| View the newsletters online! Click on any link below. | November 29, 2009 November 21, 2009 November 7, 2009 November 1, 2009 October 24, 2009 October 18, 2009 | ZLO news Sept 28 ****** DATES TO REMEMBER Oct 14, 17, PSAT test days at your local high school, for Freshmen, Sophomores, and particularly Juniors. Check with the counseling office at your local high school to register for one of these
Nov 10 - Veteran’s Day observance, extended lunchtime
Nov 26 - Thankgsiving, no classes on Thursday.
Dec 17 - last day of classes before Christmas. Carol sing at lunch in Spanish and English. Family members welcome.
Jan 5 - 1st day of classes after Christmas
Jan (TBA) - Fall term Open House (tentative)
Jan 26 - last day of Fall Term
Jan 28 - Semester break. This day could serve as snow makeup days, if needed, from Fall semester. ************ Needed: Someone who can make for us a device to hold tables against walls for storage. It could be as simple as a large library-style bookend, and it must be flat against the tables and flat against the floor, so that it is not easily tripped over. We need 8 of these. ************ Needed: Someone to train as our bookkeeper for next year. This pays for a couple of classes, and you can do much of it from home with a fast internet connection. Please call Pam Brown at 366-1048 if you are interested. ************ Please submit items for this newsletter by Friday. Hopefully we can become consistant e-mailing this newsletter over the weekend. | THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 7 PM MEET THE TEACHERS! Come match names to faces, find out who your child's classmates and their parents are, and learn how your child can best succeed in their classes. If your child's schedule includes a study hall, then either visit study hall and get your ZLO questions answered by Mrs. Crocker, or visit a teacher whose class you might want your child to take another time. | ZLO news 9-15-09 Welcome back! Our first week in a new location went pretty smoothly. Many thanks to New Horizon folks who are hosting us, for a fair amount of behind-the-scenes work that helped! 1. Study hall: There isn't a nice gym this year, so going outside is the only option to.... STUDYING! When we have enough supervisors we'll be happy to allow students to do that. Meanwhile, to respect the students who need to study, be sure to bring a book. 2. Pickup, drop off, parking: If you're going to stay a bit, then we'd like to have you park away from the building, near the grass strip on Meridian. That allows our kids a bit of play space between the building and the cars on the Meridian side of the building, and the parked cars can offer a bit of protection from the road. It's gravel, but we've played touch football on asphalt before. Kicking around a soccer ball or a soft frisbee would be fine in this space. 3. Internet connection, printers: We have a fast wireless connection this year! If you or your student wants to hop on, just ask and we'll share the password to the router. Here's our policy: 1. Gaming is NOT allowed, because gaming consumes bandwidth, making it difficult for instructors to access the internet for instructional purposes. If we find any student playing games, whether or not they are internet games, we will confiscate the computer. A parent may retrieve it when they pick up the student. 2. If we find any student browsing or conveying inappropriate material in any format, then their computer will be confiscated, returned to a parent, and they will NOT be allowed to use a computer on the premises. (We know that 'accidents' happen, and we'll take this under consideration.) 3. Be polite and considerate! If other activities, such as IM or social networking bogs down our network and makes it difficult for instructors to use the internet or local area network for printers, then we will restrict access to our network. We have a wireless photo printer onsite. Printed pages will cost 25 cents each. Ask Mrs. Crocker or Mrs. Schleimer how to access it. 4. Mrs. Crocker will be beginning a Kidz Math program, Tuesdays from 12:45 to 2 PM. Cost will be $7.50 per meeting per FAMILY, and we'll run this coop-style, where parents should attend in most cases, children older than the target age will help, and babies crawling on the floor are welcome. First session will be NEXT WEEK, September 22, and will be for kids age 4 to 9, games to help develop number sense. This will be a 3-week course for $22.50 per family. There is space for 3 to 4 families. Sign up by sending a reply to this email. 5. We'd still like to develop that technology course. We've had several parents ask about it for themselves! We think we can design it as a set of tasks, from basic word-processing to desktop publishing and podcasting, with YOU choosing the kinds of tasks from a list that you'd like to learn, and Mrs. Schleimer or Mrs. Crocker assisting you during 'office' hours, which would be hours we'll be available by phone or on campus. We think this can be tailored to YOUR interests and needs, and we think we can get some advertising when work by ZLO families is published on the internet. If you are interested, then send a reply to this email. | Dear Parents and Students, I am sorry for all of the changes that have needed to occur in our schedules. Here is one more, potentially. At this time, I only have 1 student signed up for HS CHEMISTRY at 10:55. I am strongly concidering offering a second section of MS PHYSICS instead. IF YOU HAVE INTEREST IN EITHER CLASS please call me at 510-6089 or 384-6788 ASAP and let me know. Last spring I had 13 students express interest in Chemistry; are you still there? There have been students on the wait list for Middle School Physics; does this time meet your needs? I will make my final decision based on the feedback I receive between now and Sunday night. Thank you for your time and patience, Toria Bash ps. The fall science field trip is tentatively scheduled for September 18-21, 2009 to Silverwood Theme Park in Hayden ID. Drivers and tents will be needed. My students and their families get first priority. Permission slips will be handed out on the first day of class. ***** If you're available this morning from 10 AM until noon to help ZLO move from our summer storage to New Horizon, then please either show up at Appel's on Pole Rd (384-6175) about 10 AM or call Wayne Youngquist (305-4887) who will be driving the moving van. Today is the last day before start of classes that we could get the van. We need about 5 strong backs to help load, and more to help unload at New Horizon. Thanks! | ZLO e news September 1, 2009 *************** ONE WEEK until ZLO starts!!!!! *************** Here is an opportunity for those students enrolled in 3rd period study hall. Laurie Charleston is offering 4 short Art Courses during this time. You can pick and choose between Printmaking (September), Isometric/Perspective Drawing (October), Clay (November) and A Short History of Art (January). Each course lasts 4 weeks, meets only on Tuesdays and costs $30 plus a $10 materials fee. There is no course scheduled for December. Please see the website for details. *************** Thanks to the parents that have stepped up to supervise the students during study hall and lunch periods for this coming semester. We still need two more lunch monitors for Tuesday and Thursday (12:15 to 12:45), a study hall supervisor from 2:00 - 3:15, and another janitor both days. We do not have a pizza provider for Thursday lunches. If you have a little entrepreneur spirit, and would like to sell pizza once a week to the students, this may be your niche. Call Pam Brown at 366-1048 for details for the above work opportunities and compensation. *************** HUGE SALE of teaching supplies for primary grades. Teachers, homeschooling families and churches: Take advantage of school stuff for many age groups and interests. Friday, Sept. 4th 2009 from 9 AM o 3 PM at Meridian Self-Storage across from Barnes and Nobles and Walgreens on the Guide Meridian. Look for the signs and balloons and fill your school-year cupboards at great prices!! | ZLO news 8/19/09 ******* WORK DAY SCHEDULED! Tuesday, August 25 is our first day to get into New Horizon's building and install dry-erase boards and trim make and install screens for windows replace burnt bulbs We also need... --an electrician who can tell us if we can split a light switch across two rooms, so that each room can turn on/off lights for just that room. There are two spaces like this at New Horizon. If you can evaluate and do this job WE NEED YOUR HELP! --someone handy with construction who can design an easily removable room divider. We have funds for most of this, thanks to a recent donation! Might anyone have a lamp they are not using that can clamp or fasten to an I-beam? One of our classrooms needs a little more light. Does anyone have a dolly to donate on which we can put Mrs. Bash's math/science cabinet? She needs it handy for class but it needs to store in a closet. Bring your cordless drills, levels, saws, screws, etc. We also need a pickup, or someone to bring dry-erase surfaces from a building supply company. DATE FOR MOVING IN: Friday, September 4. Exact time to be decided. It took us less than two hours last year with help from about 10 folks. ********* Help us advertise! Look for an ad for ZLO in your email box soon, an attractive ad that should help get the attention of your friends who homeschool here in Whatcom County. If you have dialup, then please ignore it. But if you have a fast internet connection, would you please forward it to folks you know who homeschool or would consider homeschooling if they had a little help? ************* Unpaid Material Fees Reminder With less than three weeks before classes begin, teachers are now in the process of purchasing and duplicating materials. If you have not yet paid your child's material fees, please consider doing so as soon as possible. This not only assists the teachers, but also secures your child's spot in classes that have filled. Please let the teacher(s) know if there is a financial reason for unpaid fees. Otherwise, add up the material fees for your child's classes and send a check to the ZLO address:
702 Kentucky #414
Bellingham, WA 98225. | ZLO e-news August 17th, 2009 *************** Happy Monday! ********* Now is the time to sign up for work exchange positions. We have lunch monitor, janitor and study hall supervisor available for most periods. If you are wondering if you can budget in another class for your child, a work exchange is a great way to pay for it. You can do your job either Tuesday OR Thursday or both days for the most monetary credit. Study hall monitor pays $150 per semester, lunch monitor pays $90 per semester and janitor pays $180 if you only clean on one day a week/$360 for both days. You can bring your non-ZLO student to do their school work with you. And you can do lunch and a study hall back-to-back for variety while you help work off your tuition bill. Please call or email Pam Brown to sign up for the slot you want or if you have questions. First sign-ups get the best choice. 366-1048 or bookkeeper@zlo.org *********** A gadget class! Outside of Jesus, Daniel is probably my favorite Bible character. His willingness to be useful wherever God put him enabled God to place him in the highest administrative position in the world. That job enabled him to look after the safety and well-being of the Jewish people while they were in exile, and he saved lives during three changes of monarchy when it was common for the new monarch to wipe out the old court to ensure there wouldn't be dissension and espionage. Daniel simply served! My vision for a gadget class is to enable our kids to be able to go anywhere in the world and make themselves useful. I want them to be able to fix a light, change the oil, prime the pump, balance the books, and make it profitable. The ability to enable anyone to carve their economic niche in the world is as important as restoring health. This sort of thing opens doors for sharing the gospel. I've recently learned that North Shore Church (where Bennett Drive connects to Marine Drive) has a secondary building that is not being used. They would welcome ZLO to use that building to teach kids to repair, refurbish, recycle, or remake anything. I've also recently connected with some older adults in my college classes who could help teach these skills. The building would be our first project. The roof has been repaired, but there are ceiling tiles and carpeting that needs replacing. I don't think mildew is a problem, as apart from some water damage, the building is a cement-block structure. There is plenty of light, electricity, and heat. There is a restroom. There is space to install an industrial sink. There is space for some sizable shop tools and work space. None of this would require a building permit. The area is zoned light industrial, suitable for our purposes. North Shore Church wants enough rent for the project to not drain their resources. Iagreed verbally that as the project grows and becomes profitable, we should probably discuss rent on a regular basis. I know we have among our ZLO families ALL the skills we need to teach these to our kids. Does anyone out there have the inspiration to direct this sort of project? It doesn't need to be exclusively a ZLO project. It could be a small business for someone. Adults and kids could participate in this. If we couldn't fix your blender, your toaster, your lawn mower, your bike, your hard drive, your chair, we could at least take them apart and find out how they work. We might even remake it into something else. We would learn how to paint a room, lay some flooring, change a plug, fix a toilet, solder a connection, and stop a leak. If this fell under the ZLO umbrella, we'd need funds to make the building ready and purchase some tools. Next, we'd need donations of broken things to fix. We could sell things fixed, or charge a fee for fixing. Money earned could pay rent, pay an instructor, help students pay for ZLO classes, help ZLO keep costs low, and help kids pay for missions trips. If you're interested in this project for yourself or your child, then will you call me? Molly Crocker 303-3464. ******** I'm still waiting to hear from New Horizon about a work day. Please pray that building details will all get worked out, and that God will stand close to the new folks we haveto work with. New Horizon's lead pastor has been working through a family tragedyrecently, which has bogged down my communications with him. He asked someone else towork with me, and that person has been ill. Satan has a plan, but God has a better one. ******** The 4th period Bible Class is canceled, but a 2nd period one will be offered in it's place | ZLO e news August 9, 2009 ******** Mrs. Bash's Chemistry class is moved to Tuesday-Thursday, 10:55. Mrs. Crocker will pick up the Pre-Algebra class at 10:55. Mrs. Christie Miller, long-time ZLO English teacher, is offering a NEW class this semester. SPEECH for 8th-12th graders). It will meet third period for 12 weeks (instead of 18) so it will only cost $200.00 with a $25 materials fees. If you are interested or have questions about this class, please email Mrs. Miller at miller@zlo.org. Second semester this class will be CREATIVE WRITING, again 12 weeks long. We're still waiting to hear from the New Horizon folks about the possibility of a work day there. | July 27, 2009 1. Mrs. Kink is offering an additional section of Advanced Literature and Writing at 12:45. If you were signed up at 10:55 and this new section would work better for you, would you please call her at 671-2014. This class is open to middle and high school students who have had her introductory course. Please call her for more information. 2. We had more than a dozen students indicate interest in Chemistry, but only a few signed up for the class on Wednesdays. If you could take it if it moved into the Tuesday-Thursday schedule at 10:55, would you please contact Mrs. Bash at 384-6788. This is not a firm decision, but would be much likelier if 6 or more students indicated interest for that time slot. An additional lab outside the Tu-Th schedule may occasionally be required. 3. NOW is the time to apply for financial aid, and applications are due AUGUST 15. Please go to our web page and follow directions to get the ball rolling: http://www.zlo.org/GeneralFiles/financialaid.html 4. Information about a building work day or two should be coming soon. Donations for screens, dry-erase boards, trim, blinds, and other building materials are NEEDED and would be greatly appreciated. We're going to need between $500 and $2,000. We can take such donations via PayPal through the 'Donate' button on our website, but we lose a bit for the transaction. If we have leftover funds we will put it into the financial aid fund. 5. Keep an eye on your email for other possible schedule changes and improvements as we get closer to our start date for Fall, 2009, which is September 8. | July 1, 2009 1. There are quite a few of you out there who did the spring scheduling exercise but have not signed up for fall. If you've just neglected to do that, then please know that a few important classes are waiting for a few more students. These may be canceled in the next few days for lack of one or two students. 2. Our move to New Horizon church is going to involve some expenses on some maintenance for the building for which we have not budgeted. Here is a partial list of our needs: A. 5 dry erase boards. The sheets are about $22 each, and the frames will be made out of simple door trim. Might there be some leftover materials lying around your place that could be made into trim? Trim pieces need to be 4' or 8' long. They don't have to be perfect. We can fill and paint. B. Window screens. We need materials to make about a dozen window screens. C. A moveable divider underneath an i-beam between two of the rooms needs to be made easier to move, or a new divider needs to be designed and built. D. A nice lamp that can be clipped or fastened onto an i-beam to provide more light in a fairly small room. E. Any locking, rolling cabinets or bookshelves would be wonderful, about the size of a 2-drawer file cabinet. F. Is there such a thing as a mobile dry-erase board that would fold in half? We have a need for something like this. Any crafty people out there willing to design one? G. An electrician that could divide the lighting in a large room so each half of the room would be on a separate switch in that half of the room. We have two such rooms. Some florescent tube lighting may also need either fixtures or ballasts replaced. H. Something like a large bookend needs to be designed, so tables can be safely stored in individual rooms against walls so that the stored tables cannot be knocked over by active children. A work day to get all this done will likely be scheduled for a Saturday in the first part of August. That would give us enough time to get any leftover or unfinished projects done before school starts in September. There are two air-hockey tables in good condition at New Horizon that they are interested in selling for $50 each. Funds could go towards materials. Any takers out there? |
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