WSHE Newsletter Text November 1998

Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page

WSHE Newsletter Text November 1998Phone numbers have been removed at the request of group leadership

How WSHE Works
We have a lot of new members, so this is a good time to
explain who we are and how our group works.

We are a group of about 150 homeschooling families providing
support to each other. This includes opportunities to interact
with each other through park days, field trips, 4H, Science
Fairs, Spelling Bees, sports, and other activities. All our operations
and activities are coordinated by volunteers. This includes
collecting and keeping track of registrations, producing the directory
and yearbook, organizing field trips, Mom's night out, this monthly
newsletters, the student council, our library, theater trips, poetry
contests, Speechmasters, pool parties, school pictures, skating
parties, art classes, P.E. classes, Scholastic book sales,
and all our other activities. It's a lot of work.

The character of our group depends on the dedicated
homeschooling parents that volunteer to coordinate activities. Our
planning meetings are open for all to attend. But as with many
groups, few attend. And coincidentally, these few plan
nearly all our activities and do most of the work.

If you would like to see a field trip that we don't have, please
come to a planning meeting and volunteer to coordinate it. We
have a form, which can be used as a checklist for planning a field
trip, or you can ask for help from one of the old timers. If you're
feeling lost in the group, organizing a field trip is a great
way to get acquainted with everyone.

We charge $15 per year to become a member. This is the only
money we collect, and it covers printing and mailing costs for the
monthly newsletter and the directory. Our activities are for registered
members only, and all are invited to register. But please don't expect
a newsletter unless you register. The deadline for entries in the
newsletter is the 2nd Tuesday of the month for
the following month's newsletter.

COOKIE CO. THEATER REMINDER
For everyone who has signed up and paid in advance, this is
just a reminder for the showing of "Puss in Boots" on Friday,
October 30th at 10am at Phoenix Theater 100 E. McDowell
Rd. If you have any questions, just call Denise Cromer xxx-xxxx.

MOUNT LAGUNA OBSERVATORY FIELD TRIP!!!
This observatory is open to the general public each summer.
However, the students there provide special opportunities for
educational groups, such as homeschoolers. In fact, a group of
homeschoolers from San Diego are visiting the observatory next
month. During our visit, we will be given a guided tour, learn about
astronomy, shown a slide show that will detail some of the new
technology astronomers use and some of the brilliant celestial objects
parents and children might see. After the slide show, everyone
will view the heavens through the 21 inch telescope.

The observatory is located about 45 miles east of downtown
San Diego, in a remote location. This makes it one of the best
observatory sites in the continental U.S. My family and I are
planning on giving our son this exciting opportunity during
the first week of November, and would like our fellow homeschoolers
to join us. There is a modest, AFFORDABLE fee for the presentation.
Call me, Sharon Taylor, at xxx-xxxx, no later than October 30, so I can
make the reservation for the exact date of
our visit in a timely fashion.

MAIZE MAZE
Monday, Nov 2 at 1pm
Chandler, NW corner of Alma School and Queen Creek Road
Admission $2 per student, Parents and children 5 and under are free
The Maize maze is a 6 acre field of 300,000 8 foot corn stalks that
resemble a Mayan sun symbol fashioned into the state of Arizona
with the words "Valley Of The Sun" Iincluded at the bottom.
Educational literature with the history of mazes will be available for
those who attend. A special passport will be available to help
you through the maze if you answer questions correctly. Remember
to wear your sneakers and to have your admission paid to
Brenda Arce xxx-xxxx by Wednesday, October 28th

If you're contemplating whether you would like to be involved in
forming an astronomy club exclusive to WSHE, this is the place
to go to help you make up your mind. Join us on October 24th
at the White Tanks from 7pm to 9pm and then again on October
30th from 7pm to 9pm at Copperwood Elementary School for
some fun astronomy showings and experience the wonders of
outer space. This would give you a taste of what we could
experience exclusively to WSHE if we formed our own club. For
questions, call Denise xxx-xxxx. There is no sign up for this
event. You just show up at the designated location.

MOM'S NIGHT OUT
Friday, November 13th at 7:00pm (this date is tentative, Please
check the bulletin board at the park for details.) We will meet at
Lisa Clarke's to make molded chocolate candies, such as peanut
butter cups, turtles, wreath lollipops, etc. These make great
Christmas gifts (if they last that long at your house!) There is a $5
cost to cover chocolate flavoring, sticks, etc.… There will be an
additional list of items that would be helpful for you to bring. This
list, the sign-up sheet and map will be available at
the park. (Renee Metcalf xxx-xxxx)

ASTRONOMY CLUB?
Would you participate in an astronomy club if WSHE found
the means in which to form one? If you're not sure, ask yourself...
Have you ever seen Jupiter and it's moons? or Saturn's rings or
even a star cluster? How about a constellation so close you'd think
you could reach out and touch it? or see first hand the Apollo
Landing sights? Well, we can! We have the chance to form an
astronomy club which could meet once a month or so with a
professional astronomer who has telescopes, slide shows, special
lens cameras and other devices and materials to make a really
exciting experience for us. Those of you who have attended the
Copperwood Elementary Astronomy Club shows know what I'm
talking about. This could be an awesome chance to really get
some first hand knowledge and experience in studying our world
and viewing God's great wonders in the sky. The only way to do this
exclusively for WSHE, would be to discuss, as parents, where we
want to have this show take place (a park, someone's back yard,
etc.), how often to get together and what kind of donation we
could commit to giving the astronomer for his time and use of
equipment. Is this something you would be interested in participating
in? Would you commit to meeting with the astronomer and other
parents of our group to discuss a schedule, set up a curriculum,
discuss subject matter, objectives and goals to establish a club? If
so, please call Denise Cromer xxx-xxxx or place your name and
phone number on a sign up sheet at the park. All this will do is tell
me if there is enough interest to begin the planning stages of an
astronomy club. If we don't have a significant response to this, we
will have to pursue it another time. Don't let this pass if you think
it's something you and your family would really benefit from and enjoy.

PLANNING MEETING
The next 2 planning meetings are: 7pm Tuesday, October 27,
and Tuesday, November 24th at First Baptist Church, 81st Ave.
and Cactus. All members are welcome to
participate and help plan future events.

CHORAL GROUP/DRAMA CLUB
Is there anyone out there who has the expertise and/or interest
in leading a Choral Group? Or how about a Drama Club? If so,
I would like to discuss the possibility with you and see if this is
something new and exciting we could offer our kids. We've got
some wonderfully talented young people in our group and I think
this would be a great opportunity to pull our resources and nurture
those special talents and abilities. Let's talk! Call
Denise Cromer xxx-xxxx

SOME CHANGES ON PARK DAY
To help ease congestion during the established park time, there is
now a P.E. class for combined ages at 11:00. The art class has
changed from one class at 10:30 to two classes--9:30 and 10:45.
This makes spots available for new students. Please register
with the appropriate person for either P.E. or art.

SPELLING BEE
Nov. 9th 10am.
I will have a sign-up sheet at the park for the spelling bee participants.
There will be no charge, but I would like to have some idea of
how many to expect. Participants will receive a certificate. Two
winners will receive a trophy and represent our group at the
regional competition in the spring. We welcome and encourage
parents and children to come just to watch. Perhaps this would
encourage more participants for next year when they see that it
is fun and really not that hard. I also need some moms to volunteer
to be judges and to help facilitate the bee. Please contact
me if you would like to help. Bonnie Bailey.

WSHE 4-H CRITTER CLUB UPDATE
If you have not turned in the registration form, please drop it in the
mail. If you don't have a form & would like to join or have
questions, please call me at xxx-xxxx. Anyone can join at any
time throughout the year. I am waiting on the updated catalogs
from the 4-H office so I can let you know what curriculums are
available. Until I receive this info there is no need to meet. It may
take 3-4 more weeks to get this info, so please be patient!! I
will call you to notify you of the date & time for the first meeting!
When we do meet, it will be on park days at either 11:30am or
2pm. Since the animal 4-H projects are completed at home, we
will not need to meet more than once per month. I know you are
all anxious to get started (so are we), but please remember that this
is a "permanent club" that will be available year after year (as long
as there is an interest), so you will have plenty of time to enjoy
the many activities. We appreciate your patience & understanding in
this slight delay!! Please don't hesitate to call
if you any have other questions.

WANTED
Someone to be responsible for the bulletin board and box.
Prerequisites include having a vehicle they will fit in and being
at the park consistently from Noon until 2pm each week. IT'S
A GOOD IDEA FOR EVERYONE IN CHARGE OF A
SIGN-UP LIST TO BE SURE ANY CLIP BOARDS ARE
SET OUT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND
PICKED UP BY 2pm. THANK YOU.

BEST FOOT FORWARD
We're a large group. Like it or not, we stick out. Let's look good
doing it. Remember to pick up after yourselves at the park
and be ON TIME for field trips and scheduled events. I know
at my house, Mom is usually at fault for a late start. Let's teach
our kids courtesy by example. We have also had complaints that
the kids are getting sand in the bathroom sinks. Please let your
kids know this causes maintenance headaches for
Peoria park personnel.

THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL
Wednesday, November 18th
Lunch at 11am - crafts & games will go on until 2pm
Sweetwater Park (75th Ave. and Sweetwater)

Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Festival (formerly Heritage
Day). There will be FOOD and DRINKS, CRAFTS and
GAMES for kids of all ages, FOLK DANCING and a CAKE
WALK. You don't want to miss the fun! Sign up sheets for bringing
FOOD to share will be posted at the park or call Denise xxx-xxxx
or AnnaMae xxx-xxxx. To participate, each family will need to bring
a food item to share. The categories will be a main dish, salad or
dessert. WSHE will provide pop to drink, ice and all paper goods
and plastic flatware. Lunch will begin at 11:00am so everyone
will have a chance to eat before PE starts. CRAFTS and GAMES
will begin after lunch and continue throughout PE until 2pm or
whenever supplies run out. Crafts and games will need to be
provided by volunteer families willing to man a table with their
selected craft or game. Please sign up at the park or call Sharon
Harris xxx-xxxx or Diane Keith xxx-xxxx if you would like to do
this. If we have no one sign up...there won't be any crafts or
games to offer the kids. So we need your help. If your craft or
game should require funds please contact Bonnie Bailey xxx-xxxx
BEFORE your purchase for reimbursement. If at all possible, please
bring your own table for your craft or game. If that's not possible,
please let Sharon or Diane know. There will be a sign up sheet at
the park, as well, for the CAKE WALK. This was a real hit last year
but there again, all families wanting to participate will need to bring a
baked good. Please call Diane if you have any other questions
about that. Renee Metcalf will be heading up FOLK DANCING
again this year. The kids really love this so please offer your support
to Renee (xxx-xxxx) and volunteer to help out with the kids that day.
There will be a sign up sheet at the park for this as well or call Renee
if you have any questions. This will be FANTASTIC day if we
work together to make it happen. Your help is GREATLY
appreciated. Let's have fun!!!

SPEECHMASTERS
November 5 - Demonstration (craft, skill, etc.)
November 19 - Speech: Current Events/Sports
December 3 - Poetry: Seasonal/Book Report
Homeschoolers meeting to teach and encourage our children in
the art of public speaking. We meet every other Thursday at 11am
at Palmcroft church, 15825 N. 35th Ave. in room
#E401. Cost is $1 per family to cover the room.

HOME EDUCATORS H.E.A.R.T.
Helping Equip with Activities, Resources & Teamwork
Monthly Meetings for:
New or prospective Home educators
Anyone looking for new ideas, resources, answers for a new phase of home education
Each session will include:
* New homeschoolers' information
* Updated listings of classes, activities, resources,
opportunities for home schoolers
* Special focus on teen resources, lots of free or low cost
resource materials
Plus a special topic and speakers each month reflecting the
interests and needs of home educators (support groups, teen events,
extracurricular activities, college prep, special needs children,
testing and evaluation etc.) All meetings are scheduled for 6:30-
8:30pm at Glendale Library Auditorium, 5959 W. Brown Ave.,
Glendale--2 blocks south of Peoria. The next meeting is on
Monday, December 7th. Bring you junior high and high school
students. Childcare is not provided. If you must bring your young
children, please bring a quiet activity for them. Audiotapes of
past meetings are available. RSVP to Holly at xxx-xxxx
or email to HollyJC@juno.com §

Westside 1998 Canned Food Drive
We hope everyone will participate in our first ever canned food
drive to be held the first two weeks of November. Collection
boxes will be at the park on Weds., Nov. 4 and Weds., Nov.
11. Please bring your canned food and other non-perishable
food items on either or both of these days. Student council
members will count and then deliver the food to the Westside
Food Bank . Student council members challenge all Westside Home
Educators to help meet the goal of 750 canned items! If the goal is met
or exceeded, student council members will provide free cookies and drinks
to everyone at the park on Weds., Nov. 18, as a
thank you. Please help!

GUITAR LESSONS
We are looking for someone who would be interested in teaching
guitar lessons for our group, either privately or in a group. If
you're interested, please call Denise Cromer xxx-xxxx.

How to plan a field trip
You, YES YOU, are invited to plan and execute a field trip for
the West Side Home Educators. Here's how.

First, you need an event. Imagine the best, most fun and
educational place you can take children . This is often the easiest
part, since there are so many educational places to go, and so
much to learn. Some ideas are: the zoo, a museum, the state fair,
a nursing home, a water treatment facility, a dairy, bakery or
factory, a musical or theatric performance, roller skating, ice skating,
laser tag, an observatory, a national park or monument, a fire or police
station, city hall, camping, hiking, and that's only the
beginning. Now the work starts.

You need to find out if anyone wants to go. The easiest way is to
bring the subject up at a planning meeting or park day. If there is
interest, you'll know. Everyone will want details. So set up details,
like when, where, cost, directions, meeting place, what are the
minimum and maximum numbers that may attend, what age
limitations are there, are strollers permitted, how will people get there,
will they need to bring lunch? Sunscreen? Water? Will you need
reservations? Pre-payment? Teachers packets? What preparations can
parents take to maximize the educational value for their children? You
decide these things. You do not need to get consensus. This is your
field trip. If it weren't for you, the trip wouldn't happen. I'm sure you
can find a date everyone is happy with, sometime in the next
century. So make the decisions, and be firm.

You need to plan ahead. Any submission to the newsletter is
due on the second Tuesday of the month FOR THE FOLLOWING
MONTH. Once you know all the details, communicate them to the
group. Post a sign-up sheet at the park, and be firm about your
deadline. Don't be afraid to limit the number allowed. Few tour
programs can accommodate a group our size. If money is involved,
insist on payment up front. You should only have
to pay for your family.

There has to be a contact person, and if you're planning the trip,
you're it. Don't be surprised when a lot of people call you just before
the trip with a lot of questions you've already answered in your
park bulletin board notice or newsletter article. This is a universal
constant when planning field trips. Be patient, answer their
questions, and things will go much smoother.

On the big day, be early, carry your clipboard and try to look
official. Take charge. If questions come up, do your best.

Planning and running a field trip can be an ordeal. Remember though,
you are not responsible to pay for, keep track of, or police the
conduct of any but your own children. On our field trips, parents must
attend and be responsible for their own children. Your job is to provide
the opportunity for learning. The parent's job is to get their children
there, pay, and monitor their behavior. The child's
job is to learn and have fun.