HEADS UP, locals, the library is changing its policies

Ok, this is something I had not heard, but which is realllllllly important for all local homeschool families to know about!  I'm too lazy to re-state this, so I will just quote Heddi and Vaiva and Suki, three local homeschool moms who are always in the know, from a yahoo group discussion:

Hey, just a heads up to everyone:  Starting October 16th, the Santa Cruz
libraries will no longer have a 7 day grace period.  Fines will begin
the very first day a book is overdue.  They are extending the checkout
time to three weeks, however.

With the cost of fines having gone up, and the number of books we check
out as homeschoolers, this could add up VERY quickly!  Also, no more
phone renewals.  It must be in person or online!


But at least they will give us a heads-up:
    #
    You will receive a pre-due reminder notice 3 days BEFORE an item is    due. You will continue to get an email notice when an item is 3 days    overdue. However, with the new 3-week loan and no grace period, that    notice will be sent when the item is actually overdue (with fines).    We hope the 3 day pre-notice will help remind patrons to return    their items.
    #

    I always wished they would warn me before my books were overdue!


I'm so relieved that you read that fine print, Vaiva. I was just realizing I was going to have to redo our entire approach to library materials, which presently is: wait till I get an overdue notice then renew! But it sounds like I'll still have three days, which is enough breathing room for me....


that was my method, too,- there was no other "warning" system! I    nearly freaked out when I got an email from me about the no grace    period policy, because the email did not indicate if there would be    a new notification system.  I probably would have to stop using the    library - I just wouldn't be able to afford it!!!     This new    system actually gives us more warning because you only had one day    to renew after the grace period (I think). 

And those of you not yet on the local yahoo homeschooling group, I highly recommend you do so!  I actually don't remember how you join--perhaps go to yahoogroups.com and then search for "santacruzhomeschooling"?  Anyway, much of the info I share here comes from that source!

lisa c.

homeschool humor

Just found a link with some funny anecdotes and cartoons about homeshooling:

http://www.oocities.org/tankgrrl360/hs_humour.htm


: )

getting kids to think about stuff

A great web resource for getting kids to think about where their "stuff" comes from, and where it goes when they are done with it. . .

http://pbskids.org/loopscoops/

I am definitely checking this one out with my kids--perfect for discussions about material goods, mindful consumerism, recycling, downcycling, stewardship, etc.

Operation Christmas Child party!

Hello all!

We have been collecting little things for Operation Christmas Child for a long time (since we do this at every birthday party in lieu of gifts) and it is time to have a party and get together and fill shoeboxes!  This fun event will be open to any and all homeschool families and friends.  We can even make it a little holiday themed party, where we talk briefly about being Thankful and Giving in the name of Love. : ) 
                               
We can all pool our resources, so feel free to bring a packet of pens, or a collection of combs, for example, and we will share them in our boxes.   (In fact, that's why I am announcing this plenty early, so you can keep your eye out for special deals on erasers, pencils, little things that are perfect for these boxes.)

So, everyone interested, please bring:

--empty, clean shoeboxes (if you have extra, we can use them!)--some people use plastic shoeboxes.

--small new items to put into them (see the Operation Christmas Child website for ideas)

--cheerful wrapping paper and tape, if you have it on hand.

--$7 for each shoebox your family makes, to help pay for the cost of shipping the shoeboxes.***

***I strongly encourage any of you wanting to be part of this fun project to visit the OCC website before the party, so you can see a new feature--paying for the cost of the shoebox shipment online, and receiving a tracking number for your family's shoeboxes so you can find out where they went!  We are SO going to do this!  Perfect for a lesson not only in compassion and sharing, but also in geography and world cultures!

****Please do still come and help make shoeboxes even if you don't have the $ for the shipping donation.    If all you can bring is an empty shoebox, great!  The main thing is putting these together with one another. : )

These shoeboxes really go to the hands of children around the world who don't have much--can you imagine the feeling the child might have, to realize that loving people somewhere else in the world put together a box full of fun and useful things just for them?  We have seen this in action!  We help support an orphanage in India, for boys who are orphans due to HIV.  When my in-laws visited the orphanage, they were so surprised to see that there was a special cupboard in the orphanage, in which were each boys' cheerfully wrapped Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes!  The boys are well cared for, and loved, and have all their basic needs met, but those boxes and their clothes were all they had for their very own. 

(For more feel-good moments, you can also look up youtube videos to see kids in other parts of the world receiving their boxes!)


WHEN:  Friday, November 18, noon-2:30

WHERE: the preschool classroom there at Vintage Faith Church (children's ministry building)

WHY: to spread love, help our kids learn about the world and to clear out our over-accumulated gift bins!  (ok, maybe that last part is just me)


Please leave a comment if you have any questions, and please spread the word!