Monday, August 18, 2008

Taiko-Japanese Drumming Lunchtime Concert

The Boulder Public Main Library is hosting a lunchtime concert tomorrow at the Canyon Theater- Denver Taiko - Japanese Drumming Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 12:15 – 1pm. This should be a great performance. For those of you in the Boulder area interested in learning the art of Japanese drumming, Lifelong Learning is offering a Traditional Japanese Drum class this October. Check out the details below.

Traditional Japanese Drum
The Taiko drum has been considered sacred since ancient times. Learn to play this Japanese instrument based on four basic elements: Mind, Skill, Body, and Manner. Culture, history, and language will also be explored. We will begin with basic grip, stance, and movements prior to practicing drills fundamental to Taiko drumming. We will also learn a routine of full body stretches and the use of voice at each class. A $15 materials fee is payable to the instructor in class.

About the instructor: Julie Misawa studied Taiko for 8 years under the guidance of Taiko master Seiichi Tanaka who brought Taiko to the United States in 1968. As a teacher and performer, she has traveled throughout the US and has played at venues such as Carnegie Hall.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Green Tip from Lifelong Learning Instructor Kate Nelson

Roses are beautiful, but did you know that average rose has 127 different pesticides sprayed on it? (according to Corina Beczner of Vibrant Events). Make your wedding or party gentler on the earth by looking for sources of organic or locally grown flowers. You could also consider growing your own flowers in pots (organic, of course) in place of cut flowers for table arrangements.

Learn more helpful tips in Kate Nelson's Planning Green Weddings and Events class this October.


Kate Nelson, MA, has spent the past eight years as a teacher and Environmental Educator. For fun, she started Green Wedding Consulting, "An Eco-guide for the Groom and Bride." Kate never tires of researching the latest developments in green party planning.


Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Keeping Children Safe: Learn Iabout Internet Safety through Lifelong Learning Tech Savvy Parenting

A recent article posted on the PC Magazine website asks the question, “How Safe Are Your ‘Tweens Online?”. Internet safety is a huge topic among educators, parents, kids, teens and organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and for good reason.

According to a recent NCMEC study and pcmag.com, “By age seven, 60% of kids have been online; a number that jumps to 90% by age 9. Most tweens-kids between the age s of 8 and 12—stay on the internet for at least two hours a day.”

NCMEC and Cox Communications hosted an internet safety summit in July and found that approximately “28 percent of tweens reported having been contacted by a stranger while online. About 18 percent did not tell anyone about being contacted, while 11% responded to a stranger.”

Not only do kids and teens need to be aware of internet predators, but internet bullying is on the rise. NCMEC reports 22 percent of kids have friends that have been bullied online.

These statistics can be unsettling for parents. How can you keep your Tweens protected and safe on the internet? BVSD’s Lifelong Learning is addressing these concerns by offering a Tech Savvy Parenting class to help educate parents of the latest technologies and how to keep kids safe on the internet. Here are the class details:

Tech Savvy Parenting
Become familiar with the technologies tweens and teens are using. We will look at what the technologies are, how to help keep your kids safe online, and suggestions for using technology to support student growth. A materials fee of $10 is payable to the instructor in class.

Monday, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM; 3 sessions starting October 13, 2008, ending October 27, 2008 Cost $89, Materials Fee $10
Location: New Vista High School in Boulder

About the instructor: Michelle Eckstein is the founder of Gifted Kids Network and an Educational Consultant Specializing in using technology with gifted stidents. She has a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Connecticut. Michelle serves on the Boulder Valley School District Talented and Gifted Advisory Committee and currently serves as Secretary of Boulder Valley Gifted and Talented. Check out her blog on Gifted and Talented in the 21st Century which addresses ways to incorporate technology into gifted and talented programs and classes.

To register for this class, please visit www.bvsd.org/LLL or call 303-499-1125 x222.
To view the PC Magazine article, please visit http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2326289,00.asp.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Lifelong Learning serving up a fresh batch of cooking classes for Fall

Registration is now open for our Fall 2008 cooking classes. We have several new classes with Chef Cheyne, sure to be a hit for new students (and those who asked for more classes with Cheyne). If you haven't had the pleasure of taking a class with Cheyne, one of our many talented instructors, here is a brief bio to wet your appetite.

Cheyne Keith began cooking professionally at age 15 and has worked at more than 26 restaurants, from pizza joints to fancy French bistros. Trained at America’s premier culinary academy, the Culinary Institute of America, he has worked in Manhattan, Seattle, Copenhagen, and Colorado. He has moonlighted at The Boulderado Hotel for the past 13 years while operating his own catering business. He enjoys collecting spices from markets the world over. He has written articles for several food magazines and has taught more than eight sold-out classes for Lifelong Learning.


This fall, Chef Cheyne is teaching:
Healthy Vegetarian Cooking
Cooking Seafood
Surf the Internet like a Twenty-somethin
Pastas, Risottos, and Polentas – Turning Side Dishes into Leading Dishes
Preparing the World’s Most Delicious Meats

Italian Cooking Made Simple is also back for Fall. Come learn easy and delicious Italian recipes from Rome native, Francesca Giongo. Francesca has taught Beginning and Intermediate Italian, along with Travel Tips for Italy for several years with Lifelong Learning. This is Francesca's second Italian Cooking Made Simple class.


Click Here for our Fall Cooking Classes

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Fall 2008 Classes Posting Soon

Lifelong Learning Fall 2008 classes will post on our website for registration by the end of July. If you are on our mailing list, you should receive a printed catalog by the end of August. In the meantime, keep checking back for news about upcoming classes and events.

Want to be added to our catalog mailing list? Please call us at 303-499-1125 x222 or email julie.kurzawa@bvsd.org.

http://bvsd.org/lll