November 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
"Good morning world, how are you today? Are you sunny and bright or cloudy and gray? No matter, it's a lovely day" R.M. Windle
Reminder
Park time has changed to 12:00 PM. Announcements to begin at 12:30 PM!
Let's give a great big welcome to our newest members
The Barney's
The Brennan's
The Cable's
The Gray's
The Lamoreaux's
The Stanley's
The Stengel's
The Wright's
And to our newest and youngest member: Jesse Oved born 9/03! Congratulations Teresa, Dan and Moshe!
SDH PE
SDH has scheduled PE classes with AIT on Mondays, from 9 AM to 10 AM at Himmel Park. This activity is open to all homeschoolers. The program is for children ages 5 and up and AIT provides all the equipment. They transition to a new sport each month. A typical program begins with a 5-10 minute warm up of stretching and a light cardiovascular. They teach the sport (rules and fundamentals), practice the skills, and play a game. The cost is $15/ month for one child, $15+$12 for two children, $15+$12+$6 for three children, etc. If you have any questions contact Eileen D.
Roots and Shoots club
Our regular meeting on the 1st Friday has been rescheduled to Sunday, November 9. Pete, a caving enthusiast and friend of Teresa Wilke-Oved, has offered to lead our group on a kid-friendly caving trip. We will carpool to a non-commercial cave out towards Sierra Vista. It is about an hour's drive. Pete has asked that only kids 5 and upenter the cave itself. Each child entering the cave needs to bring a helmet (a bike helmet is fine) and a flashlight and walking shoes. The cave is really dark! Pete will bring some extra equipment and caving lights. We will plan to meet at the cave at 11am. Kim B has offered to arrange carpools. After the caving, we'll picnic and have the option of some local hikes. Bring picnic food and LOTS of water. RSVP to Heather M. 490-4136.
On Friday, November 21, the docents at Tohono Chul park will be presenting a program for us on the desert and desert pollinators. Here is their web site - http://www.tohonochulpark.org.
They are located at 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. You can find directions on their website. We'll meet there at 9:45 a.m. so we can go in as a group. The cost is $1 per family.
In December, Debra B. has offered to show us how we can make animal enrichment toys with paper mache and other fun materials. Then we'll take the toys and share them with the animals at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum!
Men's Coffee Night
The men's coffee night is held the first Wednesday of each 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, and good company and conversation. This casual meeting starts around 7:30 PM. For more information, contact Jeff O. or Brian M.
Crafty Ladies
Crafty Ladies meets the last Wednesday of each month. Join us for a parent's night out. We will be meeting at Ike's on Speedway. We get together from 7:30 PM on. We chat, laugh, and a few of us bring projects to work on. It is a great way to get to know others better and there is always a mix of parents with younger or older children, so you can ask lots of questions.
SDH T-shirts and Sweatshirts
I will be taking orders for SDH t-shirts and sweatshirts until November 4. The t-shirts are 100% cotton. The sweatshirts are a cotton/poly blend. The color and design of the shirt will be as last year. (Ash or white with lizard on the back).
T-shirts:
Youth (XS-L) and adult (S-XL) $4.00 (white) $5.00 (ash)
Adult 2XL $5.00 (white) $6.00 (ash)
Adult 3XL $6.00 (white) $7.00 (ash)
Regular Sweatshirts:
Youth (XS-L) and adult (S-XL) $8.50 (white) $9.00 (ash)
Adult 2XL $10.50 (white) $11.00 (ash)
Hooded Pullover Sweatshirts:
Youth (XS-L) and adult (S-XL) $13.00 (white) $14.00 (ash)
Adult 2XL $15.00 (white) $15.50 (ash)
Hooded Zippered Sweatshirt/jackets:
Youth (XS-L) and adult (S-XL) $15.50 (white) $16.00 (ash)
Adult 2XL $17.00 (white) $17.50 (ash)
See me, Sharon A. at the park meetings to order. I will need the shirt size/color and the cash (no checks please) by November 4. Feel free to contact Sharon A. by phone or e-mail if you have any questions.
Winter Music Recital
Our music recitals are an opportunity for any homeschooled performers to play, dance, sing, recite or entertain. These recitals are held at Washburn Piano Company (Broadway and Craycroft see map in announcement book) A concert grand piano, a stage and seating for at least 100 people are all provided courtesy of Washburn Piano Company. They only ask of us one thing -
DO NOT PARK IN THE FRONT PARKING LOT.
This winter the recital will be open to other homeschool groups. If you know a student who would like to participate, but is not a member of SDH, please let them know. Also have them contact me so I can keep track of how many people will attend.
The next scheduled recital is Thursday, December 4 at 3 PM. If there is a good turn out for this recital, I will gladly schedule another one for early May.
Because I will not be at many Park days this fall I have left a sign up sheet and a map in the Announcement book. Any questions? Call me, Victoria M., in the evenings between 5 and 8 PM. Thank you!
Teen Book Club
There will be one meeting in December. It is on Tuesday, December 9 at 11:00 AM at the Wilmot Library. The book will be announced at the regular park meeting two weeks before the date. So far, we have read "Lord of the Flies", "The Outsiders", and "The Endless Steppe". The parents of the teens are taking turns picking the books and leading the discussion on that selection. There's still room for anyone who is interested in participating. Contact Brian Metcalf with any questions.
Treasury Report for October 2003
Our Balance on September 23rd was $998.87
Our income since then totaled $310.00
Various authorized expenses* since then were $182.06
Our balance on October 24 (for the newsletter deadline) is $1126.81
*(Rosters, Newcomer packets, Website, Newsletter)
Do the Math
This is a live TV show run by the U of A (cable channel 76) that runs on Thursdays from 3 - 5 PM. They have guest speakers and math teachers help kids who call in with their math problems, and teach some cool stuff. At the show we attended, we were taught how to make a pentagon out of a rectangular piece of paper, the "golden ratio" and a chemist explained and showed a hydrogen explosion, and that 1 plus 1 doesn't add up to 2 (talk to me at the park and I'll explain). The show is filmed in a studio/classroom, which was interesting in itself They are in need of live audiences every Thursday. If you are interested in attending, (it cost nothing and they validate your parking at Speedway and Park) call producer Kimberly at 621-9442. She will give you directions to the studio. The show focuses on middle and high school level math. Each week the guest speaker is different. They plan to focus on baseball, having an engineer explain bridges, etc. If you don't wish to attend, you can call in to speak with a math tutor during the show, (and other times too) at: 621-5843. Karen M.
SDH Cookbook
Please start bringing any and all recipes for the SDH cookbook starting NOW! Deadline is November 11. We should be able to get them done in time for holiday gifts. Giovanna will be using her publishing expertise and home business to help make this a success. Even if you were not interested in buying a book or CD later, we still would love you to share. I would also like a "child's section" of both real and made up recipes. It's amazing what we find when a 3-year-old is asked how to make a PBJ or ice cream sundae. I may even sit at Park and "interview" some of the kids. It really is cute. Thanks so much. I think it will be lots of fun. Becky.
UApresents Reminder
Tuesday November 18 is the performance of "Ensemble Kaboul" for those of you who have tickets. If you need info on where to park, time, meeting place, or can't remember if you signed up please contact Alica at dragonhawk@gci-net.com or 740-0379. Thank you, Alica.
Flandrau Science Center Field Trip
Date: December 10
Time: 10 AM to noon
Cost: $4.25 per person
What: The field trip will start with the show "Our Solar System" in the planetarium. The show lasts about 45 minutes. "Our Solar System" is an interactive show, so if you do a little study beforehand, your kids will be able to participate. After the show will be a super cool workshop for about 20 minutes. The remaining time can be spent touring the exhibits.
Who: K - 5. The show is geared to 2nd - 4th and the workshop is geared to K - 5. No children under 3 are admitted.
Deadline to Register: December 5. I will need payment along with number of children and adults by this date. If we don't have 20 children I will have to cancel.
You may pay me, Erin Shott, at the park, Monday PE, Crafty Ladies, or mail it to me (see roster). If you have any questions, please email me at cericon@theriver.com, or call me at 520-586-1004 (long distance from Tucson).
Girl Scout Brownie Troop
A Brownie troop of mostly homeschooled girls meets every other Tuesday at 2:30 PM. We meet at River and Swan, have a great time together, and we'd love to have more girls. Please contact Lisa B. at cottrellbentley@cox.net or Erin S. at cericon@theriver.com for more information.
Riverdance Family Enrichment Services
We are beginning a homeschool resource service. Our mission is to be augmenting homeschool learning by teaming with families to provide additional courses and learning experiences. We have rented a house on active horse property in central Tucson, just off River road. (3636 E. Edith) There is an indoor facility for learning, meeting and playing. We also have a kitchen for cooking and science projects. There is also a 7000 sq. ft space for garden areas. Please contact Anna and Steve C. for more information, at 520-603-8878 or 520-237-8295 or email SCOL880990@aol.com.
Entrepreneur's day
This would provide an opportunity for young business owners (our children) and their parents to display and sell their products/ services. It would provide good experience for our children in several areas. Such as: choosing and preparing a product to sell; setting up an attractive display, talking with customers, practicing good business manners; dealing with orders, handling money; deciding what to do with any money earned; etc. Children and parents could work on a product together ot they might want to set up separate displays.
A good time to have this would be the 1st or 2nd week of December at the Riverdance Family Enrichment Center. I need feedback as to what you think about this idea. Please talk to me, Lynne S., at 748-1887 or email me at carl.stanley@dm.af.mil.
Yoga for Children
This is an 8-week course starting October 27 (you can still sign up! ) to December 15. It will be held at The Providence Institute (1126 N. Jones Blvd across from Wild Oats on Broadway lovely mural with humming bird and flowers on side facing Broadway). The classes are on Mondays from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM. It costs $32 for all 8 weeks or $5.00 for drop-in rate. Parents are welcome too! Classes are taught by Michelle McCallum. Call 323-0203 for more information.
Dropped due to lack of interest
Evening Parents meetings
SDH phone/ and number
Young Writers Section
I would like to offer this space to any young poet, story teller, essayist, or songwriters who wish to have a piece of work printed for the Homeschool families to read. Please have your pieces submitted by the newsletter deadline, and PLEASE keep the pieces to 150 words or less. You can send your work to SDHnewsletter@yahoo.com, greenfreaks@earthlink.net, or to my address. Heather H.
Human
By Aodhan Lyons
Humans have hearts
Under their skin
My mom loves me
All the time,
No matter what I do.
Halloween
By Logan Hawkes
Halloween night
At spooks and scares
Lots of noise
Lots of treats
On trick or treat
Witches and Wizards
Eerie
Eek
Nighttime is fun
Halloween
By Audrey Hawkes
Haunted houses with
Apples sweet.
Loonies who have
Licorice, neat!
Oh no! Ghosts with hair of
Wiggly worms!
Eek! A rat with deadly germs!
Enter, but watch out!
No one is safe in the Haunted House!!
Apologies
I lost some submissions when we did an upgrade to our Internet service. I am so sorry if you sent something to me at my home email address (greenfreaks@earthlink.net). I know that one little boy sent a book review, which I will happily put in the December newsletter if he wish to resubmit it! Sorry about the mix up!
Newsletter Deadline date: November 28!
New comers:
For newcomer information and packets see the SDH members in the bright yellow SDH t-shirts at the Tuesday Park meeting at Fort Lowell Park!
Have a wonderful November!
