Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
May 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
"I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way."
--Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
Calendar
(check below for related articles)
Tuesday, May 7 Clothing Exchange
Wednesday, May 8 Sonoran Sea Aquarium Traveling Exhibit
Monday, May 13 Eastside Coffee Night
Tuesday, May 14 Middle Reader's Group
Tuesday, May 14 End of Year Pot Luck
Wednesday, May 29 Crafty Ladies
Friday, May 31 Tightwad Party
Articles
Clothing Exchange
Tuesday, May 7
The next SDH clothing exchange will take place on Tuesday, May 7.
Do you and your family have items that are outgrown or just unwanted? Here's your chance to get them out of your house. if you have any clothes, footwear, linens, household items (we once had an iron) or books that are just gathering dust or taking up space, bring them to the park on May 7 - let someone else take them home! And remember, whatever is left over at the end of the day is donated to Tucson Shalom House, a shelter for women and children. If you have questions, talk with me at the park or e-mail me at debbiegubernick@yahoo.com.
Sonoran Sea Aquarium Traveling Exhibit
Wednesday, May 8
The organization that is proposing to build an aquarium in Tucson (see http://www.tucsonaquarium.com/education/Edu.htm) has a traveling exhibit that they take around, mostly to schools. This sounds like a wonderful, interesting exhibit, many of the items being ones that will eventually become a permanent part of the aquarium. Typically they set up for a week or more at a time, but they are willing to accommodate our group, and do a one-time set-up for us.
They require an indoor area with about eight banquet-sized tables for their display. So, I have managed to obtain the use of the community building in our subdivision for this. The date will be Wednesday, May 8 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. There will be a $1 per person (adult or child) charge to attend, and names and payment must be given to me in advance - either at the park, or by mail.
The exhibit is a hands on interactive type of display, and they very much expect and want the items to be touched and picked up and manipulated, etc. It is designed for ages kindergarten through to adult. Well supervised preschoolers are welcome to attend, so if you need to bring your younger ones in order that you and your older ones can attend this is not a problem. It takes approximately an hour to go through the exhibit. We will be holding the initial talk on the lawn outside the building, so please remember to bring chairs or blankets.
Since booking this, I have been asked to include the BETT homeschooling group, as they are too small to get their own booking. The exhibit organizer had tried to book them in with one of the private high schools but the school refused - did not want younger children in their building. There will be about 15 of them - please, let's make them welcome.
Directions: From the corner of Ina and Oracle, go west on Ina to the first light, and then left onto Paseo del Norte. You will go almost to the end, where PdN ends at Magee. You want the last left before Magee (which will be the first left after the stop ahead signs). This is Comobabi. A couple of houses down Comobabi, it meets Samalayuca, and the community area is bounded by these two roads. Continue down Comobabi and you will see the building on your left, by the pool. A few yards past the building there will be a entrance to the parking area - you can also park on the side of the road, being careful not to block anyone's drive.
Since this is private property, and I have booked it, I will be held responsible for any damage. I therefore ask that you supervise your children closely. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, Frances A. at park or by phone or email.
*Sea Aquarium Correction*
For all those that did not get the email correction, please note that there is an error in the directions. You will need to turn RIGHT at the first light on Ina, onto Paseo del Norte, and not left. Sorry for the confusion - I wonder how I get home some days.
Eastside Parents Coffee Night
Monday, May 13
The Eastside parent's coffee night meets the second Monday of the month. Please join us for a beverage and time to socialize with other homeschooling parents. Please call Joleen or Mary Beth for more information.
End of Year Potluck
Tuesday, May 14
Tuesday, May 14th is the last official day of park meetings. We will be having an end-of-the-year potluck party. Please bring your favorite dish, plates and utensils for your family, and the group will provide Eegee's for a fun dessert. This potluck will have more structure than in the past. We won't begin until eating after announcements and we will form a continuous line upon serving. Hopefully, this will provide a little more sanity to our party and make it more enjoyable for everyone.
Middle Readers Group
Tuesday, May 14
The Middle Readers group will meet right after announcements on May 14th (about 10:30ish). The book selection for May is "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander. The group will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the fall. The book for September will be "Mary Poppins" by P.L.Travers. Over the summer, middle readers can be thinking of books they would like to read and discuss in the group. Come to the September meeting with your suggestions. Any questions, contact Paige J. or Christine G.
Art Instruction
Thursday, May 23
Pencil, charcoal and ink drawing. Ages 7 to adult. Begins May 23, every Thursday, 9AM to 10:30AM, for 4 weeks. $55.00 for the 4 weeks. Class is limited to 10 people.
For more information and registration call Solyot.
"Art is the key to happiness."
Crafty Ladies
Wednesday, May 29
Every last Wednesday of the month 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.
Tightwad Party
Friday, May 31
The first tightwad party was a success! The next party will be on Friday, May 31st at 11:00am at Heidi H's house. This time we will watch the documentary Affluenza and discuss it afterwards. Lunch will be a frugal, vegetarian potluck. Come join us! Contact Kim B. for more information.
Citywide Used Book Sale
Saturday, June 8
CHET-SE is sponsoring a city-wide used book sale on Saturday, June 8th at the 22nd street Baptist Church (6620 E. 22nd St.). Sale is from 9am to 2pm. Cost is $3 before April 30; $4 before May 3; and $5 at the door. Contact Darlene with CHET-SE.
SDH Web Site
What can you find at the SDH web site?
A copy of the current newsletter, along with an archive of past issues; a calendar of events; a message board; a collection of articles about homeschooling from the nation and around the world; links to other homeschooling support groups; and links to useful sites for homeschoolers.
Recreation at Udall Center
Join homeschoolers on Mondays at Udall Recreation Center for an afternoon of fun and relaxation. Choose from basketball, foosball, pool, chess, swimming, and playground equipment. Use of the indoor facilities is $1 per child under 18, and swimming costs that same child 25 cents. Kids from SDH will be there from 1 - 3 PM, but the hours for the facility extend beyond those times. Udall requires that all children under 8 be under parental supervision at all times. If you have any questions, please talk with debbie at the park, or e-mail her at debbiegubernick@yahoo.com. Thanks!
Curriculum Exchange Party
Is anyone interested in a home school idea or curriculum exchange party? I was thinking sometime late May or Early June. We could trade ideas for different subjects, things that worked, and curriculum that you are no longer using. It would give us some fresh ideas for next year. I would be willing to host it unless there is a more central location. Let me know if you are interested. Thanks Wendy N.
Summer Potluck/Swim Parties
During the summer we will have a couple of monthly swimming/potluck parties. We are currently looking for a space that has both a pool and a place to have the potluck (and is not too expensive). If you know of anyplace that fits this criteria please contact Brian M. We will contact everyone with the date, time, and location once these have been determined.
Dance Workshop
Interpretive Dance Workshop
Healing Liberating Energizing
For Adults Ongoing Mondays 7:45 AM. Call Ahu S.
"Let us stay connected to our own rhythms. Let us express ourselves truthfully. Let us take time for ourselves. And as parents we teach our children the great lesson of honoring themselves."
Beginning of Year Star Party/Potluck
Is everyone up for a beginning of year star party/pot luck again? If so, this needs to be booked soon. Or, if we want a star party next academic year, it doesn't need to be at the beginning of the year (Aug). It can be any time. Josh, my oldest son, and my mother, know David Levy, the CO-discoverer of the Levy-Shumaker comet. In fact, they are going to a BBQ in June at his home. Anyway, my thought was, I could get Josh to ask him if he would come a star party for us if we are interested in having one. I would go thru Tucson Amateur Astronomy Ass. (http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/) again for the party, but also get Mr. Levy to come also if possible.
Also, another idea-would anyone be interested in going on a field trip to Starzona with David Levy? Starzona is a store on Oracle Road. They have a variety of scopes and one is aimed at the sun during the day. Let me know about these possibilities. Thanks
Becky L.
Science Fair
Congratulations to all those who participated in the Home Educators Science Fair and SARSEF this year! All who came and enjoyed the wonderful displays whether as participants or visitors were winners. On a very proud note, Emaly Cook again won at SARSEF, 2nd place for 2nd grade - a very fitting award indeed.
Please give me pictures of your activities with a small explanatory note before our last meeting in May as I can then work over the summer and bring the Yearbook effort up to date (and yes, Virginia, there will be a Yearbook this spring and a Santa Claus next December!)
Tucson Arts Brigade is desperately seeking support and funding for its expansion efforts, please contact me or Michael Schwartz at 388-9553. Thank you, Susan E.
HOMESCHOOLING TIDBIT
in Forbes magazine.
"Upwards of 1.5 million American Children are now educated at home. Homeschooling has mushroomed as government-run schools have failed to fulfill their missions. Not surprisingly, education bureaucracies have long waged cold wars against home-school parents. One area of dispute is the exclusion of home-schooled kids from athletics or other extracurricular activities, such as drama, at public school facilities. Only 11 states have laws requiring schools to allow kids who are home-schooled to participate in these nonclassroom activities. One father in Pennsylvania is suing to permit his homeschooled son to take part in a public school sports program. Pennsylvania educrats should relent on this, as should the school systems that ban home-schoolers in the other 38 states. Remember, home-school parents pay property taxes. If school officials insist on barring these children, the courts or state legislatures should step in and put out the welcome mat."
Storytellers Theatre
"The Rattlesnake without a Rattle"
by Colin E.
There once was a rattlesnake who was really sad. He didn't have a rattle. He cried all day and night. Then he found a little piece of cactus lying next to a sahuaro. He also found some pebbles and a sharp stick on the ground nearby. He said, "I think I can make a rattle out of these things myself".
Then the little rattlesnake grabbed the stick and poked a big hole in the little piece of sahauro cactus and pushed some pebbles into it with his tail. When he finished it, he put it on his tail. He shook it and listened to the Chhhh - Chhhh sound it made. He shook it all day and night and kept all the other rattlesnakes up! All the other rattlesnakes came and told the little rattlesnake to stop shaking his rattle at night. "We can't get any sleep," they said. Then the little rattlesnake never shook his rattle at
night again.
The End.
"Squeak and Peter Go Visit Cubby on the Mountain"
by Hunter B. (age 4)
transcribed by Kim B.
Once upon a time Squeak and Peter went somewhere. Squeaky's my stuffed bear and Peter's my stuffed rabbit. The favorite things of Peter's are the seeds of lettuce and the seeds of carrots. He loves the seeds of carrots. Squeaky lives in Crumb City. The name of the state is Honkalonky. He eats honey-nut crumbs. Drip drop drip drop drip drop. Once it was raining. Squeaky drove his pink pick-up truck up the mountain. He left on the tires and put on treads to drive up the rocks. The treads are made out of bricks. Squeaky and Peter put the bricks in a hot oven at 887 degrees. The sound the truck was making was "kkkk," "kkkk," "kkkk" as it drove up the rocks. And he had a big water bottle to drink. And he had a big lemon. Peter was in the truck too. They were going to visit Cubby because he lives on the mountain. Because there are really tasty things for him to eat up there. Cubby is my stuffed lion. There is a big pond for him to eat fish. He just dives in and catches a fish and comes back up. There are no jellyfishes because they might bite Cubby.
The End
