Spread the news to current & prospective home educators & their supporters!
Hopefully the date’s in your diary via notices about the upcoming Andrew Pudewa conference (see http://www.learnex.co.nz). You’ll no doubt check out your travel arrangements, pack a yummy picnic plus sunscreen for the awesome weather, circulate this message far and wide and print it off.
Be part of the wider home educating community and join our big BYO picnic in the park!
8th Annual Home Education Celebration
Thursday 7 February 2008 11.00am to 2.00pm
One Tree Hill/Maungakiekie Domain (near Stardome Planetarium)
670 Manukau Road, Royal Oak, Auckland
Brought to you by Auckland Home Educators Inc http://www.home-education.org.nz
IMPORTANT: Please respect the parking restrictions on our Council Permit.
Park in the adjacent roads, leaving the Domain carpark for the general public. Please carpool or use public transport where possible.
BRING THE FAMILY AND ENCOURAGE YOUR LOCAL GROUP in support of your fellow home educators! Our community might be a minority group but we sure can take on the majority when it comes to enjoying our families! Have a chat with some old hands and offer your hand to guide a newbie, find help, share ideas, and just soak up the sounds of laughter. This is a wonderful opportunity to present a united front with around 250 home educators & supporters. Of course, our kids just love to discover how many others are travelling along the same road and to expand their sense of belonging. How big can we make 2008? If you’re aiming to visit Auckland, include this in your plans since it flows on from Waitangi Day and precedes the Andrew Pudewa conference (http://www.learnex.co.nz).
INVITE WIDER FAMILY, NEIGHBOURS & SUPPORTERS. PARTNERS are particularly welcome so just persuade them to drop in or, even better, book a day off.
You might even get Grandma Skeptical and others who remain ignorant of our ways to gain a better understanding of ‘socialisation’ and other home ed operations – all with the help of a huge third party! Encourage that family who’s been making noises about home education to come along, too … the more, the merrier. This is a free event but you might like to bring along some cash for buy/swap/sell resource opportunities and refreshments!
SUPPORT GROUPS across Auckland & further afield are invited to make the effort to join in. It’d be great to see folk again from Northland, Waikato and other places as we did last year. The impact of us coming together is so much greater than smaller groups doing their own thing. Co-Ordinators are encouraged to ARRANGE FOR A BANNER/SIGN/FLAG for anyone needing to identify a specific area (eg, a newbie, someone seeking to broaden their contacts).
INFORMATION AREA: Look for the big Auckland Home Educators banner towards
the flying fox. You want to retain responsibility for YOUR family, right?
Then visit the area, take action and find out how EACH OF US can support voluntary, democratic organisations working towards protecting and enhancing YOUR choice to do just that. United we stand! For newbies, come and see us and find your local group.
LOCATION: A great playground, flying fox, skateboard park, a few BBQ tables & toilets in the park itself. If you’re keen, check out http://www.tki.org.nz/r/socialscience/curriculum/SSOL/onetreehill/level5_e.php for
an in-depth virtual field trip giving a vast array of links. The Stardome Observatory is, of course, within the Domain grounds Tel: (09) 624-1246 http://www.stardome.org.nz We have a special Permit from Auckland City Council to use this park. Please ensure that you & your family respect the public’s right to continue using the facilities while we’re there and that any rubbish is disposed of responsibly. We’d like to be granted future Permits!
RAIN DATE: There isn’t one – only actual heavy and wild weather will put us off! Make a note of my mobile (027-435-8922) to check on the day if you’re unsure. There’s also the Metservice (http://www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=auckland) although last year’s forecast when I looked the night before threatened ‘mostly cloudy, rain at times’ yet it was perfect weather.
GETTING THERE: Access is an easy 4km off State Highway 1 (Greenlane exit).
Click on http://www.smaps.co.nz/nz/auckland/royal+oak/manukau+road/670/ for a
‘zoomable’ map. Call MAXX on (09) 366-6400 for public transport options or try their route planner at http://www.maxx.co.nz . Buses stop outside the gates; a train station’s not too far away if you can arrange for pick-up.
PARKING: **Please respect the parking restrictions on our Council Permit & park in the adjacent roads, leaving the Domain carpark for the general public unless you have injured or disabled passengers.**
At this point, I’m unable to confirm any programme other than enjoying a time of unity, fun and support. See you on the 7th!
Dawn Headley
Awareness & PR Co-ordinator
AUCKLAND HOME EDUCATORS INC – http://www.home-education.org.nz
Auckland’s regional networking group for current & prospective home
educators … Join us!
<http://www.home-education.org.nz/MemberApplication.pdf>
Email: dawn.homeeducation@xtra.co.nz
Tel: (09) 528-8922 Mob: 027-435-8922