Newtown Continuing Education has limited openings available in the following classes and activities. Contact Newtown Continuing Education at 203-426-1787, 9 am to 1 pm, Monday through Friday, for further information on dates, times, and location or visit newtowncontinuinged.org.

Safe Boating/Personal Watercraft Certification Course — A four-class course on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting April 23, 7 pm to 9 pm, $25. This eight-hour course over four nights provides the student with satisfactory requirements to obtain the certification of personal watercraft operation, which allows the operation of motorized recreational vessels up to 65 feet and personal watercraft and sailboats 19½ feet in length and longer. Upon successful completion of this course, which includes an exam taken at the end of class, the student will be eligible to purchase their boating certificate for $50 online. This certificate is a one-time lifetime certification. If possible, students should bring their DEEP conservation ID with them to the first class. Go to ct.wildlifelicense.com to obtain an ID. No discounts apply.

Modern Homesteading — Offered in three sessions of one class each, the course is designed to inspire and motivate students to DIY their own backyard and gain valuable skills once utilized by our great-grandparents. Students can sign up for one or all three classes, $199 for the three classes or $69 per class. The instructors are Forest Clinton and Michelle Nardozzi.

Session I: What is Homesteading? Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, $69. The session will cover how to get started; raising homestead animals like chickens, goats, ducks, pigs, etc; and why its valuable. It will also cover the time/cost/supplies involved.

Session II: Seed Saving, Starting Plants From Seed, Swapping, and Making Kombucha. Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, $69. Why save seeds? The class will cover how to select, process, and store seeds, along with how and why to swap seeds. Students are encouraged to bring their own seeds, non-gmo please, to swap. Students will also learn to make their own probiotic-rich, immune-boosting, gut-healthy tea, and will take home a scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) for more at home brews.

Session III: All Natural, Homemade Lotion. Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, $69. Learn the process of making lotion, what supplies are needed, and much more.

Writing For Reach Colleges: Show! Don’t Tell! — A one-class course on Wednesday, April 24, 7 pm to 9 pm, $25, in Trumbull. Learn how to write dynamite college admission essays. This one-night class offers powerful, attention-getting “Show! Don’t tell!” techniques for writing narratives that leap off the page. Examples and appropriate handouts guide students to write effective compositions. Copies of a book with 75 student writing samples will be available for perusal and purchase. Students and parents are encouraged to attend together. Private editing sessions may be arranged for a fee when students complete their essays.

Excel Part Two — A two-class course starting Monday, April 22, 6:30 pm to 9 pm, $69. Continue to learn more about the most popular spreadsheet product on the market. In this second part of the course, students will work with multiple sheet workbooks, charts, advanced formatting capabilities, filtering, validating, scenarios, and more. Excel Part One or an equivalent course is a prerequisite.

Your Personal Financial Primer — A three-class course starting Thursday, April 25, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, $49. A comprehensive review of the following personal financial planning topics: the art of saving; setting financial goals; funding for college, retirement planning; principles of investing; how to prepare an income tax return; buying versus Leasing a car; buying a first home; reverse mortgages; and wills, trusts, and probate. Students will receive a book that is included with the price of the class.

Design And Sew A Skirt — A three-class course starting Thursday, April 25, 6 pm to 8 pm, $79. Learn to sew or improve sewing skills. It’s easy and fun to sew a custom skirt. Discover how to measure for size, choose and cut fabric, read a pattern, sew seams, install a zipper, and sew a hem. Take the first step toward designing a personal wardrobe. Students should bring a sewing machine and manual to each class. The instructor will provide a customized pattern and shopping list for each student during the first class.

Gardening Indoors For Happy Houseplants — A one-class course on Monday, April 29, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, $39. Many gardeners have great green thumbs when it comes to outdoor plants but then have a difficult time with indoor plants. For those who struggle to keep indoor plants healthy and those that wish to expand their knowledge, the course will cover all sorts of houseplant situations and offer advice. Topics will include how to keep houseplants happy, what plants to choose (and what to avoid), where to place them, and how to maintain and overwinter indoor potted plants (and when and what to put outside in warmer weather).

Editing Photos On Your iPhone/iPad — A one-class course on Monday, April 29, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, $39. Learn simple editing techniques with the iPhone’s editing tools: cropping, exposure, adjustment, color correction, and enhancement. With the free iPhone application Snapseed, students will also explore more creative alterations, such as cloning, retouching, and applying various special effect filters.

Flowers 101 And Floral Design: Make Your Own Flower Crown — A one-class course on Tuesday, April 30, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, $35. Join us for an evening of design in our second floral design class. The class will explore using live fresh flowers and greens to design one-of-a-kind flower crowns. The instructor will lead a demo for a handful of different crown styles and participants will get to create their own to take home. This makes a great gift for a loved one or as an activity to share with a friend. A materials fee of $15 is payable to the instructor the first night of class. No discounts apply.

A Taste Of Italian New York — A day trip slated for Sunday, April 28, and departing Newtown High School at approximately 8:45 am, $114. The day will begin with a visit to the gourmet market, Zabar’s. Peruse and purchase delicious cheeses, breads, smoked fish, bagels, and various international foods. Then it’s off to Carmine’s, on the upper west side, to sit and indulge on an Italian lunch served with enormous family-style portions. The day will conclude with a stop on Arthur Avenue, the Little Italy of the Bronx, where people can find many scrumptious Italian delicacies under one roof at the Arthur Avenue Retail Market. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as there will be a moderate amount of walking, along with reusable bags and a cooler with ice packs to bring home an abundance of delicious delicacies. No discounts apply.

Hudson River Cruise And White Glove Tour — A day trip that will depart from Newtown High School at approximately 9:30 am on Sunday, June 23, $134. Begin the day with a rare and unusual experience at Mount Gulian Historic Site, a 1600s colonial homestead in Beacon, New York. Take a tour of the site, including the kitchen, barn, and garden. Then don white gloves to touch, hold, and examine 300-year-old artifacts as part of the site’s archival collection. (Steps are required to get into house, and there is no elevator). Prior to the cruise, lunch will be at the River Grill. Located in Newburgh’s historic district on the Hudson River, the restaurant features delicious food and magnificent water views. The menu will include: garden salad; a choice of penne a la vodka, filet of sole stuffed with crab meat, chicken marsala, or grilled flank steak; potato; warm brownie sundae; and a soda or coffee. Attendees will be asked to select an entree choice in advance. The River Rose is an authentic New Orleans paddle wheeler that departs from Newburgh, New York, and heads south, offering a two-hour narrated tour of historically significant sites such as Bannerman’s Island, Catskill Water Aqueduct, Storm King Mountain, Breakneck Mountain, Village of Cole Spring, and West Point. No discounts apply.