Rainbow’s End update

Rainbow’s End

Rainbows End


is happening for 200+ homeschoolers.

Rainbow’s End is booked in for Monday 23 November

  • 10.15am gather at Rainbow’s End carpark
  • with correct cash please –
  • paid to me (Johanna). [must get myself a flag or something!]
  • Don’t be late – or you miss out 🙂
  • $15 for each rider 2 years old and older.
  • (Under 2s and spectators or “non-riding supervisors” free)
  • Bring sun gear and lunch, if you like.
  • Final bookings with me (Johanna) before 4 pm Monday 16th.
  • No unbooked turn-ups on the day!!
  • jmcwnz@gmail.com
  • Letter to those who’ve booked in will be sent to your email on Monday.
  • We are sharing the Park with about 1000 school students, but they tend to go at 2.30pm – then we have till 5pm to ‘play’ pretty much by ourselves.
What fun! – now all we need is some fine enough weather for the day …  Right-click here to download pictures. To help protect your privacy, Outlook prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. B-)
Blessings,
Johanna W
07-8553126 (Hamilton)
A firm favourite! :: Click to enlarge

A firm favourite!

Great fun inside for the littlies! :: Click to enlarge

Great fun inside for the littlies!

Everyone loves the dodgems :: Click to enlarge

Everyone loves the dodgems

__._,_.___

Rainbow’s End

Rainbow’s End

OK .. a quick decision needed here …

1. Do you want to come to Rainbow’s End, Manukau?

2. If you do, would you please reply asap/by return mail jmcwnz@gmail.com with  numbers children – adults – spectators “non-riding supervisors” –  which day pref – your phone number + email –

* would you prefer Fri 20 Nov or Mon 23 Nov?

Details known so far:
$15 each for 2yo+ riders – children and adults
under 2 years old – free
spectators – free

Be ready to go in at 10.30 am – if you’re late, you miss out. If you  tend to be late to events, then aim to be there at 10.10 am 🙂 – with  correct cash in hand. (Keep me sane !!) Then the riders will get  banded.

I will need to know numbers – the sooner the better so I can book in  (like in the next 1-2 days). We’re competing with Auckland schools.

You  may not like the crowds, but they go at 2.30pm and we pretty much have  the place to ourselves after that.

You may want to pack your lunch, sun protection, water bottles, etc.

www.rainbowsend.co.nz
http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz/?pg=page.tpl&id=28 – resources
http://www.rainbowsend.co.nz/docs/EDUCATION.pdf – theme park physics

As I said, we’re organising this in a hurry – great price.

Get your names in – spread the word to your own homeschooling  networks quickly

– get in contact with me – jmcwnz@gmail.com

cheers,
johanna

Last Chance to register for homeschool camp!

Last Chance to register for homeschool camp!
From the organisers of the camp:

The homeschool family camp at Lake Karapiro is in less than 2 weeks and I only have a couple of spaces left, so if there are any last minute registrations please contact me ASAP.

For those who are already registered feel free to pass this on via your homeschool contacts.

Also if are already registered, but have NOT paid your fees by this Friday, November 6th I will remove you from the camp list and offer your space to someone else.

Below is a summary of all the information I have sent out to the families who have signed up for the camp so far….

The camp runs from Tuesday 17 November to Friday 20 November at Lake Karapiro Out Door Pursuits Centre and Camp. Each family will pay for their own accommodation plus the cost of activities. Payment is made by way of bank deposit into a nominated bank account. I will give these details to you upon confirmation of your place.

The camp itinerary is as follows…

Day 1 – Tuesday 17 November

1pm – 3pm Check in and set up

3pm – 4:30: Shared afternoon tea, Meet and Greet.

4pm – 6:30pm Free time and evening meals (Each family responsible for own meal)
6:30 – 9:00pm – Evening games/entertainment/social time etc….
9pm – 10pm Family time or quiet evening activities

Day 2 – Wednesday 18 November:

9am – 4pm: (Children will be split into age based activity groups and participate in 3 of the following activities.)

Team Building

High Ropes

Raft building

Orienteering

Archery

Please note there are limited spaces in the groups due to restrictions on group sizes as part of the camps policy so places will be given on a first come first served basis.

4pm – 6:30pm Free time and evening meals (Each family responsible for their own meal)
6:30 – 9:00pm – Evening games/entertainment/social time etc….
9pm – 10pm Family time or quiet evening activities

Day 3 Thursday 19 November – Optional Activities at extra cost

9am – 4pm: (Those interested in participating in the following activities will be divided into workable groups and spend time with an instructor before having a go themselves.)

Sailing $20.25 p/p or Kayaking $22.50 per kayak

5:00 – 7:00 Group BBQ/Shared meal
7:00 – 9:00pm – Evening games/entertainment/social time etc….

9pm – 10pm Family time or quiet evening activities in own quarters

Friday 20 November
10am: Check Out
10am – 5pm: Waikato Homeschoolers Talent Quest in Cambridge for those interested in attending.

At this point there are only the powered and non powered camp site accommodation options left. Tenters will need to provide their own tent, cooking utensils, sleeping gear and food/drink. There is an ablution block and a camp kitchen with fridges and stoves for campers to use or they can provide their own cooking equipment. (eg:gas cooker/BBQ) Non powered tent site prices are $12 per AD and $9 per chd 2-12 years (PER NIGHT).

There is also the option of a powered camp site the cost of which is $14 per adult and $9 per child per night.

For all types of accommodation children are aged 2 – 12 years with under 2’s being free of charge. Everyone over the age of 12 is charged at the adult rate.

Each family will be responsible for their own meals other than the shared BBQ on the last night and the shared afternoon tea on the afternoon of arrival. (Volunteers will be required to be the BBQ cooks for this night.) Some families may prefer to share food and meal preparations at other times too, but that is up to each individual family.

As far as the evenings go I am leaving that in everyone elses capable hands to see what you can come up with but perhaps some group games/competitions like capture the flag or spot light tag. I am sure the kids can come up with some ideas between now and November. I know some families may prefer earlier nights and quieter evenings but I will leave that up to each individual family so long as the camp rule of quiet after 10pm is adhered to.

I think that is everything but if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

As mentioned above there are only a very few spaces availabe and not in every age group so I will need to know the ages of your children before I can confirm a place in the camp for you, should you decide you want to join us. The camp is in less than 2 weeks so I will need to hear from you within the next day or two if you want to join us.

Blessings

Nina

Email kiorakiwi@hotmail.com

or

Phone 021 204 5952

Coming up this week on HSLDA’s @home e-vents…

Coming up this week on HSLDA’s @home e-vents…

Wednesday, November 4: Marine Biology

Sherri SeligsonDoes the thought of teaching science make you squeamish? Do you feel unprepared to guide your student through the creation-evolution debate?

Like many other homeschooling parents, you may be hesitant to dive into scientific studies and wade through evolutionary “evidence” that permeates our common culture. But did you know there are thousands of marine creatures whose existence and attributes contradict the theory of evolution?

Join marine biologist and homeschooling mom, Sherri Seligson, on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, at 9:00 p.m. (ET) and discover a fascinating sea of possibilities just waiting to be explored! Don’t be afraid to teach science any longer—come and learn how to guide your student boldly through the study of God’s creation! To register >>

There is still space for you to join this week’s e-vents—sign up now to reserve your “seat”! To register >>

If you have any questions, please contact the @home e-vent coordinator at webinars@hslda.org.

Should politicians have to listen to you?

Please feel free share this information

OPEN LETTER

DEMOCRACY

Should politicians have to listen to you?

The politicians have a bad track record with citizen’s initiated referendums..

o          In 1999, 82% of NZ’ers said the number of MP’s should be reduced to 99 – the politicians ignored it

o          In 1999, 92% of NZ’ers said that the needs of victims should have greater emphasis, restitution and compensation should be provided, and there should be minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences – in response, the politicians reduced parole eligibility to 1/3’rd of sentences, instructed judges to impose the least restrictive sentence, and have made unenforceable token gestures towards victims

o          In 2009, 87.4% said that a smack for the purpose of correction should not be a crime under the law – the politicians ignored it

o          And some people believe that we need a referendum on the proposed Auckland ‘Supercity’ because of the major changes it makes to the form of citizen representation.

It’s about time the politicians got the message!

As you know, we are working with businessman Colin Craig on the March for Democracy www.themarch.co.nz

Colin Craig has been quoted as saying that he finds it “ deeply disturbing that such a clear message from the people of this country to government has been ignored. My forefathers fought for a democracy and in a democracy the government does not pass and retain laws that nearly 90% of the people don’t want. It is my turn to help fight for the rights of ordinary New Zealanders.”

Colin isn’t just talking. He’s putting his money where his mouth is. And we need to get in behind him.

As you can see, the purpose of this March goes even further than just the anti-smacking law. When NZ’ers and families speak with such a loud and united voice, as they have on these issues, the politicians must not be allowed to ignore them. It is significant that politicians are willing to accept democracy when it is to their benefit (i.e. getting elected!) but are willing to blatantly ignore it when suits their political agenda.

The March is not a one-off – it is part of a long term strategy to bring representative democracy back to NZ

Ironically, it appears that political parties are keen to accept petitions in their favour – United Future on daylight saving ,  Labour on night-classes – and they also support Referendums – National on MMP , Labour on the Auckland SuperCity , and the Greens on the Monarchy – but when it’s a Citizen’s Initiated Referendum, they suddenly go deaf!

When the law was passed in 1993 allowing referendums to be initiated by the people, senior National MP Sir Doug Graham said “..it will be obvious that, if the public overwhelmingly supported a proposition contained in a referendum, clearly it would have great persuasive weight and any Government that simply ignored it would do so at its peril .”

PLEASE MARK 1.30pm SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER (meeting at the bottom of Queen St Auckland) IN YOUR DIARY – AND MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY!

More details will be added to the website over the next couple of weeks www.themarch.co.nz

Thanks for your consideration.

Kind regards

Bob McCoskrie
National Director

www.familyfirst.org.nz