Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
March 2002 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 man is a man before he is a physician or statesman, and if you make him a reasonable and sensible man he will make himself a reasonable and sensible physician or statesman."
John Stuart MillCalendar
(check below for related articles)
Tuesday, March 5 Project Report/Show and Tell
Tuesday, March 5 Shakespeare Theatre Troupe Meeting
Saturday, March 9 Home Educator's Science Fair
Yardsale to raise money for Sybelle, Eileen, & Heidi
Monday, March 11 Eastside Coffee Night
Registration Deadline for SARSEF
Tuesday, March 12 Middle Reader's Group
Early Teen Discussion Group
Saturday, March 23 April Newsletter Deadline
Tuesday, March 26 Rube Goldberg Contest Deadline
Wednesday, March 27 Crafty Ladies
Articles
Notes for the February 9, 2002 Tucson Citywide Homeschoolers Meeting:
CHET SE is hosting a Christian seminar for teenaged homeschoolers on Saturday, March 2, 2002, from 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM. It is called "Stepping Into the Future: Exploring Yourself and Your Options," and will be held at Saguaro Evangelical Free Church 10111 E.Old Spanish Trail. The seminar is open to all homeschooled youth in grades 6-12 and their parents. Here is a list of the planned sessions:
Youth Sessions: Personal Attributes: How to Find What You're Good At; Career Profiles - Emergency Service Careers & Military Careers; Teen Panel; 10 Commandments of Working God's Way; Foundational Elements for a Successful Job Search; Apprenticeships; Physical Fitness; Career Paths; Portfolios; Bike Maintenance; and Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts.
Parent Track sessions: Teaching Science to the Upper Grades; Parent Panel; and Teaching Writing.
If registering by Feb. 23, the cost is $12 for first family member; $5 for additional family members. After 2/23, it is $15 for first family member; $6 for additional family members. Registration fee includes lunch.
E-mail CHET SE for more information at chet_se@hotmail.com and visit their web site at http://www.geocities.com/chet_se/special2.html to find instructions for registration. Bret and Polly Parry have stepped down as AFHE liaisons for Southern Arizona.
Information about homeschooling support groups throughout Southern Arizona can be found at http://sahen.homestead.com, the web site for the Southern Arizona Home Education Network. In addition to contact information for each group, there is also a calendar of events for all homeschoolers in Southern Arizona. If you have an event that you would like to be listed on the calendar, please e-mail sahen_mail@yahoo.com with the information.
BETT has arranged a Tubac Living History Day in April. Please contact bluegrama@yahoo.com for more information.
CHET SW was contacted by the Gateway Ice Rink and received a list of ways that Gateway can enhance homeschoolers' science curricula. There will be copies of this list on the SDH bulletin board at the park, and also in the resource notebooks at the park. The next homeschoolers' ice skating party is on April 19, form 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The $5.50 charge includes skate rental. Please pay Kathy or Vicky at the table out front to get this special group rate.
The Telao representative initiated an interesting discussion of what exactly is a homeschooler. For more information about this subject, speak with debbie g. Telao is also interested in developing mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities for older homeschoolers.
CHET NW has set up roller skating days for the coming year: August 23, 2002; October 25, 2002; January 17, 2003; March 7, 2003; and May 23, 2003. These will take place at Skate Country North, on Stone Ave.
CHET NW wants to know if there is interest in a dance for 8th graders, to be held at a church. If you are interested, please contact debbie g. so she can pass on the message.
AFHE (Arizona Families for Home Education) - Tom Lewis attended this citywide meeting. He mentioned that Michael Medved will be the Keynote Speaker at the upcoming AFHE Convention. He discussed some pending bills in the State House and Senate:
HB 2061: This bill ensures that nonprofit homeschool support groups are eligible to receive environmental education grants. The purpose of these grants is to expose kids to environmental education. It has passed the House and is going to the Senate. When contacting senators about this bill, it is important to stress that it does not take money away from schools; in fact, not all of the available grant money was awarded last year. These money for these grants comes from the sales of state environmental license plates.
HB 2440: This bill was designed to require homeschoolers to meet the same testing and reporting requirements to which public schools are subject. It has a minimal chance of passing.
HB 2429: This bill proposes to raise the age of compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18. It was initiated by Jaime Molera, current State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and has been assigned to three committees.
SB 1295: This bill proposes that high school enrollment be required for a teenager to receive a driver's license before age 18. This bill was proposed by a prospective candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sen. Jay Blanchard. Five amendments have been attached to it, reducing its chance of passing.
SB 1171: This bill was introduced by Ruth Solomon, from Tucson. It proposes to establish basic rights for children, but the wording is so broad that according to Tom Lewis, "You can drive a truck through these things." As of February 9, it was in the Senate Rules Committee.
(For detailed information about these bills, plus contact information for senators and representatives, please visit the SDH politics and laws web page at http://www.hozho.homestead.com/PoliticsandLaws.html)
Bethany Lewis presented information on how to increase voter turnout and how to get the right people elected. "Just a small number of people are needed to make a difference." These are some suggestions for getting politically involved: sign petitions; post signs at street corners; man phone banks; pass out campaign literature to friends.
Also, because of redistricting, representation will be changing. For current information, check http://www.azredistricting.org.
If you have questions about this article, please contact debbie g.
AFHE Leadership Conference Update
Highlights from the January 26, 2002 AFHE Leadership Conference in Tempe:
Tom and Colene Lewis have stepped down as presidents of AFHE (Arizona Families for Home Education), after serving in that position for 17 years. Tom will serve as Chairman Emeritus, and will act as a legislative advisor to AFHE. AFHE's new presidents are Mike and Alice Deltenre.
Mark Steele, AFHE's new Legislative Liaison, presented an overview of legislation affecting homeschoolers in Arizona.
HB (House Bill) 2061: An amendment to HB 2061 was introduced by Rep. Linda Gray, chairman of the House Education Committee, and very homeschool-friendly. An existing environmental grant program allows public schools access to the funds generated by the sale of the Arizona environmental license plates. Schools submit a proposal for an environmentally-related educational program, then the proposal is
reviewed, and if approved, the grant is made available to the school. Rep. Gray has added an amendment to this bill that would specify that homeschooling groups are eligible to receive these grants. (The catch is that the support group must be a non-profit group, having filed for 501-c-3 status.) Rep. Gray and AFHE are requesting that homeschoolers contact their State Representatives to let them know that they support this amendment.
HB 2440: This bill was introduced by Rep. Linda Lopez (from Tucson). It proposes to mandate that any child instructed at home be subject to all state testing requirements, which amounts to any test that the state sees fit to compare students to a national average. All parents of homeschooled children would also be required to fulfill the reporting requirements outlined in Title 15 (approximately 51 annual reports). The governing boards of each school district would be responsible for overseeing the implementation of this bill. The expense of implementation alone could be enough to kill the bill when the state is out of money. There was mention of the No Child Left Behind federal program. Homeschoolers are specifically exempt from all assessment and testing requirements that otherwise exist in that law. Because state law cannot overrule federal law, AIMS could not be legally required of homeschoolers in Arizona. The bill will be assigned to numerous committees, and Rep. Gray has assured Mr. Steele that the bill will not even be heard. (Update - it has been assigned to three committees.) Hostility toward homeschoolers exists nationwide and in Arizona. Even though this bill will go nowhere, "in three to four years, it could grow legs and take off."
Mr. Steele requests that he be sent copies of e-mail correspondence to state legislators - azconservative@juno.com.
Rep. Jim Weiers, Speaker of the House:
Rep. Weiers is homeschooler-friendly, and believes in education as a choice, as a parental responsibility. HB 2440 is indeed a bad bill. Arizona still has a citizens' legislature - lots of members have lives outside of government. There is no one in the state government that he would trust to make decisions about his children over himself and his wife. "Finding a state representative who represents your interests is locking the barn door before the horse escapes." He stresses that we in the United States and Arizona have a representative government, not a democratic government. If you can't do what you believe is right, you have no business being in the legislature. He pays no attention to phone calls or e-mail when it is time to vote, which is why it is so important to elect people who share your views. School choice, abortion, and spending money are the three issues that are guaranteed to cause problems in the legislature. People need to understand that making choices like sending children to charter schools is not "doing the easy thing, it is doing the hard thing." We need to find ways to support candidates who will support homeschooling.The bigger number the number of homeschoolers becomes, "the more aggressive and the more powerful you become in the state." (thunderous applause)
Sen. Tim Bee:
Sen. Bee (from Tucson) is a homeschooling dad, and comes from a homeschooling family. One reason he opposes testing is that it can be slanted toward certain values. He has a problem with term limits, because experienced people familiar with homeschooling issues are being lost, leading to a loss of "institutional memory and historical knowledge."
Matt Salmon, gubernatorial candidate:
He received an award from AFHE, presented by Tom Lewis, in recognition of Mr. Salmon's support for homeschoolers. As state senator, Mr. Salmon made sure that the laws that were passed "ensured the rights of parents to educate their children." "The American people need to realize they have the power to control government." "The most important function of any elected official is to honor the Constitution of the United States."
Les Taylor, motivational speaker:
Mr. Taylor presented a condensed version of his leadership development seminars.
Arizona Heritage Project:
Ken Evans presented information about the Arizona Heritage Project. He can be reached at heritage@srpnet.com, and information about the project can be found at http://www.srpnet.com/community/heritage/grant.asp
National History Day:
Laurie Devine spoke about National History Day. "Homeschooled students have a broader way of thinking than public school students who are focused on facts." E-mail Ms. Devine at ldevine@dlapr.lib.az.us for information about National History Day, or check the National History Day in Arizona web site at http://www.nhd.lib.az.us. SDH also has some printed material available to read at park day.
Colene Lewis:
Colene Lewis spoke about the changes in homeschooling over the past 15 years. "Change is not bad, it just is." As leaders, we need to get new homeschoolers to think about why they are homeschooling, and how they plan to do it. Leaders need to help people navigate through curriculum choices, and to teach people how to live on one income - the culture is very materialistic, the standard is higher now, as evidenced by young people owning new furniture. We also need to help members avoid burnout. Here are some suggestions:
Collect money (Phoenix-area groups are charging between $25.00 and $50.00 per year)
Provide printed materials to members
Have tapes available in a group library
Sponsor classes for parents
Sponsor activities
Fill the board of directors with both older and younger parents
Embrace options
Tolerate public schools
Share information on learning styles
Other announcements:
There will be a family-friendly rally at the state capitol on March 23, 2002. For information, visit http://www.azyouth.org.
The Salt Seller has a new name - TSS Edusource. Visit them on the web at
Holly Craw is organizing a special-needs workshop on February 23, 2002, in Phoenix.
Mike Deltenre announced that AFHE is considering offering a Les Taylor session on strategic planning. The seminar for homeschooling support group leaders would be partially funded by AFHE.
(For information about the proposed legislation, please check the Arizona Politics and Laws section on the SDH web site at http://tucsonhomeschoolers.org.)
Got questions? Ask debbie g., who wrote this out.
Show and Tell / Project Report / Science Demo
On Tuesday, March 5, starting at 11 a.m. (before announcements) our kids have the opportunity to present something for show and tell or present a project report on something they've been learning about. Immediately following Show and Tell and Project Reports will be a MODEL ROCKET Science Demo. Please join us to participate or just watch. Any questions, contact Alice G. or Marylou K.
Shakespeare Theatre Troupe
In March, we're beginning a Shakespeare theatre troupe for homeschool teens (10 and up). Our first play will be Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy, which should be a lot of fun and very educational. Much Ado has plenty of speaking roles and non-speaking roles for both sexes, as well as behind-the-scenes roles for those who want to be involved but don't want to be on-stage. We're putting together a flyer and a webpage for it -- I'll pass the URL along as soon as it's put together. Participants must be able to read well and follow directions -- familiarity with Shakespeare and/or with drama is a definite plus, but not required. First meeting of kids and parents who want to be involved will be on Tuesday, March 5th after announcements at the park, and our initial classes/rehearsals will also be at the park. For more information, either about the play itself or about the program, please contact Carolyn M.
Science Fair
It's time for participating in or just enjoying all the Science Fair projects this year. Please feel free to contact Susan E. or Lou K. for details and come see the project displays at the City of Tucson Sentinel Building at 320 N. Commerce Loop (west off I-10 and Congress).
To help generate interest in Science, monthly activities will be presented immediately after Project Report Club. Hands-on-Science activities, easy home-based experiments with instructional sheets and references will be the focus. All are invited to join in!
I would like to encourage all of you to stop by and check out this year's Science Fair projects and am including the directions to the new site. The Pima County Home Educators Science Fair is on Saturday, March 9 with open viewing from 2 - 3PM. Take I-10 to Congress St Exit West. Turn right on Bonita (1st Street) and then turn left on Commerce Park Loop. The address, 320 N. Commerce Park Loop, is on the side of the building and there is ample parking.
For those individuals going on to SARSEF, the registration deadline is MARCH 11 and the NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS are posted at www.sarsef.com. If you are not on the 'Net, I will be happy to print out any information you need.
I have included some additional Science Fair links from Spike the Wonder Dog, for good SF experiments can be enjoyed any time of the year:
Science Fair Time
Internet Public Library - Science Fair Guide
Science Fair Central from the Discovery Channel
Science Fair Project Ideas from USGS
Commercial site offering downloadable projects preK- 9th grade
Ultimate Science Fair Resource
Science Fair Idea Exchange
Big Yardsale
On Saturday, March 9, starting at 8 am there will be a yardsale at Eileen D.'s house. It will be rather big, since it is a joined effort of Eileen, Heidi, and Sybelle. We are raising funds to go to the Link homeschool conference. If you have something you would like to get rid off, please give it to one of us and we'll sell it. Please come look if you can and have some lemonade from the kids' lemonade stand or a home-baked goodie that the kids have made! For info contact Sybelle V. or Eileen D.
Eastside Parents' Coffee Night
The eastside parent's coffee night meets the second Monday of the month (March 11). Please join us for a beverage and time to socialize with other homeschooling parents. Please call Joleen or Mary Beth for more information.
Middle Readers Group
Middle Readers group will meet March 12 at 11 a.m. There has been a change in the March book selection to "Lost Flower Children" by Janet Taylor Lisle.
We will meet again on April 9th at 11 a.m. The book selection for April is "Sign of the Beaver" by Elizabeth George Speare.
Early Teen Discussion Group
As usual, our meetings are at 11:15 at the park and anyone is welcome to attend. There will be two meetings. March 12th will be about human population growth. We will talk about the rate of growth, the reasons for it, whether it is good or bad, whether anything should be done, if something should be done then what should it be and who should do it?
March 26th will be about freedom of speech, whether it is an important value and how far it should go. Does it mean people are free to threaten other people, urge the destruction of property, use obscenities, make fun of someone's race or religion? Does it mean people can criticize the government's decision to go to war and to protest by doing things like burning the flag? Should any limits be imposed on books, movies,
newspapers and, if so, by whom?
Rube Goldberg Contest
Deadline, March 26
Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who drew elaborate ways to accomplish a task. (remember? light a candle, burn a string, let loose marbles to pull the weight of a baby to the window...) Every year MIT has a contest to build a ruge goldberg. We will just draw one. Reality is a plus, fantasy ok. Artwork is not as important as imagination!
Here are the rules:
no name on entry must have written explanation on bottom of picture to explain what is going on try to use at least 3 of the basic "machines"-inclined plane, pulley,wedge,lever, springs;entries must be in by March 26th midnite; winners will be announced as close to April Fools Day as possible (April 2 meeting);there are fabulous prizes;
See Karen for entry form:
up to age 8, white, must have 7 steps in cartoon
9-11,blue, must have 10 steps
12 up, red, must have 10 steps.
you are allowed to cut your entry in half once to make a long cartoon
HINT: try to make your entry do an every day task:feed the dog, answer the phone, ring a doorbell
Judges will be the Metcalf women. We accept chocolate bribes. Good luck!!
Crafty Ladies
Every last Wednesday of the month (March 26) 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.
Yearbook
Considering the year I am having, my goal is to present a Yearbook mock-up by April Fools Day (so appropriate). I am trying to collect the flyers from the BB to "support" the pictures so graciously saved and turned in from NOW ON. If you have been involved in promoting an activity and have pics, please save the flyer/handout material as well to turn over to me. Unfortunately, many of the events I am trying to chronicle were only advertised via flyers that are missing - so this 1st Yearbook effort is rather like a silent movie. If any new mothers would like a Baby Page - I need pics and information. Call Susan E.
Silkscreen Class
Colin E. would like to share a wonderful class he took this summer making silkscreen prints on paper and t-shirts. This is a wonderful creative option for children of all ages to make very professional looking prints for home decoration, personal use or gift-giving. Please contact Susan E. if you have an interest in this class for details.
Art Classes
Hello. My name is Ahu and my husbands name is Solyot. We have two children. We are new to the group and are glad we found you. We arrived in Tucson almost 2 years ago. Solyot is the painter teaching these classes and I am organizing them. He is European with a Master of Arts degree. His work is collected privately and most recently one of his paintings hung for permanent display in St. Anthony's Chapel in Santa Barbara, CA.
Solyot says, "art education is an essential element in raising happy and independent individuals."
The specifics of his upcoming class is as follows:
Age requirement-7 years to adult. Six week series. One and a half hour per week. Next six week series: pencil, charcoal and ink drawing. Cost for the 6 weeks is $77.00 per person. Discounts for 2 or more people from the same family. Drawing from still life and imagination. Location: Our home on E. San Francisco Blvd, right across the street from Fort Lowell Park. Phone Ahu S. to reserve your space. Looking forward with excitement, Ahu.
Old Tucson Studios Field Trip
My name is Wendy Nebbia and I would like to organize a structured field trip to Old Tucson Studios for their educational program "Nature Trail." It is to learn about plants of our desert that relate to food, medicinal or life sources. We need at least 10 kids. They say any age can come but it is geared mainly for 2nd through 5th grade. I would like to go in early April. The cost is $7.95 for kids and $10.95 for adults. They also have a discounted meal program if we want. Let me know if you are interested in going and what day would be best, then I will book it once we have 10. Contact me either via e-mail at nebbiaconcrete@yahoo.com or phone by March 15.
Phoenix Zoo
Giants of the Animal Kingdom at the Phoenix Zoo
Featuring the world's largest species of snakes and lizards.
February 1 - July 18
455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix AZ 85008 (602)273-1341
Park Day at Himmel Park
Park Day at Himmel Park is going well. Join us on Thursdays at 10:00 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.
Wanted:
If anyone has a 10' x 10' EZ-UP type canopy with sides that I could rent or borrow from April 18 - 29th, (or knows where I could get a good deal on one) please contact me (Linda S.) at xxxx. Muchas gracias!
