New meeting place for Courthouse Tour?

I thought I'd post this just in case not everyone reads the comments. Michelle said that the front steps are blocked off for the winter. There is a side entrance on main street that is open.

A little bit more Courthouse Tour Info

Hi everyone, Sorry to bore you with more courthouse stuff but I thought I would let you know what we have planned to deal with our large group size. We have approximately 42 people wanting to attend.

The courtroom where we'll meet will be a little tight. Maria would like to divide the group, once we do the orientation, and send one half to do court-watching with some adults and then she will start the mock trial with the other half. She'll alternate the groups, and bring them altogether for the sheriff's presentation.

See you on the front steps at 9:50 am Monday morning

Free opportunity to observe a Chamber Music Rehearsal

I thought I would pass this along from the Kelowna blog:

Chamber Music Kelowna is offering an opportunity for home learners to observe a rehearsal by Canadian concert violinist, James Ehnes (who has appeared with orchestras in major cities around the world and has collaborated with major artists like Yo-Yo Ma) and American pianist Andrew Russo (Grammy-nominated recording artist who has also performed extensively around the globe). The rehearsal will be at the Mary Irwin Theatre (located in the Rotary Centre for the Arts) where the performers are preparing for a concert they will be giving later in the day.

As part of our Community Outreach program at Chamber Music Kelowna, we would like to offer an opportunity to the home schooled students of Kelowna to attend an open rehearsal (for free) with James Ehnes and Andrew Russo at the Mary Irwin theatre on Thursday,March 26 at 2pm-3pm. We limit this to students ages 10 & up, and 50 students is the maximum. We will have two Board members supervising, plus hopefully 3 parents in the theatre, and one outside the theatre to accompany any children on washroom visits etc.

Who would you suggest I contact to get the word out to these students? I do want to know ahead of time (by March 9) how many students are coming. Included in this hour of rehearsal will be 15 minutes of questions and answers.

If you wouldn't mind sending out my email (below) to your contacts and then people can respond directly to me, I would appreciate it. The can email me: artdir.kcms@shaw.ca or phone: 250-769-7567 and leave a message to reserve spots for their children.

In order to have as many of the 50 seats taken by students, supervising parents need to be kept to a minimum. I would like one adult to each group of 10 students with a total of 3 parents, and there will be two Board members as the other two supervisors.

50 homeschooled students will be the maximum in the theatre, as this is a dress rehearsal, and the students must be quiet and respectful of the artists who are on stage so we are keeping the group small. There will be no other groups invited for this dress rehearsal unless we can't get 50 homeschooled students age 10 and up. If we don't have enough registered with me by March 9, I will ask other groups as you advise.

Thanks for your help.

Lorna

Courthouse Tour Date Monday, March 2nd

Hi all, The courthouse tour date is confirmed for 10 am Monday, March 2nd.

There was a bit of trouble with that date but Maria has been kind enough to accommodate us. The Vernon courtroom is much smaller than the one in Kelowna and there are days when there's no room at all for the general public. She had suggested Wednesday the 4th but I know many people did not want that day. She says she can't promise the same tour as Kelowna but she'll try her best.She has suggested doing a mock trial, or parts of it first, and hope that a sheriff can then talk to us as well.

I would suggest that we meet outside the courthouse at 9:50am. If you could let me know that you have arrived, I will check your names off, so we make sure we don't start without anyone. We have a very large group.

This is the list of attendees that I have:

Kathy, Jaxsen, Dannon, Cole
Andrea, Rhiannon
Karen, Eli, Mika
Mary-Sue, Annika, Pedar
Caroline, Justin, Ashleigh
Michelle + 4
Jill, Olivia, Ivy, Rosemary
Julie, Maggie, Libby
Monique, Evan, Liam
Delia + 4
Carol Wicks + 2
Debbie, Ava

We'll see you next Monday!

Okanagan Symphony Orchestra still has seats available

I received this email from the Kelowna group this morning:

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra still has seats available for the School Concert:

Please register ASAP if you want to join the School Concert!
Go to:
www.okanagansymphony.com -
click on "Mar 2009 education concerts" link on left side of the page and scroll down for the pdfs.

Pay the fees directly to the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.

I checked into it with the Wendy McCracken, the concert manager and Vernon still has seats available as well! She placed us in the 10:45 group under North Okanagan Home Learners.

Just thought I would let you know in case anyone else was still thinking about it.

Update on short info session about alternate school program

Would it be okay if Murray Sasges comes to discuss and get feedback on his new alternative program within the school district at the monthly meeting this Thursday at 6:45-7:30?

Any interested Junior Aviators???

Vernon youth can go flying for free
by Castanet Staff - Story: 45228
Feb 22, 2009 / 2:30 pm
Vernon youth will have a chance to celebrate the first powered, controlled air flight in Canada nearly a century after it occurred.
On February 23, 1909, on a frozen lake near the town of Baddeck, Nova Scotia, a team of aviation pioneers led by Alexander Graham Bell made the first powered, controlled, heavier-than-air flight in Canada in a craft called the "Silver Dart." The Vernon Flying Club members will celebrate the centennial occasion by volunteering their time, aircraft and fuel, to introduce young people from 7- 17 years of age to experience the thrill and excitement of flying in a light aircraft from the Vernon Airport on April 18. This event is free for "Junior Aviators," a new program launched this year by the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association. Any interested Junior Aviators should be preregistered with the Vernon Flying Club prior to April 18. It will all start with several short and informative aviation ground briefings delivered by the "Junior Aviators" coordinator and VFC member/Instructor Randy Rauck on April 18. The VFC volunteer pilots will give a pre flight briefing at the plane and will explain how their plane operates. If the weather is not suitable for flying on the 18th, the flights will be rescheduled for the 19th.
Link: COPA website

Permaculture course

Just a note that I have my poster finished and more info on my blog: www.falklandgreencorner.blogspot.com

The date is April 25 and 26 and it's a very good deal, especially if you register by March 15. This is a non-profit event - I am just paying the instructor, the caterer, and if necessary, the hall rental. The cost is $130 by March 15, $150 after March 15, and includes lunch and snacks and beverages on both days. It is being catered by fellow h/s'er Cara Nunn, who specializes in organic and restricted-diet menus, so if you have special dietary requirements, that is not a problem. This is the first time permaculture is being offered in the Okanagan and is a really great opportunity. I had to go to Langley for my first course and will be doing the 2 week intensive in the Kootenays in June.

Date requested for the Courthouse Tour

So based on everyone's comments, it seems that Monday is the best morning for everyone.I have emailed and requested the morning of Monday, March 2nd for a tour. I will let you know when I hear if that will work out. Thanks for all the input!

Smart Movement 1: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Melissa Rinvold, the creator of Smart Movement 1, has taught children’s art and movement classes for over twenty years. Previously a home educator herself, Melissa has confidence that this is a wonderful fitness program for families to implement in a homeschooling environment.

Smart Movement 1 is geared toward making the body and brain stronger and smarter, and also boosting the innate wisdom of the body to heal itself. It shows how to move correctly and safely and also to circuit the brain to greater function, resulting in a stronger immune system, better co-ordination, less injury, heightened awareness and increased sensitivity. When both the right and left lobes of the brain are working in a synchronized manner, we experience more of the brain working all at once.

The manual is addressed to children and is also excellent for the beginner. It is suitable for all ages. The movements are easy and FUN! The photographic depictions of each posture, with accompanying instructions and variations, can all be removed from the manual, laminated and used in a classroom, office or workout space.

Having attended a few of Melissa’s classes myself, I’ve experienced increased energy, decreased stress, and a healthier positive attitude.

---

PLEASE NOTE:

Melissa would be willing to offer either a one-time class, or four weekly classes
(one month in total) depending on your feedback.

Discussion, Demonstration and Q&A: $10 per family, per class

1 ½ hours, participation encouraged

Smart Movement 1 Manual: $40

(recommended but not mandatory to enjoy classes)

For more information please contact Michelle Dunlop

Email: madunlop@telus.net or Tel: 542-0158

Courthouse Tour update

Well I heard back from the lady about the courthouse tour. If we do the tour in the first week of March, what days of the week work for you? I am pretty fine with any morning, and better at the end of the week if it is in the afternoon. Let me know your preferences so we can plan this fairly quickly.

Thanks

Discussion

I have been asked by Murray Sasges who currently teaches the Global Education program at Fulton School if he could discuss an alternate educational program(Grades 9-11) that he will be starting in the next couple of years. He has been given the okay by the school district to start an alternative program that focuses on social responsibility and  would include  involvement in the community, overseas NGO-type volunteer work and wouldn't be in a traditional classroom setting. Okanagan College is also hoping to develop a program that would continue with a post secondary college program for these students. 

He would like get feedback from parents on this type of program. 

I'm not sure if our regular meeting would be the right venue but would anyone be interested in meeting him at another time. He is a really creative teacher who thinks outside the box  and has done some very interesting things with his students (he takes his students to Nicaragua to work in an orphanage, gets his students to be involved in the community by volunteering  at Upper Room Mission, Good Food Box program, working with street nurses and helping develop Vernon's Official Community Plan to name a few).

Hi everyone! My kids and I went on a tour of the Kelowna courthouse last week and loved it. First, we sat in one of the Supreme Court rooms and a lady Sheriff entertained us with her hilarious stories for about 45 minutes or so. The kids had a chance to learn all about her job and her cool "tool belt". They saw a taser in action, some were handcuffed and they were all sworn in as deputy sheriffs. Afterward, we sat in on part of a court case and the kids got to see the lawyers in action.

The lady who organizes the tours for the law courts suggested that she could do a tour in Vernon if we wanted. My kids would love to see the Vernon courthouse so we were wondering if there is any interest from anyone. If you want to do a tour let me know how many in your family would be interested and we'll see if we have the numbers. Who knows maybe they have awesome sheriffs here too.

Music that Dances

The Okanagan symphony school program for this year is called Music that Dances.

Tickets are $6 each and the Vernon show this year is on Monday, April 6 at 9:30 or 10:45. If you are interested, I can email you a registration form.

The deadline is Feb. 6 so if you want to go you have to register right away.