April Fool's Alaska Chat

[roadfamily6now]

What? No one started a new thread for the new month?

Is it the new forum that has chased everyone away? I miss you guys being so chatty.

Does anyone know if the Anchorage assembly finally legalized Back Yard Chickens? I was unable to make it to the meeting on the 29th.  I would attempt to get away with it if my dear nosey neighbor was not head of the Scenic Foothill Community Counsel. Sigh........

[AKSoule]

They did not make any changes. I wasn't able to attend the meeting either but I watched the video online. Hopefully they will address it again soon. Did you know the UAF Outreach and Extension Service is hosting a Urban Farming Class series Fridays starting April 8th, and the class on April 22nd will be on keeping backyard chickens. I would so love for them to be legal.

[RoViMama]

So DD didn't get into any of the charters for K.  We are in O"malley's service area.  Does anyone have children there or know about it?  I just want to have a good time and learn, not just be taught for the test.  Still holding out hope for a call from one of the charters but have to prepare for this.  Also thinking about St. E's b/c I went to a catholic school and had a great time. But it's the cost!

Anything is welcome. 

[boogaloo]

O'Malley is a good school IMO. My biggest problem with neighborhood schools is that most use Everyday Math.  There isn't much "teaching to the test" in K anyway. 

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by RoViMama 

So DD didn't get into any of the charters for K.  We are in O"malley's service area.  Does anyone have children there or know about it?  I just want to have a good time and learn, not just be taught for the test.  Still holding out hope for a call from one of the charters but have to prepare for this.  Also thinking about St. E's b/c I went to a catholic school and had a great time. But it's the cost!

Anything is welcome. 

Unfortunately I know little about the neighborhood school. We were able to get our elementary kids right into Rilke Schule 3 years ago.  However, Rilke is not about having a good time.  We pulled out kids out in Jan. Since then I have heard that have been a lot of changes. Principal is leaving and a few teachers are not going to be coming back next year.     

[roadfamily6now]

the next Alaska Birth Network meeting is in WASILLA!!

I hope to see some of our valley ladies show up.

Our special guest is Dr. Glen Elrod (with back up speaker Stella Lyn in case Dr has a Birth To attend)

April is Cesarean Awareness Month.

Sunday, April 10th,

1:30pm to 3:00pm

Mat-Su Midwifery Building

2650 E. Broadview Ave.

Carpooling from Anchorage is available! I have 4 seats in my van. PM me for more info.

[Rik-E]

What is Rilke ?? It almost reads on the website like a waldorf style, but gives a vibe more like a strict academics pushing place.  My oldest goes to the waldorf charter school out here in tha valley & it is all about making learning fun / interesting / interactive so the kids will love learning.
 

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now 

Unfortunately I know little about the neighborhood school. We were able to get our elementary kids right into Rilke Schule 3 years ago.  However, Rilke is not about having a good time.  We pulled out kids out in Jan. Since then I have heard that have been a lot of changes. Principal is leaving and a few teachers are not going to be coming back next year.     

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by Rik-E 

What is Rilke ?? It almost reads on the website like a waldorf style, but gives a vibe more like a strict academics pushing place.  My oldest goes to the waldorf charter school out here in tha valley & it is all about making learning fun / interesting / interactive so the kids will love learning.
 

Rilke Schule is the German Immersion School, It's not waldorf at all and they label themselves as a ARTS and SCIENCE school but they have art class 1 time every 2 weeks! It's all about the academics.  Gym 3 times a week. :( I'm sorry but after 3 years and doing a ton of volunteer work and helping out fundraising, I'm burnt. They have ruined it for me. My kids are now homeschooled
 

[happyblessedmama]

Well, MDC ate the post I just wrote out but...

I have 3 kids at O'Malley and have found it to be a wonderful school. My kids are in grades K, 2 and 4. They have lots of activities, I've found the children are generally quite respectful, it's a "small community" feeling there. I really like it. My son takes before school violin lessons (private, but offered @ the school) and they have an after-school French program. I really like the teachers we've encountered so far. They have an IGNITE gifted program.

re: Everyday Math - I never have bought into it and to be honest, some of the teachers also do not buy into it but are required by ASD to use it. I just supplement at home. One of our kids' teachers uses the bare minimum Everyday Math stuff and uses traditional curriculum to fill in... which I appreciate like crazy.

If you have any specific questions about O'Malley let me know.

Editing to add: they are having a kindergarten "open house" April 19th...

Edited by happyblessedmama - 4/8/11 at 10:35am

[roadfamily6now]

Originally Posted by roadfamily6now 

the next Alaska Birth Network meeting is in WASILLA!!

I hope to see some of our valley ladies show up.

Our special guest is Dr. Glen Elrod (with back up speaker Stella Lyn in case Dr has a Birth To attend)

April is Cesarean Awareness Month.

Sunday, April 10th,

1:30pm to 3:00pm

Mat-Su Midwifery Building

2650 E. Broadview Ave.

Carpooling from Anchorage is available! I have 4 seats in my van. PM me for more info.

Bumping for Sunday!

[brightonwoman]

meetup next weekend...were there any takers?

[Rik-E]

Saturday?  It is also kids day so huge hoopla downtown at the Deinana Center going on. Museum & zoo are free & will be uber crowded.
 

Originally Posted by brightonwoman 

meetup next weekend...were there any takers?

[brightonwoman]

yeah, this saturday, the 16th. we're going to go to the little natural history museum in mtn view on friday (1ish) so if anyone would like to come there it would be fun to meet/see others. But then on saturday we don't really have any concrete plans, I was thinking maybe there might be a good place where we could all gather with snacks/playing (a park or playplace of some sort?)

I didn't know about kids days (I looked it up but couldn't find much specific information...just that it's at the Dena'ina Center from 10-4, and it says there are partner locations?) I would love more info about that if anybody has some. I'll be juggling my kids myself (DH will be at the teachers job fair) so I'm not sure if I want to take on big crowds...but my youngest two have never been to a zoo, so maybe that would be worth it.

Originally Posted by Rik-E 

Saturday?  It is also kids day so huge hoopla downtown at the Deinana Center going on. Museum & zoo are free & will be uber crowded.
 

[liza-s]

Originally Posted by brightonwoman 

meetup next weekend...were there any takers?

I wish we could, but we are going to the Glenn Hwy for the Hawkwatch (Mile 119 Glenn Hwy - Saturday and Sunday. Anchorage Audubon sponsors Sat, Mat-Su Birders on Sunday and there will be a BBQ and potluck Sunday too. A bunch of crazy birders starring at the sky waiting for hawks, falcons and eagles to fly overhead. Its a major fly-way).

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by RoViMama 

So DD didn't get into any of the charters for K.  We are in O"malley's service area.  Does anyone have children there or know about it?  I just want to have a good time and learn, not just be taught for the test.  Still holding out hope for a call from one of the charters but have to prepare for this.  Also thinking about St. E's b/c I went to a catholic school and had a great time. But it's the cost!

Anything is welcome. 

Did you try any of the immersion programs? Some are not charters, exactly. We love the rigor. And our school is NOT full. close, but not yet
 

[Pinoikoi]

Anyway, sorry I have been staying away.. the new setup of mothering scared me away for a while, and just when I was starting to get comfortable navigating it, we were in a bad car wreck. I have missed work and all the kiddos were in the car too, so I am juggling appts for everyone. It is a nightmare. Thankfully we all survived- bumped, bruised, scraped and sore, but nothing permanent.

[spruce]

We're coming to Anchorage for a martial arts tournament

Edited by spruce - 4/24/11 at 4:35pm

[Rik-E]

WOW.  Very glad everyone is alright! 

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi 

Anyway, sorry I have been staying away.. the new setup of mothering scared me away for a while, and just when I was starting to get comfortable navigating it, we were in a bad car wreck. I have missed work and all the kiddos were in the car too, so I am juggling appts for everyone. It is a nightmare. Thankfully we all survived- bumped, bruised, scraped and sore, but nothing permanent.

[onyxravnos]

so yeah.. late to the game .. only 1/ way through april :lol ;)

hi!

[Pinoikoi]

Anyone bought a new toyota sienna in Alaska? Is there really very little haggling to be had? Seems off somehow.