Upcoming Event Dates for PSSD Home Based Educators

Mark your calendars!

Math Workshop- Friday, February 26

Planning for Transitions – Thursday, March 18

Creative Writing Workshop- Wednesday, March 31

Annual General Meeting – Thursday, April 29

Please refer to your newsletter or contact Carol for more details.

New Resources for Home Based Education in PSSD

To find out more information about these resources or to see if they are currently available, contact Carol Demchuk-Kosolofski at 683-2830 or carol.demchuk-kosolofski@spiritsd.ca

*Large Geometric Solids Kit

*Body Systems Kit

*Pattern Blocks

*Magnetic Foam Fraction Circles

*Language Arts Sequencing Game

*Drawing Conclusions Language Arts Game

*various novel studies, including those by author Eric Wilson, Arnold Loebel, Macbeth

Polar Bear Expedition/Beluga Whale/National Forts-Churchill 2010

Hi everyone – I know it’s been a long time since I first proposed this
and I apologize. I’m sending this info out to everyone as I know there
are new people this year who may like to participate.

I researched the opportunities for doing a winter trip and a summer
trip, and the winter trip, which I had originally planned on, looks
very expensive and not suitable for younger kids. It would be three
eight hour + days on the tundra looking for bears, which likely won’t
hold the interest of younger students, and many other interesting
sites are not accessible in the winter. I wanted to find something to
include all ages where possible. The summer trip is less expensive and
provides more opportunity to see different things in the area. A
summer trip would include:

Watching beluga whales on private zodiacs (there are about 3,000
belugas in the mouth of the Churchill River)
Tour of the Churchill townsite
Visit Cape Merry National Historic Site
Whale watching on larger chartered boat
Visit Fort Prince of Wales
Summer dog sledding program in the boreal forest
Tundra buggy excursion onto the tundra by Hudson Bay to look for plant
life and animal life (polar bears are seen in the summer too, but no
guarantee)

Basically, in the winter, it’s three days on the tundra buggy looking for bears.

The cost for this trip is quoted at $860 per person and includes all
the above, transfers, and two nights accommodations (they will book 20
rooms for 40 people, single supplement applies, I could maybe work a
deal for families of more than two who share a room). The cost for the
VIA rail chartered car would be $10000/by the number of people who can
make it.

I think we could do this for a cost of about $1300 per person (plus
spending money and some meals in Churchill). That would include the
adventure, the accommodations, most meals and transportation from
either Hudson Bay, SK or Canora, SK. Getting to Hudson Bay or Canora
we can arrange separately. Driving there saves a day and a half on the
train which goes Saskatoon-Winnipeg – back into Saskatchewan before
heading north.

I would like to fundraise significant dollars and raise some
sponsorship help to offset the total cost which would be passed down
to each person participating in the fundraising, so that this $1300
becomes much less. If you would like to help with fundraising
organization please let me know. If you do not have an interest in
participating in the fundraising, but want to go on the trip, you
would be responsible for the full cost per person.

To make this program work, we need between 35-40 people – but 40 is
the max. If you have already emailed me that you are a go for a trip I
will hold your space until you let me know if you would like to do the
summer trip or not.

Keep in mind that they do not recommend putting children under 5 in
the zodiacs but otherwise the company feels the summer program is
suitable for all ages. If you still want to bring your child under 5,
you could simply not go on the zodiacs.

Hopefully we get a good group to go up this summer! They recommend the
middle of August. Altogether it would be a fabulous experience and I
hope we get enough people to make it work.

We could cut costs by not chartering a train car and using VIA’s “kids
under 12 are free with paid adult fare”. However, we would not be in
one car and we wouldn’t be able to do any discussions or presentations
as a group on the way up. Also, if we charter a car, we have the
exclusive use of it and can cut down on other passengers walking
through our area. This price does not include beds but rather the
reclining seats – for one night each way it’s easy to sleep in a
chair. Beds cost thousands!

Please let me know as soon as possible. Once I have about 30 people
confirmed to attend, I will start organizing rooming and fundraising,
and book the time with the company. They may require a deposit up
front, which makes sense, so I may ask for contributions on a per
person basis to help cover that.

If you have any questions let me know! I have attached the proposal
from the company as a pdf, it is a safe document.
Home Schoolers Churchill Summer 2010

Cheers,
Carol-Lynne
clmquintin@gmail.com

Energy and the Environment Art Contest

Click on the link for more details…
Artists Wanted

Check it out – In Motion Newsletter

In-Motion Newsletter Winter 2010

Saskatoon Regional Science Fair

April 6 and 7

Registration deadline (participants and judges) – March 31

The 2010 Saskatoon Regional Science Fair (SRSF) invites students in grades 7 to 12 to enter projects in this year’s fair.

Please see the SRSF web page at https://secure.ysf-fsj.ca/sfiab/saskatoon/index.php for information on divisions and prizes.

Wintershines 2010

Hi everyone, happy homeschooling winter! Please have a look at the
following site : www.wintershines.com. This is a two week winter event
that is taking place all across the city of Saskatoon, and there will
be lots of opportunity to participate in tons of really cool events
and activities throughout the time frame. You can also add your own
event during this time to the website -so if you are getting together
for a winter event/activity and want to make it part of Wintershines
2010, you can add the information to the website. If you have any
trouble with this, let me know, and I will put you in touch with the
event coordinator. This event is celebrating our cool winter culture
here in Saskatoon and is perfect for the winter enthusiasts among us!

Also, we are still looking for volunteers to help with certain aspects
of the event. This would be great for volunteer-minded homeschoolers -
older, responsible teens are okay on their own, younger teens would
need an adult along with them. All volunteers will receive a letter
indicating their level of volunteerism (duties and hours worked) which
could be put in a porfolio for the end of the year report and/or for a
job search. All volunteers also receive a Wintershines pin (value $10)
which gets them into some events throughout the festival for free or
at a reduced cost.

Specifically, we are looking for volunteers for the following (note
that “roamers” are on site and available for a variety of duties as
needed, and will make sure the festival go-ers aren’t knocking over
snow or ice sculptures):

Barbeque on January 23 (1-3 p.m.) (helping take cash, serve food)

Snowcarving/roaming/kid herding on the 24th (12-5) this would include
directing to sleigh rides etc (can be broken in two shifts)

Info table/roaming almost all days

Serving brunch offered by Cava Café (in market) at 10 p.m. and/or 12
p.m. (no order taking, just delivering plates for about 40 people) on
February 6 (one hour shifts)

Little Chippers workshops on January 30 (Saturday) for about an hour
and a half each (ice carving workshops for kids, no experience
necessary) plus lots of additional people throughout that day

Some jobs are indoors or in a heated tent but we are celebrating
winter so be prepared for all weather and to be outdoors if necessary!
Roamers are outdoors at all times. All activities take place at the
Farmer’s Market square downtown or within easy walking distance.

Please feel free to spread the word about the festival and the
volunteer opportunities.

Happy winter!

Carol-Lynne

Spring Session of Junior Authors

The winter sessions are underway. Here are the dates for Spring which is now open for registration:

Junior Authors Creative Writing ONLINE Course for ages 10-17
Taught live by author and storyteller Laura Thomas, M.A. in her virtual classroom on WizIQ
April 13 – June 1 on Tuesdays 10:30-12:00 Vancouver Time (PST)
$103.95 per student
For more information contact Laura at juniorauthor@agentstory.net or visit http://www.agentstory.net/Kids-Classes.html

Volunteers needed for 2010 Convention

My name is Jo-Anne and I am the SHBE 2010 Convention – Volunteer Coordinator. I am asking those of you who have the ability to communicate with groups of homeschoolers in your area, to please pass this information on to them.

Registrations are currently being accepted for the SHBE 2010 Convention which will be held on the University of Regina Campus on Friday February 19 and Saturday February 20. (If you have not received a registration form, please check the SHBE website http://www.shbe.info/ to download a registration form). To receive full meals, registrations must be postmarked January 29.

In order to keep costs minimal, we rely on volunteers at the convention. (With the exception of some Used Books Store volunteers and Exhibit Hall Setup/Takedown volunteers, those who volunteer must be registered for the convention.) The perks of volunteering are fun, fellowship, and knowing that you are helping us to be able to continue providing this convention in years to come. Here are the volunteer positions we are looking for:

Used Book Store
- table and room setup – Friday 9:30 to 11 am.
- book receiving and sorting – Friday – shifts available between 11 am and 2:30
- staffing during store hours – Friday – shifts available between 2:30 and 8 pm; Saturday 8:30 to 11:15 and 12 noon to 3:30 pm
- take down – 3:30 – 5:30

Coat and Drop Off Room
- shifts available Friday 11 am to 9 pm; Saturday 8 am to 5:30 pm

Registration Table
- shifts available 11 am to late afternoon Friday; 8 am to late afternoon Saturday

Workshops – People to Introduce and thank the Workshop presenters
Workshop name tag checkers

Teen Convention Chaperones

Exhibitor Area Setup (Thursday night, Friday morning) and takedown (Saturday after 4 pm)

Please email me (Jo-Anne – m1j2a3e4a5@accesscomm.ca ) if you can volunteer or need more information!
Thanks!
Jo-Anne

Saskatoon Homeschool 2009-10 Directory

The 2009-10 Homeschool Directory has been e-mailed out. If you did not receive a copy and were supposed to, please contact Jessica at: gjbenseon77@gmail.com