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August 2011 
In this issue
ACE Classes Fall 2011
Plan an Awesome Staycation
An Eye on Sight
Graduates Celebrate Their Success
Summer Produce
100 DIY Upgrades
Learn Language Faster
ACE Classes Fall 2011
ACE Classes Fall 2011

New catalog,

      new classes  

 

ACE Classes has arrived! Look at this sampling of the fall term's newest offerings:

 

Sports Management
 
Concepts of Programming (grades 9-12)

 

Real Estate Entrepreneur

 
Elementary Home Maintenance Series
 
Texture Painting
 
Certified Ethical Hacker
 
Beginner and Intermediate Quilting
 
Windows 7: MCTS Prep
 
Community Emergency Response Team
 
Math Without Fear
 
World Film Series
 
Six Sigma Black Belt Training
 
Women's Auto Fix-It Club

 

Apple Motion

 
World Film 850: Saturday Matinee for Young Film Aficionados
 
Ayurvedic Cooking: A Journey into a Holistic Diet

 

 

There are many more new offerings - plus your all-time favorites, of course!

 

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How-To: Plan an Awesome Staycation

 

Summer is prime time for putting those banked vacation days to use. The warm weather lures you to be anywhere but the office, but perhaps this year you can't afford to pay for plane tickets and several nights of hotel stays. 
 
There's still time to take a cost-conscious staycation instead - check out these tips on how to plan the best at-home getaway possible. 


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An Eye on Sight

 

About 14 million people ages 12 and older have vision problems. Although 80 percent of these problems can be corrected with glasses, that still leaves a lot of Americans with more serious problems in sight. Read more


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Greetings!  
  

This is the time of year when many of us look forward to the promise of cool, crisp fall days and landscapes that show off new colors of gold, oranges, and blazing reds. It is a time of transition as students young and old find their way back to the classroom readying themselves for personal and professional learning opportunities.

 

As with most educators, ACE believes the best investment you can make is in yourself! Nothing is as valuable as your own personal and professional development. Skills, knowledge, personal growth, and achievement are all pursuits worthy of your time and energy. Take some time to invest in a sure thing - invest in yourself. 

 

Savor these summer days as you peruse your copy of ACE Classes. Be sure to register early so you don't miss out on that must-have class! We look forward to seeing you soon.  

 

~Your friends at ACE
Graduates Celebrate Their Success
Career Development Programs Graduation

 

Wednesday, July 27, marked an evening of celebration at Woodson High School for hundreds of certificate program graduates, their friends, and family members.  

 

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jack Dale welcomed attendees offering words of congratulations and encouragement.  
Jack Dale

For many graduates, ACE provides the affordable, targeted training needed for a career change, advancement, or continued professional development. For others, ACE certificate programs provide a way to turn hobbies and interests into viable and personally-rewarding careers.

 

Over 400 graduates from health and medical, business, trade and industry, and spoken language interpreter programs completed their program of study.  

 


Fresh Summer Produce
Seasonal Summer Flavors

 

Summer produce

Celebrate the season with 16 of summer's freshest fruits and vegetables and discover more than 100 ways to use them.

 

Also, check out these Northern Virginia farmers markets for fresh, seasonal favorites.  

 
  
100 DIY Upgrades for Under $100
Tips and Tricks for Inside and Out 

 

You don't need a fat budget to give your home a noticeable boost. Invest a little and get a big improvement in how your home looks and feels. The editors of This Old House give you their top tips.

 

Inspired, but not ready to DIY? ACE is your answer! We have a brand new series: Elementary Home Maintenance for the Beginner which includes ceramic tile, plumbing, painting, drywall, and screening. 

Home design

Want more? No problem. We can help you with kitchen, bathroom, or dream home design; moldings; basement remodeling; electrical basics; how to handle power tools (for women); and Google Sketch Up (a 3D design tool). 

 

Our instructors have the knowledge, skill, and passion to help you DIY.

 

 

Study: Older Students May Learn Language Rules Faster
By Sarah D. Sparks, Education Week

 

After years of sighing over reports touting the advantages of learning a second language as a toddler, it's always nice to see a study that gives hope to older second-language learners, like presented at the International Congress for the Study of Child Language meeting in Montreal.

 

There's a slew of research suggesting that children learn a second language most naturally and implicitly in infancy and toddlerhood. It's widely thought that the window for learning begins to close after age 7, when at least some schools might begin teaching foreign languages. Emerging research suggests regular second-language exposure can help keep the window for learning open longer. Read the blog.

 

ACE offers American Sign Language and 18 world languages for adults as well as language classes for kids and teens.

  
Recycling and Trash Topics

 

logo for recycling
Take time to recycle.
Got stuff? Let Fairfax County's Public Works and Environmental Services office help. From appliances to yard waste, get the information you need on how to safely and properly dispose of unwanted items. 

 

View their comprehensive list of materials for recycling as well as the latest calendar of recycling events for electronics and document shredding. 

 

www.fcps.edu/aceclasses