We Stood Up and Celebrated!

Last week - March 11 to March 15, 2013 - was Adult Education Week.  We did a lot.

We stood up for Adult Education.  This means we supported and defended Adult Education.

And we celebrated Adult Education.  We talked about the good things.  We were happy about them.

ESL students paid for materials for to make a banner for Adult Education Week that we can use year after year.. The ESL Student Council approved the money for the supplies.


The students in Teacher Shirley's class made the banner.

They painted it.  They inserted grommets so the banner can be tied to the fence.  And they sewed the edges.

On Wednesday at breaktime in the morning, staff and students celebrated Adult Edcuation by dancing the Virgina Reel.   Toshio was the caller and told us what to do:  Right!  Left!  Swing your partner!   Do-si-do!

On Thursday, staff and students bought and wore Adult Education Matters t-shirts.

Thursday afternoon, some teachers brought our Adult Education Matters banner to the Rally for CCSF - City College of San Francisco.  They stood up to support for Adult Education.

On Thursday evening, three ESL students and Teacher Mary Peros spoke to the San Mateo Union High School District School Board.

They thanked the School Board for their support of our wonderful school.  And they talked about how the Adult School helps them.

Student Azucena Zarabanda explained that classes at the Adult School help her be a better parent.

Many ESL students in both the morning and the evening classes wrote essays for the First Annual "How Has San Mateo Adult School Helped You?" Essay Contest.

You can click here to read one of the winning essays.

On Wednesday in the evening, student read their excellent essays.  Everyone listened carefully to their power and truth.

On Friday in the morning, students read more wonderful essays.  Superintendent Scott Laurence, Councilman Ross and other guests attended the celebration.  We listened with our hearts and minds open.

Everyone - staff, students and guests - was impressed with the beautiful, inspiring essays from both evening and day programs.

And finally on Friday, thanks to Student Council member Laura, Univision Channel 14 came to visit our school and interview staff and students.

We explained to Univision that Adult Education matters.  We explained that Adult Education needs the K-12 Adult Schools - like ours.  We explained that Adult Education needs its own budget.  This special budget is called Designated Funding.

You can watch a clip from Univision here.  It is in Spanish.

It was a great week.

We worked hard.  We did good things.  We stood up.  We celebrated.

Why?

Because we know:  Adult Education Matters!

And remember:  Sign and share the Petition to Rebuild Adult Education!