Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
November 2001 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
"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win."
Gandhi
Calendar
(check below for related articles)
**Park Meetings Begin at 12 Noon**
Friday, October 26 City Wide Roller Skating
Tuesday, October 30 Harvest/Halloween Party
Tuesday, November 6 Project/Report Club
Science Fair Information
Early Teen Discussion Group
Thursday, November 8 Eastside Coffee Night
Tuesday, November 13 Middle Readers Group
Tuesday, November 13 Scottish Highland Dancing
Friday, November 16 Star Party/Potluck
Wednesday, November 28 Crafty Ladies
Friday, November 30 Curriculum/Catalog Sharing
Articles
October 3, 2001 Parents' Meeting
The Parents' Meeting played to a full house. About 25 people attended to discuss the SDH schedule for the remainder of the year. Thank you to everyone who attended this meeting on such short notice. To keep this relatively brief, I am only including some of the topics discussed at the meeting. Complete notes for the meeting can be found in the Local Resources Notebook at park meetings.
These tentative dates were set for the remainder of the 2001 - 2002 year calendar:
October 30: 
Harvest/Halloween Fun
Harvest/Halloween Fun Park Meetings change to noon, announcements at 12:30 December 11: Decoration Exchange
Last regular Park Meeting before winter holidaysJanuary 8: Welcome Back Potluck
First regular Park Meeting after winter holidaysFebruary 12: Valentine Exchange
April 23: Park Meetings change to 9:30 AM, announcements at 10:00
Park Meetings change to 9:30 AM, announcements at 10:00May 14: Last regular Park Meeting before summer
Last regular Park Meeting before summerAugust 14: Organizational Meeting
September 10: First regular Park Meeting after summer
The biggest change for the group will be starting our 2002 - 2003 park meetings in September instead of August. Thanks to Eileen for the suggestion!
Some notes from the meeting:
Two members will volunteer at each park meeting to act as greeters/connectors. The G/C's will talk with newcomers, explain how the group operates, answer questions, and connect newcomers with other adults and children in SDH. The positions are not permanent to ensure that this responsibility is shared throughout the group and doesn't fall on the same people every week.
Plastic-covered name tags will be available for people to use to create their own personalized, permanent name tags. The group has grown to the point that we could all use the assistance in learning everyone's' names! Check the resources table for materials.
SDH needs a photo collector, someone who will accept and hold photographs over the year to facilitate producing the yearbook and displays. Contact debbie or Susan E. if you are interested.
The December 11 Decoration Exchange will involve children bringing wrapped homemade ornaments and decorations to the park to give to each other. More information will be available in the December newsletter. Contact Jill M. with ideas.
The food served at potlucks was briefly discussed. Some people are especially interested in their children eating less sugar.
Proposed events for Spring 2002:
Variety Show
Kite Day
A Walk Through Space
Sabino Canyon Walk
Proposed events for Summer 2002:
2 or 3 evening pool parties at community pools
A day on Mount Lemmon
There will be follow-up articles and announcements about these events, but if you are interested in volunteering to organize any of them, please e-mail sdhtucson@yahoo.com or talk with Sybelle or debbie.
There was also a discussion about children's behavior at park meetings. It was generally agreed that all adults need to be comfortable dealing with each other when behavior problems arise, and that this approach provides positive modeling for the children involved.
In addition, there was a brief discussion about the difficulties faced by some parents when trying to attend evening meetings. If you have any ideas or suggestions about handling this, please contact me (debbie). I will start a list of people interested in working to come up with ways to handle childcare for SDH events, and I will then hand the list over to anyone interested in tackling this situation.
City-Wide Roller Skating
The next city-wide roller skating event is coming up on Friday, October 26. This activity is open to homeschoolers throughout Southern Arizona, courtesy of the efforts of CHET NW.
Friday, October 26, 2001
1:00 to 3:00 PM
$3.00 per skater (includes skate rental)
Skate Country North
2700 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson
Halloween/Harvest Activites
October 30th is our annual Harvest/Halloween celebration. Both parents and kids are encouraged to dress up. We want to have activities for the children, so bring your games and crafts. Last year one mom set up a tent in which she told fortunes, and another mom dressed as a diner lady and had a bubble gum chewing contest! We will have a potluck, and after our meal the kids will be led in a costume parade.
Note: the park meeting will start at 12 noon today!
Celtic Festival/Scottish Highland Games
The Tucson Celtic Festival and Scottish Highland Games will take place this year on Saturday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rillito Park Raceway. This year there will be a gathering of the clans, Scottish athletics such as the caber toss, a Highland Dance competition, food, vendors, entertainment, and of course bagpipe bands. On Friday night,
November 2 there will be a barbecue and old fashioned Ceilidh. For more
information, see the website at http://canopus.azstarnet.com/tcfa/index.htm.
Project/Report Club
Project/Report Club has a new format! We'll have a parent guest speaker and a Show N' Tell portion, then formal project/report portion. Please join us on the first Tuesday of the month at 11:30 AM at the park.
Contact Alice G. or Tracy J. for more information.
Science Fair
Science Fair Information will be presented at the Park on the 1st Tuesday of every month after Project Report Club. We have new leadership from the CHET side and I think it will be a wonderful event. I am planning on attending Park days only biweekly this year, but will have books, ideas and time for questions and discussions for the Science Fair.
I strongly encourage your children to start brainstorming now if they needto grow, build or evaluate a long-term project. Also the CHET Science Fair will be held in February, prior to SARSEF, and early planning can help with exhaustion from the holidays activities.
You may always contact me at home, afternoons preferably, but do call or email. SARSEF is the Southern Arizona Regional Science and Engineering Fair for grades K-12 held at the UA every year in February or March. The CHET Science Fair is our convenient entry to this wonderful event. I am strongly encouraging the new leadership to 'acquire' more judges at the CHET event and keep the time frame to a morning or afternoon only, and will be organizing a potluck picnic lunch for the SDH members at Palo Verde Baptist Church,
2151 S. Palo Verde.
I am looking for support and help from our group in the following areas: Qualified Judges (current or retired teachers/workers in the Science, Engineering or Research fields), Potluck Lunch at CHET Science Fair and ongoing Park Science discussions. I was distracted by 'goodie bag' duty last year and have vehemently protested the acquiring of more useless stuff to give our children. My hope, this year, is to really know our group's participants and projects. Remember, Science Rocks and Rules! Susan E.
Early Teen Discussion Group
We will meet at the park at 11:15 AM on Tuesday November 6th. The topic will be the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.The discussion will start with the kids' understanding of exactly what happened on that day, including who did it and why. We will talk about the U.S response to it, the threat of other attacks on the U.S., and
how best to resolve the situation. Finally, we will talk about how these events have affected us personally. The whole point of the discussion is to give the kids a chance to express their opinions and feelings in an atmosphere of mutual respect and intellectual openness.
Contact Brian M. if you have questions.
Science for Homeschoolers
Classes offered at: Overton Fine Arts Center, 1830 W. Overton, between La Canada & La Cholla. To register or for more info, please call Dr. Jacqueline Soule at 292-0504. Topics are offered in units, lasting 4 or 5 weeks. Fall classes are on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. - noon. Material is appropriate for children in grades 1-4, with scientific methods reinforced throughout - such as making and testing hypotheses. Classes are mixed-grade so parents can leave kids and have some personal time. Mid-morning snack break (please bring snack).Registration: $50. Materials fee of $10 is paid to the instructor at the first class (this covers all class supplies).
The Human Body: muscles & nerves from nose to toes Thursday Nov 8, 15,
(not 22), 29, Dec 6. This class is fun! We explore how the human body works including: all the senses; taste, touch, hearing, smell, and sight; balance; the brain; the vascular system; and the digestive system.
Spring 2002 Courses: (may move to Wednesday, depending on parent choice).
Wonderful Water & the Water Cycle Seeds, Stems, Blooms & Bulbs: Investigate plants
Chemistry: Reactions everywhere
Volcanoes & more: Investigate the earth sciences
About the lead instructor: Jacqueline A. Soule has been working with children for close to two decades. She works as a science educator with the University of Arizona SEEK Programs for K-8 children. he is called "The Worm Lady" by thousands of Tucson school children, since she offers workshops on recycling with red wigglers in their classrooms.
Jacqueline also presents teacher training workshops, helping teachers better integrate science across their curriculum. Dr. Soule has a B.S. in Horticulture from the University of Arizona, a M.S. in Botany from Michigan State, and a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Texas.
Eastside Parents' Coffee Night
The Eastside Parents Coffee Night will be on Thursday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Borders Cafe, Park Place on Broadway.You don't have to live on the east side to join us! And you don't have to drink coffee, either!
Talk to Mary Beth or Joleen if you have any questions.
Middle Readers' Group
Middle reader's, ages 8 to 11, meet the second Tuesday of the month at 11:00 AM. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 13. The book we are reading this month is The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, #1, by John R. Erickson.
Any questions, contact Paige J.
Scottish Highland Dancing Demonstration
On Tuesday, November 13th at 1:15 PM after park announcements (Ft. Lowell park), Elizabeth W., Ashley M. and Amanda O. (from SDH) would like to give a demonstration and history of Scottish Highland dancing and Elijah W. will play and talk about bagpipes. If you are interested, they will also teach us a dance.
Questions, contact Eileen D.
A Night with the Stars
We will be having a star party/pot luck on Friday, November 16, starting at 5:00 at Wendy B.'s home. Members from the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/) will be providing scopes and tons of information for us. Viewing will begin around 6:45. We also will be having a pot luck. Please bring your own chairs, a small table if you like, your own eating utensils, drinks, and a dish to pass. If you will be more than an hour late, please bring dessert. It will be chilly so dress accordingly. TAAA has done this for us in the past. Let's impress them again by everyone coming for an evening of fun. If you have any questions about the party, please contact Becky L. Wendy will provide a map to her home and it will be placed on the bulletin board.
4-H Club
You are invited to join the Creepy Crawley Club. They meet on the third Tuesday of the month. This is not an SDH-run club. The Creepy Crawlers meet at 3:45 p.m. at the Mary-Joyce Private School at 8185 E. 22nd St.
For more information contact Paige J.
Crafty Ladies
Every last Wednesday of the month (this month on November 28) 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.
Curriculum/Catalog Sharing
On Friday November 30th, I will have a get-together to share what we all use with our kids. What I would like to do is for everyone to bring their favorite curriculum, books, manipulatives, games, etc. to share with others. Bring whatever helps your child learn (but not everything you have, of course). This could be anything as we all know, and it is not
limited to "curriculum" or textbooks. Another thing I would like to share is all of our favorite catalogs. I would like for new people to come and see what we use and for not-so-new people to be able to get new ideas. Maybe this will be in time for the holidays and everyone's wishlist....
We will start at 10:00. Make sure your things have your name on it. Bring paper and pen to write down all those great ideas. Bring something to eat and drink for your family or to share, because we always need that, don't we? I will bring directions to my house to the park.
For questions, e-mail or call Sybelle V. or catch me at the park.
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 roller blade 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.
Homeschooler Art for Himmel
Himmel Library (1st Street and Treat Avenue) has asked the children in our group to create art work to be displayed in their Children's Section during the month of December. The general theme is "Winter," and within that context, anything goes. Draw a picture, make something with clay, build a diorama, knit a stocking, take a photograph...whatever you want to share with the community. Bring your work of art to any park day during November and I will ensure that it is included in the display at Himmel.
Questions? Talk to, call, or e-mail Michelle Y.
Yearbook
Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch.... yes, it's moving forward! I am clipping, pasting and designing the activities pages and will have some of the sheets up for display and identification. I am looking for organizers to step forward and provide me with any particulars about the events to share with old and new members. Please contact me about pictures or events; let's capture these magic moments for they grow so quickly and the damage to our long-term memory appears to be severe.
Susan E.
Link-Ups
I am looking for interested members to join a club called the Link-Ups.The goal is to 'link-up' with another families hobby or activity every month with that family hosting the 1-2 hour trip, activity or class. If we can get 6-12 parents involved once or twice a year, we can broaden our horizons and share the load! For example, our family might host a local field trip to hunt AZ mineral specimens and/or photography opportunities. We would supply maps, background information and share our enthusiasm for rocks and minerals at the site, photographing the area and dig. Activities can be during the week or on weekends depending on the group's needs or desires.
Please call or email Susan E. if interested.
Ted Walker Day
Ted Walker Day, scheduled for November 19th at Old Tucson is canceled. There was such a tremendous response that all 3000 spots were filled prior to our registration. Next year we will get our list in earlier.
SDH Jobs
Are you considering taking on an SDH job next year? Two ideas emerged during the parents' meeting that would make it easier for you to take over that position.
Each job-holder will maintain a small notebook contains all the pertinent information about performing that particular job - what is involved in doing the job; records; contact information; copies of any articles or announcements connected to the position. This notebook would be given to the next person filling the position, providing the person with a head start.
The second idea is that some of the larger jobs could be mentored for prospective job-takers. This would give people who are interested in a particular job more of an idea of what is involved in performing that job. If you are presently doing a job for SDH, or if you are considering one in the future, contact Eileen or debbie for more information about these ideas.
Ad
Do you need an extra $20 a week? We need your help. We are an apartment complex, near the University, who needs someone to sweep, trim bushes, occasional weed eating, basically keeping our place looking nice. We pay $7/hour and need you for three hours a week. Schedule is flexible.
If you're interested, please contact Tara O.
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TO JOIN SDH, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR $10 DUES ($5 AFTER JANUARY) TO ALICE G.,
THEN COMPLETE THIS FORM FOR THE SDH ROSTER AND RETURN IT TO SHARON A.
Parents' Name(s)
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Address
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City, State, Zip
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Phone Number
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E-mail Address
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Child Name(s) and
Birthdate(s)(MM/YY)_______________________________________________________
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