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Winter/Spring 2011 term
now open
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The ACE Classes catalog is in the mail and is also available at Fairfax County public libraries, county offices, job-placement centers, and ACE customer service centers.
A PDF of the catalog is available on our Website.
Did you know: parking is free, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-county residents, and most classes have textbooks delivered the first night of class.
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DIY - Home Repair and Renovation
Get the practical knowledge and skills you need for all levels of home improvement.
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How to Pack a Suitcase
How do you maximize suitcase space without wrinkling everything in the process?
It's easy with the smart tips in this video guide to packing.
 | | Eight easy steps |
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School closings
Classes will not meet when FCPS schools are closed due to bad weather, holidays, or emergencies.
If your class is canceled due to inclement weather or other emergency, it will automatically be re-scheduled for one week later at the same time and place unless you are notified otherwise. If you are attending a class with several sessions, attend your next scheduled class meeting.
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Be in the know Fairfax County provides a wealth of emergency-related information; you can also subscribe to their e-mail alerts.
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Become a fan
If you would like to follow ACE on Facebook, type in Adult and Community Education Fairfax County Public Schools in the search box at the top of your profile page, then select Become a Fan.
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Greetings!
The holiday season is celebrated the world over in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples of the essence of their celebrations:
- India - lighted candles give thanks for the blessings of the past year and shines the way for good fortune in the next
- Brazil - people gather on the beach for New Year's Eve to celebrate the communal spirit and the desire for social harmony
- Jamaica - a show of strength and pride amid adversity
- Puerto Rico - an invocation of the spirit of friendship and fun
- Israel - new beginnings and connection to the land
- Morocco - a joyous culmination after a month of self-reflection.
However you choose to celebrate the holidays, we at ACE are wishing you all the best for the year to come.
Happy holidays from your friends at ACE,
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Play it Safe
An interactive guide to help keep you safe online
Are you finding it hard to stay on top of technology -not to mention staying current with online safety?
OnGuardOnline.gov provides practical tips from the federal  government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet threats. This site has tons of resources, including quizzes, videos, and games on how to properly dispose of your old computer, avoid online dating scams, spot phishing ploys,secure your laptop, and remove malware.
If you have youngsters around...
Q: Do you know the best way to protect your kids online? A: Talk to them. Research suggests that when children want important information, most rely on their parents. Get the tip sheet on how to talk with your kids about being safe online.
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Job Seekers: Get the Tech Edge
Consider one of these hot careers
You may love it, you may loathe it, but any way you dice it, technology is driving the 21st century. If you're in the market for a job, you can increase your appeal to an employer if you know a variety of software applications (think MS Word or Excel). It also helps to have fundamentals down on the Windows operating system (think Windows XP or Windows 7). And if you have a flair for visuals, adding Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign to your repertoire builds up your portfolio for desktop publishing. Web design know-how can be a great asset, too, for a number of positions.
Consider switching to a career in information technology (IT). Contrary to popular opinion, the IT field is not exclusively for nerds. A growing need is for people who can analyze how systems must work together to meet an organization's objectives - big picture thinkers with an analytical bent. From the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Hiring of computer support specialists is expected to increase by 14 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Their skills are needed in a large variety of industries. The number of database administrators is expected to grow through 2018 much faster than the average for all occupations because the Internet and e-commerce will continue to expand, continuing the need to build and maintain databases. Also, the increasing importance being placed on cyber security -the protection of electronic information- will require workers skilled in information security. To help you along, ACE has published information on five IT careers and what you would need to do to prepare for each. Read up - it's free! |
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The best things in life are free...
Three no-cost examples
'Tis the season. This year, why not spend a little time on activities that will fill your heart, not drain your pocketbook. Here are a few indulgences that won't cost a thing: Laughter ~
Laughter is a key component of a happy life, and it has powerful physical and mental benefits. Funny movies, sitcoms, cute toddlers, and a good friend's jokes can all offer one of the most powerful, natural stress relievers out there. "Laughter is an instant vacation." ~Milton Berle Free events ~
Find out what's fun and free! Whatsfun.com is a powerful website dedicated to helping people find fun, interesting events in their area -some of which are free. From a ballet at the Kennedy Center to a fun run around the W&OD, find an activity that suits your interest, locale, and schedule. Play a board or card game ~
With holiday gatherings in full swing, try skipping the tube and instead gather family and friends around the game table. Games can be a fun way to help build vocabulary and spelling, solve math problems, improve critical thinking, develop strategy, and keep minds razor sharp. So, dust off the board or shuffle the deck, pick your partner, and let the games begin! See Ask.com's list of Top 10 Games for Family Gatherings. |
Writers Read "Family Matters"
By Joanne Lozar Glenn
On Friday, November 12, about 80 people came to Borders Bookstore in Tysons Corner, Va., to hear ten local writers share family stories -of wins and losses, close calls and
 | | Kathy Nutt at Writers Read |
intrigue, suspense and surprise -things that echo for each of us in our own lives.
Who are these writers? They are people -like you, perhaps?- who wanted to create a written record of their life in a way that is interesting for others to read. So they enrolled in writing classes -mine and those of my colleagues, Kathy Nutt and Dianne Hennessy King. We had a great lineup:
- "The Sound of Silence" by Ed Janusz
- "Faded Stationery" by Lauren Mansfield
- "An Important Lesson" by Don Kraft
- "Secrets" by DiAna Hart Smith
- Four poems by Kristin Moyer
- "High Tech Baby" by Joanna Walker
- "Crossing Boundaries" by Janet Parsons Mackey
- "When I Was Joe Louis" by Lewis W. Carr, Sr.
- "Perspectives" by Marge Amey
- "Two Against One" by Bob Rayle
ACE offers a variety of writing classes to help get, or to keep, your creativity flowing.
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Fairfax County Recycles
Clear the clutter
Want to get a BIG jump on your spring cleaning? Fairfax County has a calendar of recycling events that will help you clear out the closets, declutter the office, and take back the garage.
- Electric Sunday - recycle televisions, computers, monitors, and peripheral electronic devices, such as
 | | Fairfax County Recycles |
printers, scanners, speakers, keyboards, mice, and external drives
- Household Hazardous Waste - safely dispose of unused or leftover contents of consumer products that contain materials with the characteristics of a hazardous waste
- Document Shredding - shred those unneeded, but sensitive, documents
Do your part to help properly dispose of unneeded items.
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