August 2002 Newsletter
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
Mission Statement
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers is an open, not-for-profit home education network, providing social and creative outlets for homeschooling families. We are not devoted to any one homeschooling approach, political platform, religious outlook, or philosophical ideal. Our homeschooling community supports all families, regardless of their personal lifestyle or educational choices in the area of home education. Our motto is "hozho," a Navajo word meaning "harmony" or "walking in beauty or friendship."
Quote of the Month
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Calendar
(check below for related articles)
SDH Pool Party Saturday, August 10
Desert Museum Camp Starts Monday, August 12
County-Wide Homeschool Information Night Tuesday, August 13
ATC Shakespeare Matinee Deadline Friday, August 16
SDH Parent's Organizational Meeting Tuesday, August 20
Homeschool Roller Skating Party Friday, August 23
Homeschool Leadership Training Conference Saturday, August 24
U of A Presents Second Deadline Monday, August 26
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, August 28
September Newsletter Deadline Tuesday, September 2
Much Ado About Nothing Performance Early September
Science Fair Tutorial Saturday, September 7
First Park Meeting Tuesday, September 10
ATC Shakespeare Matinee Wednesday, September 18
Articles
SDH Pool Party Saturday, August 10
We will be having our second summer pool party/potluck on Saturday, August 10th from 5pm-9pm. It will once again be held at the community pool of Frances A. This is a potluck party so please bring the following:
Mom's last name begins with:
A-D: cold drinks like soda, iced tea, lemonade, juice.
E-Q: cold (or hot) salads and veggie dishes--green salads, macaroni and
potato salads, fruit salads.
R-Z: desserts--cookies, pound cakes, cupcakes, puddings...
If you have any questions contact Kim B.
Desert Museum Camp Monday, August 12 to 15th
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is offering an art and natural history camp this summer. The next camp is in August, called the explorers. Camp runs from August 12 to 15th, you can find more info at http://desertmuseum.org/education/camp.html. There is also a limited number of scholarships available so ask about them when you call 883-3022. This was truly a first rate learning experience and my kids will remember it forever, so check it out. Colette T
County-Wide Homeschooling Information Night August 13
Introduction to Homeschooling
Presented by homeschooling support groups (including SDH) from throughout Tucson and Pima County
August 13, 2002
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, Building 1 101 W. Irvington Rd. (SW corner of S.6th Ave. and W. Irvington Rd., diagonally across from the Rodeo Grounds), in Tucson. Free of charge. Experienced homeschoolers will address:
Why homeschool?
Getting legal
But what about socialization?
learning styles and materials
finding a support group that fits your family
There will be a question-and-answer session, refreshements, plus homeschooling catalogs and brochures to take home. Representatives from eight local support groups will also be available to provide information about their respective groups. Please visit http://sahen.homestead.com/2002IntroToHomeschooling.html for more information, including driving directions and a link to a map of El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. If you have questions about this event, please e-mail xxxxx.
ATC Shakespeare School Matinee Deadline Friday, August 16
On Wednesday, September 18 10:30 a.m., ATC will hold the school matinee performance of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Tickets are $6 per person, student or adult. If you are familiar with ATC performances you will be aware that regular ticket prices usually start at over $30. This is therefore a great opportunity to see this play at a very affordable price.
I have reserved 30 tickets for our group. If we act quickly, and if necessary, we can get more tickets. I need to hear from anyone interested as quickly as possible, but no later than Friday, August 16. If you respond after that date, I MAY still be able to get tickets for you, but you may not be seated with the group, and may not even be able to get all the tickets you want in one seating area. I will require payment for tickets by Aug 16. If you
are interested please call or email Frances A.
SDH Organizational Parents' Meeting Tuesday, August 20
When: Tuesday, August 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Karen M.'s house check the roster for her address (members of the online mailing list sdh-discuss can visit the YahooGroups page for sdh-discuss, then click "Files" to find the current roster; if you need directions to her house, please e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com)
What: Dates will be set for the upcoming year (potlucks, parties, curriculum fair, clothing exchanges, etc.); possible group activities will be discussed; the group Jobs list will be reviewed to ensure that all necessary tasks will be completed
Who: Everyone interested in learning more about the workings of SDH, and anyone wanting to be more involved in the group
But will there be snacks???: Yes.
Questions? E-mail debbiegubernick@xxxx.
Homeschool Roller Skating Party Friday, August 23
August 23 1-3 p.m.
Skate Country North
2700 N. Stone
Tucson, AZ 85705
$3.00 per person, includes skate rental
Open to all homeschoolers in Southern Arizona
Organized by CHET NW
Homeschooling Leadership Training Seminar Saturday, August 24
This is a quick note to let everyone know that AFHE (Arizona Families for Home Education) is arranging an all-day leadership seminar for ALL AZ support group leaders. It is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 24. It will conducted by Les Taylor, veteran law enforcement professional, and president of Achievement Solutions, a Tempe-based leadership development corporation.
Lisa T. and I heard Mr. Taylor speak at last January's AFHE Leadership Conference. He gave a one-hour-long condensed version of his leadership training seminar. If you are interested in attending this leadership seminar, please let me know - phone: 791-9942, e-mail: debbiegubernick@xxxx. Once you have contacted me, I will let you know the precise details as soon as I am notified.
UA Presents Deadline Monday, August 26
UofA Presents School time Matinees:
Le Ballet National Du Senegal Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band Thursday, January 30, 2003
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Thursday, February 18, 2003
Limon Dance Company Tuesday, March 4, 2003
The Peking Opera Thursday, March 20, 2003
The Academy of Ancient Music Thursday, April 10, 2003
Tickets are $4.00 each checks should be made out to The University of Arizona and sent to Alicia M. All of the shows start at 10am and last for 1 hour. We need to be there at 9:15 to get seated. The Deadline is Aug 26th- but the sooner the better as it is on a first come basis. If you have any questions or to sign up you can contact Alicia M. If you need more info on the shows you can call me or got to their web site at www.uapresents.arizona.edu
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, August 28
Every last Wednesday of the month we continue to meet at Borders on Oracle for Coffee or tea. We get together from 7:30 PM on, but some of us get there quite a bit later, after husbands come home or the kids are in bed. We chat, laugh, and a few of us bring a project to work on (knitting, crochet, sorting pictures, etc.). This is open to any parent, but so far only moms have shown up. It is a great way to get to know others better and there is always a mix of parents with younger and older children, so you can ask lots of questions too and discuss things. For more info contact Sybelle V.
September Newsletter Deadline Monday, September 2
I will be out of town during the last week of August so the September newsletter will not be sent out until the first week of September. The deadline is September 2nd. Hopefully, everything will go well and I can have the finished newsletter out by the 5th. If you have any questions or concerns contact Kim B.
SDH Shakespeare Theatre Group
The cast has been busily rehearsing for the play Much Ado About Nothing all summer. The performance date is tentatively scheduled for either the first or second weekend of September. If you need any more information contact either Carolyn M. or Kim B.
Pima County Home Educators Science Fair Tutorial Saturday, September 7
A Science Fair tutorial presented jointly by the Southern Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF) committee and the Pima County Home Educators will be held Saturday, September 7, 2002 from 1-3 PM in the main conference room at Nanini Library, 7300 N. Shannon Road. There will also be a number of last years participants who will display their boards and discuss their projects. Information will be available on the Home Educators Science Fair, to be held December 7, 2002 at the Sentinel Building, I-10 and W. Congress, and on SARSEF, held March 17- 22, 2003. Please contact Marylou K. or Susan E. for more information on Family, Group or traditional K-12 science projects.
First Park Meeting Tuesday, September 10
Our first park meeting will be Tuesday, September 10th. Since it is still warm we will meet at 9:30 am with announcements at 10. See you there!
SDH Web Site Update
Inquiring Minds Want to Know about Homeschooling
Queries from both parents and grandparents arrived regularly in the SDH e-mail box (sdhtucson@yahoo.com) this summer. Correspondents wanted to learn about homeschooling as an educational option for the children in their care. Whether the child in question was a pre-, grade, middle or high schooler, the adults shared the same concerns: Is homeschooling a viable option? How difficult is it to implement? What state and local regulations affect home educators? Where can learning materials be found? I will be adding a section to the SDH web site to provide answers to these questions. It will include lists of materials that SDH families use with their own children, plus a collection of local resources for homeschoolers. Anyone interested in helping to compile this material should contact me at debbiegubernick@xxxx, or collar me at one of the upcoming events.
Curriculum Swap
A date has not been set yet, but one of the Tuesdays in September we will have our "annual curriculum swap". So, plan ahead and start cleaning out closets.Look for things you and your children are done with that you may want to bring to sell to others for a small price. This could be true curriculum, books, games, or anything else that helped your children (or you!) learn.
Clothing Exchange
Another thing we have done in the past is the clothing exchange. This usually occurs within a few weeks after we begin meeting again. More cleaning out of closets: find clothes that your family has out-grown, or never wears, and put it aside to bring for the swap. In the past people have also brought linens, books, irons, stuffed animals, etc. Keep in mind that anything that is not gone at the end of park will be donated to a shelter.
Model Mugging Class
I am organizing a Model Mugging self-defense class. We do not have a date set yet; it will be set when I get idea of who can come and when. The minimum number of people is 15, max is around 20, although if I get enough people to do two classes, I'm sure we can arrange that. The price will be $25 per person. It is a single three-hour class. If you have any questions contact Carolyn M.
Meet Your Beat
Women centered, sacred safe space to explore feelings through movement. Great opportunity to relieve stress and liberate the spirit.
Ongoing Mondays 7:45 AM TO 9 AM at Orts Theatre on the corner of 7th St. and 7th Ave. For further details call 327-2975.
Editor's Note
I just want to remind everyone that I want to put articles and/or kid's stories in the newsletter each month. If you have something to write about homeschooling, or learning in general, please send it in, we would love to hear it! I know many of the new homeschoolers in our group would like to hear from those of you who have been doing this a while. Why did you homeschool? How do you homeschool? And if your kids have any stories or poems to share I would like to print those too! Just send your submissions to Kim B.
