Good News!

Today Governor Brown announced his new budget plan.

We like the new plan!

In his plan, there is more money for Adult Schools.

And K12 Adult Schools - like ours - will stay open!

In his plan, Adult Schools and Community Colleges will work together in the future.

We do this now with the ALLIES Program - Teacher Mary's Intensive Writing class.

Working together is good.

Now the Legislature must approve the plan.

The Legislature has given Adult Education a lot of support.

We think and hope they will say yes to the plan. 

Maybe they will have more good ideas to add to it.

Today was a very big day.  It was a big change from the Governor's first plan which was not good for us.

And... today was Red for Unity in Adult Education Day!

Schools around the state showed their strength and support for Adult Education and each other.



La Escuelita Family Literacy in Oakland



Oxnard Adult School in Southern California

San Mateo Adult School
(Photo Credit:  Tom Jung)

 

Here is some more good news:

The change in Governor Brown's plan is because of you.

You wrote emails.

You sent cards and emails.

You visited Sacramento.

You signed petitions.

You stood up and spoke up. 

You delivered the message:  Adult Education Matters!

And the Governor listened.

Thank you, Govenor, for listening.

Thank you, students for speaking.

There is an African proverb that is very true:

If you want to go fast, go alone. 
            
          If you want to go far, go together.


We are going together.

California Adult Schools: To Be or Not?

Wear R-Ed for Unity! Tuesday, May 14th

Adult Education is everywhere in California.

It is in Adult Schools.

It is non-credit classes in community colleges in San Francisco and San Diego.

It is on the main campus of Adult Schools.

It is off-campus at Senior Centers, pre-schools, and elementary schools.

Adult Education helps immigrants, young adults, seniors, parents, disabled adults.

On Tuesday, all across California, we will wear R-Ed for Adult Education.

Rebuild
EDucation for Adults!

On this day, we remind everyone: 

Adult Education matters!

We need to keep Adult Education strong.

We need our own budget - Designated Funding.

We need the K-12 Adult Schools - like our school, San Mateo Adult School.

We need to re-open the closed programs in Oakland and other cities.

We need keep the programs in Azusa and Riverside open.

We need Adult Education!

Please wear something red on this day.

Anything red is okay - a hat, a scarf, or an Adult Education Matters t-shirt like these.

If you want one like this, you can buy one from
San Mateo Adult School.  As your teacher how.

If you are not a student at the school, but you want a t-shirt, call the school or leave a message on the SMAS Facebook page.

Do People Understand You?

When you speak English, do people sometimes look like this?

Or this?

Or this?

Or even this?

Or even this?!

  Maybe you need   help from the Pronunciation Doctor!

Teacher Marsha Chan has many, many great videos to help you speak English so that everyone can


U - N - D - E - R - S - T - A - N - D  you! 


                                                  And then they will look like this!

And that's something to S - M - I - L - E about!

Remembering Carlos & Martin

This Thursday, May 2nd, the San Mateo Adult School community will gather by "Martin's Tree" at 11:45 am to remember two members of our community we've lost:  Student Carlos Lopez and Teacher Martin Doerner.

ESL Student Carlos Lopez was in Teacher Mary's and Teacher Vaysl's classes.  He lived and worked in Half Moon Bay where he was a much loved employee at the Gin Wan restaurant.  On a break from his job, he was at the beach, kicking a soccer ball, and unfortunately, drowned in a riptide.   His classmates remember his warm smile and positive spirit.  He is deeply missed by his family here in the U.S. and in Mexico.




Carlos Lopez on a trip to Portland, Oregon



Teacher Martin Doerner, passed away two years ago this week.  Martin started the Passport to Employment program, which is now known as the Job Search class.  He was a mentor to Teacher Carolyn Lee.  Martin deeply cared for his students and he worked very hard to create the Passport to Employment program, teaching students at the Day Labor Center, and in his other teaching assignments.  He took his role as "teacher" very seriously and did all he could to empower his students to find success in life.



Martin Doerner and a student in the Passport to Employment program.



On Thursday and all days, we honor their memory.