BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON CLASSES ARE OFFERED. SEE CLASS DESCRIPTIONS FOR DETAILS.
Important note: At this time, only vaccinated people are permitted to join in-person classes. Thank you for your understanding.
The pursuit of knowledge through life-long learning, whether it’s learning to speak a foreign language, improve your health and fitness, write a newsletter, or research your family history, has wonderful benefits for adults – young and old:
- Keeps your mind sharp
- Improves memory
- Increases self-confidence
- Offers an inexpensive way to try something new
- Saves money as you learn to do it yourself
- Gives you a feeling of accomplishment
- Helps you meet people who share your interests
- Builds on skills you already have
- Offers an opportunity to learn a new skill or trade and increase your income
- Gives you a new interest that you can share with family and friends
Note! These classes are self-supporting and are not funded by the state.
For more detailed information about any of the offerings listed please click the enroll now button.
applied arts
IN PERSON: This class is for adults with some experience in the past painting in watercolor, and experienced watercolorists. Illustrator Matt Crane will demonstrate a sampling of painting and drawing techniques weekly. For a materials list email: jmcgovern@smuhsd.org.
Learn strategies and useful tips to enhance your drawings and paintings from illustrator, Matt Crane. Practice applying different techniques to create depth, shading and highlights to enhance your drawings and paintings. Demonstrations are followed by student practice. The class size is small so each student receives one to one instruction. For a materials list email: jmcgovern@smuhsd.org.
This 8-week course is designed for beginners who have an interest in learning to draw or simply want to improve their skills of observation. The class will introduce the tools and materials you’ll need along with demonstrations of techniques and exercises for practice. Line, shape, form, spatial concepts, value (light and shade), linear and atmospheric perspective, the figure, principles of composition (rhythm, scale/proportion, texture, variety, contrast, unity, balance) will be covered. Email jmcgovern@smuhsd.org for a material’s list.
This 8-week course is designed for those with some experience drawing and want to improve their skills. Students will reinforce their basic drawing skills and combine drawings with other media like watercolor and colored pencil.
Elements of design, realistic and symbolic, as well as expressive modes of drawing as they apply to still-life, landscapes, the figure and portraits will be introduced and discussed. Drawing is a skill that builds on learning how to “see” and is the foundation of visual arts and a means of personal expression. Emphasis is placed on personal expression. Email jmcgovern@smuhsd.org for a material’s list.
IN PERSON: Instruction is offered in the fundamentals of art: drawing, color, shape, form, value, perspective and texture. It includes a variety of art mediums: graphite, watercolor, color pencils, water soluble colored pencils, pastels, portraiture, scratchboard, and additional techniques with art mediums. The instructor’s goal is to enhance the participant’s enjoyment, art skills, and personal styles. The class is non-judgmental. All skill levels are welcome. Materials fee discussed at first class meeting.
Music Appreciation
West Bay Community Band
Afternoon at the Opera
HYBRID: We’ll meet once a month in a hybrid format so you can attend in person or via Zoom. Classes will prepare you for the fabulous broadcasts being streamed to a movie theater near you direct from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Health and Fitness
IN PERSON: If enjoy uplifting music, rhythm and dance, this class is for you. We start with a slow gentle warmup and transition to easy paced low impact modified aerobic exercises that include a few fun easy to follow dance steps! We then use hand weights (optional) to build arm strength. Class concludes with gentle exercises performed on a mat to strengthen legs and stabilize knee joints. Bring hand weights and mat. Resistance bands provided. Guest drop-in passes are accepted and can be purchased in class.
HYBRID: Wednesday Dance Fitness class meets in person and online via zoom. Once you’ve registered for the class, your instructor will email you to find out if you’ll attend in person or online. The zoom link to the class will be emailed to you approximately four days prior to the start of the class. If you have any questions email your instructor at: jmcgovern@smuhsd.org.
Students with schedules that vary enjoyed the option to alternate between joining the class in person and online. Guest drop-in passes are accepted for students joining this class in person and can be purchased in class.
ONLINE: Gently paced stretching exercises for the neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees and feet are followed by fun low impact aerobic dance moves! These movement routines are specifically designed to improve your cardio vascular system, over all agility and adaptive balance. We then add ten minutes of strength training for arms using hand weights. Class concludes with diaphragmatic breathing to intentionally reset, calm and regulate your nervous system. Breath work is done while seated.
ONLINE: In this class you’ll do aerobic exercise combined with Latin music and dance moves. The movement routines are designed to build leg strength and improve your over all agility and balance. Thirty minutes of movement is followed by a cool down and slow stretches, and use of hand weights (optional). Class concludes with diaphragmatic breathing to intentionally reset your nervous system. Breathwork is done while seated.
IN PERSON: This beginning small group tai chi class will meet in person. Students will be positioned a safe distance apart from each other. The goal of this class is to improve your functional balance and overall agility. With the skilled and supportive coaching of Debbie Au, RN, you will learn and Tai Chi postures to improve coordination, support better balance responses, benefit joint mobility and increase overall agility. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, no sandals. Guest drop-in passes are not accepted for this class. Only VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS are permitted to join this class
HYBRID: You have the option of joining this class online via zoom or in person. Learn and practice beginning postures of the taiji routine. In this class for beginners you’ll learn 6-8 basic postures, slowly, step by step. Class starts off with gentle movements to warm up your joints and muscles to promote better flexibility, range of motion and balance. Warm up exercises are followed by practicing taiji postures. We will also have some time for developing community.
IN PERSON: Advanced Tai Chi students should have completed all 75 postures of the Zungu Chen Family routine and have been practicing the routine on their own. Fine tuning of the postures is a component of this class.
*Enrollment in Intermediate Tai Chi requires instructor approval. Please contact AAP Program Coordinator Jeri McGovern.
IN PERSON: Our Yoga for Health is designed for adults over 50. You’ll learn and practice mild to moderate poses at an easy pace. The yoga postures have been selected to help you gradually release bodily tension while increasing overall flexibility and strength. Additional benefits of practicing yoga are an enhanced focus of attention, and a feeling of well being.. In addition to teaching customary yoga positions, your instructor will offer modifications of postures for students as needed. Classes conclude with a meditative relaxation exercise. Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a mat and towel. Guest drop-in passes are accepted and can be purchased in class.
IN PERSON: This blended class combines the yogic focus on enhanced mind and body awareness, strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, with Pilates techniques to improve posture and create a strong, stable foundation for movement. Instructor will teach basic Mat Pilates movement with a yogic focus. No prior experience is necessary. Guest drop-in passes are accepted and can be purchased in class.
Please note: At this point in time, only vaccinated people are permitted to join this class in person. Thank you for your understanding.
This class is designed to support and maintain overall fitness for adults 70 and better! We practice specific routines to improve leg and arm strength. You will learn about body mechanics that contribute to better posture and can help lower your risk for falls. Some exercises are done seated; others while standing, using a chair for support. Bring 2lb. hand weights. Resistance bands provided. Class size is limited to 10. Guest drop-in passes not accepted. Only vaccinated people are permitted to join this class in person. Thank you for your understanding
CURRENT EVENTS, MEMOIRS & STORIES
Stay informed! Connect with other adults who enjoy engaging in thought-provoking, lively conversations about the world in which we live. New topics weekly, drawn from local, national, and global events. Keep your mind sharp through engagement. Whether you prefer to listen and observe or express and share your ideas, we all learn from and about each other. Your opinion matters!
ONLINE: This is a small intimate online class. Get all the tips, support and encouragement you need to explore the art of writing. Whether you would like to work on memoir, creative nonfiction, fiction, or personal essays, come spend a few hours a week in a reflective class that will sharpen your writing skills and tell your story. Your instructor, Judi Leff, historian and humorist, will be helping students hone writing and storytelling skills. Judi’s passions include current events, San Francisco history, and the writing and performing of comedy, both seated and standing.
GENEALOGY
1/12 US War Stories
1/19 US Epidemics 1/26 US Migrations of all types
2/02 US Ports
2/09 US Frontier Trails
2/16 US Land Records
2/23 US Native-Americans
3/02 Handwriting – Worldwide
3/09 Key Worldwide Sites – Free and Not
3/16 Newspapers – Worldwide
3/23 Some Asian Countries
3/30 Some African Countries
4/13 Some Central and South American Countries
4/20 Some ex-Russian-ex-Hungarian Countries
GUEST PASSES
Guest Passes are a great way to sample a selection of our class offerings. Purchase a few guest passes for yourself or have a few on hand to invite a friend or visiting relative to class. You can buy them at the Adult School office or in class from your instructor.
Guest Passes can be used for most Health and Fitness classes, Current Events, and for Afternoon at the Opera classes meeting in person. Guest Passes are not applicable to classes that feature ongoing projects such as Painting, Drawing, West Bay Community Band, and Memoirs and Stories.
NOTE: Guest Passes may NOT be used for Online Classes.
Guest Pass for 1 hour Health and Fitness classes accepting guest passes: $8.00
Guest Pass for Afternoon at the Opera – Prep for the Met: $25
Locations
SAN MATEO ADULT & CAREER EDUCATION
789 E Poplar Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
MILLBRAE LIBRARY
1 Library Ave, Millbrae, CA 94030
MILLBRAE recreation CENTER
477 Lincoln Circle, Millbrae, CA 94030
CENTRAL PARK RECREATION CENTER
50 E 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
SAN BRUNO SENIOR CENTER
1555 Crystal Springs Rd, San Bruno, CA 94066
SAN MATEO SENIOR CENTER
2645 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94403
FOSTER CITY COMMUNITY CENTER
1000 E Hillsdale Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404
FOSTER CITY RECREATION CENTER
650 Shell Blvd, Foster City, CA 94404
Questions?
Contact Active Adults Program Coordinator Jeri McGovern for more information.