SONORAN DESERT HOMESCHOOLERS
Tucson, Arizona
January 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
"The greatest university of all is a collection of books."
Thomas CarlyleCALENDAR
(check below for related announcements)
Roots n Shoots Meeting Friday, January 3
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, January 7
Welcome Back Potluck Tuesday, January 7
Men's Coffee Night Wednesday, January 8
Geography Bee Friday, January 10
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, January 14
Middle Readers Group Tuesday, January 14
City-Wide Spelling Bee Wednesday, January 15
Sabino Walk Wednesday, January 15
City-Wide Roller Skating Friday, January 17
Roots n Shoots Meeting Friday, January 17
New Park Meeting Place Discussion Tuesday, January 21
Auditions for Cymbeline Thursday, January 23
Newsletter Deadline Friday, January 24
Book Discussion Group Tuesday, January 28
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, January 29
UA Presents Thursday, January 30
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ROOTS & SHOOTS Friday, January 3
A club for kids of all ages and their parents.
Roots & Shoots is a program initiated by Jane Goodall Institute. You can read more about it online at http://www.janegoodall.org/rs/. In local groups, Roots & Shoots members plan and implement projects based on their group's unique interests, resources and community concerns. Roots & Shoots projects address one or more of the following three themes:
Care and concern for the environment
Care and concern for animals
Care and concern for the human community
Our group currently has 20 families with a total of 40 children, ranging in age from 0 - 9 years. We meet the1st, 3rd, and 5th Fridays from 10 a.m. - noon. We are rotating leadership for our meetings among the parents. Several families with older kids, 10 and up, have expressed an interest, so I will be planning a meeting just for them sometime this month. Let me know if you're interested. These are our current plans for January, but they are subject to change. Contact Heather M for details. Sometime this month, we will be delivering 30 "kids kits" we put together in December to children at New Beginnings.
Jan 3 - Celeste is organizing a hike in Sabino Canyon for birdwatching & then we'll make bird feeders with pinecones, peanut butter, & birdseed. Bring kid binoculars if you have them. Backup location for bad weather - tba.
For more info, or to join our Roots & Shoots email list: contact Heather M. at heather@optionsanalysis.com.
WELCOME BACK POTLUCK Tuesday, January 7
Tuesday, January 7th is our first official park day of the new year. At the parent's meeting we decided to have a "welcome back potluck" for this first day back, but because of all the bad weather in December an announcement was never made. So, bring your favorite dish and some good cheer to the park on Tuesday the 8th and we will have a good time! Contact Kim B. for more information.
TEEN DISCUSSION GROUP Tuesday, January 7
January 7th 11:30 at the Park. The topic will be THE FUTURE. In 1850 women and blacks could not vote, most people still grew their own food, traveled by horseback, and never had even seen a camera or a photograph. In 1900, women still couldn't vote, there were lots of trains, a few cars, no planes, no radio, and very few homes with electricity or a telephone. By 1950, women could vote, the car was in charge, people were routinely flying in airplanes, and a funny looking box with moving pictures suddenly appeared-the television. Computers were still a pipe dream. In 2000, computers are everywhere, spaceships are exploring Mars, scientists are discovering how to clone us, and we can watch what's happening anywhere on the planet at any time of the day. What do you think life will be like in the year 2050 - food, transportation, space travel, medicine, entertainment, family structure, etc. Call Brian M. with questions.
PROJECT REPORT/SHOW AND TELL
Project Report will not be held this month. We will start again 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, January 8
**Due to New Years Day the men's meeting will be held one week later.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.
HOMESCHOOL GEOGRAPHY BEE Friday, January 10
Friday, January 10, 2003
1:00 p.m. (Please note the starting time change)
Valencia Public Library
202 W. Valencia Rd., in Tucson
Please visit http://www.hozho.homestead.com/GeographyBee.html for study tips.
Questions? Contact bluegrama@yahoo.com.
Hosted by BETT Homeschoolers
TEEN DISCUSSION GROUP Tuesday, January 14
January 14th at 11:30 at the Park. When does human life begin and when does it end? Who gets to decide? Call Brian M. with questions.
MIDDLE READER GROUP Tuesday, January 14
Middle Reader Group will meet on January 14th after announcements to discuss the book Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. If you want to read ahead or join us for these book discussions, we will be reading The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner for February and The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White for March. Contact Paige J. or Christine G. for more information.
PIMA COUNTY HOMESCHOOLERS SPELLING BEE Wednesday, January 15
Wednesday January 15, 2003
Tucson-Pima Public Library
Lower Level Meeting Room
101 N. Stone Ave. in downtown Tucson
Sign up at 10:00 a.m.
Free two-hour parking is available in Main Library's garage (the entrance is on Alameda) - validate your ticket on the library's first floor. All homeschoolers through 8th grade are eligible to compete. For study tips, please visit http://www.hozho.homestead.com/SpellingBee.html.
Hosted by Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
SABINO WALK Wednesday, January 15, 9a.m.
Come join us at Sabino Canyon for a short hike and activity! For children K-6 grade level. There is no cost for the program and parking is free. A naturalist will take us on a hike, followed by an activity. This should take about 2 hours, beginning at 9 a.m. The kindergarten level kids are in a different part of the park than the 1-6 grade kids. 1st -6th can bring sack lunches to eat afterward. If you are interested in attending please email or call Lou K and let her know how many children and which group you are interested in.
CITY-WIDE HOMESCHOOLERS ROLLER SKATING Friday, January 17
1 to 3 p.m.
Skate Country North
2700 N. Stone Ave.
Tucson, AZ
$3.00 charge includes skate rental
ROOTS AND SHOOTS MEETING Friday, January 17
Jan 17 - Anne G has scheduled us for a performance of "E Pluribus Re-Thinks It," an interactive play performed by Tucson Clean and Beautiful. It lasts 25 minutes and covers recycling and its benefits, info about local recycling, ways to reduce, composting, etc. This will be followed with a craft - making a bank from a recycled item (bring your own, one for each child i.e. a yogurt container) to put nickels in. The nickels will represent the savings from using a canvas bag for shopping instead of a plastic bag. At a follow-up date (to be decided) we will collect all our nickels & write a check donating the money to an environmental organization.
Location - children's room at Tucson Public Library -Main branch downtown. You can find a map & where to park http://www.lib.ci.tucson.az.us/main/ . Parking is free for the first two hours, $1 for the next hour. Bring your parking ticket inside to get it validated.
Jan 31 tba
For more information about Roots and Shoots meetings contact Heather M.
SDH PARK MEETING LOCATION DISCUSSION Tuesday, January 21
Please join a discussion about where SDH should gather for park meetings - are you satisfied with Fort Lowell Park; what did you think of Udall Park; how about other locations like McCormick Park 2950 North Columbus Rd., Reid Park (22nd St. and Country Club Rd.), or Himmel Park (1000 North Tucson Blvd.) The discussion will begin after announcements at the park meeting. If you have questions, please contact Debbie G.
AUDITIONS FOR CYMBELINE Thursday, January 23
The Shakespeare Theatre Troupe is holding their auditions for Cymbeline on Thursday, January 23, 2003 between 10am and 1pm, on a first-come, first-served basis. Auditions will be held at Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd, which is on the corner of Speedway and Beverly (west of Craycroft).
IMPORTANT: If you cannot audition on the 23rd but you still want to be considered for a role, you must audition before that date. Please contact Carolyn M. at sttbardskids@hotmail.com to set a date and time. Performances May, 2003. For more information go to http://earthlink.net/~jmarbysprint02/STT/.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Friday, January 24
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Tuesday, January 28
The book discussion group is still going strong. Last month we had a very lively discussion, so please join us for another thought provoking session! This month we will be discussing A Painted House, by John Grisham. It is about a young boy living on a rural cotton farm in Arkansas during the 1950's, and is not a legal thriller. The library should have plenty of copies. Any questions, contact Kim B.
CRAFTY LADIES Wednesday, January 29
Join us for a parent's night out! This month we will be meeting at Cuppucino's Coffee House at 3400 E Speedway Blvd. The group normally meets at Border's on Oracle, but have decided to try a place more centrally located. If this does not work out we will go back to Border's. 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.
UA PRESENTS Thursday, January 30
Reminder for those who bought tickets, UApresents Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band is Jan 30 at Centennial Hall. Please be there at 9:15. If you have a question call Alica M.
IN NEED OF A SUCCESSOR
Due to my class schedule for the spring semester, I must step down from my job as Announcement Facilitator Extraordinaire, so there is a need for someone(s) to assume the title. Job requirements: attendance at most park meetings and the ability to project one's voice enough to be heard in an outdoor setting. That's it. The ability to remember names is nice but not absolutely necessary. Contact Michelle Y. if you're interested.
THURSDAY PARK DAY
We will be switching to Conner Park for the month of January. Join us on Thursdays at about 11:00 AM at Conner 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. Conner 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
**Because of the potluck, no athletics will be held on January 7. For the rest of January we will play soccer. 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.
WINTER MUSIC RECITAL THANK YOU
Thank you to Aodhan L., Matthew and Samantha McK., Amanda O., Wes McD., Michael G., Tessa Y., Andrew & Felicia W., and Bean & Cate M. for performing in our Winter Music Recital. It was truly a pleasure to listen to all of these young and talented musicians. Keep up the practice so you will be ready for our Spring Recital in late April or early May! We are also very grateful to the many guests who came to listen and therein show their support for the performers. Happy New Year to all of you. Victoria M.
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