto insurance. Contact your insurance agent for details. After you complete the course, you will receive a certificate of completion to give your insurance company. If you have successfully completed the 8 hour course, then you are eligible to renew your insurance certificate by taking the 4 hour course.

The AARP® Driver Safety course is the nation’s first and largest refresher course designed specifically for drivers 50 and older. If you are 55 or older and have successfully completed the 8-hour course, then you are eligible to renew your insurance certificate by taking this 4-hour course. This 4-hour AARP® Driver Safety course is taught by trained AARP® volunteers. If you are an AARP® member, please choose the discounted rate option when registering.

To help prepare for ACT testing, we are offering this intensive test preparation workshop that 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!

Experiment with a variety of acrylic painting techniques as you take your ideas from thumbnail sketches to a fully developed painting. Learn more about composition as you paint from life and your imagination, color theory, the selection of your color palette, and brush handling tips for best results. This is a welcoming class environment for all levels of painters. Students should purchase/bring a canvas panel or canvas board no larger than 16x20, 2B pencil, eraser, sketchbook or drawing paper, water container, old towel, paint shirt/apron, table easel (optional).

Here’s a facelift you can do at home. Acupressure is an ancient Eastern healing method that works with the energy that flows through your body. Stimulating facial acupressure points can help erase years from your face naturally, bring a healthy glow to your skin; increase muscle tone; decrease puffiness and eye bags; reduce lines and prevent new lines from forming; even decrease headaches, relieve eye strain, soothe nerves and increase relaxation. Learn how to make your skin as healthy as possible from the inside out. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. You can choose to enable your camera and audio, or just view the live content. More information will be sent before class.

Acupressure is an Eastern healing technique that involves pressing or massaging key points on the body to stimulate energy flow through pathways called meridians. When the points that regulate metabolism, digestion and thyroid function are blocked or out of balance, losing weight will seem like an impossible task. In this workshop, you will learn the main pressure points that help strengthen thyroid function, boost metabolism, control appetite, decrease food cravings, reduce stress eating and strengthen the entire digestive system. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. You can choose to enable your camera and audio, or just view the live content. More information will be sent before class.

Acupressure is an ancient healing art and self-help tool. It can offer great relief with no side effects and help you feel your best. Along with the specific points to help relieve stress, insomnia, anxiety, irritability and even weight gain, learn the Nine Master Pressure Points which are the most helpful and most frequently prescribed to help and assist every system in your body. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. You can choose to enable your camera and audio, or just view the live content. More information will be sent before class.

Alexandria Community Education in collaboration with Grand Arbor have teamed up to offer a Senior Cribbage Tournament! Participants must be over 50 years old. Team up with someone and enter your team of 2 people. Space is limited so don't wait to register. Awards will be given to the top two teams.

During this class you will learn how to manage pictures on your computer. Also, find out how to name, rename, and move pictures into folders to get organized. We will take a look at using the Photo Gallery and minor editing of pictures, such as cropping and making enhancements. We will use pictures for desktop backgrounds and insert a picture into Microsoft Word to manipulate for flyers, invitations, and other printed materials. (Not for Apple/Mac users.)

This free, mandatory screening is for all Minnesota children and is best done when your child is 3 years old. The process will obtain a MN Student ID number for your child. Screening is a simple, careful check of your young child's speech and language, thinking skills, physical development, and social/emotional health. It is designed to ensure the healthy growth of students to be successful in any educational setting, and if needed, connect them to resources that will support their development. For school district enrollees, screening must be completed prior to registering in district preschool or Kindergarten programming.

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.

Perimenopause starts around the age of 35 for most women and can last 10-15 years. Common symptoms include fatigue, migraines, weight gain, water retention, depression, sleep disturbances, joint aches, hot flashes, anger flashes, migraines, fibroids, exaggerated PMS and more. Once you understand exactly what is causing all the troublesome symptoms, they are much easier to correct. We'll discuss how to get hormone levels measured - blood test vs. saliva test and what to do with the results; traditional HRT vs. bio-identical; acupressure points to assist in symptom relief and nutritional musts. You'll leave with multiple tools and techniques for restoring health and well-being. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom. You can choose to enable your camera and audio, or just view the live content. More information will be sent before class.

How much would you like to know about your car's care and maintenance? A vehicle may be one of the most expensive and important purchases you will make throughout your life and knowing how to keep your vehicle in good condition is important to prolong the life of this important purchase. Professional mechanics from the Car Care Program will share their knowledge through hands-on basic car care including changing oil, checking tires and other simple tasks that keep cars functioning. This class is perfect for anyone who drives!