Interested in blogging? Bioethics? Belly dancing? The Adult and Community Education Program (ACE MV) announces its new catalog of courses — including each of those — for the winter session at the high school from Jan. 12 to Feb. 13. There are 40 subjects included. Classes meet once a week on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. There also will be single-event seminars.
The ACE faculty is as diverse in background and profession as the curriculum would indicate. Geologist Dr. Charles Ratté, a former professor presently doing a ground study of Aquinnah, will teach the Basic Geology of Martha’s Vineyard: Pre-Glacial Geology and a Look Into The Future. Georgia Morris, who will teach a documentary film-writing seminar, has written documentaries for PBS, ABC and AMC. Ron Dagostino, a member of State Street Toastmasters Club, will teach Speaking in Front of a Group. Liz Witham, who will offer Learn to Edit Your Home Movie on iMovie, is the co-founder of Film-Truth Productions and has produced, directed and edited films screened at festivals nation-wide. Chef Marvin Jones will offer a night of Indian and Thai cooking.
Many courses are back by popular demand — such as Spanish, Shakespeare’s Characters, Portuguese, Salsa, Sign Language, computer classes (Computer Animation, Google Apps, Blogging and Excel), and writing workshops taught by Island novelists Cynthia Riggs and John Hough, Jr.
New classes offer training for today’s economic demands: Work Smarter Not Harder, Marketing Yourself as a Visual Artist, Landing a Job, and GED.
Three new categories have been added this term: Island Living/Home and Garden, including Basic Carpentry (for Women) and Preparing for a Healthy Garden, Parenting and Education, and Health/Fitness and Self-Help offering Capoeira, Salsa, Fencing, Nutritional Wellness and Weight Management, and more.
ACE will also offer courses sponsored by member groups of its advisory council, the Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network, Felix Neck Sanctuary, Island Grown Initiative, Wampanoag Tribal Council, and CONNECT to End Violence, a program of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.
Students from the fall term of ACE MV highly recommended the program. Terrie MacLaren stated, “Nice to meet students with interests similar to my own.” Linda Cohen of West Tisbury says, “Enjoy a warm and lively evening learning something new.” Liza Coogan found the courses challenging and says, “I didn’t lose interest for a minute in any of the five class nights.” Commenting on the instructors, Kevin Begley praises Saskia Vanderhoop’s teaching, saying she “. . . draws you in to something that is not easy yet she encourages everyone to progress.” Constance Messner says that Cynthia Riggs “is an Island treasure! . . . Her enthusiasm and inspiration colored a well-outlined syllabus.”
The winter catalog and flyer of courses will be available next week at all the Island schools and libraries courtesy of a grant from the Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard. The catalog of courses, registration forms, gift certificates, and other information are also available online at acemv.org. Register now online, or in person on Jan. 6 and 7 at the high school lobby from 5 to 7 p.m, or the first night of classes with an added fee of $5. Most courses have limited class sizes. For more information, e-mail Lynn Ditchfield at lditchfield@mvyps.org, or lynn@acemv.org or leave a voice mail message at 508-693-1033, extension 240.
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