Willow Wind Community Learning Center

Willow Wind Community Learning Center

March, 2004

The Willow Wind Community Learning Center

News

The Corn Snake Poems

From Andy’s Nature Studies Class
Snake, beauty in its eye
Snake, on the outside scales
Snake, on the inside strength
Snake, slow as a tree, yet fast as the wind
Snake, a him but a her
Snake, a living wonder
--By Izabel Austin
Hi, I am Goldpit
I used to live in the wild.
Oh, and for you who don’t know,
I’m silky and this is my opinion.
I think I’m strong,
And when you pet me, it feels like you’re brushing me.
--By Amarissa Ostmo /

NOTES FROM THE OFFICE

Although the coming of spring is still weeks away, our Spring Semester is under way. Last week work began to build raised beds in the vegetable garden so it will be ready for planting when the nice weather arrives. Many thanks to Vernon Pew, Matthew Meade, Austin Meade, Marty Reece-Sullivan, Russell Juncal, Janet Voorhies, Stacey Faught and Michele Zagorski for getting out in the mud and building the beds. We also want to thank Green Mountain Woodworks for their generous donation of wood. The new configuration of the garden will allow us to grow more food and fewer weeds!
Most of our spring classes are full, but we will continue to post a list of available classes in the office. Although we have just begun the new semester, we will have to be thinking about fall classes in the near future. If you have some ideas that you are ready to share and develop, please come in and talk to us. The more advance notice we have, the more carefully we can explore the possibilities.
This month we have welcomed a number of new families to the Willow Wind Community. Several of these families are also new to the Rogue Valley and are anxious to meet other homeschoolers. When you are on the campus, look around for new faces and reach out to new friends.
March is a great time to fly a kite, make a pinwheel or discover newly sprouting bulbs and plants with your family. As winter fades, spring is coming. Enjoy the new season!
-Debbie Pew & Judith Anne McBride

Announcements

BUDGET COMMITTEE INVITES IDEAS
Do you have a favorite book that should be in our library?
Do you have an idea for a resource we should own?
Please bring your suggestions to the budget committee.
Each year the Willow Wind Community Learning Center receives an allotment from the Ashland School District to purchase resources that would be useful to homeschooling families. We are working towards having a resource room filled with wonderful books, manipulatives, games and literature for homeschoolers. Resource request forms are available in the office. The budget committee will be reviewing these requests next month.
LUNCH BUNCH REGISTRATION
Students, middle school age or younger who are on campus between 12:00 and 1:00 are part of Lunch Bunch supervision, and should be added officially to the class. This helps us manage the large number of students here at that time. Please fill out an Add Form for your child, even if they are only on campus for a half an hour between 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH BUNCH HELPERS
Thank you Lunch Bunch parent volunteers! Your help has made it possible for students to have more choice about where they want to eat, and has helped them feel safe. A couple of reminders for volunteers: Please find a substitute to take your place if you are unable to make it, and don’t forget to put your hours in the Volunteer Log Book. New months are posted; please sign up well ahead of time. New volunteers are welcome to join, and we are looking in particular, for help on Tuesdays.
Our thanks to the following parents for their help during lunch time, including in Celebrations and Journeys classes: Liz Edwards, Julie Brairton, Anne Stanton, Rosemarie Barone, Jennifer Nadalmia, Janice O’Donnell, Vanessa Rahlston, Margarete Mieger, Steve Wells, Ruth Smith, Karen Sachitaro, Brenda Hohnstein, Audrey Flint, Jeanne Chouard, Jo Jenner, Bev Jossy, Marianne Ribeiro, Debbie Smith, Laureen Sutton, Laura Roe, Mary Cutler, Paris Geiken.
Check Out Our New Books In The Office Library!
We have received a variety of new books and we invite you to check them out. They are presently in Debbie’s office. The Signers, by Dennis Faden, gives background and stories about each of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence. A parent/teacher resource book is Storybook Stew, by Barchers and Rauen, which helps educators combine popular picture books with delicious, kid friendly recipes and cooking activities. There is a new fantasy series and several books exploring different cultures and literature from around the world. There are many other titles. Come on in and check them out for home use if you like.
Willow Wind Natural Area Clean-up Coming in April
In April, Andy will sponsor a clean-up day, in conjunction with a potluck and games afternoon, in order to facilitate a safer, neater site in the natural areas children explore. We’ll remove barbed wire, fencing, boards, blackberries, etc. in areas of frequent use. Past and present nature families are welcome. If you have access to an older 4x4 pickup truck or a power trimmer that will work on blackberries, please leave a note in Andy’s mailbox, located in the office.
COURSE SELECTION PROCESS REVIEW
THURSDAY, MARCH 11 AT 3:00 p.m.
The Course Selection Committee will be meeting on Thursday, March 11th at 3:00 p.m. to review and evaluate the process we have been using to choose what courses are put on the schedule from which families select classes. Please plan to attend if you have input on how to improve this process. We are looking for suggestions as well as identifying what seems to be working. Come with your ideas!

Announcements (continued)

FAMILY ROOM MURAL
If you haven't seen the glorious murals in the family room yet, please stop in for a viewing. And please be sure to express your opinions to the artists: Aaron Huggins, Mel Maas, Emily Pew, Texel Feder, Isabelle Chatroux, Amarissa Ostmo, Djaruna Smith, and Isis Terrall. They worked in pairs after deciding on a "landscape" theme. They tied it all together, starting with the rising sun, then moving around the room to nightfall and a big full moon. Their instructor, Kathy Merrick, would like to thank them for their creative ideas, energetic painting, and hard work. They were a pleasure to work with and should be quite proud of the results.

Notes from the Parent Advisory Council Meeting

Measure 30 failed: some negative financial effects are expected, unclear to what extent Willow Wind will
be effected.
Willow Wind received a $10,000 grant from the Youth Activities Levy to be used for an environmental education outdoor classroom/shelter for Willow Wind students and the larger educational community. The Land group is considering options for the environmental education center building (yurt vs. dome) and the best site for that structure.
Molly’s Morning class will split into 2 grades. Remaining space in these classes will come from our current enrollment or new students via our usual admission criteria.
David Tourzan is continuing an alternative energy education project that will include use of an anemometer to measure wind speed.
Family Service Incentives: This was the 3rd meeting in the “three-meeting-policy formation” procedure for the Council. There was some discussion of the two proposals: One proposal was to table the entire discussion for 1 year. The other proposal was “Second Tier Registration” for families that do not fulfill service requirements (and do not fill out an exemption waiver due to special circumstances).
It became clear that there was no way to compromise and move forward.
At the next Parent Advisory Council meeting, all participants should come with suggestions and a readiness to solve (through consensus) what to do on the rare occasions when consensus seems impossible. Everyone present agreed to come ready and willing to tackle the issue.
The group brainstormed the following possible solutions: Majority rule (with % to be defined), voting by participants, according to process or “three meeting policy” criteria; Consensus minus 1, or minus 3, consensus minus 1 with a defined quorum.
Next Meeting: March 3, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Agenda: Plan B Consensus Refinement; Decision on Family Service (Implementing Plan B if necessary); Process of giving input to Parent Advisory Council discussion
in absentia; Evaluation of winter workshop schedule.

Workshops

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH WORKSHOP with Debbie Murphy
Celebrate Women's History Month!
Choose from two fun workshops that highlight famous and interesting women throughout history. Using materials from the National Women's History Project and elsewhere, we will celebrate women through stories, activities and games. Workshops are to be held:
Workshop #1 for olders (9-13 years) Mondays, March 8th and March 15th 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Workshop #2 for youngers (6-8 years) Thursday, March11th 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Please sign up in the office by Friday, March 5th.
SCHNEIDER MUSEUM ART TOUR with Judith Anne McBride
Join Judith Anne for a tour of the newest exhibit at the Schneider Museum –“4 Artists/4 Installation.”
Meet at the Schneider Museum at 1:00pm, Thursday, March 19th . Sign up in the office by the 15th.

New Classes

These classes still need students in order to start. Please come and sign-up in the office if you are interested in taking any of these classes. We will call you when we have enough students to begin the class.
RUN, RUN, RUN: Cross Country Running and Track Fun with Dana Yearsley
Tues & Thurs 8:30 – 9:30 Ages: 10+
This is a class for those who like to RUN. We will learn about our fitness through running adventures. How to breathe efficiently, stretch and enjoy the simplicity of running. Also, we will try a few track adventures (long jump, hurdles, relay races.) This class will meet at the Ashland Middle School. Bring running shoes and water.
SOCCER FOR FUN with Dana Yearsley
Tues & Thurs 3:30 – 4:30, Ages 5 – 8
Tues & Thurs 4:30 – 5:30, Ages 9 +
Let’s play soccer and learn some skills while we play. This is a class for adventurous soccer players who want to learn the game through playing it. All skill levels welcome. We will meet at the Ashland Middle School Upper field.
WATERCOLOR FOR TEENS with Cathy Egelston
Mondays, 2:00 PM-4:00PM
Students will learn watercolor techniques, brushwork and color theory. We will have class projects as well as student's own projects, in which they will be encouraged to follow their own imagination and creativity.
DRAWING WITH CRAIG HONEYCUTT
Monday 1:00 – 3:00 Ages 12+
Did you want a cartooning or Drawing Class with Craig and not get in? Here is your chance to work with Craig. Sign up in the office. We only need one more student to make this class happen!
FORENSIC SCIENCE & MYSTERY STORIES XXL
Instructor: Nicolaj Imhof
Dates and times: Fridays 12:30 – 3:00pm, starting March 12th until May 28th.
(No class on March 26th). That totals to 11 sessions.
Age group specifications: 10 through 14 years detec
Class fees: Flat fee of $10 per student
Brief description of the class: Do you like action, hands-on stuff, and mysteries? Then enter the fascinating world of forensics. These action-packed sessions train you to become a C.S.I. specialist. Use the tiniest evidence to solve challenging mysteries. Examine your fingerprints, footprints, shoe wear prints, handwriting, and tire tracks. Make invisible prints visible, reconstruct a face, and assemble your own suspect folder. Analyze “blood” splatters, mystery powders, bacteria, hair samples and pieces of fabric, and many other amazing tests to solve the crime and train your mind with incredible mystery stories. This class is not just fun but it also exposes you to possible job opportunities. Talk to a police officer and to an arson detective. Tour the unique Forensics Laboratory in Ashland and visit the Forensic science department of Southern Oregon University.
“Are you ready for your C.S.I Training?”

North Mountain Park

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Schneider Museum

Preschool Puppet Theatre
Fridays: February 27TH & March 19th, 10:30 a.m.
Laughter and learning go hand in hand in the Nature Center's new puppet theatre. See how Becky Beaver and Mr. Otter prepare for winter. Following the show, children can create their own puppet stories. Recommended for children ages 3-5. Call 488-6606 to register. $2.00 per family
Orientation for New Volunteers
Tuesday: March 2ND, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Have fun and meet great people while giving service to your community. This orientation will introduce you to ways that you, your family or organization can help out at NMP. Some possibilities include gardening, program instruction, event assistance, administrative help, habitat restoration and monitoring. Volunteers make amazing things happen at NMP…come be a part of the team! Refreshments provided.
Sea Grass Basket Weaving
Saturday, March 6th 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Experience the fun of twining a beautiful handmade basket from sea grass. Free-spirited fiber artist Judy Little, will provide instructions, materials and inspiration for participants to weave their own unique baskets from natural fibers. Judy's work has been featured in galleries in Alaska, Hawaii and across the Pacific Northwest. Ages 10+. Space is limited. Call 488-6606 to register. $10.00
Winter Survival Strategies of Rogue Valley Birds