Mount Vernon Homeschoolers

Happy Mothers Day!

Newsletter #17 Old Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Homeschoolers

May 2001, Newsletter #17 Mount Vernon Homeschoolers Editor: Suzanne
Student editor: Kathy

May / 2001

We are located in Alexandria, Va. in the neighborhood of Mt. Vernon, the home of the first president, George Washington. Most of us are located in the suburbs of an area close to Route One,. We use the facilities of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church for meetings. Sherwood Library has been host to book club and support group. If anyone would like to attend meetings or join us at play group, please feel welcome to e-mail or call of come by. We have some experience in homeschooling different ages. Some of us unschool and let the child direct the learning. Some of us are structured. We can talk about curriculum and what works. When we started in homeschooling, it wasn't structured as a friendly environment. Things change. Most of the people in the group enjoy the way the children play, work and have grown into special relationships with others.

Grist Mill Park Play Group
Hello, We've met many new people at expanded play group. Welcome. The newsletter has been down for problems with DSL links. Still not totally straightened out. Verizon declares the faster net is not available in our area. Cox offers RoadRunner in one day. Sure miss my fast connection and fast cruising on the web.
Spring has sprung. We've all been planting and making a rose garden out back. Planted all kinds of great flowers, marigolds, delphiniums, daisy, and black-eyed Susan, impatiens and sunflowers. We watched the squirrel hop off the tree and eat his greens to the root, too.

Woodlawn Baseball
This is a lot of fun. We go to the baseball field on Pole road. Concession stand, outdoor loo. we are there all day Saturday and twice during the week. Working the concession stand on May 12. The games are really fun. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. I am an equal opportunity cheerleader. We have been known to scream "hustle". One of the best ways to watch the games is in your own lawn chair. The bleachers are wood. It might be wise to wear a bicycle helmet for the fly balls, and park your car way back in the lot.

Karate
Karate We've been taking classes above Gold's Gym. They will be offering Summer Camp Program for all day. Minimum two weeks. Three of the kids have earned orange belts and they are becoming really fit. Love those "Yes, Ma'am's."

4-H
4-H Bird Houses out of Karate Boards Wow! The birdhouse activity was fantastic. Gave those kids power tools, saws, nails, caulk and paint. Lisa L donated the lumber and Lisa L brought the miter box and tools and we had some workers hammering and sawing. The older Active H'ers helped the younger and we took home some wonderful houses. Liked the V's houses They nailed nails to hold oranges for Orioles. Oleg made an A-frame feeder, Kathy built a barn feeder and Alden helped everybody with the power tools. Alex became the more power tool man and never made a thing. But, he drilled a hole. Do we want to do this again?
On our second meeting at 4-H, we looked at the contents of a medicine cabinet and talked First aid. We listened to our heartbeats with a stethoscope and looked at a Midwives bag. Discussed the use of the 911 number. And, looked at bandages. We had a few minutes to walk in the Huntley Meadow woods up to the top of the hill and back down. It was different in the woods than last time. The leaves made it shady and the stickers on the vines were softer. We climbed our favorite giant fallen tree covered in vines and found our way back to Lisa's with the help of explorers Natalie and Valeria.

Note about Extended Park Days
Grist Mill Park We started off meeting on the first and several people had so much fun they wanted to meet every week on Wednesday from 1-4. We are across town at violin and sometimes the traffic is all right and sometimes we get stuck. We usually like free form play. Bring bubbles, balls and whatever. The creek and tadpoles are a big attraction. Prepare to haul some out of ankle deep mud.
Bagels and Books
May 7 Bagels and Books Sherwood Library, older group reads a library book selected by the librarian and then they discuss the book one a month on the first Monday at 10:00 A.M. May 17 Book Chat for the younger children. We read "Joey Pigsa Swallowed A Key". Thought provoking book. Stimulated much discussion in our house because my two boys are wired in their behavior. It actually caused them to slow down and try to think before they act. June book is Sammy Keyes and The Hotel Thief. Call for a reservation and come enjoy a chat with the Moms while the children chat with the librarian. Thank you Sherwood Library for these fine programs. Our children love to come and love to read and enjoy this

June 12th Meeting for 4-H
4-H Track Meet at Ft. Hunt Park in the Pavilion. June 12 come and bring a wooden spoon and boil that egg. Pillowcase for the three legged race. 10:00-1:00 Bring some snacks to share, water or drinks. The competition is not fierce. Each child fills up a card with a star and we celebrate the fun of outdoors and sporting events.

Violin Recital
Violin Recital Kathy is having a recital on May 20 at the Holiday Inn at Fair Oaks Mall. 3:30

Peace Play
Peace Play at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church on June 10 at 1:00 My homeschoolers are in this.

Summer Camp
August Summer Camp at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church The editor will be there with her cohort Lisa N. for one week of puppet madness and the afternoons will be filled with mayhem like tubes of fabric blowing in the wind, summer games and hopefully a sprinkler for me to run through when it gets hot. Some people wanted advance warning if I was asked to show up again. The children are so tired from playing with me they go to bed at six in the evening and are charged to go the next day. Yes, puppets and the threat from Kathy that she can write a better play than my favorite "Scat Cat Blues" Number Two daughter wants to write an ecological tome about the sea. Be prepared to send your child in if you want to further puppetry.

Boy Scouts?
Boy Scouts next year. Need five boys to start. Any interest? E-mail the editor.