Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
February 2003 Newsletter
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
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Calendar
(see below for details)
UofA & Public Library Book Sales Starting Sunday, January 26 & Friday, January 31
Project Report Meeting Tuesday, February 4
Men's Coffee Night Wednesday, February 5
Roots n Shoots Meeting Friday, February 7
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, February 11
Middle Readers Group Tuesday, February 11
Valentines Exchange Tuesday, February 11
Group Picture Tuesday, February 11
Gem and Mineral Show Field Trip Thursday, February 13
Roots n Shoots Meeting Friday, February 21
Newsletter Deadline Friday, February 21
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, February 25
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, February 26
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AFHE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE NOTES
The 2003 Arizona Families for Home Education Leadership Conference was held on Saturday January 18, at the Holiday Inn Select in Tempe. The daylong event consisted of speakers giving brief presentations, followed by a town hall discussion of issues affecting homeschoolers in Arizona. Following are some key points from the conference:
**The capital's atmosphere has changed because of the state's fiscal crisis. Legislators are focused on the budget, so no one is thinking about homeschoolers at the moment.
**Governor Janet Napolitano is not known as a friend to homeschooling, but the state legislature has enough votes to block any bills that could affect homeschoolers. While the governor is a Democrat, the legislature is the most conservative in years.
**Tom Horne, the new state superintendent of public instruction is still an unknown in regard to his views about homeschooling.
**Two things to keep in mind are 1. Only the state legislature can change the homeschooling laws - executive orders issued by the governor can only apply to state agencies; even an opinion issued by the state attorney general, Terry Goddard, cannot overturn a law; and 2. Any changes to the existing laws would require money that just isn't available.
**Homeschoolers around the state are urged to attend Legislative Day in Phoenix on February 3, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Tours of the capital will be available, and many legislators will be on hand to meet with homeschoolers. Tom Lewis, President Emeritus of AFHE, mentioned that the cafeteria at the DES building in the State Capital Complex offers terrific Mexican meals for $3.00.
**AFHE strongly urges Arizona homeschoolers to work together with AFHE in monitoring any potential problems, thereby avoiding fragmentation and reduced political effectiveness.
**The conference addressed changes in the homeschooling movement; how homeschooling is affected by new developments in public education (like charter schools, cyber schools, and public school programs directed at homeschoolers); ways to encourage and develop leadership within local support groups; and how AFHE can best represent Arizona homeschoolers.
A full report of the leadership conference will be available at park days. If you have questions about the conference, please contact Kim B. or Debbie G. You can find AFHE on the web at http://www.afhe.org.
BOOK SALES STARTING January 26
Friends of the UA Library Book Sale
January 26 - February 9
Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, noon - 5:00 p.m.
El Con Mall, 3601 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson
For more information, call 621-6431 or 621-3485
32nd Annual Friends of TPPL Book Sale
January 31 - February 19 Closed: Feb. 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13
Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
2230 N. Country Club Road, Tucson
For more information, call 795-3763
PROJECT REPORT/SHOW AND TELL Tuesday, February 4
We meet the first Tuesday in February. Anyone of any age is welcome to participate! We begin with a Show-N-Tell portion, then a formal/informal report portion and finally a science demo. Please join us to present or just listen. If you have any questions contact Alice or Madeline G.
MEN'S COFFEE NIGHT Wednesday, February 5
The Men's meeting is held every first Wednesday of the month. This is an opportunity for us fathers to discuss homeschooling issues as well as other topics. Please join us at the Borders on Oracle for coffee, tea, good company and conversation. This casual meeting starts around 7:30 PM. For more information contact Jeff O. or Brian M.
TEEN DISCUSSION GROUP Tuesday, February 11
Feb. 11th at 11:30. The Declaration of Independence says: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal." Is that true? Are all people created equal? Does everyone have the same abilities or same opportunities to develop their abilities? Should everyone earn the same amount of pay regardless of what job they do or how well they do it? Should the government try to provide equal opportunity by things like Affirmative Action? Contact Brian M. for more information.
MIDDLE READER GROUP Tuesday, February 11
Middle Reader Group will meet on February 11 after announcements to discuss the book The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. If you want to read ahead we will be reading The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White for March. Contact Paige J. or Christine G. for more information.
VALENTINES EXCHANGE & GROUP PICTURETuesday, February 11
Does your son/daughter want to be someone's Valentine? How about everyone's Valentine? If your child would like to take part in a Valentine exchange have her/him bring a decorated box or container with his/her name on it and it will be stuffed with valentines! Everyone who wants to participate should bring about 35 valentines to the park on Tuesday and put their box on a table under the ramada. At 1:00 p.m. the kids can start stuffing the boxes with valentines. We do not want them to start filling the boxes before 1:00 because in the past kids who came to the park late were left out and received no valentines.
At 1:30, after the Valentine Exchange we will be taking a group picture. We'll gather all the kids together in an aesthetically pleasing spot (at Ft. Lowell!) and then take pictures with as many cameras as are on hand. If you have a camera, please bring it and take pictures. If you have a digital camera, even better! This way we will have dozens of pictures taken, and hopefully, we'll have enough good ones to spread around to everyone in the group.
FIELD TRIP TO TUCSON GEM & MINERAL SHOW Thursday, February 13
Date: Thursday, Feb 13
Time: Meet at 1:30 p.m. Once we get escorted in, we'll be on our own to view the exhibits.
Location: Tucson Convention Center
Cost: free, except you will have to pay for parking.
Allow at least one hour to see the exhibits and an additional hour to visit dealer booths.
Again this year, the Show will feature educational exhibits of minerals, gems, fossils, and other related objects from worldwide museums and collections. Among other exhibits, look for world-class examples of the Minerals of the Andes, the featured local of the 2003 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. If you haven't signed up yet, contact Heather M. asap. The deadline is Feb 1.
ROOTS N SHOOTS MEETINGFriday, February 7 & 21
The Roots & Shoots club will be meeting on Fridays, Feb 7 and Feb 21. On the 21st, Trees for Tucson will help us plant a tree at Ft. Lowell park! Contact Heather M., heather@optionsanalysis.com or 490-4136 for details.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Friday, February 21
TEEN DISCUSSION GROUP Tuesday, February 25
Feb. 25th at 11:30: At the age of 70, the Greek philosopher Socrates was convicted of corrupting the youth of Athens and offending the gods for questioning the truths of his society. He was sentenced to death. His friends offered to save him by taking him away from Athens but he refused to leave. He believed that avoiding punishment, even when it meant death, was a betrayal of his principles. What do you think about violating a law that you disagree with? Would you accept the punishment for your violation or would you flee? Socrates' explanation of why he chose to accept the punishment is called the "Crito" . It is barely 14 pages long. Copies will be available at the park the week before we meet.
CRAFTY LADIES Wednesday, February 26
Join us for a parent's night out! We will be meeting at Cuppucino's Coffee House at 3400 E Speedway Blvd. We get together from 7:30 PM on, but some of us get there quite a bit later. 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 Kim B.
WEST POINT BRIDGE DESIGN CONTEST DEADLINE Thursday, April 10
"The United States Military Academy is pleased to offer the second annual West Point Bridge Design Contest. The purpose of the contest is to provide middle school and high school students with a realistic, engaging introduction to engineering. We provide this contest as a service to education--and as a tribute to the Academy's two hundred years of service to the United States of America. The contest will provide you with an opportunity to:
Learn about engineering through a realistic, hands-on problem-solving experience.
Learn about the engineering design process--the application of math, science, and technology to create devices and systems that meet human needs.
Learn about truss bridges and how they work.
Learn how engineers use the computer as a problem-solving tool.
We also hope you will have some fun pitting your problem-solving skills against those of other virtual bridge designers around the globe."
For an overview of the contest and information on how to enter, please visit http://bridgecontest.usma.edu/overview.htm. The competition requires the use of bridge-building software, developed at West Point, and available as a free download. The qualifying round ends April 10, 2003. This contest is sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
MONUMENT TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD CONTEST
"In Cincinnati, Ohio, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is planning a new museum to open in the summer of 2004. To coincide with its opening, the Freedom Center is seeking design packages for a monument honoring the importance of the Underground Railroad in American history. They invite school groups to submit designs and will display outstanding designs on their web site."
CHILDREN'S THEATER Wednesday, April 23
Children's Theater - Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Scurry in to see this rambunctious rodent take on the world. Lilly is a dynamic character, full of fun, courageous and outrageous. With her pals Chester and
Wilson, and her small brother, Julius, she tackles friendship, family, and school with equal gusto. This sparkling adaptation of the popular children's series will delight the child in all of us. This is a production by Childsplay, a professional children's
Themes: friendship school siblings bullies imagination.
Recommended for young people of all ages, BUT **No children under 3 are allowed in the theatre.**
Date: Wednesday, April 23
Time: 10 a.m. We'll meet in front of the theater at 9:40 a.m. to be seated together.
Cost: Tickets $5 per person. Payment is due by Tuesday, March 25th.
Location: Pima Community College, West Campus, Center for the Arts, 2202 W Anklam Road. Contact Heather M. at heather@optionsanalysis.com to reserve your seats.
HOMESCHOOLING ARTICLES ON WEB SITE
More Articles Added to Homeschooling in the News
Please visit http://www.hozho.homestead.com/homeschoolingnews.html to read some of the new articles that have been posted recently. You can learn about one of the newest trends in homeschooling - combining home education with part-time classroom attendance, plus stories about homeschooling dads, the increasing appeal of homeschooling as an option for black and Muslim families, the effects that homeschooling is having on higher education, even information about homeschooling in Europe. And if you have articles to submit, please send the link to debbiegubernick@yahoo.com.
THURSDAY PARK DAY
Join us on Thursdays at about 11:00 AM at Connor Park. This is the perfect venue for newcomers to the group. It's small and intimate; a wonderful place to get to know a few homeschooling people. This is mainly a play park day. No official announcements will be made. Connor Park is at 2200 E. Glenn St. To get there, you go to Campbell and Glenn. Head east on Glenn until you get to Wilson Avenue, go south on Wilson Avenue, until you get to Calle Alta Vista, go west on Calle Alta Vista. A bit down the way you'll see the park on the north side of the street. If you have any questions, contact Tara O. directly at tjmaldo@azstarnet.com.
ATHLETICS AT THE PARK
Every Tuesday at 12:30pm Blake B. (editor's husband) will be organizing sports for the kids. He will begin with kickball, and then go on to other sports such as soccer, flag football, baseball, track, and tennis. The emphasis is on fun, friendly competition. For safety reasons, this will be for kids 8 years and up. If you have any questions contact Blake or Kim B.
