2009 May

San Antonio Homeschool Baseball Summer Workouts

The San Antonio Wolverines, a high school level baseball team for homeschoolers, is starting their summer workouts. These will be held at Bain field on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 PM. Bain field is on the corner of McCoullough and Basse Rds near the Quarry Market.

To play a player must meet the following criteria:

1.  Be participating in homeschool as of Jan 1 of the year we are playing.
2.  Be at least 13 years of age as of the beginning of the school calendar year (usually Sept 1)
3.  Be listed as an 8th grader by the parents/guardians of the homeschool student.
4.  Be listed as being in good standing academically by the parents.

We believe homeschool students should have the right to compete for baseball scholarships and recognition.  We strive to provide a team that provides for these goals. If you have questions contact:  admin@sahomeschoolbaseball.org or visit www.sahomeschoolbaseball.org for more information.

New Homeschool Broadway Offers

Feel free to pass this onto anyone who might be interested. These offers are open to homeschoolers, friends and family. Feel free to cross-post. If you order for any of these shows, please send an email to Susan Frederick at sjf@jsoft.com, that helps me keep track of if we are making our group min. The $5 circus in SA in particular is a real bargain!

Wicked! - They had enough inventory to put together one last offer for Wicked. This will expire May 28th!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 8pm
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 8pm
Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 8pm
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 730pm
Great discounts, tickets start at just $32!
Last offer from available inventory of tickets, new dates added.
Offer expires on May 29, 2009
226 tickets so far.

New Offer -
Ringling Brothers Circus at the Alamodome!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 730pm
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 730pm
Friday, July 3, 2009 at 730pm
Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 4pm
Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 3pm
Great discounts, tickets start at just $5!
Offer expires on June 29, 2009

Show Description - Ringling Brothers Circus Over the Top: OVER THE TOP, an all-new live entertainment extravaganza featuring the ultimate tug of war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus. When the Ringmaster dons the hat he conjures stupendous spectacles for his circus like the stunt riding Royal Cossack Cavalry while the clown uses the hat to summon silly and whimsical acts for his circus such as a cavalry of goats riding on ponies in a Barnyard Bonanza. They continue to top one another until the Ringmaster and clown realize that the magic of the circus is not in the hat but in the hearts of everyone. The show culminates in an amazing display of gigantic glowing rainforest flowers surrounding Chinese acrobats swinging on vines and propelling through the air. Over the Top is two circuses in one providing excitement for the whole family.

You can also continue to order for Dora the Explorer through July 15th. Great discounts, tickets start at just $15.75! Special on Main floor seats - $24.25

http://www.jsoft.com/archive/taffie/BroadwaySA.html
Order your tickets by logging on to:
http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/groupsales
and enter your special password:
taffiesa

Home School Academics and Arts Class Day

Home School Academics and Arts Class Day is preparing for preregistration in classes for the year 2009 – 2010. Class offerings can be found at www.haaclassday.org. (Site is still under construction. Four forms will be required for registration.)

Preregistration: May 13, 2009 @ 2:30 at
The First Baptist Church of Bulverde
32445 US Hwy 281 North
Bulverde, Texas

For questions, please contact Sandy Graham at SandyG@gvtc.com.

Moving Waters Summer Art Camp Scholarship Opportunities

Students are invited to create art while exploring the Comal River.  Campers will observe what lives above and below the water and examine nature through contemporary art practices inspired by area-recognized artists.  Two one-week sessions are being offered in June.  If you live within the boundaries of the Edwards Aquifer Authority you may be eligible for a scholarship.  For more information contact Penelope Speier at (210) 913-1104.  To register contact Landa Parks and Rec at (830) 221-4370.  Moving Waters is sponsored by 04ARTS Foundation, New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department, and the Edwards Aquifer Authority.

Create Art while Learning Nature’s Secrets
Location: Landa Park
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Ages: 6 – 11
Fees: $250 per person*
Supervised art-making will take place in the park with snacks and drinks provided. BYO sack lunch to suit your taste. * A limited number of scholarships are available to students who enroll early.
Space is limited, so register today!
Camp Dates:
One Week Sessions:
June 8th – 12th
or June 22nd – 26th

Camp Humane

Summer Camp for Kids at the Humane Society

 It’s that time of year again! The Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County is hosting Camp Humane for children ages 8-10 from June 16-20, ages 11-13 from July 21-25 and ages 8-13 from August 4-8. Each day the camp will be held from 8:30am-5pm and the sessions are limited to 48 campers. The cost per session is $225 and this will include lunch (pizza and deli sandwiches), two snacks daily, one camp T-shirt, a bandana and a goody bag.

In order to promote humane education, we are going to have many fun and exciting animal activities and demonstrations for the children. Some of these are dog bathing, horse grooming and care, mammal introductions, first aid/CPR demonstrations, dog agility and guide dog demonstrations. We are excited to add reptiles from Sea World into our camp schedule this year.

We feel this is a great opportunity to educate and help children grow into wonderful young adults. Proper humane education and awareness will not only prepare and educate the children but it will also bring about a lifetime of happiness for the animals they treat kindly.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (210) 226-7461 or www.humanesocietyspca.org

Registration for swimming lessons

May 16th. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. $25 for two-week sessions to be held during summer outdoor pool season. San Antonio Natatorium, 1430 W. Durango. Or register at outdoor pools offering lessons when pools open on June 6. 226-8541.

Help Needed for Environmental Science Class Project on Drinking Water

SA-HERO has a group conducting an environmental science project on drinking water. They are conducting a survey of people's attitudes about drinking and using recycled water. Below is the link. We would appreciate if you would take the few minutes (@ 5 minutes) to complete it. We want all ages to complete this survey. The results will be given to the city council and displayed in a library display. Please help our kids create a great project! If you have any questions contact Terry Duncan at tduncan1@satx.rr.com.

http://www.esurveyspro.com/Survey.aspx?id=f5a620c3-74eb-4b1d-b8a6-828b541045c9 

2009 Texas Governor's School

These are three week residential summer programs free for high school juniors and seniors. Last year, some of the programs extended their deadlines so it may not be too late to apply.

University of North Texas
Once again the University of North Texas is hosting the Texas Governor’s School in Math & Science for high achieving rising high school 11th graders from across the state. This three week residential program runs from June 7-June 27.  There is no cost to the student for the program, other than travel to and from Denton and personal expenses, while on the campus. We have provided an exceptional opportunity the past two years for hundreds of Texas students to experience college life and an expansion of knowledge in the areas of chemistry, physics, math, philosophy, history, music and art.  A variety of extracurricular activities are provided that range from student led activities, museum visits, and recreational activities.  Questions may be addressed to:  txgovschool@unt.edu visit our website at:  web3.unt.edu/tgs.  The application for 2009 must be postmarked by April 27.

Lamar University
"It was a life-changing experience for me." That comment is heard over and over from many participants in Governor's Schools throughout the nation. Encourage your students to attend the 2009 Lamar University Governor's school in Beaumont , Texas . The focus is on leadership development through mathematics, science, the humanities, and the arts. For an application, visit the Lamar University website www.lamar.edu and go to the College of Education, and then to the Governor’s School. It promises to be a GREAT program!

Texas A&M University in College Station
The Texas Governor's School in Arts and Humanities for Urban Leadership at Texas A&M University in College Station is a three-week intensive and exciting summer educational program from June 7-26, 2009 and is open to all qualified high-achieving Texas public high school students who will be in 11th or 12th grade in the 2009-2010 school year. The program will intentionally seek a diverse pool of applicants from every educational service center in the State of Texas . Applicants selected to attend the Governor's School will include female and male students from all racial, ethnic, cultural, social economic, linguistic, geographic, and gender groups. Every effort will be made to accommodate for students with special needs.  Students who are selected to attend the Governor's School will be responsible only for transportation to and from the Governor's School and other personal expenses such as linens, towels, toiletries, and other necessary personal supplies.

The Texas A&M University Governor's School philosophy, courses, staff, and activities can be found on our web page.  Students in the Texas A&M University Governor's School must demonstrate an interest in the arts, humanities, and urban leadership. High-achieving students might include one or more of the following: ranked in the top 10% of their class; excellent scores in TAKS test, SAT, or other similar tests; are currently enrolled in a gifted and talented program; are student government or community leaders; or, excel in one or more of the arts and humanities. Students will be responsible for documenting their interest in the program, qualifications, and evidence of high achievement in the application materials. For more information about the Texas A&M Governor's School, see the Frequently Asked Questions page on our web site:  http://governorschool.tamu.edu/.

Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Come to the beautiful island university – Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi , to participate in the newest Governor’s School in Texas . The Governor’s Academy for Teaching Excellence (GATE)Texas high school students who are interested in teaching careers, especially in the fields of mathematics and/or science at the elementary or secondary levels. The program will run from July 12 – August 1, 2009. Students participating in GATE will be enrolled in a full-credit university-level teacher education course. The program includes leadership training, field trips, guest speakers, mentorship from exceptional educators, and firsthand teaching experience in our "Kid's College," a summer program for younger students. - is a free three-week summer residential enrichment program for talented
In addition to tuition, the program will cover the costs of food, lodging, and instructional materials. Stipends are available for participants who express need. Additionally, GATE will cover travel costs (mileage or airline ticket) for students traveling more than 100 miles to Corpus Christi . For more information or to print a copy of the student application packet, go to http://gate.tamucc.edu.

Free Summer Robotics Program UTSA

This summer iTECH at UTSA will be holding several robotics camps.  These camps will be held at UTSA's 1604 campus.  Elementary age students are invited to participate in the first camp session to be held June 15-June 26.  Middle schoolers are invited to attend our second session June 29-July 10.  Both sessions will start at 8:30 am until 2:00pm. iTECH will provide both breakfast and lunch to all participants.  There is no cost to attend these camps, parents will have to register their students, and provide transportation to and from the UTSA 1604 campus.

Our elementary age program is open to students that have completed 3rd grade through sixth grade. The middle school program is open to students in 6th through 8th grade.  Sixth grade students may attend either camp.  These camps are geared to meet the needs of under served/inner city students and students with learning issues, although any student may apply to attend the program.  If your school is looking to host a First Lego League Team in the fall, or a GEARS team in the spring, these camps will prepare your students to compete in these programs.

All campers will be working in teams consisting of four people.  Each group will have access to an NXT robotics kit, assuring plenty of hands on time for the kids.  We will work on robot design and programing.  Campers will participate in a camp wide robotics tournament the last two days of the camp session.  Many of our mentors will be students who have competed in robotics at the international level, it is our hope that your students will gain some "real game" experience from these mentors.

Please feel free to direct any questions to Mary Stowers, via email, stowers.mary@gmail.com or to Moses Thompson at Moses.Thompson@utsa.edu. 

Water - A Living Lesson

Join us July 7 - 10 at Our Lady of the Lake University for the
2009 Summer Water Conference for Educators!

We have a lot in store for formal and non-formal educators at the 2009 Summer Water Conference for Educators titled Water: A Living Lesson.  Sponsored by the Edwards Aquifer Authority, Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio River Authority, and San Antonio Water System, this conference will provide a unique opportunity for educators to learn innovative, interactive, and tested methods of teaching water subjects. The conference’s target audience includes both formal and non-formal educators in settings serving Kindergarten through 12th grade.

This FREE conference will explore practical, up-to-date examples of successful educational programs and materials throughout fifty interactive sessions. Workshops and field trips will provide educators with physical resources and strategies for developing comprehensive water lessons to take back into the classroom. In addition, State Board of Education Credit (SBEC) as well as Gifted and Talented credit is available

Take advantage of this opportunity to meet people who have similar objectives and challenges and are concerned about the water issues facing our region.

Come and interact:

• Expand your collection of field, lab, and classroom activity options
• Learn creative ways to teach water concepts
• Broaden your water expertise
• Share your experiences at Share Fair
• Learn about products, services, programs and more at the Exhibit Fair
• Take a field trip
• Earn SBEC and GT credits
• And More!

We have already reached almost 100 registrants for this FREE conference meaning that space is becoming limited and that some elements like pre-conference field trips are almost full!

Once you register for the entire conference, you can then put together your own schedule of workshops that fit your needs
(**Exception-You must pre-register for any pre-conference field trip. Please see registration form for more information). We hope to see you all in July. If you have any additional questions, please
contact me at 210-233-3631.

Greg Wukasch
SAWS Education
http://www.wateralivinglesson.org/

College Algebra CLEP Course by Mrs. Bauml

College Algebra CLEP Course. Taught by Pauline Bauml on Mondays: May 18, 25; June 1, 8 from 10 – 12 noon. Cost: $50.  Materials provided. Call Pauline Bauml 210-287-1898 for registration.  
Site TBA

Scholastic Warehouse Book Sale

Build school, classroom, and home libraries at a fraction of the price at Scholastic Book Fairs BIG Event! Exclusively for educators and Book Fair chairpeople / volunteers, you'll find thousands of great books at incredible savings. Plus, choose from hundreds of items for $1 or less!

Register online now and receive a special coupon to save $10 off a purchase of $60-$100 or $15 off a purchase of $100 or more!

http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/events/warehouse/

Scholastic Book Fairs
Thu., 05/07/2009 - Sat., 5/23/2009
May 7th (P O Day): 9am - 7pm
Weekdays: 9am - 7pm
Saturdays: 9am - 5pm
Closed Sundays

4646 Perrin Creek Suite 200
San Antonio, TX 78217
(800) 633-4270
East On Loop 410
Exit 26 B Perrin Creek
Straight at Stop Sign
Enter Industrial Park
Second Building On Left

Enroll Children in the Math & Science Summer Academy

St. Philip's College is taking applications for the St. Philip's College Math & Science Summer Academy that runs from July 13 through Aug. 7 in the Science Building on the college’s Martin Luther King campus. Applications are being accepted until April 30 with acceptance letters being mailed in May. The Academy focuses on fun math and science activities for students grades 8-12 from San Antonio and surrounding areas. The Academy offers students the opportunity to see math and science in action. Themes for the 2009 Academy include Energy; Ecology & Pollution; Geology & Oceanography; and Space Exploration. Students will go on weekly field trips centered around lessons taught in class.  Main campus number is 531-3200.

REACH Used Book Sale

Here it is!  The info you've been waiting for about the REACH Used Book Sale.  Read carefully as there will be lots of good stuff sprinkled throughout this email!  Because you will not be manning your own table, all books will be "dropped off" and sold on a consignment- type basis.  "Drop off" will be explained below.  Since REACH hasn't used this way of having a used book sale, I will be explaining in detail all the info you need to have a great experience.

When:  May 30
Where:  Northeast Bible Church in Garden Ridge
Times:  9-11   book drop off
           11-12  volunteer shopping ONLY
            12-4  open shopping for all
            4 pm pick up leftover books (optional)

Details:  If you plan to bring books:
1. Members of REACH will pay $5.00 fee (non-members $8.00) to be paid when you drop off your books 
2. Those with the last name starting with A-M will email lisadebusk@sbcgloba l.net to be assigned a number
3.  Those with the last name starting with N-Z will email  phelpspj@sbcglobal. net to be assigned a number
4. Once you have been assigned a number, everything you bring will need to have your number and price written on a sticky label and AFFIXED to each piece.  You may bundle things together with rubber bands or string, but the whole bundle needs to have the number and price on it.
5.  You price your own items.
6.  You will drop off your books and YOU will place them on the correct table.  For example: Saxon Math 76 would be placed on the MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH table.
7.  If you want to take back any books of yours that don't sell, YOU need to come to NEBC at 4PM and collect them.  If you don't come to get them, or you don't want anything you bring back in your house (as I don't), then everything becomes the property of REACH.  We will sell them, donate them, or possibly add them to our REACH library to be checked out by the members.
8.  REACH will send you a check for what you have sold, minus 10%, within 6 weeks. (It will hopefully be sooner than that, but I can't promise sooner...I will try my darndest!)
9.  Anyone who wants to volunteer is welcome as long as you let me know ahead of time and for doing so, you will get to shop an hour early!  (Come on, you know that's a great perk!)
10.  Remember! This is NOT a garage sale...this is a used book sale!  We will allow any of the following items:  curriculum, readers, books, dvd's, puzzles, cookbooks, free items (there will be a FREE table), games, etc...Do not bring appliances, furniture, rugs, kitchen items, etc...you get the picture.

If you have any questions, need clarification, or want to volunteer, email me at lisadebusk@sbcgloba l.net .  Thanks for enduring through this. Lisa DeBusk