<i>Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, send an e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Jean Card at 703-917-6437, with questions. This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.</i>
The ESL and Immigrant Ministries provides English classes in 17 locations in Northern Virginia, including places near Reston. Both day and evening classes are offered and child care is available at some locations. Registration begins Sept. 1. A $15 donation is requested. Visit www.eslim.org for class locations and schedules or call 703-841-0292 and leave a message. Calls will be returned in English, Spanish, Korean or Vietnamese.
The Reston Community Center offers English as a Second Language classes to adults with beginning to advanced levels of proficiency in spoken English. The classes are led by certified instructors from Comprehensive Language Centers Inc. and are designed to help participants enhance their ability to speak, write and understand English. The classes meet twice a week for 16 weeks September to November.
An assessment testing session is required for all ESL classes. All students who are new to RCC's ESL program must register for ESL and attend an assessment testing session to ensure placement in an appropriate ESL class. The ESL assessment testing will be held at the RCC Hunters Woods, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., and Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. Students will be placed in
Beginning, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, or Advanced ESL based on the results of the assessment test. Classes begin the week of Sept. 26.
All ESL classes are $25 for Reston residents and $50 for non-residents. The assessment test is free. Contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500, 703-476-1514 (TTY) or visit http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Dance With Me ballroom dance studio has moved from Sterling Plaza Shopping Center to 251 Sunset Business Park, Herndon at the intersection of Sunset Hills/Spring Street and Fairfax County Parkway. New classes and activities will start the week of Sept. 12. New programs include drop-in workshops on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month as well as Sunday night rueda - the new round dancing done to salsa music and patterns - lessons and dances. The studio plans classes in salsa, Latin, ballroom, swing, night club survival and extensive wedding preparation classes. The studio's new club look will lend itself to small weddings as well as great dances and social events and is available for such rentals. Call 703-444-3061 or visit www.dancewithme.net.
Dance and art classes begin Sept. 13 and Sept. 20, respectively. Space is limited. Visit www.lisarts.com or http://crossroadsarts.info to register. Call Lisa Z. Rodriguez 703-404-2977.
Registration for English classes will take place at Reston Bible Church Tuesday Sept. 13, 7:30-9 p.m. and Wednesday Sept. 14 from 9:30-11 a.m. These are also the class times. There will be a $10 fee. Childcare and tutoring are available for elementary school children. Reston Bible Church, 11979 North Shore Drive, Reston. Contact Susan Morinaga 703-478-9730.
Beth Chaverim Reform Congregation's Judaism 101 with Student Rabbi Jesse Gallop will offer a monthly, hour-long, high-school class to meet one Saturday evening a month. To foster a high degree of student involvement, course topics relating to teenage life will be agreed upon jointly by attendees and the rabbi. Adopting a discussion-type format to exploring current issues and discuss Jewish and modern perspectives. An optional youth group social will follow each class to be determined by the students at the Sept. 17 kickoff. Classes begin Sept. 18, at 9:15 a.m., in Ashburn. Members and nonmembers are welcome to this 10-part course on "what we forgot and what we never knew about Judaism." The course has a book list for participants and a $36 fee for nonmembers. Call 703-391-8669 or contact Lisa Kimball at bradamk@aol.com.
This fall, the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College offers a class that gives students a look at American homes from the colonial era to today. Survey of American Architecture (HIS 298) provides a comprehensive overview of the styles, origins and history of American domestic architecture.
Students will learn about the style evolution of American architecture and the architects and builders who shaped that evolution. Guest lecturers will discuss building techniques and the history of specific structures, and field trips to sites such as the 18th century village of Waterford and the 20th century town of Reston allow students to analyze structures from different time periods.
In addition to studying homes, buildings such as the Dulles airport terminal designed by Eero Sarinen will also be examined. The course is taught by Dana Shoaf, editor of America’s Civil War magazine and a member of the NVCC Historic Preservation Advisory Board. The 12-week course begins Sept. 21.
Registration for fall classes at all six NVCC campuses is going on now. Apply for admission online at www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect, or visit any NVCC campus location. Eligible Washington, D.C., residents can receive in-state tuition rates for NVCC courses, and financial aid and scholarship options are available for qualified individuals.
Candlelight beginner yoga classes at Brown's Chapel include gentle stretching, breathing and deep relaxation/guided meditation. Mondays 7:30-9 p.m., Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. Call 703-476-2827.
Crossroads School of the Arts, located in Herndon, offers classes in dance, drama and art for preschoolers through teens, as well as workshops for adults. Call 703-404-2977 or visit www.crossroadsarts.info.
Tiny Dancers is available at the Reston YMCA preschool. This dance education program emphasizes technical excellence and self-expression through the use of well-known stories and hundreds of costumes and props. Young dancers gain confidence and self-esteem through positive reinforcement in a creative and nurturing environment. Tiny Dancers offers ballet, tap and hip-hop classes specifically tailored to young dancers. Visit www.tinydancers.com or call the studio at 703-385-5580.
Angela’s Happy Stamper offers a variety of stamping and other crafting classes, including Beginning Stamping. Call 703-435-0051 or visit www.ahappystamper.com for class listings and schedules.
A free English class for speakers of other languages is offered at Jubilee Christian Center as a special Sunday school class at 9:30 a.m. 4650 Shirley Gate Road, Fairfax. Call 703-383-1170.
Free conversational English as a Second Language classes will be held at Washington Plaza Baptist Church, 1615 Washington Plaza West in Reston. One class will be held Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 1:30-3 p.m., and another Thursday, Sept. 15, from 7-8:30 p.m. Registration for each class will be held one week in advance, Sept. 7 and 8, at the ground level of the church. Visit www.washingtonplazachurch.com, e-mail administrator@washingtonplazachurch.com or call 703-471-5225.
Practice Your English, for beginning- and intermediate-level conversation groups for adults learning English. Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive. Call 703-689-2700.
Individual Internet training for adults at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive. One-hour sessions with a technology volunteers. Call 703-689-2700.
Vajrayogini Buddhist Center offers classes in Buddhist meditation, which is open to the public. The classes are Tuesdays of each month, 7-8: 30 p.m., in the "cry" room next to the chapel at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 1700 Wainright Drive, Reston. Visit the Web site www.meditation-dc.org or call 202-331-2122.
Gentle Hatha Yoga. Group sessions for beginners and those who would prefer to remain at a gentle level are offered Saturdays, 12-1:30 p.m., at Brown's Chapel, 11300 Baron Cameron Ave, Reston. Suggested donation is $50 for five classes; $12 for drop in. Weekday, daytime and evening classes are available in private studio in Reston. Call 703-787-0268.
The Fairfax County offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offer free weekly career seminars for those interested in learning more about a career in real estate. Information about the residential real estate profession and the opportunities available are among the topics to be discussed. The seminar is appropriate for those interested in starting a new career as well as for experienced sales associates looking to work with the "Company of Choice in the Mid-Atlantic region." To register, call Mark Pergerson at 703-476-8440.
Sahaja Yoga free meditation class, each Tuesday, to reduce stress and improve health. 7:15-8:15 p.m., at the Reston Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. Contact Navneet Agarwal, 703-793-6556.
Reston Community Center offers English as a Second Language courses for adults with beginning to intermediate levels of proficiency in English. The courses will cover basic grammar, conversation, pronunciation and writing. Classes are targeted to people age 16 and older. Students are required to take a free assessment test before they can attend a class. The fee for the class is $20 for Reston residents and $60 for all others. Call 703-476-4500.
Reston resident Carol Berman will help students learn pastel drawing and improve drawing skills on Thursday mornings, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at her Reston studio. Cost is $15 per session. Call 703-437-9068.
SOAR, or "Scouts Obtain Achievements and Recognition," teams Scouts with Reston Community Center Youth Department staff members, who assist the youth in earning merit badges and completing projects in the areas where they have resources and special expertise such as photo developing, cooking and crafts. Scouts can register for one-day, hands-on workshops on Mondays and Tuesdays 4-6 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. Call Julie Windsor at 703-390-6163 to schedule a workshop. The cost of the workshops is $6 for Reston residents and $9 for all others.