Arlington Community Education

Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test. Learn how government works, understand your rights and responsibilities as a citizen, learn the answers to all of the questions on the civics and history portion of the test, improve your English, and prepare to pass the exam. Requirements to apply for citizenship are a green card for five years (or married to an American citizen and green card for three years) and intermediate level English. This free class meets for 10 weeks, 2 hours per week. For more information: https://www.stmarksesol.org/citizenship-program

Intrigued by the secret world of spies and special agents? Explore cryptology, the art and science of making and breaking codes. Use math, history, science, and art skills to learn many different ways to communicate secretly. You’ll learn the history behind different secret codes, encrypt and decipher messages, create your own cipher disk, and so much more.

Explore different ways to code on an iPad using apps and websites such as Scratch Jr., code.org, CodeSpark Academy, Osmo, Ozobots, and more. We’ll get to play coding-based board games and do other non-screen activities that complement our coding lessons.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Codman Estate’s historic landscape in Lincoln and learn about its evolution and preservation. The last two generations of family members who lived here between 1862 and 1968 made improvements to the grounds and gardens, while carefully preserving aspects of what their 18th century ancestors created. The grounds feature a hidden Italianate garden (c. 1900) with perennial beds, statuary, and a reflecting pool filled with water lilies, as well as an English cottage garden (c. 1908).

Coffee is love! Learn where specialty coffee comes from, how it is processed, graded, and roasted, then taste a few different types. After the group has decided which coffee they like the best, we will fire up the roaster and develop a batch of freshly roasted beans. After they have cooled, we will bag them and everyone will leave with a 12 oz. bag of their own freshly roasted coffee.

For AHS students only This four day course is designed for rising seniors who want help managing the many requirements of the college application process, and finetuning their essay. Work with AHS school counselors Danielle Rakowsky and Kathy Hirsch, along with English teacher Nicole Eidson to explore topics including: application time management and scheduling, resume-building, essay and supplement writing, interview preparation, and financial aid awareness. For AHS students only.

The college essay personal statement is arguably one of the most important pieces of writing a student will complete in high school. It is also a type of writing not commonly taught in the classroom—the personal narrative. Parents of high school juniors are invited to attend this one-session class to learn more about what admission officers seek in the personal statement. We will also cover approaches to answering common supplemental essay prompts and provide tips parents can use to support their student throughout the writing process.

Flex your art-making muscle while working with a sophisticated computer art program. You’ll practice creating awesome images, and then we’ll show you how to modify them so that they can be turned from 2D art into 3D sculptures. Modern "making" is so much more than just working with your hands.

We all encounter conflict every day, either as a participant or an observer. How conflict is resolved (or not resolved) has a large impact on our quality of life. Through practice and roleplaying, learn strategies that effectively resolve conflict amicably and allow both parties to feel like a positive outcome has been achieved. You will develop useful conflict resolution skills for resolving personal conflicts or those of others.

It’s an awkward topic, but have you ever thought to yourself, “I feel so lonely sometimes. How can I deepen my relationships? How do I make new friends?” Meaningful relationships can help boost self-esteem, improve family dynamics, and increase work success, but in adulthood, there are fewer and fewer built-in opportunities to socialize. Through discussion and roleplay, learn strategies that can be used in multiple contexts to initiate and maintain conversations, how small talk can lead to deeper connection, the hidden expectations and rules around conversation and friendship, and how to identify and see value in different types of friendships. Designed for adults ages 18–30.

There’s nothing more fun than country western line dancing! You don’t even need a partner. Come get low-impact exercise as we dance to (mostly) country western music. Ages 18+ Beginner: If you’ve never line danced before or have only done a few classes, we’ll start from the very beginning, with simple dances that teach you the basic building blocks of line dancing. Intermediate: For those who have been dancing for a while and are ready for a new challenge, these dances are longer, faster, and have more turns.

Explore a seemingly endless supply of fun materials in this “craft-tacular” week. We’ll use yarn, popsicle sticks, beads, and more to make a variety of projects including fluffy pompoms, treasure boxes, marshmallow shooters, and more. Expand your crafting skills with gimp as we experiment with different stitches to make things like bracelets, keychains, and beaded geckos.

Embark on a journey of creativity, from crafting slime and DIY playdough to building a captivating gallery featuring painted rocks, paper fish, and more. Upcycle popsicle sticks, twigs, yarn, and other materials to make wall hangings, picture frames, and bracelets. Other projects in the lineup include coasters, duct tape pencil cases, and tie-dye headbands from t-shirts.

Demystify the security of your online digital presence. Explore the evolution of account security, delving into effective practices for crafting and managing robust passwords. Discover not only how to fortify your passwords but also gain insights into identifying and thwarting common methods of compromising them. Then put on your freshly minted hacker hat as we work together to break an encrypted message.

Do you have an upholstered chair that needs new life? Whether dog-damaged, cat-scratched, or just in need of a facelift, reupholster the piece yourself and be amazed at the transformation—and at how much fun the process can be. Led by a master upholsterer, we’ll cover old-school and modern methods and materials for antique, 20th century, and contemporary furniture. Learn to disassemble your piece then pad, cut, and apply fabric in a step-by-step approach. Small chairs, ottomans, or other small pieces only. Tuition includes all basic upholstery materials, with the exception of Fabric & Cushions. Don’t have your own fabric? Fabrics are sold here at the shop through our fabric expert Mikayla Dows. Tools: Limited number of tools are available at the shop, but please bring your own if you have them. Bring to first class: magnetic: tack hammer, wooden mallet, scissors, tape measure, flat screwdriver, and pliers. Please note: Smaller chairs or ottomans are recommended for this class, particularly for beginners; large armchairs often take at least two full sessions of this course. Furniture must be brought to and from class due to space limitations. Visit upholsteryonbroadway.com.

We’ll put a Spanish spin on music, movement, and crafting in this fun class. Learn simple choreography to popular Spanish and Latin dances, such as the flamenco, salsa, and cha cha, and complete crafts and activities related to the cultures we are exploring. We will also learn about traditions, costumes, and Spanish names and words.