Hello,

My name is Heidi and I am new to this group.  My husband and I have homeschooled our three children for 15 years. We currently homeschool our 8 and 12 year old children.  Our oldest attends Southwest Secondary Learning Center.

We live around Paseo del Norte and Wyoming and are interested in meeting other families near us for field trips and park dates.  We'd love to meet all kinds of families.  

Kindly,
Heidi

Hi Heidi! You know our family from other groups and from the gym!  :)
We are thinking about joining this group also. We are starting with getting to know everyone through the message board. Hope to see you at some activites sometime! :)

Take care,
Jennifer

Hi Heidi, I live right nearby at Paseo & Holbrook. I'm thinking we're lucky to be getting a couple of stores on Paseo now so we don't have to drive as far for groceries and such; I think they're planning a Raleys, Trader Joe's and Target on Paseo now... Hope to meet you soon!

Hi Heidi,
Welcome!  
I see that your oldest goes to Southwest Secondary Learning Center.  My ex-husband just contacted me today about the possibility of Bryce (my oldest son) attending that charter school next year.  I had never heard of it until today.  (He's currently attending La Cueva HS)  He has always done well in school (honors classes, gifted program, etc.) until recently... his last report card was absolutely atrocious!  Therefore, we're looking for alternatives to help him get back on track.  (I'd love to homeschool him but neither his father and nor he are interested in this option.)    

I checked out the SSLC website but had a hard time figuring out exactly how the school was operated.  Are all the classes computer online courses?  Are the teachers there to just help the students if needed or do they actually provide lecture type instruction?  The stated goals and objectives looked wonderful and more aligned with my beliefs of how education should be.  Any feedback would greatly be appreciated!

Thanks so much!
Sharon    

Hi Jennifer,

It's good to see a familiar name.  How's it going at the gym?  I usually go around 2 pm, unless the kids go to 4 pm PE.  See you around!

Heidi

PS  thanks for the welcome!

Hi Elizabeth,

Thanks for the warm welcome! Yes, you're right!  I can't wait for Target and Trader Joe's.  Imagine the field trip possibilities . . .

Hope to meet at a park date soon,

Heidi

Hi Sharon,

Yes, our son loves SSLC.  He actually had a choice between La Cueva HS and SSLC and he choose SSLC.  The whole evnironment is awesome. There are traditional classrooms for children 4th - 6th grade and open computer labs for 7th - 12th grade.  The classes for the older students are all on computer, with self-directed learning. There are always several teachers who specialize in their areas: math, english, etc. who are available to help out. The computer programs are self-paced, so if they finish early, they can begin on the next grade.  The older students are assigned a sponsoring teacher, whom they work with until ther graduate. There is homework assigned, mostly extensions of what they are learning on the computer.  Shakespere is introduced in the 7th grade.  The computer technlogy is amazing, the best availalbe.

There is a "Smart Lab" requirement which offers hands-on experiences in science, physics, chemistry, film making, animatronics, clay-mation, animation and a recording studio for producing films, videos, you name it.  There are PE classes, including a state-of-the-art weight lifting program.  There are foreign language classes, and lots of great electives. The best part is that when the students are Jr.'s they can attend TV-I classes and begin earning college and HS credit. There is a co-ed soccer team and I think, a basketball team.

You really have to take a tour.  My son loves the classes and the schedule is very flexible.  They older students are required to take four 3.5 hour sessions a week, plus Smart Lab and PE.  There are three session times during the day:
8 - 11:30
12-3:30
4- 7:30

This schedule offers lots of flexibility so that the students are able to engage in the "Social interaction" that everyone thinks is so important. (Believe me, it's hard to keep a teen from socializing, so this is never a problem)  find part-time jobs, study martial arts, or just have down time.  It's a terrific program that has worked very well for us.

I especially like the discipline policy.  They are quick to discipline, making sure the learning environment is not disturbed in any way.  Problem students are not tolerated.  A refreshing change from the usual APS "kid-glove approach"

The only negative that I can see is if a child does not have time management skills or has a difficult time directing his/her own learning.  Also, as of now, there is no cafeteria facility, so the kids either have to bring lunch or walk across the street to a 7-11 for lunch.  This program is more like the real world than any other program I have seen.  Kids of all ages learn together, so there is no artificial "peer grouping"

The school just moved into a brand new building on Morris and Candelaria.  Take a tour, you will be dazzled.

Good luck,
Heidi

Wow!  Thank you thank you Heidi for all the great info on SSLC!  

It sounds like a wonderful, progressive school.  I will definitely stop by with Bryce and schedule a tour of the facility.  I think the sooner we get teens into a "real world" scenario the better.  I think the majority of them get sooo bored in traditional school by that age.  (no flexibility, stringent schedule with no room for one to become self-responsible leads to apathy - treat 'em like little children and they act like little children!)  I will even keep an eye on this school as a possibility for Dane as he gets older (long ways off I know but they grow so fast!!)

Again, I can't thank you enough for all the feedback.  There's nothing like hearing it from a person who has direct involvement.
Take care,
Sharon

I just saw this place, (used to be an old Bag and Save store), and I was wondering what it was.  It sounds great, thanks for the detailed description.

Sharon,

Glad to help out.  You might want to investigate sooner, rather than later.  I heard there is a waiting list of hundreds of students.  Also, their test scores are the best in the state, although I don't put much stock into testing.

Hope to meet you soon,

Heidi

Hi Heidi...
I really haven't been to the gym lately. I got side tracked with my own schooling and then was hit by illness (the kids and myself). I hope to start going again next week. Hope to see you there. :)

Jenn