February 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
"I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in
which they can learn. "
~~ Albert Einstein
Calendar
Tuesday, February 5 Science Fair Discussion Meeting
Tuesday, February 5 Project Report Club
Tuesday, February 5 Chess Club
Monday, February 11 Literature Party
Monday, February 11 Eastside Coffee Night
Tuesday, February 12 Early Teen Discussion Group
Tuesday, February 12 Middle Reader's Group
Tuesday, February 19 Science Fair Discussion Meeting
Tuesday, February 19 Chess Club
Wednesday, February 20 Science Fair Registration Deadline
Tuesday, February 26 Early Teen Discussion Group
Wednesday, February 27 Crafty Ladies
Friday, March 1 Deadline for Farmer's Almanac Writing Contest
Friday, March 1 Deadline for Journal
Articles
Science Fair
The time has come for all good scientists to display their interests with either individual, group or family projects at the newly renamed "Pima County Home Educators Science Fair" held Saturday, March 9 at the City of Tucson
Sentinel Building.
Packets with all the pertinent information about this event and where to get the new rules for SARSEF (Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair) held March 25-29 at the new location of Tucson Convention Center, may be requested from Marylou K. or Susan E. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns and try to attend one of two Science Fair discussion meetings on February 5 and February 19 at 1PM at the Park.
Registration papers and entry fees will need to be given to either liaison by February 19 or postmarked for mailing by February 20. Good luck and remember Science Rocks & Rules.
Project Report Club
Project report meets the first Tuesday of the month right after announcements. The next project report will be Tuesday, February 5th. Please join us to present your report or to listen to the neat reports that our kids prepare. We will have a Show N' Tell portion, then a formal/report portion. Any questions, contact Alice G.
Chess Club
The chess club will be meeting the first and third Tuesday of the month,
February 5 and February 19. For more information, contact Bob B.
Literature Party
Monday, February 11, at 10:00 AM, we will be meeting at Heidi H.'s house
for a literature party. We will be sharing info on books we, or our children have read that we really liked (or really disliked). What you need to bring is titles and authors. And it would be helpful if you (or your child) could tell the others why this is such a good/bad book. The books can be about anything and don't need to be children's books or homeschooling books. Anything you think others may enjoy knowing about. You can bring your own lunch or we could order pizza. Bring a snack or
drink to share. Directions to heidi's house will be available at the park as the time gets closer. For info, contact Sybelle V.
Eastside Coffee Night
Just a reminder that the Eastside coffee nights are now the second Monday
of each month. That makes the February coffee on the 11th. We are meeting
at 7:30 p.m. until...Contact Mary Beth or Joleen for more informaiton.
Middle Readers
Middle Readers, ages 8-11 (approx.) meet the second Tuesday of the month at
11 a.m. The next meeting will be Tuesday, February 12th. The February book is "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George. The March book will be "The Earth Giant" by Melvin Burgess. We will meet March 12th at 11 a.m. Any questions, call Paige or Christine G.
Early Teen Discussion Group
We will meet twice this month at 11:15 at the Park just before the start of the weekly park meeting. As always, anyone from about 11 to 15 is invited to attend. The only requirement is a an interest in the subject matter and a willingness to respect other people's point of view. The dates and topics are:
February 12th: Capital Punishment. Some of the questions we will address will be whether it should ever be imposed and if so: for what crimes, who should decide to impose it, who should carry it out and what method should be used.
February 26th: The Age Of Maturity. Some of the questions we will address will be what age people should drive cars, get jobs, vote, fight in wars, get married, have children, hold political office, etc. Should these rights be dependent on chronological age or maturity level and should society be in charge of deciding or should it be up to the individuals involved?
Any questions call Brian M.
Crafty Ladies
Every last Wednesday of the month (February 27) 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.
SDH Journal
I would like to start a journal with articles written by the members of SDH (including kids!). If you are an aspiring writer this would be a good place to try your hand. The journal would be about homeschooling and learning. It would be a place for those of you experienced to share triumphs and trials, and for those of you just starting out to share your fears and concerns. As of now I do not want to limit the number of words, or pages, or the age of those contributing. I would also like to include
a page of "homeschooling hints"just small tips about what works for you. Perhaps if it goes well, I could add a question and advice section. I will be the editor (seeing as it is my idea), and at first the journal will come out quarterly. The first deadline will be March 1st, and the journal will be put out sometime that month. I'm looking forward to hearing from you! For more information contact Kim B.
Wildcat Engineering Fest
For interested high school students, the engineering department student
ambassadors will share their UA engineering experience and talk about the
different engineering majors. Students can ask questions and view table displays. Takes place March 23, 2002. Students can also shadow an engineering student for a day on campus, attending classes and labs and meeting professors.
For information, contact Susie Bowers at 626-6218.
There is also a summer Engineering Academy for high school students.
Contact Ray Umashankar at 621-8103.
Writing Projects/Contests
Farmer's Almanac Writing Challenge for Students
The 2002 "Farmer's Almanac" has an annual Writing Challenge for Students. It is open to children in grades K-8. This year they must complete the thought: "The greatest gift I could give someone is..." To enter, stories or poems should be original, written by a student in grades K-8, less than 225 words and received by March 1, 2002. Each entry must include the author's name, age, grade, home address, school, teacher's name and school address. All entries become the property of Almanac Publishing Company and will not be returned. Winning entries will be published in the 2003 "Farmer's Almanac" and each winning author will receive an advance, complimentary copy of the 2003 edition, and a special personalized writing journal.
Send your entry to:
"Farmers' Almanac" Challenge
Mt. Hope Ave.
P.O. Box 1609
Lewiston, ME 04241.
Kids Care Club
The Kids Care Club is inviting youth to write poems about compassion and the spirit of charity in honor of National Poetry Month in April. Poems can be any length or style. Please include the author's first name, age and email address. Winning poems will be posted at their websites during the month of May and published in the Young Heroes magazine this summer.
Mail poems to:
Kids Care Clubs
PO 1083
New Canaan, CT 06840
Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow presents the Young Writers and Illustrators Contest (Enter by March 29, 2002) If you are a child in kindergarten through third grade, you are invited to write, illustrate and submit your story to KUAT Television for Reading Rainbow's Eighth Annual Young Writers and Illustrators Contest.
These stories are judged locally and the winners in each of the four categories (kindergarten through third grade) are submitted to the national Reading Rainbow contest. This national competition invites you to create your own picture book. Entry applications may be obtained from KUAT-TV by selecting the "Entry Form" link at
announced in June 2002.
Fine Art Drawing and Painting ClassesI
Starting in February. Serious and fun. Learn from a European Master of Arts. Call Ahu Smith for detailed information - 327-2975.
Spanish Lessons
If you are interested in Spanish lessons, Carolyn Bossard (recently retired from TUSD) is organizing a beginning class for 8- to 12-year-olds (approximately) on Tuesday afternoons at Ft. Lowell Park or a nearby location starting at 2 pm. If sufficient interest exists, she is willing to organize a class for younger children, as well. Price per class, per child, is $10. Carolyn is an award winning teacher with an interactive teaching style. If you are interested, please contact her at 298-4960.
Spelling Bee
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers hosted the Tucson Homeschooling Spelling Bee
on January 9, 2002.The winner was Kaitlin M., from CHET Southwest.
Congratulations to all 26 children who competed in the bee! Thank you to the parents who helped with set-up, clean-up, sign-up and making certificates! And a special thank you to our judges, Amber, Sharon and Torrie!
Kaitlin will be competing in the Pima County Spelling Bee on February 17, 2002, at Desert View High School. Congratulations, Kaitlin, and best wishes for February!
The State of Homeschooling in the State of Arizona
Two SDH members will be attending the Arizona Families for Home Education
(AFHE) Leadership Conference on January 26, 2002. One of the topics covered will be House Bill 2440. This bill is designed to amend two of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding home education; if passed (which is extremely unlikely), it would require homeschooled children to take the AIMS tests. The chairman of the House Education Committee, Linda Gray (Republican District 16), is a supporter of home education and has indicated she will hold the bill in her committee. Fifteen state
representatives (three from Tucson) have sponsored or agreed to support the bill. The text of the proposed bill can be found at http://www.azleg.state.az.us. Look for the article about what was disccused at the conference in the SDH March newsletter.
Library Book Sale
The next Friends of the Library book sale will be February 1-20. Members day Feb. 1st. It is held at the old Bob's Bargain Barn on Country Club just south of Grant.
The hours are:
Fridays 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sat. and Sun. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mon. and Tues. 10 a.m. -7 p.m.
Wed. and Thurs. Closed to restock
Thank You
Wes' little brother, Will MacDonald, was born on December 8th, 2001 at home. He weighed seven pounds and measured twenty inches. To all of you who offered and gave your help, meals or prayers, we are truly grateful. It was indeed a joy to see you. We hope to be at the park sometime in February - all three of us!
Park Day at Himmel Park
Park Day at Himmel Park is going well. Join us on Thursdays at about 11:00 AM. Himmel Park is located on Tucson Blvd. near Speedway. We meet at the Westside play equipment. There is a shaded play area, a place to rollerblade or roller skate, and a library. This is mainly a play park day. No official announcements will be made. If you have any questions, contact Tara O.
Ice Skating Coupons
If your kids love to skate but you just can't take them very often because of the cost, Gateway Ice Center has provided a solution. Compliments of the management, I now have DOZENS of 2-for-1 admission coupons for any public session that Gateway offers. See Michelle Y. at the park for more details or to pick up coupons.
Ice Skating
Michelle has arranged for 2 for 1 passes to Gateway Ice Arena, and this has certainly helped to make it somewhat more affordable. However, if you end up with an odd number of people, then the savings suddenly becomes much less - and there is no discount for skate rental (if you do not have your own skates).
In an attempt to negotiate a better deal for us (the last place I lived I talked an arena into $2.50 per person, adult or child, and $1.25 for skate rental), I need some feedback on how many people would be willing and interested to go skating on a weekly basis on a set day. If we can assure them of 15 to 20 skaters at a time, I think we have some bargaining power.
So, if this is interesting to you, please let me know preferably by e-mail at franalm@yahoo.com, but otherwise by phone, or at park. I need to know how many skaters, and which day you would prefer - and if there is a day that would be totally unsuitable for you, and whether morning or afternoon sessions. At present we have been going Tuesdays, because the rink is so close to the park, and it therefore saves considerable driving. We go mornings in winter, and afternoons in the summer. It is a great place to spend a couple of hours on a summer day - you come out and actually welcome the heat. - Frances A.
Jump Ropes
If you have seen the jump ropes at park meetings and you are interested in where they came from:
The Skookum Jump Rope
Company, 385 Benedict Street/P.O. Box 1159
Port Townsend, WA 98368
1-800-255-9526
