June 2006 Newsletter
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
Next Newsletter
The deadline for July's Newsletter Submissions is June 25th!! Please send them to:
sdhnewsletter@yahoo.com
Teen Summer Activities
by Christie B.
I would like to announce three outings for teens-- on the first Saturdays of June, July, and August--5pm to 8pm. June's will be at Funtastix on Wetmore with unlimited plus one laser tag for only $14. We will go bowling in July and to the skate rink in August.
UApresents for the 2006-2007 Season!
by Alica M.
Ok I have the list for the school matinees for this nest season. All shows
are held at Centennial Hall on the UofA campus. We will meet in front of
Centennial Hall at 9:45am, and we are seated as a group. Seats are $6 each.
Please make checks out to The University of Arizona. I need to know which
shows you wish to attend and how many kids and adults per show. Please only
one adult per family as seats are limited. The deadline for the first
sign-up is July 24th. To sign-up with me you must be a member of SDH. You
can find more information about the shows at www.uapresents.org
*Inti-Illimani Fri, Oct. 20th
*Momix Opus Cactus Thurs, Nov. 9th
*Mombasa Party Tues, Nov. 14th
Featuring the Royal Drummers of Burundi
*Interpreti Veneziani Fri, Jan. 19th
*Preservation Hall Jazz Band Fri, Feb. 16th
*Ballet Hispanico Fri, March 2nd
*Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Mon, March 12th
Family Mini Golf Evening
by Celeste W.
I am planning a family miniature golf evening around the end of June. I haven't set a date yet as most days are still open for us. If you are interested in joining us at Golf'n Stuff for an evening of miniature golf let me know. I will keep you up to date on prices, time, date, who all is coming, etc., once the date is set. Everyone is welcome.
Arizona Theatre Company Student Matinee Series
by Donna J.
Don't miss out. It's time to sign up for
ARIZONA THEATER COMPANY'S
2006-2007 Student Matinee Series
Student tickets are $8 each, except for Ella (a musical), which is $10. Adult tickets are $15 for all performances. To sign up, let me know how many adult and how many student tickets you want for each play and send a check to cover the entire cost of your tickets. Be sure to also include your phone number and email address. Mail everything to my home address, which you can find in the roster. Since ATC wants us to submit only one check, please make your check out to me, so I can consolidate our payments. If you have any questions, call or email me. Please note my new email address on the contact information page of the newsletter. I must receive your order and ticket payment by July 10. If seats are still available, I may be able to do a second sign-up in September. But there's no guarantee. I've been told seats for Twelfth Night will go very fast-- so please don't delay!
Descriptions for each play are taken from an ATC flyer. This is the only information I have so far. ATC's web site hasn't yet been updated. The actors are usually available for open discussions with the students after each matinee. Generally, ATC recommends the series for students 12 and up. But their coordinator did advise me that she didn't think Jitney would be appropriate for tweens. She's mailing scripts of the plays to me, so I'll have more information later.
Twelfth Night or What You Will
By William Shakespeare
10:30 a.m., Sept. 21 or Sept.26*
*Date depends on ticket availability
Girls will be boys, and they're all fools for love in Shakespeare's cheeky comedy of mistaken identity and passions run amok. Some of Shakespeare's most beloved comic characters come to life in this romantic romp.
Jitney
By August Wilson
10:30 a.m., Nov. 7
In August Wilson's powerhouse play about black life in 1970's America, a man besieged by forces both private and public tries to survive when his unlicensed cab company in a poor Pittsburgh neighborhood is threatened with extinction at the hands of urban renewal.
Ella
Book by Jeffery Hatcher, conceived by Rob Ruggiero & Dyke Garrison, based on a play by Dyke Garrison, musical directions and arrangements Danny Holgate
10:30 a.m., Dec. 12 Cost: $10 for students
Hers was the female voice of the American Songbook, and her life was no less remarkable. Join Ella Fitzgerald in an intimate evening of memories and gorgeous music in this swinging new world premiere musical.
Molly's Delicious
By Craig Wright
10:30 a.m., March 30
Molly's Delicious is a heartwarming tale of youthful hope that will make you laugh and leave you feeling that everything is possible. The inimitable voice of playwright Craig Wright (writer of HBO's Six Feet Under) is crisp, tart and juicy in this lovely new play.
Seasonal Celebrations Committee
by Donna J.
Looking for a volunteer job that doesn't require a big commitment? Or do you love planning parties, especially seasonal celebrations? Laura C., Colleen H., and I have formed a Seasonal Celebration Committee, since we'll be organizing a lot of these events this coming year. Heather H., who'll be organizing the April Fool's Day Potluck and the May Day Event, has joined us too. The committee's aim is to make things a little easier by helping each other, recruiting more volunteers, and keeping a list of where we can find things like folding tables, which might be needed for each event.
If you want to volunteer for something this coming year, but don't want to commit to organizing an entire event on your own, or don't want to commit to a yearlong volunteer job, please consider joining our committee. We'll have plenty of min-tasks that will just require helping for a short time at the events. Or you may want to commit a little more time and help with planning, it's up to you! There will be no lengthy meetings. We'll probably just coordinate and talk to each other at the park, or by email. If you're interested, please email or call me. For those who've already emailed, I do have your names and will be keeping a list, so as events and tasks come up we can contact you. Thanks for volunteering-- I think this will be a lot of fun!
Arizona Opera Student Dress Rehearsal Program 2006-2007
by Donna J.
Arizona Opera is giving Tucson students an opportunity to attend the final dress rehearsal of three of its productions this coming year. Tickets are just $4 each for students and $10 each for adults. In addition, there's a free look-in, a glimpse behind the scenes, showing the work involved in creating an opera.
If you're interested in attending any of this coming season's student dress rehearsals, or the look-in, now is the time to buy your tickets. To sign up, let me know how many adult and how many student tickets you want for each opera and send a check to cover the entire cost of your tickets. Be sure to also include your phone number and email address. Mail everything to my home address, which you can find in the roster. Please make your check out to me, so I can consolidate our payments. If you have any questions, call me or email me. Please note my new email address on the contact information page of the newsletter. For the first sign up, I must receive your order and ticket payment by July 10. As I did last year, I will try to do additional sign-ups. But this year's operas look a lot more student friendly than last year's, especially Beauty and the Beast, and seats may be quickly taken by school groups. So if you're sure you want tickets, it might be best to sign up this summer.
I'd recommend the dress rehearsals for tweens and teens. Although last year, a few younger children did enjoy them. Remember, these are long performances with only one break, and they usually don't end until about 10 p.m. For instance, Beauty and the Beast is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes long. The look-in is appropriate for all ages and younger kids seemed to really enjoy it last year. All the dress rehearsals take place at the TCC Music Hall.
Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth
Friday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
The Shakespearean drama of the general whose bloody victories foretell his own demise comes to the stage in this brand new co-production from Seattle Opera. Verdi described his powerful interpretation as the one of all my operas which I love best, and filled his score with dark underlying tones and political symbolism.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.
From the brilliant mind of Mozart, this masterpiece rocked Viennese society with its thinly veiled attack against the ruling aristocracy. Gorgeous ensembles, a sparkling overture and divine arias highlight the tale as the servant Figaro trumps his master's attempt to seduce Susanna. Sir Thomas Allen, the renowned baritone who critics have said "inhabits the role of Almaviva" will direct.
Andre Ernest Modeste Gretry's Beauty and the Beast
Thursday, March 1, 7 p.m.
Written in 1771, Gretry's enchanting and whimsical opera was said to have been a favorite of Mozart. In this delightful new co-production with St. Louis Opera Theatre and Dallas Opera, human topiaries and feathered creatures frolic in a storybook garden as the sweet and virtuous Beauty saves her Beast. Critics at its U.S. premiere hailed Beauty as "an evening of musical delights with a familiar story, fast-moving, with a satisfying moral and devoid of Disney kitschiness. It's a pleasure for all ages and levels of operatic sophistication." (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Opera Look-In: Madama Butterfly
Saturday, Feb. 3, 12:00 p.m.
The look-in is designed to share with the audience the behind-the-scenes magic of opera theatre. Its goal is to demonstrate the opportunities that exist for students who enjoy working in an arts environment. Students are introduced to Arizona Opera professionals and are shown demonstrations with sets, lighting, sound, special effects, costumes, wigs and make-up. This approximately hour-long program ends with a performance by one of AZ Opera's main-stage singers, followed by a question and answer period.
Advocacy: The Need For Special Need
by Colleen H.
As a member of SDH and a parent of an identified special needs child, with a lot experience in the system, first as a professional, and then again as a parent, I am choosing to create the position of a special needs advocate for the SDH group. I continually hear of parents inquiring about homeschooling, revealing that they have a special needs child, who is or is not identified; they, as I did myself in the beginning, are faced with the overwhelming feeling that they can educate a child, love a child, do both of those things well, but feel they cannot homeschool a disability; the belief that the very need is the very obstacle. I want to help parents get over that feeling by networking them with successful homeschooling special needs families, perhaps with the same disability issues if possible. When I posed this to the group, I received several private emails of people revealing their experiences, systemic and personal, and with home-schooling. Keep these emails coming, and please let me know if you would be willing to go on a contact list of parents with these experiences willing to speak to new potential parents of that realm. If you choose to, let me know if I can pass on an email, or a phone number, and/or the special issue you have faced or are facing. I put my email out there for the SDH website, and I will be at SDH info nights, as well as at the park. This will continue to be announced, as the word can certainly benefit as many families as possible. This is outreach, based on inquiries only, not promotion; basically, it’s a way of passing it on. So, I will be the broken record on this :>
Game Day: The Need To Play
by Colleen H.
Summer game day started this May at Woods Library and was successful! Seventeen people came, throughout the day at different times. This is a new twist—we have started a new room and a new day. The library was kind to us, and the room was surprisingly accommodating—big window, kids’ door, with ac, and access to the children’s area in library for people who took a break or stayed and browsed. There were a lot of work tables that helped encourage personal interactions. Thank you for bringing new games—please continue to do that next time, because grown ups and kids need them, use them, appreciate them! I have two more days scheduled for June (The 22nd) and July (The 20th) at the same location, both from 1-4pm, both on THURSDAYS, and in the small meeting room. I am waiting for the librarians to give me the go ahead for more scheduling. So far, I am hovering around the third Thursday of the months—with some flexibility. A few people have asked about returning to Fridays, and frankly I don't know. We (my family and I) have a few scheduling things up in the air for fall. Thursday is my preference, but I will take feed back on people who continually come or want to. Watch the email and newsletter for dates, but there will always be one during each month. Happy playing…
June's Featured Websites
by Debbie G.
"The Infinite Cat Project"
One day a cat noticed an image of another cat on a computer monitor. The cat’s owner captured this new image of one cat looking at another cat, and the Infinite Cat Project began. The pages are arranged in groups of 25 photos each. If you are interested in submitting a photo, you can read through Da Rules at http://www.infinitecat.com/quick-tips2.html .
"Science Explorations"
American Museum of Natural History
Discover a collection of interactive learning investigations, plus supplemental web pages from the museum to enhance exploration and understanding.
"U.S. Flag Day Activities and Crafts"
Enchanted Learning.com
Find a selection of crafts to make, like pinwheels and windsocks, and learn about the United States flag and history through printable books and quizzes.
"The Summer Solstice"
From Windows to the Universe
Visit this page, offered in both English and Spanish, for a scientific explanation of the summer solstice. Windows to the Universe also offers a monthly newsletter for educators – to subscribe, click on the Educators – Help us help you button at the top of the page.
"Amusement Park Physics"
What are the forces behind the fun?
From Annenberg/CPB Learner.org
Learn about roller coasters, bumper cars, motion sickness, and ride safety.
Also...visit the SDH Featured Web Site page at
and check out past collections at
SDH Monthly Parent Opportunities
Every month of the year, SDH has opportunities for parents to meet, talk, and get to know each other better.
Mom's Coffee Night
Currently, Mom's Coffee Night is held on the last Wednesday of every month at Something Sweet, located at 5319 E. Speedway. That's at the NE corner of Speedway and Beverly (the Office Depot store is on the intersection's NW corner and Live Theater Workshop is in the same plaza). We get together at 7:30 pm, but don't worry if you can't make it at 7:30 - many of us stay until midnight! We chat, laugh, and generally have a great time. It is a great way to get to know others better and there is always a mix of parents of younger or older children so you can ask lots of questions.
Dad's Coffee Night
Dad's Coffee Night is the first Wednesday of each month. This is an opportunity for fathers to discuss homeschooling issues, as well as other topics. Please join us at Borders on Oracle for coffee, tea, good company and conversation. This casual meeting starts around 7:30 pm. Contact Jeff O. for more information.
Parents' Book Discussion Group
The Parents' Book Discussion is held the 3rd Thursday of each month at Something Sweet, 5319 E. Speedway, 7:00 pm. Questions? Contact Lara B.
2006
- June: If You Want Me To Stay by Michael Parker
- July: The Legacy of Luna by Julia Butterfly Hill
- August: The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
- September: The Death of Innocents by Helen Prejean
- October: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- November: Protecting the Gift by Gavin de Becker
- December: Mapping Time by E.G. Richards
2007
- January: Kissing the Virgin's Mouth by Donna Gershtwn
- February: Think: Why Crucial Decisions Can't Be Made In the Blink of an Eye by Michael R. LeGault
- March: The Light of Day by Jamie Saul
- April: Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Selfe
- May: Straight Man by Richard Russo
- June: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- July: Feakanomics by Steven Levitt
Note: Some of the above books may have a waiting list at the library. If you plan to get a selection from the library, you may want to look into putting an early hold on it.
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 of friendship".
