Alexandria Public Schools Community Education

Wish you could take better photos with your iPhone? Are you confused about composition, light or other basic photography techniques? In this beginner class you'll learn how to take effective, meaningful, and beautiful photographs with your iPhone! There will be classroom learning with techniques and tips for taking better photographs on your iPhone and then practicing together on a “Golden Hour” nature walk, outside at Big Ole Central Park. This class is a wonderful opportunity to spend an evening talking, walking through Big Ole Central Park and discovering beautiful photo opportunities along the way. No previous photography experience is required.

Thinking about getting rid of another monthly bill? TV lovers have more budget-friendly options these days than they may realize. This class will teach you how to ditch cable and satellite TV — and save a bundle — without giving up your favorite shows or features. Learn how to use the devices you have to watch your favorite shows, rent/buy movies, view photos on your flat screen TV and much more! This is a VERY fun class that fills up fast. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom.

If your digital photo collections are a mess, the good news is that software and online services now have excellent tools for helping you organize your images fast. The goal is to be able to find and share the photos you love without a headache. Learn the concepts and techniques behind efficient photo management, photo editing, organizing, backup, and sharing. The best photo organizer apps are essential for managing your images, whether on Android or iOS devices. A smartphone is most people's primary camera these days and many of us snap dozens of photos on them each day. It can be easy to lose track of everything, and that's where a good photo management app can make a difference. The best photo organizer apps can make sorting and cleaning up your snapshots a simple task, with built-in tools to edit and organize your photos plus social sharing features and cloud storage. While the stock photos apps on your iPhone or Android device provide some neat built-in features, they don't tick every box. In this class we will also take a look at organizing your photos on your PC and/or Mac computer. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom.

This is a basic obedience course that will be held outdoors for dogs 12 weeks of age and older. The commands covered will be Heel, Sit, Stay, Come and No. But more importantly, it will teach you about dog behavior and training basics so you can continue with your training long after this class is over. The first class is for you only, please do not bring your dog. Your dog will join you for the last four classes. Class size is limited, so register today!

Seeing more Electric Vehicles (EVs) on the road and in the news? You will learn how to separate fact from myth when it comes to owning an EV. You will learn about what current and future EV’s are available and how to calculate ownership and fuel saving compared to your current vehicle. Common questions like, public charging, cold weather driving, maintenance, and battery technology will be covered in the class. Come and see some of the current EVs in person!

Do you want to have better pictures to remember your hunting and fishing accomplishments? Do you want pictures of the fish and game you harvest that are suitable for nonhunting friends and social media? This class will teach you how to capture both the grip and grin and other parts of the trip that are something to be proud of. This class is not about the technical aspects of photography (we will not discuss things like shutter speed settings!), but rather will go over tips and tricks to set up great pictures just using your cell phone or basic camera. You have a lot invested in your hunting or fishing adventure, remember it through great photographs!

Do you have an abundance of holey socks? Do you get frustrated when you find little holes in your t-shirts? Do you refuse to throw away a garment just because it has a tiny hole or flaw? (Us too!) Let us recommend to you a simple and effective mending technique that lends itself to lots of creativity: darning! Darning is a very beginner-friendly hand-mending technique that involves weaving over the hole in your garment with interlocking stitches. During this Zoom class, you will interact with the instructor to learn all the basics of how to darn, including what types of fabrics and garments are best mended with darning. By the end of class, you should feel confident in your ability to mend using darning. The supply list will be emailed to you once you have registered.

A good password is easy to remember, but difficult to guess, both for people who know you, and for anonymous password-crackers. We all have so many different passwords to keep track of nowadays—rather than taking the dangerous shortcuts of either using the same password for everything, or else writing passwords down and keeping them near your computer, this course will teach you tips to make it easier to create unique, memorable passwords for every different application. You will learn how to create good passwords, and what tools can help you store your passwords safely. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom.

While it’s important to know the best places for job seekers to find job listings online, it’s also critical for candidates to know where to post their resumes. Employers look for potential hires in various places on the internet, from their own corporate websites to niche job search sites. Learn where they’re looking, and you’ll know where to create your online profile for maximum exposure and opportunity. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom.

Are you losing ground? Is your shoreline eroding, unsightly or seem to be a goose magnet? Did the excessive rains last year take a toll? Is the ice pushing up a new ridge every year? During this in-person course at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum Boathouse, learn how to improve water quality, reduce erosion and beautify your property using native plants, simple installation techniques and smart planning for easier long-term maintenance. There will be a wide variety of information and brochures for participants, as well as several gift packages given as door prizes.

Explore the fun and challenge of drawing from observation. This class explores the tradition of nature journaling. You will develop skills to draw what you see, using pencil, watercolor, and ink. Classes will be held at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum Garden. This class is supportive and interactive with each participant’s style and contribution valued. Connect with nature and find your peaceful place within. Make time in your life for you! All drawing skills welcome. What you’ll learn: Core scientific observational skills Field drawing and sketching techniques Line, form, space, proportion and structural essentials Drawing and rendering techniques Participants should bring a water bottle and comfortable outdoor chair. Dress for the weather, a sunhat is suggested.

What is the use of Google? Google offers Gmail, Chrome, Maps, Drive, Spreadsheets, Youtube, Calendar…and much more! With Google, you can upload and store all of your files online. Google Docs is similar to Microsoft Word and Google Sheets is similar to Microsoft Excel. THE BEST PART...They are FREE to use! You can then share these files with others and access them from any computer, smartphone, or tablet. With Google you can quickly and easily get answers on your smartphone or computer. Come and find out more about using Google and all it has to offer. Please bring your laptop or device to class. This class is being held online, interactive through Zoom.

Have you ever thought about making your own wine? Join Kyle and Phil at Walking Plants Orchard to learn more about the winemaking process. We will begin with a walk through the orchard and a discussion about what it takes to grow berries. Then, we will regroup in the berry processing room to learn about the various steps in making wine - primary fermentation, secondary fermentation, stabilizing and clearing, and bottling. We will end class by starting to make our own wine from a wine kit.