Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers
Tucson, Arizona
October 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
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a
habit."
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
Greek philosopherCALENDAR
(check below for related articles)
Wednesday, October 3 Parent's Meeting
Tuesday, October 9 Pre-Teen/Early Teen Discussion Group
Thursday, October 11 Eastside Coffee Night
Friday, October 12 Geography Bee Prep Class
Tuesday, October 16 Clothing Exchange
Friday, October 19 Deadline for November Newsletter
Geography Bee Prep Class
Tuesday, October 23 Used Curriculum Fair
Friday, October 26 City Wide Roller Skating
Tuesday, October 30 Harvest/Halloween Party
Thursday, November 1 Crafty Ladies
Articles
Parents' Meeting
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 3, from 7-9 PM! All SDH parents are invited to Michelle's home, in central Tucson, to plan events for the current homeschooling year and to take a look at how things are going so far. Bring your questions, concerns and observations about what you love about SDH and where we could improve. If you're new to the group, this will be a great opportunity to meet other parents in a smaller setting. If you're "old," we need your input and experience, too, so please come.
(This is a parents-only meeting but babies-in-arms are welcome, of course.)
Maps to Michelle's house will be provided at the park toward the end of September.
Pre-Teen/Teen Discussion Group
A new discussion group for kids ranging in age from 11 on up to 15 is forming. The first meeting will be at the park, thirty minutes before the regular park meeting on October 9th. The topic will be Cloning - what is it, should it be allowed and for what purposes, who should decide, what effect will it have on life as we have known it, etc.
If you're interested you can do some reading and thinking about it and then just show up on October 9th thirty minutes before the park meeting.
Any questions, call Brian M.
(P.S. I'll be gone until 10/1 but will be at the park on 10/2 and available for phone calls after that).
Eastside Coffee Night
Parent's eastside coffee night will be held again at Borders, Park Place on Thursday, October 11th. "Sven" will be on hand giving shoulder rubs to weary parents. See you there! Joleen and Mary Beth.
Homeschoolers' Geography Bee Update
BETT, sponsor of the Tucson-area geography bee for homeschoolers on November 30, 2001, is offering a series of preparatory geography classes in October and early November. The dates for October are Friday, October 12 and Friday, October 19. For more information, including locations and times, e-mail bluegrama@yahoo.com, or speak with Debbie G. at the park.
SDH Fall Clothing Exchange
The next SDH clothing exchange will take place on Tuesday,October 16. If you have been considering going through your family's wardrobe to find 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, or books that are taking up space or just gathering
dust, bring them to the park on October 16 - 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.
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 19, 2001
1:00 to 3:00 PM
$3.00 per skater (includes skate rental)
Skate Country North
2700 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson
Used Curriculum Fair
If you have outgrown educational materials, share them with others and recoup some lunch money! Bring your materials--charts, dioramas, workbooks in almost new condition, textbooks, novels, language cassette sets, videos...--to park on October 23. Spread your offerings out on blankets or portable tables. The curriculum fair will start at the usual park time and annoucements will be postponed an hour until most of the bartering and buying
has taken place. Come early for best selection. In the past, this event has been very successful in emptying and refilling closets! Don't forget to bring some pocket money for great deals!
Call or talk to Danetta M. or Helen H. for more information.
Halloween/Harvest Activities
October 30th is our annual Harvest/Halloween celebration. In past years, we have had a carnival with activity booths run by families, a costume parade, crafts, and treats. Both parents and kids are encouraged to dress up. Last year the Diner Lady had a bubble gum chewing contest, and one year one of the mom's came as a plant!
Food, crafts, and whether we will have activity booths this year will be discussed at park and organizsers are welcome. This year, treats will be provided by SDH.
Crafty Ladies
(Note: due to Halloween, the next meeting will be Thursday, November 1).
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.
Science Classes
Just a reminder that Dr. Jacqueline A. Soule (the "worm lady") is offering 2 science classes on Thursdays from 9am-noon. These will be held at 1830 W. Overton between La Canada and La Cholla and to find out more information you can call her at 292-0504. I talked with Dr. Soule last night and it sounds like it will be a wonderful experience for those interested in science. The next class is Terrestrial Biology and starts on Thursday
October 11th and the following class is The Human Body starting November 8th.
Ages (approx) 6-10 years old.
Cost: $50 registration + $10 materials.
Environmental Science Program
On Friday, November 2, kids (and parents) from SDH will have an opportunity to learn about environmental issues from three different scientific perspectives: chemistry, biology and physics. The program will be held at the Hacienda, near Kolb and Tanque Verde, from 10:00 AM - noon. It is appropriate for all learners who are comfortable with reading.
The details...
Environmental Chemistry Challenge: With its underground water source, pond and wetlands, the Hacienda is a perfect setting for students to learn methods of collecting and analyzing water samples. The students will be challenged to solve a water pollution problem using various chemical methods for treating the problem.
Environmental Biology Challenge: Students will study the amazing bacteria, fungus, plants, and animals that inhabit the Hacienda. After learning how different species help preserve the delicate ecosystem, students will be challenged to solved a pollution problem that is endangering the ecosystem using biological means.
Environmental Physics Challenge: After studying the solar energy system that is used at the Hacienda, students will be given the task of designing and building machines that use energy from the sun. These machines may do everything from cook food to transport loads.
At the end of the two-hour program, families are invited to take a self-guided nature hike around the Hacienda property and to bring a picnic to enjoy there.
The cost for the morning's program is $10 per child.
Please see Michelle Y. at the park for more information or to sign up.
Park Day at Himmel Park
An alternate park day is starting at Himmel Park on Thursdays at 10:00 am. Himmel Park is located on Tucson Blvd. near Speedway. They have a public library, a swimming pool, and a shaded play area. This is mainly to be a play park day, no official announcements will be made.
If you have any questions contact Tara O.
SDH T-Shirts
I will not be able to do the T-shirts like I did last year due to illness. I do have the artwork on a disk and I can send it to anyone who would like to take over the t-shirt job. Someone who can get a great price from a t-shirt place would be the best person for the job. The price needs to stay low, so everyone can have a shirt if they want one.
Anyone interested can contact Lisa R.
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.
Who's Who List
When Karen M. gets back from vacation (beginning of October), the Who's Who list will be finalized and published in the newsletter. That way, you know who to contact about different events and activities. Send Karen an e-mail or nab her at park if you have taken over an event.
New Members
Danetta M. and Alice G. are co-treasurers this year. One holds the money and the other holds the records, so that you can be assured your membership money is safe and accounted for. Find Eileen D. or Sharon A or Sybella V. for a newbie packet. It should contain a newsletter and homeschool information. If you want to join SDH, tear off the membership slip from the back page of the newsletter and give it with $10 to either Alice or Danetta.
New LInk on SDH Web Site
Check the Links page on the SDH web site (http://www.tucsonhomeschoolers.org) to visit a new information page for local homeschoolers - the Southern Arizona Home Education Network. Descriptions of local homeschooling support groups can be found at
SAHEN, in addition to contact information for each group.
If you have information on groups not included on the SAHEN site, or if you have additions or corrections to the listings already there, please e-mail debbiegubernick@yahoo.com.
Homeschool Information
The Native American Homeschool web page has not been updated since January 2000. However, for links and information about the Native American Homeschool Association try:
You can also try writing to:
Native American Homeschool Association,
P.O. Box 979
Fries, VA., 24330.
Ad
For Sale: Reptile Tank and set up,slightly used 20 gallon glass tank with very nice heating pad (almost new),clamp on wire mesh top (very secure), and nice 5"x 3" water crock. $45.00 or best offer contact Jackson L.
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TO JOIN SDH, PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR $10 DUES ($5 AFTER JANUARY) TO ALICE G.,
COMPLETE THIS FORM FOR THE SDH ROSTER AND RETURN TO SHARON A.
Parents' Name(s) __________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________
City, State, Zip ___________________________________________
Phone Number ___________________________________________
E-mail Address ___________________________________________
Child Name(s) and Birthdate(s)(MM/YY)______________________
_______________________________________________________
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Sonoran Desert Homeschoolers Tucson, Arizona
