Hi everyone,

Our membership has grown fairly large (we have over 20 families on our mailing list), and the traditional start of the school year looms in August. It's time for us to start making firm plans for what we want to accomplish with our co-op.

It has been hard for us to discuss our ideas at any length at our summertime classes, with children needing attention. I'm hoping that we can instead try to hammer out the most important issues that face us online, by discussing them on this message board. These include: what classes to offer, how often, what size for classes, where to meet, other activites for fall, etc.

I've tried to start the discussion by posting on some of the topics I feel are most important for us to decide. Nothing is settled, so PLEASE share your ideas. Even if you haven't yet made it to one of our classes, if you have any thoughts at all about becoming active in the co-op, I urge you to help make it the kind of co-op you want to be a part of!

Thanks!

I am looking for social opportunities for my daughter (K), as well as group trips to
the usual places (fire dept, restaurant, etc).  Last year the Popejoy Hall Schooltime Series was available to homeschools.  We could band together and go to some of their events.  Starting October, I could lead little hikers and their parents on some trails in the Albuquerque Open Space as an alternative to the playground. 

I am sure there will be play days at the parks this fall.  Perhaps because of the heat of summer, the last events on the calendar have been indoors. 

Do I understand that there are no set dues or fees for this co-op?  How has the "New Mexico Kids" advertisement been paid for?  Has ElizabethH or any other gone to the leadership of any other homeschool support groups for a brainpicking session?

Julie Akers
Mother of Three (#3 coming soon)

To answer a few of Julie's questions: Right now we aren't charging any dues of fees. This may change in the future, but we have no plans to charge for anything beyond perhaps small materials fees for classes as needed. Everything else is volunteered by members. The information you saw about us in New Mexico Kids wasn't an ad, it was a public service announcement appearing in their calendar, and thus was free of charge. I'm donating the website and bulletin board.

I and other members of the co-op have contacted other homeschooling groups and the New Mexico Homeschooling forum on Yahoo. Some of us even belong to other groups. I personally wasn't satisfied with the number of things being planned for younger kids like ours. I guess we could have joined one of those groups and planned our own activities within it, but instead we decided to start our own group!

Julie, I think your ideas about the Popejoy events and the hikes are wonderful. I bet it would be possible to fill up many days a week with activities, if there's enough interest among our members. We could limit to one or two events a week, or we could go all and do lots if that weren't too overwhelming... what do you think?

I would like to find out more about Popejoy and what they have to offer.    Will they be open to homeschoolers again in the fall?  And hiking sounds great!  I'd like to have two activities/thematic lessons a week to attend, or even a play date and a lesson a week.  I'd love to help someone teach music or a language or have them help me teach it.  I would like to see the class last for about 6 weeks and be limited to about 6 children.  If a class is full, then it would be nice to have a different class  available on a different day of the week.
- Julie

This is the URL for the Schooltime Series at Popejoy Hall. 

http://www.swcp.com/abqarts/educators/organizations/theatre_popejoy.htm

This site was not updated for the upcoming school year as of 7/23.  I am
watching it carefully because it was a tremendous opportunity for my two
children.  Even the 16month old enjoyed "The Nutcracker" ballet offering.

I would like to mention that since I have a K, a 2yo, and will soon have
a bbb (beanbag baby), that playtime outside with a group of friends is as
important as a special class to this age group. 

Julie Akers
Mother of Three