Mount Vernon Homeschoolers

Mount Vernon HomeSchoolers
August / 2000

1
Portfolios due

7
Reading Group -- "Bagels and Books", 10:00 a.m.

15
Notice of Intent to Home School is due

22
Planning Meeting for 4-H, 10:00 a.m. Mount Vernon Unitarian Church

Newsletter #9

Mount Vernon Homeschoolers

August Newsletter.

The Mount Vernon Homeschoolers newsletter is for parents who homeschool in the area of Alexandria, Virginia, close to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.

We've had some vacation adventures. Swimming, road trips, lazy days reading books, three people waiting for their turn at the new Harry Potter adventure, art camp, drawing, painting, cooking squash, hunting the best tomato, and carrying home the melons from the Farmer's Market.

With the wet summer, we have been disappointed in the seed planting this year. The squirrel in the yard ate every sunflower seedling at two inches. We finally got the rubber snake out and put it in the flower bed.

The demo for the orph music was really good. Some of us are considering letting our children join up for this. Singing, rhythm, recorders, instruments, and improvisational dance. In one short hour, the children were sounding good.

Do you have plans to volunteer this year for 4-H or other programs? We had a lot of science in 4-H last year. Art camp has been enjoyable this summer. If we have skills or enthusiasm, it seems good to share with the children. Feel free to step forward to lead activities or lend skills to a group project of your choosing.

We are publishing the newsletter with activities for each month. Next newsletter is September 1st.
Mount Vernon Homeschoolers Association is organized to provide our home schooled children an opportunity to play and learn together.

Here is link to editor's email address.

Editor: Suzanne

Our activities will start up again in September

Not meeting in August for Play Group

Peace and Art Camp

During August we recommend Peace camp and Art camp at the Mount Vernon Unitarian church. One session remains, August 14th through 18th. Lisa, the 4-H leader will be working with Peace Camp. And, Suzanne, the editor will be leading art. Some of you know that I used to teach art, English, and journalism during my other life( before children.) Worked as a certified teacher in the public schools. Maybe, I never told you and this is a complete surprise. It was just a job. Now, it is a labor of love to see my children grow in a family dedicated to their well being and to their individual styles of learning. If anyone is interested in more information about these two camps, please Contact Janice Fitzpatrick at grandjfitz@aol.com or
Come and get acquainted. Happy Summer.

Reading Club -- "Bagels and Books"

The three books for Monday, August 7th

In My Father's House by Ann Rinaldi
Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson
One More River by Lynne Reid Banks
email Carol
Books are chosen by the librarian and it does stimulate reading. Snacks may be provided.
The reading club has been enjoyed by the older children while the younger ones stay in the library looking at book with their mothers. We always have a good time checking our books out and taking them home for later reading.
The meeting is at Sherwood Library again.

Appreciation: Big Thank You's!

We want to thank Maureen for a great start on Cloverbuds group. Maureen has decided to concentrate on homeschooling. After much thought and meditation, I have had to make the decision to not participate in the Cloverbud group this coming year. Unfortunately, our schedule next year is not compatible with doing 4-H on a regular basis.
We can't express our appreciation enough for her leadership this past year. In reflection, we enjoyed many activities with her as our leader. We also thank Lorraine for the thrilling unit on constellations. And we thank Lisa and her family for the circus activities.

Writing Club -- Meets next in September

Come and Join Us at This Event!

4-H

There are two groups:

Cloverbud
Active 4-H

Big planning meeting scheduled for August 22, 2000 at Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church at 10:00 A.M. We will meet with children and ask what they would like from their clubs. As you all know, Maureen has decided not to lead the Cloverbuds next year. She has done a wonderful job, and the 4-H club has grown this year. The older group will be led by Lisa Napier.

Mount Vernon Homeschoolers -- Plans for Group Activity

Should we offer a mission statement? What is best for our emergent learners? Do we do more? Or, less? Come prepared to discuss and reason through the potential for growth. It seems to me that we come to events if we want to, or the schedule allows. We share knowledge and interests. We value our friendship. No group can be everything to everybody. Some of our children are progressing to the teen years. We need to offer more community for them. We have talked about a prom/dance, and a yearbook.
Reading club is offered through Sherwood Library for older teens. Support. Older teen outings. Group is started. Support.
Please think about the experiences we had last year, and be prepared to discuss what we want to offer as a group.

Sports activities

Soccer
Basketball
Track

Art Activities

painting
pottery
Sculpture
Oil
Acrylic
Watercolor
Photography

Field trip of the month Smithsonian
Kennedy Center Performances for groups (join a group, go as a group)
Puppet Theater and performances
Sewing
Quilting
Book Club for younger children
Writing Club
Math tournament
Parent Support Group
Curriculum Fair

Not Back to School Picnic

The next big event for us is the Not Back to School Picnic at Ft. Hunt Park on the day school starts. We had a cookout, fun time last year. Bring your own lunch and join us again this year.

More Thank You's
Sports Day was also a wonderful activity. Cecilia encouraged some pottery and activities. We joined a Field trip to the Pride of Baltimore with Tara.
Carol and Denise started writing club. Talk about amazing fun. Cecilia offered writing club to the younger group and this has to be one of our more exciting groups.
Thanks to each one of the parents who tirelessly supported, drove to and met us all over this area. We had the best year. And, look forward to great unschooling and home schooled year. We know some of you came from Reston and Woodbridge and all over looking for active new interests and our children found a wealth of new friends and acquaintances.

Art Gallery
Art Gallery could use some artworks for the month of August. Suggest bees, bugs, butterflies, flowers. E-mail or give Suzanne your art work at the events during the month of August. The art gallery is open to everyone to be included. Poetry and stories are welcome.