We are Open!
Most days when other schools are closed, we are playing and learning together. Come join us! Just give a call first to make sure we haven’t gone sledding or are on an adventure in Staunton.  You’re welcome to come meet up where ever we are.

Field Trip- **Date To be Determined– Route 11 Potato Chips: Mount Jackson AND Duck Pin Bowling: Mount Jackson
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
**Route 11 Potato Chips was contacted in November and December. Gleamer was told to call back the week before we planned on coming. Gleamer called on Wednesday (2/3) and was told to call back on Thursday (2/4). On Thursday she was told that they still didn’t know when they would be cooking and to call back on Monday (2/8). Gleamer will call them tomorrow and will send out an email on Monday evening with further information and specifics.

Trimester of Art
Finish up your Valentines with Jennifer from 10-11 on February 10th. 

Happy Valentine’s Day Party
Friday, February 12th from 11-3 come to Raw Learning as a family for FREE!  Bring a “mail box” and some Valentine’s to exchange. We’ll have pot luck lunch. Napkin’s, plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery will be provided.

Expanded--Fun and Games
In addition to the Fun and Games: Focus on Strategy Group; we will also be hosting Simply Fun and Games. This group is for young people who just want to play games…with or without strategy, rules or focus! Simply Fun and Games will meet in the Art Room at the same time as the Focus on Strategy Group (Friday from 6:30-8:30). Pricing is also $5/person/week and sign up is also weekly. A volunteer will be needed to stay in the Art Room to answer questions and help put games away. 

Last chance-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.

Raw Learning Open House
Monday, February 15th from 8:30-3:30. Do you know someone who is questioning their child's current education path in a traditional public or private school? Invite them to come and experience an alternative.
 

Field Trip-Tuesday, February 2nd – Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: Verona AND Eli’s Fun Center: Verona
 
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:45-Leave Raw Learning (Please call (540.292.3002) or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.)
10:00 AM- Arrive Food Bank, donate items, and begin group tour.  
About 10:45 AM – Leave the Food Bank for Eli’s Fun Center.
11:00 AM- Enter Eli’s Fun Center. Be sure to bring socks and the Waiver.
12:00 PM-Eat packed lunch.
1:00 PM- Leave for Raw Learning.
 
Donate Food Monday and Tuesday
We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.
We have received 5 items and are looking to donate 20!
 
Trimester of Art
Come make Valentines with Jennifer from 10-11 on February 3rd. 
 
Happy Valentine’s Day Party
Friday, February 12th from 11-3 come to Raw Learning as a family for FREE!  Bring a “mail box” and some Valentine’s to exchange. We’ll have pot luck lunch. Napkin’s, plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery will be provided. I heard that Strawberry Cake is on its way!
 
Expanded--Fun and Games
In addition to the Fun and Games: Focus on Strategy Group; we will also be hosting Simply Fun and Games. This group is for young people who just want to play games…with or without strategy, rules or focus! Simply Fun and Games will meet in the Art Room at the same time as the Focus on Strategy Group. Pricing is also $5/person/week and sign up is also weekly. A volunteer will be needed to stay in the Art Room to answer questions and help put games away. 
 
Sign up this week-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.
 
Raw Learning Open House
Monday, February 15th from 8:30-3:30. Do you know someone who is questioning their child's current education path in a traditional public or private school? Invite them to come and experience an alternative.

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 26th –Blackfriars Playhouse: Staunton
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
8:30 AM-Leave Raw Learning (Please call 540.292.3002 or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to the Blackfriars Playhouse.)
8:45 AM- Arrive Blackfriars Playhouse and begin interactive group tour.
About 10:00 AM – Watch rehearsal of The Alchemist (funny and family friendly) for as long as desired.
No later than Noon - Leave Blackfriar’s Playhouse.
12:15 PM-Arrive Raw Learning.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.
We have received 5 items and are looking to donate 20!

Trimester of Art
Patty DePoy will be sharing her cross stitching talent and supplies on Wednesday, February 24th and Wednesday, March 3rd.
Jennifer Collins will be at Raw Learning every Wednesday at 10:00 (except for 2/24 and 3/3) to do scrap booking and to make cards for special occasions.  If you plan to attend the class, email her your pictures and she’ll print them out for you. She has plans to make Valentine’s on February 3rd and there is a party in the works for the following week.

Fun and Games: Focus on Strategy
Joe will be hosting this group weekly from 6:30-8:30.
Special pricing is a flat rate of $5/student.  Sign up is per meeting, not for the entire trimester. Parents can stay or drop off (with basic emergency information provided).  In addition to Joe, another parent volunteer will need to stay each week. Meetings will be weekly unless there is lack of interest, dangerous weather or no volunteer available.  Notification in case of cancellation will be provided before 4:30 on Friday afternoon.
**This class is taught on the level of a more advanced child or teen. A mature, focused and positive attitude is expected. The enrollee is also expected to have some basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.

Did you know that Raw Learning has a class only sign up option?
We do now! For $75 your young family member (ages 5 – 17) can attend a full trimester of any of the daytime classes available at Raw Learning. We offer 11 weeks of Science & Math, Cooking, Poetry & Prose, and Makers. Please see the Classes tab for more information.  Late sign ups are prorated.

DATE-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 19th –Funky’s Skate Center: Harrisonburg
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:30AM-Leave Raw Learning (Please call or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to Funky’s Skate Center.) The address is 100 Miller Circle, Harrisonburg, VA 22801.
10:00 AM-Arrive Funky’s Skate Center. We have the place to ourselves. You can even request “a song and a shout out” online to be played on Tuesday when we are there!
About 12:00 PM - You are welcome to join us for a picnic lunch at the Kid’s Castle at Purcell Park.  Just pull behind Funky’s and park in the far right hand corner of the parking lot. Walk across the bridge and the playground is on the left.
1:00 PM-Leave Purcell Park.
1:30 PM-Arrive Raw Learning.

Did you know that Raw Learning has a class only sign up option?
We do now! For $75 your young family member (ages 5 – 17) can attend a full trimester of any of the daytime classes available at Raw Learning. We offer 11 weeks of Science & Math, Cooking, Poetry & Prose, and Makers. Please see the Classes tab for more information.  Late sign ups are prorated.

DATE-Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The date for CPR class is February 13th, 2010 from 9-12. Please let Gleamer know that you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers will benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost will be $10 for the training.

Trimester of Art
Jennifer Collins will have another scrapbooking class on Wednesday, January 20th at 10AM. She is excited to share Valentine’s stencils, stickers and pages.
Patty DePoy will be sharing her cross stitching talent and supplies on Wednesday, February 24th and Wednesday, March 3rd.
We still have spots to fill on Wednesday mornings, beginning January 27th and ending March 17th. 
Please let Gleamer know of volunteer interest.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.

Property to Rent or Purchase
We are still looking for something on the North side of Staunton.  All leads welcome!
 

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 12th –Rightmire Children’s Museum Daytrip: Lynchburg
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
8:30-Leave Raw Learning (Please call (540.292.3002) or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to the Rightmire Children’s Museum.) The address is 27 Ninth Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504. Here is a Mapquest Map to The Museum from Raw Learning.
10:00 AM-Arrive Rightmire Children’s Museum.  There is ample parking in the immediate surrounding area.
About 12:00 PM - Lunch. To eat lunch at the museum we will need to pay $25 to use their room. Attendees, please let me know if you would all agree to split this up with Gleamer.  If not, we can each eat at the restaurant of our choice. There are many within walking distance of The Museum. If the restaurant option is chosen, Gleamer would like to walk to Lynchburg Community Market. It is located at 1219 Main Street, 5 ½ blocks from The Museum.
3:00 PM-Leave the Rightmire Children’s Museum.
4:30 PM-Arrive Raw Learning.

Dates for Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
The dates to choose for CPR classes are January 30th or February 13th. Please let Gleamer know which you would be able to attend.  Raw Learning volunteers would benefit greatly by having the ability to provide help in an emergency situation. The cost would be $10 for the training.

Sign up for Fun and Games – Focus on Strategy (taught by Joe)
Fridays 6:30-8:30
Since the class was such a hit last week, we’ll be hosting it again this week. Special pricing is a flat rate of $5/student.  Sign up is per class, not for the entire trimester. Parents can stay or drop off (with basic emergency information provided).  In addition to Joe, another parent volunteer will need to stay each week. The frequency of this class will be dependent on interest and volunteer availability.
**This class is intended for the more advanced child or teen. The enrollee is expected to have some basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.

Trimester of Art
Jennifer Collins taught a fun scrapbooking class with tons of stencils and supplies provided. All kinds of memories were shared as the students put together their pages. Jennifer will have another scrapbooking class on Wednesday, January 20th at 10AM.
We still have spots to fill on Wednesday mornings, beginning January 13th and ending March 17th. 
Please let Gleamer know of volunteer interest.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.

Property to Rent or Purchase
We are still looking for something on the North side of Staunton.  All leads welcome!

An email will be sent to all volunteers, parents and field trip attendees by 6AM letting them know if Raw Learning will NOT be having regular activities, including field trips and classes.  The post here will reflect if we will NOT be having regular activities, including field trips and classes.

If there is NO email or post, we will be carrying on with our activities for the day! 

I understand that we come from all sorts of places in the Valley, from Luray to Afton.  If your family can’t make it because your area is not safe to travel in, please email or call to let me know. 

If you are volunteering and will be unable to come, please contact me as soon as you know that you will not be coming, preferable the night before.
 

Field Trip-Tuesday, January 5th --Bowling at Staunton Lanes
*Only families preregistered may attend with Raw Learning.  Spring Trimester field trips will be available to register for in March.
9:45-Leave Raw Learning (Please call (540.292.3002 or email and let Gleamer know if you would like to meet her there and follow her to Staunton Lanes.)
10:00 AM-Arrive Staunton Lanes.  The address is 831 Greenville Avenue in Staunton. Let them know that you are with Raw Learning.
12:00 PM-Finish bowling.

Sign up for Fun and Games – Focus on Strategy (taught by Joe)
Fridays 6:30-8:30
Do you enjoy playing games?
Do you want to take your abilities to a new level?
If so, you must join us for this unique opportunity to match wits with your fellow opponents.  In this class you will learn the necessary mix of **analysis and psychology to develop winning strategies at almost any game.
First, we will analyze a simple game as a group.  Then we will hold competitions, and share our most effective strategies, so as to build our knowledge base collectively. Most of all we will have fun!
Special pricing for this class is a flat rate of $5/student.  Sign up is per class, not for the entire trimester. Parents can stay or drop off (with basic emergency information provided).  In addition to Joe, another parent volunteer will need to stay each week. The frequency of this class will be dependent on interest and volunteer availability.
**This class is intended for the more advanced child or teen. The enrollee is expected to have some basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and fractions.

Trimester of Art
Spots to fill on Wednesday mornings, beginning January 6th and ending March 17th. 
Are you or do you know an artist willing to share and teach their talents?  Examples might include knitting, crocheting, cake decorating, flower arranging, painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. We invite volunteers to come and create at Raw Learning during one or more mornings. Please let Gleamer know of volunteer interest.

January Food Drive
Raw Learning is having a non-perishable food drive for the month of January. We will donate the items that are brought to Raw Learning to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank on February 2nd.

Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
Please let Gleamer know if you would be interested in taking a CPR and choking procedures class.  Saturday morning seems to be the best fit for the most participants.  Gleamer will post a couple different days as options in the January 11-17 Weekly Newsletter. The cost would be $10 for the training.

Property to Rent or Purchase
We are still looking for something on the North side of Staunton.  All leads welcome!
 

Winter Trimester Classes  Offered January 4th-March 19th

Mondays 8:30-10:00 Science & Math (Joe)
Mondays 1:30-3:00 Fun with Food (Gleamer)

Tuesdays 9:00-1:30 Field Trips (Gleamer)
Tuesdays 1:30-3:00 Fun with Food (Gleamer)

Wednesdays 1:30-3:00 Fun with Food (Gleamer)

Thursdays 1:30-3:00 Fun with Food (Gleamer)

Fridays 8:30-9:30 Poetry and Prose Discussion Group (Lynda)
Fridays 10:00-11:00 A.J.’s Activity Club (A.J. or Janell)
Fridays 1:30-3:00 Fun with Food (Gleamer)
Fridays 3:30-4:30 Makers (Joe)
Fridays 6:30-8:30 Fun and Games – Focus on Strategy (Joe)

Trimester of Art
Spots to fill on Wednesday mornings, beginning January 6th and ending March 17th. 
Are you or do you know an artist willing to share and teach their talents?  Examples might include knitting, crocheting, cake decorating, flower arranging, painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. We invite volunteers to come and create at Raw Learning during one or more mornings. Please let Gleamer know of volunteer interest.

Friends and Family CPR Classes at Augusta Medical Center
Please let Gleamer know if you would be interested in taking a CPR and choking procedures class.  Saturday morning seems to be the best fit for the most participants.  Gleamer will post a couple different days as options after January 1st. The cost would be $10 for the training.

Field Trips for Winter Trimester – Last Chance to Sign Up
Please let us know which field trips you and your family will be going on by emailing Gleamer or calling 540 292 3002 immediately.  The cost of each field trip day (even if there are multiple field trips on one day) is $5/family PLUS the fees charged by the place(s) where we’re going.  Additional information will be emailed out before each field trip.

Tuesday, January 5th --Bowling at Staunton Lanes
o    10:00-12:00
o    No outside food or drink
o    Cost: $2/game, $2 for shoes

Tuesday, January 12th--Rightmire Children’s Museum Daytrip: Lynchburg
o    10:00-3:00
o    Imagination Studio & Tallest indoor climbing structure in the nation
o    Featuring Onstage: The Rockstar Experience
o    Cost: Free for ages 0-1 and all ACM members, $4.50 for ages 2-adult.  $25 lunch room fee would be divided among participants attending.

Tuesday, January 19th —Roller Skating at Funky’s: Harrisonburg 
o    10:00-12:00
o    Bring your own lunch available (Please indicate if you would like to purchase from the snack bar instead when reserving this field trip.)
o    Cost: $3 per person who is skating, includes skate rental

Tuesday, January 26th --Blackfriar’s Playhouse: Staunton
o    8:45-10:00 Interactive tour
o    10:00 on --Watch The Alchemist (funny and family friendly) rehearsal for as long as desired
o    Cost: Free for ages 0-4, $7 for ages 5 and up, including adults

Tuesday, February 2nd --Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: Verona
o    10:00-10:40
o    Find out how food is collected, stored and distributed to local hungry people
o    Tour the facility
o    Cost: Free
AND
Eli’s Fun Center: Verona
o    11AM-1PM
o    Play on the inflatables for an hour
o    Play in the game room for an hour
o    Bring your own lunch available
o    Cost: Free for ages 0-1, $5 for ages 2-18, Free for adults

**This Trip Subject to Change** Tuesday, February 9th --Route 11 Potato Chip Factory: Mount Jackson (The field trip will be the week of February 8th.)
o    10:00-10:30
o    Tour the factory and learn about making potato chips on a large scale.
o    Samples will be available.
o    Cost: Free
AND
    Deauville Fallow Deer Farm: Bayse OR  Shenandoah Bowling Lanes: Mount Jackson –Weather Dependent
o    Around 10:45-12:30
o    At the Deer Farm you can feed the deer and chickens.
o    At the Bowling Lanes you can play Duck Pin Bowling. It’s like regular bowling only with mini-pins and balls!
o    Cost: Free for the Deer Farm OR  $2.50/ bowling game and $1.50 for show rental (Pay nothing now)

Wednesday, February 17th--WHSV TV 3: Harrisonburg
o    9:45-10:15
o    Tour the station and experience the green screen
o    Cost: Free
AND
WVPT PBS: Harrisonburg
o    11:00-12:15
o    Watch a few minutes of the taping of Virginia Farming
o    Split group into older and younger
o    Tour the station and find out how PBS shows get to your television
o    Cost: Free

Tuesday, February 23rd --Fire Station and Fire Museum: Staunton
o    9:30-10:30
o    Tour with demonstrations and video
o    Cost: Free
AND
Police Department: Staunton
o    11:00-12:00
o    Tour of facilities including patrol cars and 911 call center
o    Possible gentle K-9 demonstration
o    Cost Free

**This Trip Subject to Change**Thursday, March 4th OR Friday, March 5th--The Paramount Theater STREB-RAW: Charlottesville
o    10:30-11:30 OR 12:30-1:30
o    We are on the waiting list to see the performance
o    Cost: Free for ages 0-1, $5 ages 2-18, $7 for adults (Refund available upon date and time determination)
AND/OR
**This Trip Subject to Change**Charlottesville Ice Park: Charlottesville  (We will be going on this field trip on either March 4th or 5th)
o    12:30-2:30 OR 1:45-3:00
o    Ice skating
o    Cost:  $4 for skaters ages 0-5, $7.50 for skaters ages 6 and up (includes skate rental) (Refund available upon date and time determination)

Tuesday, March 9th--Persimmon Dairy: Harrisonburg
o    9:00-9:30
o    Watch cows being milked
o    Learn about the bottling process and buying directly from the farmer
o    Interact with animals
o    Cost: Free
AND
Whitewave Beverages Manufacturing: Mt. Crawford
o    10:00-11:30
o    Tour the plant
o    Find out how different drinks (Horizon Organic Milk, milk, soy milk, coffee creamer, Fruit Today Juice) are mass processed
o    Free samples
o    Cost: Free

Tuesday, March 16th --Frontier Culture Museum:  Staunton
o    1st program 9:15-11:15, Lunch 11:15-12, 2nd program or self-guided tour 12-2
o    Choose from 1 program and a self-guided tour or 2 programs from the list on the website.  Please indicate program name(s) when reserving this field trip.
o    Hands on activities.
o    Picnic on site
o    Cost: Free for ages 0-5, $5 for ages 6-18, $7 for adults