Hi guys,

A great many thanks to all who helped out this week and made the smooth running of group seem flawless.

Our annual AGM will take place on the 24th Novenber during the day at group.We will be organising a workshop for the children so that as many families as possible can take part and have a say in how AWE will be run for the next year. We will be voting in a new chairperson, secretary and treasurer , ready for 2010 .All very exciting stuff!!

Next week Lilian will be cooking, we will start making some Christmas decorations, ready for both our annual fund raising stall and our very own Christmas party. We will also be having salsa classes for everyone to join in with at 11.30 each week from now until the last week of term- all good fun!

Lilian and Louise are visiting the scrap project this week.So next Tuesday we will be putting our a range of resources for families to take home and use in educational activities ( i.e fabrics, paper ,card e.t.c)

Next Thursday Saran has organised a 'Keats day' with a visit to Keats house and a film screening afterwards.Please check out our website for information ( awe.gn.apc.org).

On the 4th December we will have a fundraising stall at the yoga centre in Stoke Newington.We will be making things to sell there over the next few weeks- so please, get involved, helping to make or helping out on the day .

Our end of term party will take place on the 8th December at group. We will have gifts for all the kids and a great Christmas feast, music, salsa dancing ,possibly a show !!!

Have a great week ,
I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday,

xSaska

Hi everyone,

We are back at the Adventure Playground Tuesday November 3rd, hopefully a bit earlier now the clocks have changed.

For the older children I shall be making igneous rocks from sugar (honeycomb/toffee..) to explore rock structures. We also have more woodworking bubble-maker kits to make with Gill and Fela, who have now thoroughly got to grips with the complex OPITEC instructions. If you think your child may enjoy this, please come along - it would be good to see some more older children again having fun with their friends.There will also be craft activities and lunch.

Hope to see you tomorrow,

-Saran

Hi guys,

A bit of a different group this week as some of us went to The Houses of Parliment to Demonstrate against new education law proposals and to lobby M.PS.There was a good turn out ,with groups attending from all over, and the kids seemed to be having a great time waving banners and getting public support.I have collected some pre-worded post cards for everyone to post to parliment and will give those out next week. It is important to get our voices heard in this matter.

Many thanks to all those who made banners and attended the demo, to Jill and co for clearing up all the mess left behind(sorry), and to everyone who helped cook pasta and pesto for lunch ,provided activities and cleared away afterwards.

I won't be around until later this coming week ,Saran will be opening up, Fiona will be providing lunch(i think), I thought as its our last group before Halloween , we could get all the fabric out and make some halloween costumes and masks.There are some bat shapes in the container which the kids can decorate as well.

For those children who made vases a couple of weeks ago i have left some clear varnish at group , so they can be finished and taken home.

Hope you all have a great weekend and i look forward to seeing you next week,

xxsaska

To all home-educators,

We can review and comment on the Badman Report on elective home-education until Monday October 19th. The more home-educators giving an opinion, the more the government will have to listen to us when they make a decision regarding implementing new policy on elective home-education. THIS IS DEMOCRACY.(!)..YOUR OPINIONS MATTER...please take some time to follow the link and make your views known via the on-line consultation.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetail...

On Tuesday many home-educating families went to Westminster and lobbied their MPs to challenge the Badman directives. Some of us talked to a researcher on behalf of Meg Hillier, MP for hackney South and Shoreditch (Meg's on maternity leave until Monday). She was very interested in our views and seemed to agree that the Badman directives are over-bearing and interfering in our choice in how we educate our children. We are planning to meet with Meg Hillier some time in the future to continue putting pressure on our MP to act on our behalf and not lend any support to ill-thought through legislation...(let's hope).

All the best,
Saran

Hi everyone,

It was a lovely relaxed AWE session last Tuesday with a delicious dinner cooked by Somer - thanks. Gill and Fela are nearing completion of the bubble machine, working on it solidly for the past few weeks. Now they have made the prototype more children should have a go doing their own one if they want.

For all the children who missed the swings, we just need a tall person to volunteer to put them up at the start of each session - hopefully not a problem.

This week Saska's back (hooray) with glass painting and other wondrous things.

There is also a mass lobby of Parliament in Old Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament from 1:00-2:30pm against the ignominious Badman Report, which is being put in front of a parliamentary Select Committee (see www.education-otherwise.org for more details). Some families may wish to meet at AWE and travel down together from Shoreditch for an educational, fun and useful day out.

We're planning to have an AGM in the first half of November, so send any burning issues to discuss to Saska to put on the agenda.

See you soon,
Saranxx

Hi everyone,

It was lovely being back at the playground this week-and it was great to see everyone again.

Many thanks to Saran for collecting and bringing in all the woodwork equipment, Thanks to Fiona for all her washing up ,thanks to Lilian for introducing new families to the group, Thanks to Bud and Poppy for running a great juggling ball making workshop.And well done to all the kids who managed to win prizes for juggling! Thanks to Jill for agreeing to do some woodwork with the kids, and everyone else who helped set up, and clear away.

I am trying to get hold of some hollow bamboo sticks so the kids can make bee houses- so if you have any lying around , or know where we can get some ,please let me know. If i can get hold of some then we will be able to make bee houses next week and give out wild flower seeds to the kids.

Next week Jill will spend an hour or so running a wood workshop.The kids will be making 'bubble machines'. These will take a few weeks and the kids will have working bubble machines at the end of it. They are quite complicated to make ,so she will probably work with a couple of kids at a time.

Lilian will be providing lunch next week ( which will, no doubt be far better than my pasta/pesto concoction) .And we will as ever have arts and crafts going on and possible story time if anyone is up for reading..

There are a couple of trips on the notice board and on the website awe.gn.apc.org. So check them out and book places if you want to. Our child protection policy is also on the notice board for those of you who want to have a look.

We have also successfully negotiated a contract with the learning trust which we expect to sign in the next couple of weeks.This means that we will have keys to the building , which should help the smooth running of the group.

Look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday,

Have a great weekend,

xsaska

To all home-educators,

Please sign this on-line petition against the Badman report. Let the government know how many people are just not up for it.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/EHEreview/

More information can be found here: http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/heconsult.htm

Many thanks to all the kids who took part in making the banners for the talent show this weekend, Thanks to Lucien and Becky for a lovely lunch, Dave for outside games and Every one who helped wash up, clear away e.t.c .

I left a little early today so am unsure of anything else that went on- but i hope you all had a lot of fun.

OUR TALENT SHOW AND DISCO IS THIS SATURDAY 4TH JULY 2.30-6PM

Kids do not have to take part -but it is a great chance for all to come and watch some of the amazing talent that the kids have. And of course the disco afterwards will be fun .So if you want a great time , get your glad rags on, bring a dish or bottle to share and make your way down to St Peters Church ,De beauviour Rd ,N1. Parking is free and every one is welcome to bring any family or friends along to enjoy the show and disco together .

We will also have a fundraising stall at the event with various crafts made by the kids and Lilian will have a great Photo display of many of the Groups events over the last year.

Next week at group will be our last of the term, Marcia will be providing Lunch, we will have an end of term cake, Mabel will be showcasing a play which she has been rehearsing over this term ,after lunch and i hoping we can organise a group sports game. If any one wants to organise an activity -feel free.I will put the suggestion box out so that ideas for workshops/trips for next term can be placed inside .

I hope you all have a great week in the sun and i look forward to seeing you all this Saturday!

xxsaska

What a great day!

Many thanks to Saran for website discussions, Louise for story time, Joy for washing up ,Louise again for giant snakes and ladders, Rosealine for a fabulous lunch ,Dave and Gareth for doing the swings, everyone who helped clear up and everyone for coming and making the day a success.

Next week we will have AWE sports day .This will take place after lunch 2-4pm in the park next to the playground.Sports day will take the form of some team races ( including parents 3 legged races!) and a more general game like cricket or volley ball.We will be providing juice and snacks for the event and children will receive a badge for being there and/or taking part. It should be a fun event and you are welcome to bring friends/family along to share in the afternoon.We may need a little help setting up the sports area with cones e.t.c at lunchtime- so if you are able to do this then let me know next week, thanks.

Next week we will also have some arts and crafts in the morning, Louise will be providing lunch, we may make some ice cream and or smoothies ready for the afternoon activities.

Have a great week, look forward to seeing you all soon,

xSaska

Many thanks to whoever did arts and crafts, me for cooking up a storm at the last minuite, Saran for arranging a great 'great debate', Bud for making delicious jam tarts , And Fi and others for washing up and clearing up, and lets not forget the wonderfull massage session with Rosaline. It was lovely to be back in the newly painted building.

We are still disscussing terms with the learning trust- but will keep you all updated with information as it occurs. We are also now formulating a more specified 'child protection and behaviour policy', as agreed at our last AGM.These guidelines are necessary for the smooth running of the group and are essential if we are to recieve funding from external bodies. I f you would like to suggest items for incusion or have any specific views which should be considered in the formulation of policy then please feel free to let me know.

Next week we will have recorders, t-shirt printing.Lunch will be provided by Rosaline.There will be arts and crafts e.t.c as well. I think there is a trip being planned to a street festival in Brighton- so keep your eyes on the notice board.

Hope you all have a wonderfull week,

many thanks to Tara and Nick for a great lunch, thanks to Rose for a great cake baking session, thanks to Gareth and others for washing up, Louise for storytime, Io and Bud for helping me with caterpillar making- all much appreciated.

WE NOW HAVE A DATE AND VENUE FOR OUR TALENT SHOW AND DISCO-15TH JULY- 1-7PM AT ST PAULS CHURCH HALL STOKE NEWINGTON.many thanks to all those who have helped sort out the venue and are donating time for sound, lighting and decoration. It is sure to be a great event to end our summer term and it would be a lovely opportunity for all of you to invite family and friends along to enjoy a fab time.Our DJ is now collecting music for the disco so please bring anything you would like played on the night along to group (labelled and on cd) so that the mixing can commence!!

Please remind kids to rehearse any pieces they would like included in the talent show - i will create the running order in the next few weeks. I may also be able to help out with costumes e.t.c if needed.

There is no group next Tuesday (June 2nd) as a 24 of us are off to Paddington farm, Glastonbury for a wonderful farm experience. Those of you who are coming will recieve a separate e-mail with meeting times/dates /activiites e.t.c - so please remember to check your emails for this.

We will be back with a vengeance on the 9th June. Helen will be providing lunch, Rosealine will be teaching hand and face massage to those who want to learn. And Jenna will be doing t-shirt printing .She would like us to collect some spray bottles (like what household cleaners come in) to enable her to do this activity.

PUB MEETING TOMORROW (Wednesday 27th. May) AT THE PEMBURY TAVERN 8.30PM
We will be disscussing our current position with the Learning Trust, showing our proposed contract and deciding whether to sign the agreement. We will also discuss finances and future directions. Hope to see as many of you as possible there,

all the best ,

xsas

Hey guys,

Sorry i missed so much of group this week , so i am unsure of who to thank for what. So, thanks to everyone who made a contribution to the group, it certainly looked like everyone was having fun in the sun!!

We have confirmed our trip to Kew Grdens on Wedenesday 6th June (this one coming) for those of you who signed up.

We will meet at 11am at kew gardens main entrance as we all need to go in as a group. Please either e-mail, text or ring me to let me know if you are coming so i know numbers. My mobile number is 07545 568 229.Thank you .

There are a couple of places left for Paddinton farm in Glastonbury ( check out the website www.paddingtonfarmtrust.co.uk) The cost is 30 pounds per person.Its a great place and the kids enjoy it we are going 1-5th June.

We are running a stall this Sunday 3rd May to raise some money for the group .It is 11-4pm at mile end cemetery park, a great litttle nature reserve .They are having a woodland fun day , which was great last year.It would be lovely to see some of you there. if you would like to come and help run the stall, let either myself or lilian know.Or just come along for fun!!!

Our lunch lists are up on the notice board for any families able to provide lunch .You get 15 pounds to help towards the cost of this.

Awe bear is wiht me this week -what fun and we will return him promptly next week and pass him on to the next eagerly awaiting child ( i mean unsuspecting parent).

We are also planning our annual talent show and an after party .We will confirm dates e.t.c in the next few weeks.If your child wants to take part please put names and acts down on the notice board.

We are collecting sainsburys school vouchers ,so please, please save yours for us ,

Thanks to all of you for being wonderfull ,

xxsas

For all children between 12 and 14 years old - the remit is to write a 1500 word essay about any famous woman scientist. One essay can be chosen from AWE to be entered and the winner could receive £1000 plus lots of good equipment for the group.

See this website for details:

http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/essay2009/index.html

The Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL invites you to enter the Darwin
Photography Competition, in partnership with The Horniman Museum and the
Institute of Biology.

Darwin200 theme: Exploring and Investigating Nature

Charles Darwin's career was founded upon his childhood fascination with the
plants and animals on his own doorstep. We invite photographs that are
inspired by the competition's themes of exploration and investigation
of nature. Images could be from far off countries or from your own garden.

You could take pictures of animals and plants in your local park, the
Grant Museum, the Horniman Gardens or while enjoying nature on your
holidays.

The winners of each category and the Best in Show will be displayed at the
Horniman Museum from 19th November 2009, and each winner will receive £75
in vouchers, £200 for the Best in Show winner. The categories include
University / HE student, Young Person, Junior Young Person and Adult.

Full details can be found at:

http://darwinphotocomp.org.uk

11 October 2009: deadline for entries
Oct / Nov 2009: judging
19 November 2009: exhibition opening

21/04/09

Lovely to see you all on such a nice bright sunny day.

Many thanks to Lilian for flower making, me for lunch, Cathy and other for washing up, Dave for outside games with the lads, Auden and others for clearing away, Jill for taking the first steps to building our carpentry bench, Saran for running off to get ice cream , and bud and IO for setting up the stall and selling it and to every one who made a contribution to making the group a really lovely , relaxed place to be today.

We have a trip to London Zoo tomorrow- those of you signed up just give your name at the entrance for your discount and every one will meet at the grass near the playground at 12 for a picnic lunch.

We also have an AWE fundraising stall at 116 Allen rd the yoga place(stoke newington) this Saturday 1.30- 5 pm. It would be nice to see some of you there to either help out or donate some crafts for us to sell. Lilian is runnning a flower making workshop from her home this Thursday at 10.30 am to create some of the crafts needed- let her know if you would like to join in the activities.

We will be having our talent show in July.This is a great time for the kids who want to to showcase their skills and was very enjoyable to watch last year. Details of this are now on our notice board- it would be great if as many kids as possible could take part.

We are also arranging a themed Disco to take place around the same time- a chance for all of us to have some fun. Cheap venue suggestions would be most welcome .

Our residential trip to Padding ton farm has been confirmed for the 1-5th June. The cost of the stay in the farmhouse is 30 pounds per person. There are 20 spaces in the farm house ( you can book more private accomodation for a little moe- i can give details of this for any one interested) It is a fabulous trip offering the chance to stay on an organic farm and take part in daily farm activities like feeding animals, collecting eggs, walking goats, veggie growing e.t.c. We will be having shared meals so cooking will be a comunal affair. The children last year had a great time and seemed to benefit from the experience. Those wanting to go should let me know immediately and places will then be confirmed upon payment ( as i have to pay the farm way before we turn up) .Its good value for money and i think there are only a few spaces left .

We also have a trip to Kew gardens in May- Detail are on the notice board. Our Lunch list is also up so please if you feel able to provide a cooked lunch , put your names down. The group pays a 15 pound contribution towards the cost of this.

Next week we have an artist coming in to run a workshop with the children (paper making i think). Lilian will be providing lunch.Mabel has decided to help do some fundraising and so will be painting faces for 20 pence. We will of course have other stuff going on and hopefully AWE bear will be back and maybe Kier to do Storytime ( if not perhaps some one else would like to have a go?)

Its lovely to see so many new parents joining the group, and all of you are welcome to run a workshop, organise trips e.t.c.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy the glorious weather,

xxsaska

What a fabulous end to the term,

Many thanks to Margaux for the amazing lunch of dumplings, dim sum and steamed veggies and rice - the fact it all went so quickly is I think a credit to her amazing cooking skill!!! Thanks as well for the delicious pumpkin muffins which many of the kids had great fun decorating to eat and take home. Thanks to Lilian for all help with making easter baskets and bunny ears, thanks to our bunny ear competition judge -Gill - and Saran for buying the large quantity of chocolate for the wonderful easter egg hunt. Thanks to Alison and others who helped with washing up, Kier for reading one of my favourite books for story time and everyone who makes the group a wonderful place to be on a Tuesday.

Gareth has a great idea of making go-carts with the kids as a project but in order to do this he needs old pram wheels (with axles?) so if you have any large wheels or see any while out and about please please pick them up and bring them to group. I reckon loads of the kids would love to build a go kart and it would be great to see it happen.

Also we have a carpenter at group - who has kindly agreed to build a workbench with a view to the group taking part in some kind of woodwork/carpentry sessions. It all sounds great - an i will update you if we need to find any materials to make this happen.

THERE IS NO GROUP FOR THE NEXT TWO TUESDAYS- AS IT IS EASTER HOLIDAYS

Lilian is arranging to meet at GOSPEL OAK station next Tuesday at 11am to go up to Hampstead Heath to fly kites and partake in egg rolling which sounds fun.

We also have a trip to the ZOO arranged- if you have put your name down for this then you Must produce your EO number before Louise can book the trip.

We are also fundraising for a trip to Paddington farm and have hired a table at a craft fair. We are selling some hand made crafts that both children and adults have made -so if you are willing to donate any hand made crafts to the stall please bring then along to next group. We also need older kids/parents to help run the stall on the day- if you are interested in doing that then please let me know.

The craft fair is on the 25th April 1.30-5.30 at Lighthouse, 14 Allen Rd, Stoke Newington.

The group has recently been inundated with requests for information about home -ed from new families in need of support and advice- it is impossible for me to provide more than a short e-mail in response .I think it may be a good idea if we had a couple of people within the group who are comfortable talking about it all and who are willing for me to give their contact phone number to should families need a little more info than I can give. If you are willing to volunteer then please let me know, thanks.

Hope you all have a great Easter and I look forward to seeing you all on the 21st April (or next Tuesday at the Heath).

xxSaska

After a difficult start the day seemed to go really well. The kids seemed to enjoy making bubbly paint and the camp fire was great, thanks Gareth and co. Many thanks to Lilian for a wonderful veggie chilli and rice and to the many people who helped wash up. Thanks to Gaynor for her amazing input, Fela for sorting out swings etc. and to everyone who bought books in to swap. I hope the kids enjoy reading their new ones. Thanks to Keir for story time- it always sounds fun!

Next week Helen will be providing lunch, Ruby will be bringing in hair crimpers (fabulous) !!!!!!!!!!!! I will endeavour to make smoothies with some of the younger ones, and as ever story time, AWE bear , arts and crafts e.t.c will be available. Feel free to bring in any music you would like to listen to whilst at group. A camp fire would also be great again- with marshmallows? For those of you who forgot to collect or bring in books we will again have a book table out so that you can take books home or bring some in again next week.

We are trying to organise a couple of trips including Kew gardens and the London Zoo so please keep looking at our notice board for more info. We will also be running our annual talent show, so we need to get ideas flowing for that. Also we will introduce the great AWE disco fever for the end of summer- thanks to all who have offered services for this already- It will be amazing!

We still have money off vouchers for most performances at the Hackney Empire- these are always by the notice Board, so feel free to help yourselves to these. We have also started collecting Tesco and Sainsburys School vouchers so that we can get money for sports equipment. Emma is dealing with this so please bring any vouchers into group and give them to her.

Lots of you are asking about our residential to Paddington farm. We have applied for Lottery funding for this and expect to hear from them soon. We can book without funding but it will be a little more expensive (about £30 per person).I will keep you all informed with progress.

On the 17th March we have an illustrator coming to group to run a workshop (cartooning ) with some of the older kids- which sounds great.

Well thats it folks, hope you all have a brilliant week,

(and happy birthday to Lilian for sunday)

xxSaska

Hi all and Happy Valentines,

Well, we got some sunshine - Spring is coming.

Welcome to all the new families to AWE, and thanks for everyone's contribution in keeping it all ticking along, making Valentine's cards, exploring cornflour slime, cooking a warm meal, setting up the swings, lively discussions (in the kitchen - where else!) and clearing up.

If anyone would like to run a workshop/activity, please do - its great when there's new energy and inspiration.

THERE'S NO ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND SESSION NEXT WEEK, FEB 17th. as its the schools half-term, and the playground is open to the public.

We are back on Feb. 24th, so see you all then, when we'll have our Great Debate on T-Rex behavior, T-shirt printing and general fun,

-Saran

Happy New Year to everyone at AWE.

We're back at the Adventure playground on January 13th 2009 and it looks like the new cooker will be there!

It will be our first anniversary of meeting up at the Playground, so if everyone wants to bring a dish we'll have another party.

If anyone has ideas of activities or workshops they want to run in the new year, post them to Saran or Saska and we can build an exciting programme. We've the workshop for the older children at the Grant Museum on January 21st - maybe there could be some follow-on activities from that. Annalise has sent me some good resources for debating themes, if anyone wants to reinvigorate the Great Debate (go on!).

We've a slot on a Training Day at the Adventure Playground on 23rd. January to learn all the aspects of using the space and equipment. This is open to all parents, and would be extremely useful, especially as part of push to get our own keys to the premises.

love, Saran

To everyone coming to Kew Gardens with AWE on Tuesday December 16th.,

Just a reminder that the trip is still on. We are meeting at Victoria Gate at 10.50 to all go in by 11am.

If you are no longer able to come, please could you let me know as early on as possible, so that we won't wait for you. If you are going to be late, text/ring me on 07947 936 581 so I can leave a message at the ticket office to let you through. We need to make the most of daylight hours, so we don't want to have to hang around waiting, thanks.

Anyone coming from Hackney Central, I recommend getting the 9.45 train that gets to Kew Station at 10.33. It'll be a hoot if we travel down together.

Bring your own lunches and also thermos flasks of warm drinks + any treats for sharing, if you like.

See you Tuesday,

Saranxxx