July Newsletter. We would like to introduce ourselves if this is your first visit to Mount Vernon Homeschoolers Newsletter. We are parents who homeschool in Alexandria, Virginia close to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. We have been homeschooling for several years, eight for the editor, and several of the people involved have been meeting informally for many years. Several of the mothers attend Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church. We decided not to make religion an issue and to be welcoming and hope that parents and the children's involvement would make the group a lively, happy source for learning. It sure works for socialization to meet regularly. We have children with age from 3-14 participating in activities as a group. We formed Play Group, Reading Club, Writing Club, Sports Club, two 4-H clubs, and shared owl pellets and Science Fair. Everyone is welcome. We invite you to come to events to meet us.

This year, we decided to get acquainted with a wider group and the newsletter has helped us to form groups for activities. During the summer attendance will be lighter because of vacations. 4-H is on hiatus until the family meeting in August. Eighteen families joined. Great ideas were exchanged, and the participation in activities was quite high. Overwhelming, for some of us although Maureen and Lisa coped and we ended the year with the bang of Sports Day, and a whimper for Board game Day. The board games were lots of fun. We played for two and a half hours. We may need a separate day for a Scrabble championship next year. 4-H was divided into two groups Cloverbuds ages 3-9 and Active H-ers ages 10-14. We meet on Tuesdays at the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church at 10:00 first and third Tuesday. Thanks courageous leaders Maureen and Lisa, and thanks to parents who brought their children to our far flung activities like fishing, bowling, raising chickens, and playing sports. It was a blast this year. My children all expressed appreciation and look forward to Tuesday. Good information gathering by older teens, good work on bringing the older group together in a 4-H club that became their club with activities that they wanted. It was a goal for the parents involved that this club be moved and motivated by the interest of the teens.

We are publishing the newsletter with activities for each month. Next newsletter is August 1st.
Mount Vernon Homeschoolers Association is organized to provide our home schooled children an opportunity to play and learn together. This past year, we were able to get special prices to Kennedy Center performances, have picnics, sport activities, support group, reading, writing groups, 4-H, and field trips. We are working on a mission statement at this time. We have enjoyed activities like swimming and ice skating. We are located in the neighborhoods near Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia. We welcome all newcomers to meet at any of the activities. All of our children attend support group, play group, library days, and field trips. The range of age is from infant to teens. We have some meetings at the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church. We are non-denominational, we simply enjoy the company of genial people. We have experience in home schooling using several methods. Some experience in unschooling, and any one of the mothers or the children can speak openly about their multiple experiences with styles, with curriculum or without curriculum. Learning is a child based activity. Life long learning is the goal. In the summer, we hope to continue to glean and show our children the good they do when they harvest crops and share with the United Christian Ministries. Alexandria, Virginia is a wonderful place with historical significance, and a wide range of learning experiences along the banks of the Potomac. In the past we've made field trips to the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon, River Farms, ridden on the bike trails, and we invite other homeschoolers to come along and meet up with us.

Now summer is here. Homeschooling never lets up for some of us. We go year 'round. Although we will give 4-H a hiatus for July, we will continue play group at Grist Mill with a quick jump to the pool at George Washington Recreation Center if the heat gets turned to boil. Please bring extra water to the park. We will send an email to you if it is too hot to go to Grist Mill. Some of our families are unavailable during July. We have an expected arrival of a new homeschooler, age zero. And vacations.

During July we recommend Peace camp and Art camp at the Mount Vernon Unitarian church. Two sessions July 24th through 28th, and 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 aabout these two camps, please Contact Janice Fitzpatrick at grandjfitz@aol.com or (703) 768-709 Come and get acquainted. We will a hospitality meeting at the 4-H planning meeting in August. Happy Summer.

Here is link to editor's email address.

Editor: Suzanne

Still meeting in July Play Group Grist Mill Park On the first and third Wednesday of each month at 1:00 P.M. Play group all ages Reading Club -- "Bagels and Books" The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings has been chosen by the librarian. There are two other books. 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 and taking them home for later reading. The Sherwood Library will be closed for the Holiday on the third and fourth. The meeting date is changed to July 10 at 10:00. Sherwood Library Parent Support Group Parent Support Group Meet a Sherwood Library July 10 on the same day as Bagels and Books at 10:30 A.M. at Sherwood Library. We provide games and activities for the children and interact with them during the meeting. Planning a packet for newbies if they would like a source for information. May talk about portfolio assessment, answer questions, and tell tall tales about our experiences as homeschooling survivors. Parent involvement has become an important aspect for the Mount Vernon Homeschooling Association. We are open to sharing knowledge from the other parents. If a family is planning an activity like the Smithsonian, or Krispy Kreme or tennis, post on our Bulletin Board. We will try to pass a bike flag with our initials posted on it or a T-shirt. Then, if you see MTVHA come and speak with us. Everyone is invited to attend the events with your child, or look us over first. Last year, we met several people who live close in this community who we never knew before. Now, we are acquainted with their children and see them in the stores and at other events. Mount Vernon has become a friendlier place to live for us and our children. It feels comfortable to see a friendly face in the crowd. We have shared a special year. We made special friends. Mothers Support Meeting is usually hosted by Cecilia. On the second Monday of each month at 10:30 A.M. at Sherwood Library, we meet in a room. We pull the chairs around and talk about everything. In this newsletter, in the future, we will link to the sites for the most frequently asked questions at some time in the future. We also discussed Curriculum. Standards of Learning, Testing versus Portfolio, and different sites of important information on the Internet and in the community. At last months meeting, we determined that a mission statement might be a good idea. Throughout the state of Virginia, several grassroots groups are forming. Mary is working on a detailed packet for newbies. We will link on the newsletter to this information that she has been compiling. We invite those of you who are considering homeschooling to come and meet with us. We consider the sharing of information important. Link to map of library.

Expect to be involved. Homeschooling is grassroots. You will need to get in the trenches with us. Writing Club Writing Club We will put these dates in for July. Arranging for library for two rooms so the children are divided by age. Young children are welcome to color, play or are included in Writing club. We have three year olds making books and reading in the circle. The tradition has expanded to an oral story telling time. And, the older teens are in a room having fun, and the younger ones don't want to leave because we are all listening to great stories. Illustrated rather well, too. Check back to the web site, The dates will be coming soon. For Writing Club bring your stories and share in some fun activities, two groups meet at Sherwood Library. The younger children are drawing and writing stories also. Come with your story ready to read. It can be long or short. It might be interesting to write some every day or revise a story and take it further. Not a play group, a serious bunch of writers. Share your work, or you might want to stay out in the library to read quietly Remember our manners and keep the library a quiet place where we are welcome. Homeschoolers have to have quiet, good manners to be welcome everywhere we go. Come prepared with your story. Originally the writing club was for the older teens. The mothers working with the younger children had good success with their writing or telling stories orally. This has become a really fun club for the younger ones and a place for the older teens to enjoy the writing process. Carol sends this note: If you want to improve your writing, while sharing it with your friends, this club may be for you. Participants will need to write at home at least 3-4 times a week and be willing to share one piece of writing at the meeting. We'll all work together to make this club a safe place to experiment with new techniques, share feelings, and support each other by responding to writing pieces in a constructive and affirming fashion. It's imperative that each participant chooses to attend. Don't do this for your parents or because you want to see your friends! We'll meet twice monthly, 10:30 on the second and fourth Thursdays, at Sherwood Hall Library. I've reserved the room for two hours for subsequent meetings. Carol and Denise  Carol called to let me know: Congratulations Lisa and family. Great to have a new homechooler in the nine pound range to join us next fall. We are all happy to welcome her. Let us know if you need anything, and we will help. Smithsonian Folk Life Festival The 34th annual festival is a fun and educational trip to the mall. Its open 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day, June 30th through July 4th. It will feature the Rio Grande basin and Tibet life and D.C. There's always food and lots of interactive events along with music. And if anyone is interested, email and we can go as a group or meet at the festival. Art Gallery Art Gallery could use some artworks for the month of July. Suggest bees, bugs, butterflies, flowers. E-mail or give Suzanne your art work at the events during the month of July. The art gallery is open to everyone to be included. Poetry and stories are welcome. Commentary by Suzanne At our house, we are finished with baseball league and ready for summer trips. Doing bead work, studying bird behavior, playing more board games, watching one hour of television, making stick airplanes and gluing them, newsletter making and looking at a stock market program, breaking for lunch and washing laundry. Just like everyday, we spent quite a bit of time at Zainy Brainy yesterday to celebrate the good news that Mom is perfectly healthy and 10,000 miles before her next check-up, Today, we are plowing through lanyard weaving, phonics and the pleasure of Pokemon Monopoly with friends. School doesn't stop here. The smallest child is working on a giant book about Robots, the first line is "I am a genius." He did get the bigger trophy in baseball league. The Moms lost at the Pirate game because the sons kept tagging them out. We tried hard. in the summer, we don't take off, we keep answering questions, going to the library, and working at education. Fun Field Trips Alexandria Waterfront Passport from governor for Time Travelers Huntley Meadow River Farm gardens Dyke Marsh Reagan National Airport for the shops Underground at Crystal City Newseum Smithsonian Folk Festival Impressionist at the Smithsonian Aquarium on 355 at Congressional seriously worth the tripn an egg shark baby in an egg next to glass That's the news, folks. It gets better as the days go by. We'll crack out the sprinkler and run through it.

Mount Vernon HomeSchoolers July / 2000
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1
2	3	4	5 Playgroup 1:00 p.m	6	7	8
9	10 Reading Group -- "Bagels and Books", 10:00 a.m. Parent Support Group, 10:30 a.m.	11	12 Support Group, 10:30 a.m.	13	14	15 Due Date--Letter of Intent to HomeSchool
16	17	18	19 Playgroup 1:00 p.m	20	21 Playgroup 1:00 p.m. Writing Club, 10:30 a.m.	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31