The Community Education Office is offering a variety of enrichment and educational classes for adult this fall. Call the Community Education Office at 459-5116 for more details or to register for classes.

Here's a look at some of what's on tap:

A series of computer application workshops taught during October.

Are you interested in expanding your computer skills in a particular area? Each week during the month of October, RHHS Technology Specialist Levi Sybert will be conducting hands-on workshops in four different areas that computer users want to know.

Each workshop will last for 90 minutes and can be attended on either Monday or Thursday evening. The workshops start at 6 p.m. and will meet in the RHHS computer lab.

When enrolling for these workshops, please indicate if you have a preference for a particular class night. If no preference is indicated, each participant will be placed in the first available opening.

The cost of each workshop is $20. Each participant will have their own computer and software to use and will leave with an electronic copy of the presented materials and any distributable software.

Have you staked claim to your own personal piece of real estate in the cyber world? Well, what is stopping you?

Participants in this workshop will learn of and how to use at least two online applications that allow them to build and maintain their own personal web site. Best of all, these applications allow them to build and post a web site in a mater of minutes, for FREE.

All participants will leave with their own web site already established. Now, you can easily share your photos and stories to all your family and friends across the county. If time permits, Internet Explore 7.0 and RSS Feeds basics will also be covered.

So you pressed the button, now what? Why are everyone’s eyes red?

Participants of this workshop will learn how to upload, quickly edit, and organize and backup their pictures/movies.

These skills will be practiced using three different software applications that all participants will be able to take home. All participants are encouraged to bring their digital camera with them. If time permits, online sharing and format modifying basics will be covered too.

Oh my, the holiday season is about here and you want to go big time with this year’s family letter.

Don’t fret yet, participants of this workshop will quickly learn how to get started and perform some more advance tasks with Publisher, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Sounds like a lot?

Well, once you learn one, then more than likely you’ll know something about the other. Beyond that, are you tired of paying for MS Office? Well there is a free alternative called Open Office that all participants will learn how to use and receive a copy of this program.

Wish you could get rid of the wires and sit where you want with your laptop? Better yet, are you sure your neighbors are not piggybacking on your wireless network?

Participants will be walked through a typical setup of a common wireless router they can pick up today for less than $100.

Beyond that, participants will be walked through the steps necessary to network a printer. Computer child proofing basics and suggestions will be covered also.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the basic lifesaving technique for treatment of sudden death or respiratory arrest.

It involves a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions. These techniques provide basic life support by keeping oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until appropriate medical advanced life support can restore normal heart action.

A CPR course will provide you with the necessary information and skills needed in an emergency. Otis Willis and qualified instructors with the American Heart Association will teach adult and child CPR and First Aid class during the fall session.

Instructional areas to be taught include:

Basic First Aid (choking and breathing problems, allergic reactions, heart attack/stroke/seizures, bleeding, sprains, broken bones, burns and electrocution); Environmental Emergencies (bites and stings, temperature related emergencies, poison emergencies); and CPR and AED (adult, child, infant, and AED operation).

The class requires six hours of instructional time with a written and skills test at the end of the course. Participants will receive a First Aid Training Manual, class handouts, and a First Aid/CPR Card upon successful completion of the class requirements. Two classes will be offered this session: Saturday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.; or Monday, Oct. 1, and Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 6–9 p.m.

Exact location of classes will be available at a later date. All registrations must be received in the Community Education Office no later than one week prior to the class date. The class fee is $50.

During the Summer Camp program, the parents often tell us they wish they could take a day off from work and join our field trips. Here’s your opportunity.

We have planned three special Saturday activities just for adults.

RHMS teacher Larry Smith conducted some interesting and entertaining Savannah history tours for our summer campers, and he has agreed to coordinate these Savannah adult field trips for us. Participants will provide their own transportation and will meet at a pre-determined location in Savannah where Mr. Smith will have an overview and introduction to the day’s walking tour.

Registration from students or children will not be accepted on these trips! Participants should wear appropriate clothing and bring a picnic lunch that can easily be carried in a small cooler or insulated bag. Participants are welcome to bring cameras if they so desire. This is a great way to spend a beautiful fall Saturday. Because of City of Savannah regulations, class size must be limited to 30 participants. Grab a friend, pack a picnic lunch, and register today! The cost of each tour is $25.

Oglethorpe’s Opus: Savannah’s Unique City Plan – Participants will meet for an informative presentation about Savannah, Georgia’s first city. At the end of the presentation, they will use their new knowledge to "build" the city. Afterward, the group will visit Savannah’s Landmark Historic District, the nation’s largest, for a walking tour of selected squares. Participants will discover Savannah’s rich history as they view the squares, their monuments, and many historically significant sites along the way. Participants will meet on Thursday, September 27, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. for an orientation session. The walking tour will be offered on Saturday, September 29. The group will meet at 9:00 a.m. at a designated location in Savannah.

The Civil War in Coastal Georgia – The lack of a major battle fought in or near our area has given rise to the grave misconception that Coastal Georgia has little Civil War history. During the morning session, an informative presentation will recap the major events and personalities of the war. Then participants will visit Savannah’s national Landmark Historic District for a walking tour of the many sites that are relevant to the war and the people who lived through it. The class will even learn how a Union general and a Confederate general ended up in the same family plot in Laurel Grove Cemetery! Participants will meet on Thursday, October 18, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. for and orientation session. The walking tour will be offered on Saturday, October 20, with participants meeting at a predetermined location in Savannah at 9:00 a.m.

Beautiful Bonaventure: Savannah’s "Good Fortune!" – Participants will meet at Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery for an interesting and educational walking tour. The program starts with the cemetery’s history, Victorian gravestone symbolism, and the work of sculptor John Walz, who created many of the beautiful statues and memorials in Bonaventure. (Ironically, Walz has no monument or statue on his grave!) As the group travel to the bluff, they will meet such noted Savannahians as Oscar-winning songwriter Johnny Mercer, the beloved "Little Gracie", Commodore Josiah ("Blood’s thicker than water!") Tattnall, poet Conrad Aiken, and many others. As the group begins its return to the cemetery’s gate, participants become the guides as they pick monuments and statury to show the group. After the tour, the class will share their picnic lunches on the grounds, just as visitors in days past did. Participants will meet on Thursday, November 1, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. for and orientation session. The walking tour will be offered on Saturday, November 3, with participants meeting at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah at 9:00 a.m.

VEGGIE PLATE CERAMICS

Join instructor Erica Childress, owner of Midnight Star Pottery, for this one-night ceramics class for adults. Participants will create a beautiful hand-painted 8" X 15" Veggie Tray that will be their own unique creation. Participants will paint assorted vegetables on their tray using different techniques that is sure to make everyone look like an artist! The trays must be returned to the studio with Mrs. Childress for firing and will be available for pickup in the Community Education Office several days after the class. This class will meet on Tuesday, October 23, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the RHES art room. A sample of the tray is on display in the Community Education Office. The class fee is $30 which includes all supplies.

UP AND OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT THE CHAOS

We all know how chaotic and stressful weekday mornings can be. If you would like to breeze through your morning routines and get everyone off to school and work on time then you will want to sign up for this class with instructor Susan Tobelman (see instructor information in The Organized Child class). Participants will learn how to establish an organized routine that will help bring order to the chaotic and often challenging chore of getting everyone up and off to school each morning on time. By implementing these routines, you will be able to teach your child how to manage and be responsible for preparing themselves for school each day. The 1 ½ hour class will be offered twice: Thursday, September 27, and Thursday, October 4, from 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. in the Richmond Hill Elementary School media center. The class fee is $45.

ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE

This class is designed for the individual that is overwhelmed by the clutter that surrounds them. The course, taught by instructor Susan Tobelman, will be an open, interactive format. Participants should arrive at Session I with a "before" picture of one space in their home they want to organize. Over the course of the three sessions, participants will learn to recognize why they create unorganized spaces and how to reclaim and maintain those spaces. Session I will help you analyze and plan your targeted area to reorganize; Session II will teach you how to reclaim your space; and Session III will consist of evaluating and maintaining your new organized life. As an Organizing Specialist, Mrs. Tobelman teaches individuals how to organize all areas of their lives. She provides one-on-one in-home organization sessions as well as group sessions to businesses and community members. Her goal is to help others move past the "overwhelmed" state, get organized, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment and peace while living a life with less stress and more productivity. Let her help you achieve this goal by signing up today for Organize Your Life. The classes will be on Thursday nights, October 11, 18, and 25, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. each night in the RHES art room. All registrations must be received no later than October 4. The class fee is $65. There will be lots of interactive time where participants can ask questions and receive personalized instruction.

FALL CORNUCOPIA

Come spend a fun and entertaining evening creating a stunning floral cornucopia arrangement. Floral designer Alice Shaller, owner of Floral Designs by Alice, will provide participants step-by-step instructions for making this beautiful cornucopia complete with flowers, fruits, and fall foliage. All necessary items, including basket, flowers, fruits, and supplies, will be provided in the class fee of $52. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a festive decoration for the upcoming holiday season. The class will be held on October 4 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the RHES art room. All registrations must be received no later than September 20 to allow the instructor sufficient time to purchase class supplies.

CROCHET I

Instructor Leah Costlow will offer participants an introduction into crocheting. She will provide a discussion and hands-on instruction on choosing crochet hooks, deciding on yarn weights, how to read a yarn label, how to add or decrease stitches, how to make sense of abbreviations and directions, and how to learn the basic stitches. Ms. Costlow will provide the pattern and instruction as participants work on a basic scarf project. Participants must provide 1 skein of yard in their choice of color (She recommends Lion Brand Homespun yarn; however, any bulky #5 yarn will work.), a size N-13 (9 mm) hook, a large-eye blunt needle, and a pair of scissors. The class will meet on October 2, 9 and 16, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the RHES media center meeting room. The class fee is $45.

CROCHET II

Instructor Leah Costlow will continue her instruction into the skill of crocheting. In this more advanced class, participants will need to have a basic knowledge of crochet stitches and abbreviations. Participants will complete a Market Bag in this environment-friendly class using basic crochet skills. The pattern will be provided; however, participants must furnish the following items: 3 balls of yarn in your choice of colors, size H-8 hook or a size needed to obtain gauge (gauge: 15 dc and 10 rds = 4 ins (10cm) working back and forth in sps between dc), a large-eye blunt needle, and a pair of scissors. The class will meet on November 6, 13, and 20 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the RHES media center meeting room. The class fee is $45.

SAFE ESCAPE & CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Non-Violent Self Defense

Safe Escape is a non-violent form of self-defense that is based in martial arts but uses positions of evasion instead of contact for protection. Safe Escape is easy to learn and enables you to anticipate your attacker’s probable reactions. By learning how to predict an attacker’s next moves, you can safely stay out of reach in position and ahead in timing. The non-violent nature of Safe Escape offers effective personal protection without giving reason for future retaliation. The class will also focus on topics such as efficient and peaceful problem solving and communication skills, understanding gender differences in perception and communication of problems and conflicts, and learning how to identify physical symptoms of conflict and distress in yourself and others. The class is taught by Leah Kidwell who has over ten years of experience in the field of conflict management. She obtained her BA in Conflict Studies from DePauw University and is finishing her MA in Secondary Education. She is experienced in curriculum and program design and facilitation pertaining to peaceful problem solving, Safe Escape, diversity, successful communication, money management and many other topics. This class is available for women, ages 18 and older. The class will meet on Tuesday, October 2, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the RHES auditorium. The class fee is $25.

ONE-STROKE PAINTING

Artist Carrie Ondriezek will offer two classes this fall to introduce the technique of one-stroke painting to interested adults. Mrs. Ondriezek has been a One-Stroke Certified Instructor for over four year and is currently enrolled in the elite program for One-Stroke instructors. She currently teaches at several locations in the Savannah and Richmond Hill area. All registrations must be received in the Community Education Office at least two weeks prior to the class to allow Mrs. Ondriezek sufficient time to purchase supplies. Each two-hour class will meet from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on the dates listed below. Classes will meet in the Richmond Hill Primary School art room. Due to the individualized instruction, only twelve participants can be accepted into each of the classes so early registration is encouraged. Samples of the completed projects are on display in the Community Education Office.

Floral Note Cards: Mrs. Ondriezek will assist each participant in learning the unique technique needed to complete a set of four beautiful note cards and envelopes. Each card will have a different floral design and corresponding flower on the envelope. These personalized, hand painted cards are a great way to send correspondence with family and friends or would make a great gift idea. The class will meet on Tuesday, September 18. The class fee is $50.

Wooden Christmas Tray: Participants will paint a tray with an original Christmas design created by Carrie Ondriezek. This wooden tray is perfect to use during your holiday entertaining, as a unique decoration, or to share as a gift for a special person. The class will meet on Tuesday, November 13. The class fee is $50.

MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR YOUNG ADULTS

A class for ages 18 – 25

Money management is essential for everyone but is a skill that must be practiced. It is difficult as young adults to learn how to successfully budget your first paycheck and plan for the future, too! In this one-night class, instructor Leah Kidwell will give you some excellent ideas to incorporate into your daily life. Topics will include: learn how to build great credit, read a credit report, and contact credit bureaus; learn the advantages of establishing good credit; understand your paycheck and all of those deductions; learn quick "sale math"; learn to log and balance a checkbook; and establish a realistic budget for yourself now and for the future. Instructor Leah Kidwell has obtained her BA in Conflict Studies from DePauw University and is currently finishing her MA in Secondary Education. She is an experienced instructor in such subjects as money management, conflict management, career preparation, college preparation, and diversity training. This class is available for teens and young adults, ages 18 and older. The class will meet on Tuesday, October 23, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the RHES auditorium. The class fee is $25. Registration from students or children will not be accepted on these trips! Participants should wear appropriate clothing and bring a picnic lunch that can easily be carried in a small cooler or insulated bag. Participants are welcome to bring cameras if they so desire. This is a great way to spend a beautiful fall Saturday. Because of City of Savannah regulations, class size must be limited to 30 participants. Grab a friend, pack a picnic lunch, and register today! The cost of each tour is $25.