SONORAN DESERT HOMESCHOOLERS
March Newsletter
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 "Hohzo'," a Navajo word meaning "harmony" or "walking in beauty or friendship."
-- mission statement, Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers, Tucson, AZ
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PARK TIME IS 12 NOON
MARCH CALENDAR: See Related articles for the following.
THURSDAY, MAR. 2: 2:30 pm--4-H Creepy Crawley Club
TUESDAY, MAR. 7: 12 pm--PARK MEETING; Pre-teen club meets for games at 12:15.
TUESDAY, MAR. 14: 12 pm--PARK MEETING; Reading Clubs at 11:15, Clothing Swap.
THURSDAY, MAR. 16: 9:15 am--UA Presents The Blind Boys of Alabama
FRIDAY, MAR. 17: Teen Club Activity.--Details at park meeting or call Nika K.
TUESDAY, MAR. 21: 12 pm--PARK MEETING; newsletter submissions due.
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 22: 7-8:45 pm--PARENT'S MEETING
TUESDAY, MAR. 28: 12 pm--PARK MEETING; Reading Clubs meet at 11: 15;
Project Report Club meets after announcements
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 29: 7 pm--Crafty Ladies.
RELATED ARTICLES
4-H CREEPY CRAWLEY CLUB: Meet at Himmel Park at 2:30 by the old train. We will work on the mural for the Pima County Fair. Bring $5 for a vivarium if you want your child to have a live critter exhibited at the fair. Our Apr. 6 meeting will be from 2:30-4, location TBA.
PRE-TEEN GROUP: (about 10-13 years of age) will be meeting during park meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. Please bring an interactive board game to share. We will begin before announcements at about 12:15. For more information contact Becky L.
READING CLUBS: Reading selections for the Upper Elementary Reading Club and for the Younger Reading Group not available at press time--for more information, please contact Lalita K. or Sybelle V.
CLOTHING SWAP: There will be a CLOTHING SWAP on March 14 at the park meeting. Bring items you don't need, take items you can use. All clothing left over at the end of that park day will be donated to a charitable organization, so no one has to worry about bringing stuff back home again once it's finally out of the house. See Debbie at the park if you have questions, or e-mail her at debbiegubernick@yahoo.com.
UA PRESENTS: The Blind Boys of Alabama by Michelle Y. For those who have already reserved tickets for this performance, we will meet Thursday, March 16, at Centennial Hall (on University, just inside the UA Main Gate on Park Ave.) between 9:15 - 9:30 AM. The performance starts at 10:00, but we need to be there early in order to be seated as a group. Please call me (Michelle Y.) if you will be unable to attend. Parking is tight around the university, so try to carpool or take the bus if that is feasible for you. If you plan to drive there, you can park at the Main Gate Garage located at the corner
of Euclid and 2nd Street. If you have special needs, such as wheelchair load/unload, you are allowed to drop off in front of the hall.
PARENTS' MEETING: The topic for our next Parents' Meeting is "Homeschooling Burnout." If you never thought it would happen to you, but now it has, please join us. Or if you have found some strategies for preventing this malady, we REALLY need you to come and share your wisdom. The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 - 8:45 PM at the Woods Library, 3455 N. 1st Avenue.
PROJECT-REPORT CLUB: Your child has worked really hard to build a Pilgrim diorama? Does he have a report to share? Does she want to explain how to use an abacus? An art project to show? An electric circuit with bells and whistles to demonstrate? This is the place to demonstrate what you've learned and share the wonderful experience with your friends! You can get more details from Kim S.
CRAFTY LADIES: So far it has just been the ladies who meet to sip, talk about the travails of homeschooling, and catch-up on projects. If you have a project you just can't get to or you just need time to get away and recoup, please join us at 7 pm at the northwest Barnes and Noble, second floor
sofas. If there is enough interest by the eastside members, we can change to a more central location. Please contact Sara S. for more information.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
LEARN ABOUT CHILE by Debbie D.: Luis Melo is a Fulbright Exchange Teacher at Catalina Foothills High School this year. He is an English Teacher and head of the English Dept. at Kingston College in Conception, Chili. He will be showing his videos and talking about his country on Weds., Mar. 15, 2-4
pm at the Himmel Library and on Weds., Mar. 29, 7-9 pm at the Woods Memorial Library. Come with a friend!
THERAPEUTIC RIDING OF TUCSON (T.R.O.T.) by Heidi H.: T.R.O.T. needs volunteers for their hippotherapy study. They need children ages 4-12 either with cerebral palsy or normal muscle functioning. The children would have electrodes with wires (painless, uses sticky pads) on their body, then ride horses. The children's muscle activity is monitored. The first study starts in about 2 weeks. Then another longer study starts in a few months. If you are interested or know of any children with cerebral palsy who are interested, please call Nancy McGibbons, head physical therapist, at
625-8678.
The NATIONAL HOME EDUCATION NETWORK by Debbie G.: NHEN has formed to represent homeschoolers throughout the United States. This is their mission statement: "The National Home Education Network exists to encourage and facilitate the vital grassroots work of state and local homeschooling groups and individuals by providing information, fostering networking and promoting
public relations on a national level. Because we believe there is strength in a diverse network of homeschoolers, we support the freedom of all individual families to choose home education and to direct such education."
Membership in NHEN is free, but there is a $20.00 annual subscription fee to receive Voices, their quarterly publication. Check out their web site at www.nhen.org for information on NHEN, e-mail discussion groups, volunteer opportunities, and homeschooling resources nationwide.
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS BY Debbie D.: The last Kinder Concert will be on Thursday, Apr. 22 at 11:15 am at the Tucson Symphony Center. The last Young People's Concert will take place at the TCC Music Hall on Thurs., May 11, at 10 am.
THE NOT BACK TO SCHOOL CAMP by Debbie G.: Last summer, Jenny, my 16-year-old daughter, attended Grace LLewellyn's Not Back To School Camp. It was a chance for her to spend a week with other unschooling teenagers. The camp's website is www.nbtsc.org where you can find details about this summer's sessions (August 27 - September 3, and September 5 - September 12) including costs, registration materials, information on previous sessions, and links to other interesting sites. There is also a very active message board, which Jenny used between six months before camp to virtually meet people prior to seeing them face-to-face in August. If anyone in SDH is interested in talking about the camp, see me at park, or contact me at debbiegubernick@yahoo.com.
BOOK-IT PROGRAM: The BOOK-IT PROGRAM continues through March. Turn in a signed statement at the April 4th meeting verifying that your child has met her/his reading goals 5 of the 6 months. This makes your child eligible for the pizza party and a Certificate of Participation. Debbie D. has more
details.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FIELD TRIP: Anyone interested in arranging a second field trip to the Pima county WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT can call Lynn Loman at 740-6528. (The first field trip was on Feb. 11.)
GENEALOGY GROUP: A GENEALOGY GROUP has formed, and we welcome your participation. For more information, contact Francis at park.
MOTHER'S EASTSIDE CO-OP (MECO): Meets every 4-6 weeks to order whole/natural foods at greatly reduced cost. We are seeking new members. Please contact Felicia L. for more information.
BOOKMANíS STORY TIME: Debbie G. tells us that Bookman's at Ina and Thornydale is presenting readings of HARRY POTTER BOOKS for kids 6 - 12 every Sunday through March 26. The readings are from 2:00 to 3:30 PM, and include a snack. Kids are encouraged to bring along pillows and blankets for
getting cozy during the readings. For more information, call Bookman's at 579-0303.
TEEN VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE CLUB: If you are interested in a TEEN VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE CLUB, please contact Sharon H. for more information. She has projects and applications for Teen Volunteer Corps activities. If you are interested in a YOUNG KIDS' VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE CLUB, contact Sybelle V.
100 DAY CELEBRATION: The 100 DAY CELEBRATION will take place on Saturday,
April 8th this year! Put on your thinking caps and start thinking of fun and creative ways to celebrate this fun day. For more information, contact Sara S.
HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE: Sharon E. has information about a large family-friendly HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE AND CURRICULUM FAIR in Texas over Memorial Day Weekend. See her for more details.
SWIM LESSONS: Swimming lessons at Ft. Lowell pool might begin again the middle of March and continue to the middle of April. If you and your child(ren) would like to participate, please contact Alayna V.
CREATIVE MEMORIES WORKSHOP: Do you have pictures filed away in boxes or still in the package they were processed in? Well, here's a chance to do something creative with them. On April 4th, right after announcements, Gayle Semler will be here to conduct a Creative Memory Workshop for any one
interested. Just bring 8-10 pictures. Open to anyone including children. Gayle will provide class materials, information on scrapebooking and you receive a pair of creative scissors. A fee of $10.00 is requested, however, that will be put toward the purchase of an album (a special offer just for homeschooling families). If you would like to know more, contact Alayna V.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH FRIENDS: If any one would like the California address of Janet and Chuck S., please contact Linda L., Mary Beth D., or Danetta M.
ANNUAL DUES FOR NEW MEMBERS: Annual dues are $10, prorated to $5 after January 1st. This entitles you to our monthly newsletter and our membership list, which is, of course, not intended for commercial use. An updated membership list will be distributed in late spring. See the treasurers
Carol T. or Lalita K. about membership.
BABYSITTER DESIRED: I am looking for a *dependable* daytime babysitter for occasional whole or half days, mostly on Wed.,Thu. or Fri. I have never used a real babysitter, other than friends and am hesitant, but it is becoming obvious that I need to find someone. My children are Ingo (6 in Feb.) and
Bibiana (2 1/2). It could be my home or the sitter's home. We live Oracle and Magee area, but I don't mind driving if I find someone I'm happy with. The main reason I need someone is because I work as a nurse-midwife and even though I try to work only when my husband is home, that hasn't worked out
lately. But, the person would have to *not* cancel on me, because that would cause major complications. I am at a loss finding someone, because I don'twant to place an ad and get just anybody. Does anyone know of a HS'd teen (or another mom) that I could trust?? Thanks! Sybelle
VET INTERNSHIP FOR TEENS by Blake Harrington: I'd really like to kick off the SDH veterinary exposure in March. I intend to put students (ideally at least 15 years of age) through a 4 week program of ~4 hour days for 3 days a week. I'm working on an intro letter, a flexible curriculum, and a waiver to
go out as a packet to the families with interest. Heidi H. will collect names of interested teens at park.
MARINE DISCOVERY by Yaffa: "Marine Discovery is a marine biology outreach program for 3-8 grades. The on-campus workshops are hands-on, activity based, lab programs that provides students with the opportunity to work with live marine animals and teaching specimens. Students are exposed to living and preserved organisms found in the Gulf of California and gain a general understanding of the scientific relationships between them. "Fee: 2.50/student; Minimum class size: 16, Max: 32; Times 9-12 on Wed and Fridays (but this could vary, and exact dates haven't been chosen yet); Location: U of A chem and biological sciences building Workshop Stations will include: Dissection, Fish Diversity, Marine Fossils, Rocky Intertidal Zone, Under the Sea, Shark and perch comparative Anatomy (grades 7-8 only). This is a very brief overview. For more info please call Yaffa as soon as possible!
ARIZONA FAMILIES FOR HOME EDUCATION CONFERENCE: The Debbies D. and G. attended the Arizona Families for Home Education's annual LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE in January. They listened to a variety of speakers - AFHE leaders Tom and Colene Lewis; lobbyist Len Munsil; Richard Fenger, CPA; Senator John Huppenthal, Chairman of the State Senate Education Committee; Dr. Sandra
Dowling, Maricopa County School Superintendent; State Speaker of the House Jeff Groscost; Carol Shippy, member of the East Valley Christian Home Educators board of directors; and Don Paul Benjamin, Assistant of Academic Affairs at the Arizona Board of Regents. Debbie D. and Debbie G. came away from the day-long conference with information on home schooling throughout Arizona, the political issues that affect homechooling in the state, creating support groups that better serve their memberships, and the guidelines for home schooled teens considering attendance at state
universities. If you have any questions about the conference, or would like to discuss what was learned that Saturday in January, please talk to either Debbie at the park.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR NEEDED by Danetta M.: I have been putting together the newsletter for over a year, and it is time to pass on the project to another editor. Sharing jobs will keep us refreshed and creative. I have led the teen reading club, put out the newsletter, and started a chem class for teens. Next year, the chem class will probably continue, and I want to do something for the younger students. So, if you enjoy a once a month project and have ideas on how the newsletter could be improved, or have always wanted to put together a little newsletter, then please step forward and talk to me at park meetings. The last newsletter of this academic year, coming out for May, will be my last. The next newsletter comes out in August for the start of the new academic year.
TREASURER'S REPORT by Carol T. (treasurers Carol T. and Lalita K.): As of 1/18/00: $329.00. We have 2 new members at $5 ea; I paid both Debbies @ $10 for Phoenix Leadership Meeting trip and gave Mary Beth $13 for postage. This leaves us with $306.75 as of 2/17/00.
WEB SITES OF THE MONTH
Federal Election Commission for information on who spent what: www.fec.gov Project Vote Smart provides an impartial way for voters to compare candidate's voting records and policy positions: www.votesmart.org
Other sources of candidate information:
www.politicaljunkie.com
www.geocities.com/CapitolHIll/6228
www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/index/html
www.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns.htm
WHO'S WHO LIST: CUT THIS OUT AND SAVE IT!
Inclusion on this list is by volunteering only. You do so with the understanding it is a year commitment (barring lifeís foibles.) If something needs to be done, and you want to do it, please sign up. If there is
something you want to help with, please sign up.
Phone Contact for new members: Karen M., Patty N., Mary Beth D.
Newsletter article submission: Danetta M.
Need a copy: Mary Beth D. or Alayna V.
Curriculum Library: Karen M., Mary Beth D.
Contact for Superintendent of Education, Legal issues, Parent meetings: Brian M.
Political/legislative information: Judy H.
Reading Clubs: Preschool-Early K: Sybelle V. Middle Readers (8-12): Lalita K.
Teen Club: Mary Beth D., Jane K. Pre-teen club: Becky L.
Announcements at Meetings: Karen M., Danetta M.
Kids Care Club: Sybelle V. Teen volunteer Corps (11 and up): Sharon H.
Theatre Works Plays: Sybelle V.
Scholastic Book Club Pre K - 6th: Sybelle V.
Treasurers: Carol T., Lalita K.
Upkeep of Whoís Who list: Karen M.
Bear Essential News: Debbie G.
UA Presents: Michelle Y.
Swimming Classes: Alayna V.
Science Fair: Carol T., Linda L.
Chemistry for Middle/High School: Danetta M.
Music in the Schools: Debbie D.
QUOTES OF THE MONTH:
"It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty."
--Albert Einstein
"A child's education should begin at least one hundred years before he is born."
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes
"If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague."
--unattributed
JOKE OF THE MONTH:
Q. How many homeschooled kids does it take to change a light bulb?
A. Only one, but you need to write it down as Life Skills or Science!
INTERNET INFORMATION
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers web site is: http://www.crosswinds.net/~hozho/
The Southern Arizona Homeschoolers' mailing list is here:
http://www.egroups.com/group/soazhomeschoolers/info.html
You click the join button, and if you're not already a member of e-groups, e-groups will guide you through the process where they ping your e-mail address to make sure it's valid and to make sure you're not being signed up by a third party.
DISCLAIMER: All mistakes and omissions in the newsletter are mine, but I always try hard. Thank you Alayna V. for layout and duplication and to Mary Beth D. for email distribution and snail mail distribution. Thanks, too, to all of our contributors!
SONORAN DESERT HOMESCHOOLERS '99-'00 ACADEMIC ROUND-UP
Please take a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire and either mail it to me or put it discretely in my bag at park. No names are requested, so give us the low-down. This can be fodder for an end of the year group discussion about what to offer or change for next year.
What was the best thing about SDH during this year?
What activity or field trip did you participate in that you enjoyed the
most?
What do you wish most that we had or did this year? Would you like to see
us do it or have it next year?
If you could change ONE thing about SDH, what would it be?
Have you been thinking about doing something for SDH? What would it be?
Would you like feedback about whether others share this interest?
Any other comments, please share them here!
Thank you!
