March 2003 Newsletter
Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
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
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Calendar
(check below for related announcements)
Project Report/Show and Tell Tuesday, March 4
Men's Coffee Night Wednesday, March 5
Homeschool Roller Skating Party Friday, March 7
Roots and Shoots Club Friday, March 7
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, March 11
Life Learning Magazine renewals due March 11
SDH Clothing Exchange Tuesday, March 18
Science & Math Funfest Wednesday, March 19
Newsletter Deadline Friday, March 21
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, March 25
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse payment deadline March 25
(Children's Theatre)
Marine Discovery Workshop Wednesday, March 26
Crafty Ladies Coffee Night Wednesday, March 26
April Fool's Potluck Tuesday, April 1
Homeschooler Camp April 21-24
Young Americanos Photography Competition Deadline April 23
Announcements
Project Report/Show and Tell Tuesday, March 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, March 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.
Homeschooler Roller Skating Party Friday, March 7
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The charge of $3.00 per skater includes the skate rental. The fun happens at Skate Country North, 2700 N. Stone Ave. in Tucson.
This event was scheduled months ago, before Skate Country North closed. As far as I (debbie) know, the new owners are still planning on holding the event.
Roots and Shoots Club Friday, March 7 next meeting
We are having a lot of fun! On February 7, we delivered decorated paper bags full of goodies to children at New Beginnings for Women and Children, a shelter for homeless families. We had a short tour followed with a pizza picnic at Children's Memorial Park. Then on Feb 21, Doug Koppinger of Trees for Tucson, joined us at Ft. Lowell park. He talked to us about the history of the park and the cottonwood grove, and then we planted 2 trees, a cottonwood & a sweet acacia. Ask us where they are!
We are working on setting up a "behind the scenes" tour at the zoo and a children's program at the Mason Audobon Center. We are hoping to set up one of these programs for our next meeting on Friday, March 7.
On March 21, we will meet at Reid Park where Shari will talk to us about how animals help people and share her experiences with service dogs. We will meet at the huge playground area right off of 22nd Street just east of Country Club. Turn north on Lakeshore Lane (the first turn east of Country Club) into Reid Park and take an immediate left into the parking area.
We are also planning ahead for the Earth Day celebration held annually in April and will be participating in the (short) parade at the Tucson Children's Museum.
Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute's international environmental and humanitarian program for young people. Its mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for the environment, animals and the human community. You can read more about it at their website: http://www.rootsandshoots.org
We meet 1st & 3rd & 5th Fridays from 10 a.m. - noon. We are keeping things as simple as possible, the only requirement is that you be a member of SDH. If you want to join Roots & Shoots (it is easy!), just contact me, Heather M, email heather@optionsanalysis.com.
Teen Discussion Group Tuesday, March 11 & 25
We will meet at the park at 11:30. Call Brian with questions or comments.
March 11th: Advertising and Teens. What are people trying to sell to teenagers through advertisements on television, radio, movies, music, magazines and the internet? What techniques are being used and are they working? How can you tell? Bring your examples of the funniest, the dumbest, and the most effective ads that you have been exposed to over the last 2 weeks.
March 25th: Will be announced at the park meeting.
Middle Reader Group
The Middle Reader Group meeting for March is cancelled. We will meet again on April 8th after announcements to discuss The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame and The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner. If you have any questions, please call Paige J. or Christine G.
Life Learning Magazine renewals due March 11
I am taking over Sybelles subscription to Life Learning Magazine, and it is time to re-new. Anyone who wants a subscription, or wishes to continue their subscription needs to contact Alica M by email dragonhawk@gci-net.com by phone or in person at Park- I tend to go to both tues and thurs. A subscription is $12 a person. I need money by March 11 To find out more about Life Learning see me or go to www.lifelearningmagazine.com
SDH Clothing Exchange Tuesday, March 18
Clean out your closets, empty your drawers, it's time for another semi-annual SDH Clothing Exchange! Bring items you don't need or want, and take home things you CAN use. The exchange isn't limited to clothing - is there something else around your house that you've been waiting to get rid of? Bring it to the park meeting on March 18 - maybe another SDH member can use it! Everything is free - there are no requirements to participate - just come ready to find clothes, footwear, toys, stuffed animals, small appliances, whatever! All leftover items will be donated to New Beginnings (formerly Tucson Shalom House), a shelter for women and children. Questions? Contact Debbie G.
Science & Math Funfest Wednesday, March 19
Our group will be attending the Science & Math FunFest on Wednesday, March 19 at the Tucson Convention Center at 10:00am. It runs until 1 p.m. This is a hands-on demonstration expo offered FREE to students in grades K-12. The FunFest is a project provided in conjunction with the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair (SARSEF). The Science Fair and FunFest will be exciting experiences in science and math for youth of all ages. They plan to have over 50 booths staffed by Raytheon scientists and engineers, as well as professionals from the University of Arizona and local businesses. Launch an Alka Seltzer powered rocket, touch a human brain, get a picture of yourself morphed are just a few of the many exciting projects that children can experience. For further information about the FunFest and Science Fair, please visit the website at www.sarsef.org. To register for this FREE event (you'll have to pay for parking), contact Heather M at heather@optionsanalysis.com.
Spring Music Recital
To those of you who would like to participate in the Spring Music Recital, when would you like to have it? How about Thursday, May 8th, 3 pm at Washburn Pianos (Broadway and Craycroft). Let me know if this time, date, and location are good for you by mid-March so I can put the announcement in the April newsletter. I can be reached via email (which I only check once a week) at macberrypie@yahoo.com or at home. You do not need to tell me your program until a week before the recital. Enjoy your practicing in the meantime! You probably will not see me at many of the park days due to my one-year-old's nap schedule, so please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions. Victoria M.
Newsletter Deadline Friday, March 21
Children's Theater - Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse payment deadline March 25
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 theater in Phoenix - http://www.childsplayaz.org/.
themes: friendship school siblings bullies imagination. Recommended for young people of all ages, however...**No children under 3 are allowed in the theatre.**
Wednesday, April 23 10 a.m.
We'll meet in front of the theater at 9:40 a.m. to be seated together. Pima Community College, West Campus, Center for the Arts, 2202 W Anklam Road.
Tickets $5 per person. Payment is due by Tuesday, March 25th.
You can mail payment to me. Checks payable to me.
Marine Discovery Workshop Wednesday, March 26
SDH is registered for the Marine Discovery Workshop, which will be held Wednesday, March 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Henry Koffler Building (used to be Chemistry and Biological Science) on the U of A campus.
Marine Discovery is a marine biology outreach program for 3rd - 8th grades. The on-campus workshops are hands-on, activity-based laboratory programs that provide 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.
Students will be initially familiarized with the day's activities, laboratory procedures and the undergraduate students who teach the workshops. They will then participate in five different stations (Shark dissection, Fish diversity, Marine fossils, Rocky intertidal zone, and Squid dissection), each lasting approximately 25 minutes.
At present we have 26 students signed up, and have space available for 10 more. The cost of the workshop is $3 per student, which I will start collecting Feb. 18 at park. The last day for signing up, and paying, will be March 18. For more information, and to sign
up, contact Frances A. at park, or by phone or email.
For the information of those attending, the following two websites provide a map, as well as information on available parking on campus. I will NOT have copies of
this information for people. For those without individual internet access, these sites can be accessed and the information printed out, at your local library.
We will be met by a workshop presenter at the southeast corner of the Henry Koffler Building. You will need to be there no later than 8:45.
Crafty Ladies Wednesday, March 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.
April Fool's Potluck Tuesday, April 1
We are lucky enough to have park day on April Fool's! To celebrate, we will be having a potluck. So, bring your craziest dishes to share and laugh about (I heard of a kitty-litter cake!) and it will be fun.
Homeschooler Camp April 21-24
It runs from April 21st April 24th and is for homeschoolers of any denomination. It is outside of LA in CA. De Benneville offers wonderful food and warm cabins. Each family is provided their own room or the opportunity to bunk with friends. Bathrooms are shared between 4 or 6 rooms, with hot water showers. Homet lodge is our dining hall and offers space for relaxing around the fireplace with tea, coffee and hot chocolate always available. Volunteers will offer workshops and activities for families, children or adults. Archery, hiking, field trips and a talent show are already planned.
Do you have an activity you would like to share with us?
Here is the link: http://www.debenneville.org/. There is an application form and information about the camp on one of the links on this page. For more information contact Dawn F.
Young Americanos Photography Competition Deadline April 23
Farmers Insurance is proud to sponsor the Young Americanos Photography Competition and scholarship awards program. The winning photographs will be featured in a special exhibition at the completion of the competition. Winning photographs will also appear on this award-winning web site for all to see and enjoy. All students are encouraged to participate in this opportunity to win valuable scholarship awards by submitting original photographs of Latino/Hispanic culture.
Submit entries to the Tucson Children's Museum by April 23, 5 p.m.
NHEN Newletter for New Homeschoolers
The National Home Education Network is publishing N-H-E-N, a newsletter for new homeschoolers. The February 2003 issue deals with burnout - what it is, how to prevent it, how to get past it. You can receive this free monthly newsletter by subscribing at http://www.nhen.org/. Here is the link to the February issue: http://www.nhen.org/newhser/default.asp?id=459.
Independent Distance Education of America
Independent Distance Education of America is working with the Tombstone Unified School District to set up an distance learning program for Arizona homeschoolers. If you are interested in finding out about the program, please visit the IDEA web site at http://www.wwidea.org/prog_signup_forms/arizona_signup.htm to sign up for an enrollment request. You are not obligated to anything by signing up, it simply enables IDEA to provide you with further information. If you have more questions, you can contact jwhebnes@msn.com.
There is some controversy about using programs like this for homeschooling. On the face of it, it seems like a terrific idea - families receive cash to buy supplemental materials, maybe even computers. However, in exchange for this money, parents become accountable to outsiders for the education of their children - for example, the students must take all of the assessment tests that are required of public school students.
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
**Blake will be out of town on Tuesday, March 11 and will not be able to organize the athletics. If another parent would like to take over that day, please contact Blake. Every Tuesday at 12:30pm Blake B. will be organizing sports for the kids. We will alternate between, soccer, flag football and slow-pitch softball. 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.
