August 2001, Newsletter #20 Mount Vernon Homeschoolers
Editor: Suzanne
Student editors: Kathy and Jun

We would like to introduce our friend from Japan. His name is Jun. He visits this month through the 4-H and Labo, the exchange group that provides home visits. Jun has been enjoying tennis, and we are sorry that American home life is so loud. We asked Jun what the difference is in the life in Japan and the daily life in America. He answered: America is keep to the right. but, Japan is keep to the left. Japanese car is a right-hand drive car. American car is a left-hand drive car. American things are all big size. Today, the boys left the light on in the back of the car and tossed a baseball too close. We have been alarming the neighborhood every twelve minutes. Had to go around the block with the dog to figure out what was wrong. Grist Mill Park Play Group Grist Mill The park will be home again on Wednesdays 1-4. The recreation center will be closed until October for renovation of the kiddie pool. We may go to another pool. It's the dog days of summer. We're sitting in the shade, the grass is growing brown, and the air conditioner is running. We are luxuriating in the shade. The kids are running through the sprinkler. Mom is lazy. Notice of Intent Notice of Intent Pesky thing has to be sent in around August 1. (Link to VAEclectic) If you file under Option 1 or 2 glance at the form and hand-write this notice with the names and ages of your children. Religious exemption is a wonderful way to go. Have to jump through hoops to do it. If you leave anything out, the superintendent will send a letter asking for a copy of your degree or some mention of curriculum. Send this certified. Or send the test scores. And for those of us who don't want to submit test scores for fear our little genius may be above average and sway the scores, the portfolio is the way to go. Mine for the four children is 10 pounds and 12 inches deep. It is filled with the beginning, the middle and the end of this year. It shows improvement in writing, reading, math and all. It has curriculum examples, lesson plans, work and it is separated into portfolios for each child. It even has praise and criticism from other people in it. Threw in one or two stories, book lists, unit studies and lists of books ordered. Sending this certified. If you get a letter saying the county of Fairfax never got your offerings, write the name of the person who signed the card. Remember less is more. Summer Fun Put those feet back up. Sit, think, read. Prepare yourself for the wonderful year ahead. It's cool, it's pleasant. Ice that tea with mint and sit on the porch. When the mosquitoes come out, grab the sweaty kids, pile in the car and get yourselves to the library or to Borders or Barnes & Noble. Skip the ice cream store and don't go anywhere near Zany Brainy. The rockets keep drawing me back. The rackets that bang like drums. Be sure to check out the Holts (anything they ever wrote), Montessouri, home school books from Mary Pride, the Colfax family, the classics, the magazines. If the natives are restless and tired of being in the food chain, take them to the library. Bagels and Books Bagels and Books Monday, August 6. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, Jules Verne. Vegetate with my favorite, Charlotte Mason Companion. Vital information., Put your batteries on charge wit ha wonderful take it easy book and enjoy being a homeschooler. The best motivator for firing off the energy rocket is in the complete books, but they put me to sleep. The companion is the field quide to homeschooling. National Gallery Lisa called to tell me about some programs at the National Gallery of Art. We thought we would metro in with the kids and set them out to create with those folks who offer hands on activities.

Books for Mount Vernon Unitarian Church Sale Editor proposes a thousand book giveaway to the Mount Vernon book sale. Yes, old curriculum, unused coloring books, all the copies of classics, the uncracked copies of children books that my fourteen year old got from Grandma, the baby board books and Barney tapes. There is a white box on the church grounds to haul them to and get them out of the road. Wonder if the Washington schools would appreciate a truck filled with curriculum. we have it stacked six feet deep around here. Spent the summer with one too many feng whoever books. It seems my mind wants to unclutter. Kathy says I am being mean, these books are changing our lives for the better. Join me in the great giveaway this fall. Our friend, Maureen will be so happy to see my copies of Pooh and railway stories. We loved Pooh and have about four books. The church will also reap the benefit. We like "Family Math". We have a lot of math books. Newbie Support Meeting Newbie information meeting August 2 Sherwood Library Experienced Homeschool Parents offer: FREE How to Begin Homeschooling Seminar Thursday, August 2, 2001 7-9 pm Sherwood Regional Library 2501 Sherwood Hall Ln., Mount Vernon Topics include: How to Start Homeschooling The Virginia Home Education Law Curriculum Options Finding Support Resources Q & A Much More Children welcome. For more information, contact Ceciliadl@AOL.com Mount Vernon Co-operative Learning Center MvCLC(Mount Vernon Co-operative Learning Center) Parents facilitate activities for homeschool children. For information, write Jennifer Eubanks Gleaning In August we will be talking about gleaning again. If you want to take part, let us know. We really like this activity. The kids liked getting their pictures in the Mount Vernon Gazette for picking 700 pounds of eggplant. It was eating our share that became the education. We explored more recipes than you can think about. The Internet provided some, and the ladies in the group provided more. Eggplant Parmesan is still the winner. Fun Field trips Farmers Market Tuesday mornings Zoo Huntley Meadow the snake was out, the snapping turtles were in the mud. Swim anytime, anywhere Basketball camp next week Karate camp sign up for two weeks at American Martial Arts Skyline drive Beach camping Sprinkler Fun Music in the Car Take your turn. We have all kinds. Country and Western, Pop etc. Peace Camp at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church The editor and her cohort Lisa N. are going to do camp Aug Date at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church. We usually make paper mache puppets, write a play with the children, perform the play with dance, music and mayhem during this week. We have some discussion about the play this time. Still have the Scat Cat Blues play. Older daughter wants to challenge this play with an environmental tome.My play is written. She has to stir herself and talk the other campers into a challenge. It's supposed to be Peace Camp. We blaze through the week with movement, meditation, conflict resolution, puppet making and this time jug band music or blues. We like to have youth counselors, so ready yourself teens. Volunteers are rewarded with a week they won't forget and that's no empty threat. We always say we like this week but it does tire the children to paint the sets, make the puppets, write the play by Wednesday, practice the play and present it in five days. Any survivors are rewarded with Krispy Kreme Donuts on Friday. Janice Fitzgerald at the church can take your reservation. $75 for half day, $125 for all day The more the merrier. Not Back to School Picnic In September, we will have the Not Back to School Picnic. Bring yourself, your children, snacks, lunch and drinks to Ft. Hunt Park on the day school starts. We will play, draw in chalk, and run around like crazy. Last year the Kennedy Center sheets were available to sign up for $4 tickets. Or, you could get culture and pay $l5-40 per seat. We love these shows. Select some for your children. Be prepared to write a check and if we get all the performances, we will meet at the Kennedy Center and go as a group to some terrific shows. If you can't make a performance, we call around to give the tickets and pay the person who holds them, or at these prices your heart does't break if one of the kids has the flu and can't go. We went to several over the last two years and they were good. The petting zoo for instruments is a favorite. I was partial to the tuba and violin performance. We sign up during early September at this picnic and at Grist Mill. The lists circulate.

August / 2001
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 Notice of Intent Due Playgroup, Grist Mill Park, 1-4 p.m.	2 Newbie Support Meeting, 7-9 pm, Sherwood Library	3	4
5	6 Bagels and Books, 10:00 a.m. Sherwood Library	7	8 Playgroup, Grist Mill Park, 1-4 p.m.	9	10	11
12	13	14	15 Playgroup, Grist Mill Park, 1-4 p.m.	16	17	18
19	20	21	22 Playgroup, Grist Mill Park, 1-4 p.m.	23	24	25
26	27	28	29 Playgroup, Grist Mill Park, 1-4 p.m.	30	31