About The Letter Home

The Letter Home is published monthly by BayShore School & Educational Services. The newsletter is only available through email and on our webpage. Many of you have asked if it is ok to share this email newsletter with others ...most certainly, YES!! If using material from this newsletter for another publication, please cite "The Letter Home" as your source and list our website, email and/or mailing address.

The events listed in this newsletter are not planned by BayShore (unless otherwise noted). Questions about events/activities should be directed to the person/organization cited in each item.

The views expressed in articles and advertisements in The Letter Home belong to the authors and advertisers, not necessary to The Letter Home, BayShore Educational Services or its owners and staff.  

Edited by Lenore Colacion Hayes and two cats, Fig and Max who try very hard to get this in your email box by the 10th day of each month.
Extra special thanks to Thea Teeter for rummaging through the internet in search of interesting tidbits!

Historical Events

Will return in September!

www.internetbumperstickers.com

Community

August 2007

August 18-26: Nisei Week Japanese Festival, “Celebrating Our Culture and Community” in Little Tokyo (Los Angeles). A variety of events including anime festival, street arts festival, Taiko gathering, martial arts and sumo demonstrations, and more. For more information and schedule of events, call 213/687.7193 or visit the festival website.

August 19: Mud Mania: A Celebration of Adobe! at Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Road in Long Beach). Squish a little history between your toes at Rancho Los Cerritos! Explore the merits of soil in its many forms: dirt, mud, clay, compost, sand and loam! Children can mix adobe, make adobe bricks, plaster a wall or build a mini adobe house. Events include interactive activities focusing on archaeology, clay pottery, cuneiform writing, construction and gardening, plus messy games, food and live music. This is one of the few times when it is okay to get dirty! Wear old clothes, shoes (a must!) and bring a towel! There will be de-mudding stations available. Hours: 12:30-4:30 PM. Cost: $5.00 adults/$3.00 ages 4-12 (kids 3 and under enter free). For additional information, call 562/570.1755 or visit the Rancho website.

August 25: Huck Finn Fishing Derby (315 Pacific Coast Hwy., in Huntington Beach). This annual event is an enjoyable event for children through 15 years of age. Kids are encouraged to wear their best Huck Finn or Becky Thacher costumes and bring fishing poles to compete for a variety of prizes (including bikes, skateboards, fishing poles and fishing passes). Participants must bring their own fishing poles and tackle, a small amount of bait is provided for free. The event is free; parking costs vary in nearby public lots. Hours: 8 AM - 12 noon. Additional information can be obtained by calling 714/536.5262.

Homeschool News

September 12-13: Aquarium of the Pacific Homeschool Days (downtown Long Beach). While the Aquarium will be open to the general public, no classroom-based school trips will be booked during these days. Ocean related activities, biofacts, and our education staff will be stationed throughout the morning. These engaging learning stations will allow students of all ages to experiment, investigate, and explore marine habitats and concepts. Hours: 9 AM - 12 noon. Cost: $6.00/person (parent or child). For more information, call 562/951.1630 or visit the Aquarium website.

Conferences

August 18-19: Back to School Autism/Asperger's Conference at Pasadena City College (1570 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena). This event offers a variety of workshop tracks, including: play/social; behavior therapy; teen/adult; social thinking; and one track for teachers. Registration prices vary, check the website for more details. Information about workshop schedules, parking, and more are also available online. For additional details, call 562/864.3049 or visit the conference website.

September 22-23: Whole Parent, Whole Family Conference at the Sacramento Waldorf School (3750 Bannister Road in Fair Oaks). This two-day event offers a number of workshops on family life and alternatives in education. The conference workshops are for adults; young children (infant through 11) may participate in the children’s programs held at the school, for an additional cost. Children 12 and older are invited to help by working in the childcare rooms (pay is available). Additional information, including cost, workshop descriptions, and more, are available online, or by calling 303/546.0070. The conference is sponsored by Informed Family Life and The Center for Creative Growth.

Classes

Fall Parenting Classes at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church (26438 Crenshaw Blvd., in Rolling Hills Estates). Progressive non-sectarian parent education for the South Bay. Classes for parents include: Parenting Toddlers & Preschoolers (5 Tuesdays), Mindful Parenting (4 Wednesdays), and Parenting Your Teenager (5 Tuesdays). Also offered is The Sandcastles Program: Helping the Children of Divorce Rebuild, a one-session program that uses age-appropriate activities to help children (ages 6 through 17) process their feelings and the experience of their parents' divorce. Children attend their own activity groups while parents attend a class focusing on co-parenting skills. Adults and children come together for the last half hour of the program. Cost of classes vary; partial scholarships are available. For more information, call Cindy at 310/ 377.6771 ext. 105, or email her at cindy@rhumc.org. A downloadable (PDF) flyer (with registration form) is available online.

Calendar

September 2007

September 1, Indian Family Festival at the Bowers Museum (2002 North Main Street in Santa Ana ). An afternoon and evening of music, dance, food, and workshops in the tradition of India! In the afternoon, every nook and cranny of the Margaret and Cleo Key Courtyard will be filled with crafts, vendors, a henna station, demonstrations, and samplings of food. Festival hours: 2 - 5 PM. An evening (6 - 8 PM) performance in the auditorium showcases some of India's great talent in classical, folk, and fusion dance and music from both the North and South. Co-sponsored by the Indian Cultural Arts Council. Admission to afternoon festival is free (with nominal charge for food and henna.) Admission to evening performance: $10/person. Please call 714/665.8812 for more information or visit the Museum website.

September 1 -2: Huntington Beach Historical Society Presents Civil War Days
in Huntington Beach Central Park (behind the library off Gothard Street between Slater and Talbert Avenues). Civil War Days features live weapons demonstrations, living histories and battle reenactments. All refreshment proceeds benefit the Huntington Beach Historical Society. Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM (Saturday); 8 AM - 4 PM (Sunday). There will be a special twilight concert on Saturday following the 2nd battle at 4 pPM. Church services will also be held on Sunday at 8 AM. Please note that times are approximate and bringing dogs is not recommended due to loud noises during shows. Call 714/969.8928 for more information. Event is free.

September 8-9: Baja Splash Cultural Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific (downtown Long Beach). In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month and Mexican Independence Day, the sixth annual family festival will feature dance (Folkloric and Aztec), music (mariachi and marimba), crafts, interactive children's programs, ethnic food, environmental educational programs, including underwater presentations with divers (Spanish and English), and more. Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM. Festival included with general Aquarium admission: $20.95 for adults (12+), $17.95 for seniors (62+), $11.95 for children (3-11), and free for children under 3 and Aquarium members. Festival food sold separately. For advance tickets and information visit the Aquarium website or call 562/590.3100.

Ongoing ...

August 18 & 19, 25 & 26, September 1-3: 22nd Annual African Marketplace at Rancho Cienega Park (5001 Rodeo Road in Los Angeles). Cultural faire has presented programs and events to increase the economic development potential of South Los Angeles and people of color in general in southern CA. Features multiple music stages, the Youth Village, Literary Village, exhibits of fine arts & crafts reflective of the rich cultural heritage, international food vendors. General admission is $6.00, senior citizens $4.00; children under 10 are free. Hours: 10 AM - 9 PM.For additional information, visit the website or call 323/293.1612.

June 26 - August 18: Adventure Playground Is Open For the Summer! Spend a lazy summer day on Tom Sawyer’s island with a zip-lie, rope bridge, rafts, and more. Adventure Playground is located near the Huntington Beach Central Library (7111 Talbert Avenue in Huntingon Beach). Cost: $2.00/per child (adults are free). Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM. Wear closed-toed shoes! For more information,, call 714/842.4481.

May 8 - September 10: Bodies: The Exhibition at the University Towne Centre (4425 La Jolla Village Drive in San Diego). Features real, whole and partial body specimens that have been metriculously dissected and preserved through aninnovative process, providing the opportunity to view our organs and body systems. Tickets are available online or by calling 1-877-BODIES-5. There is a homeschooler discount (use the code “HOME” when orering online or via phone). Teachers’ guides are also available online.

Of Interest!

Check out comic strip, Rooby Moon, penned by Long Beach homeschool dad, Chris MacNeil. A Rooby Moon book, titled, “What Rhinoceros?” is also available.

©2007, Chris MacNeil. All Rights Reserved.