Homeschool HUB Weekly News--Jan. 23 Homeschool HUB phone: (269)362-0651 email: homeschoolhub@yahoo.com website: www.hshub.orgEditor: Annette Ernsperger The information below is offered to you as a service. Please research and decide for yourself the value to your family. The Homeschool HUB does not endorse any programs or services other than those offered at the Homeschool HUB resource center. Send information to be added to the update no later than the Thursday before the week you want it to appear: homeschoolhub@yahoo.com ON THE CALENDAR:
Jan. 27--Homeschool hangout, Clay Firehouse Youth center, 2-4 pm, free
Jan. 30--Homeschool bowling, 1:00, Strikes and Spares, Mishawaka, $5
HERE'S THE BUZZ: 1) HUB class 2) Homeschool conferences
3) See a play
4) 5 Pines tubing date change
5) Important HUB members meeting
6) 2009 Iowa standardized testing
7) Optimist soccer
8) Comedy show with a heart
9) Art contest
10) Six Flags reading program
11) Music classes
12) MME testing for juniors
13) HSLDA membership discount
14) Ice hockey dates
15) Volunteer opportunity
16) New SMC program
17) Niles library programs
18) Studio Art Center classes And LAST BUT NOT LEAST: classified ads and links of interest at the end of your weekly news! Remember to check on the items in the Total Recall section below. 1) The "How to sell on eBay" seminar provided by the Homeschool HUB with Brad Kerr was well attended and quite informative. Thank you Brad for offering this class! Watch for next month's topic. 2) Mark your calendars and watch for further information regarding the South Bend Regional Home School convention (formerly MCHE Homeschool convention) at Bethel College, March 13 and 14. As in the past, there will be speakers, workshops and vendors. And it's all right here close to home! -ALSO- MIDWEST HOMESCHOOL CONVENTION in CINCINNATI The MidWest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati features a HUGE Homeschool Curriculum Exhibit Hall with nearly 200 exhibitors! Outstanding Homeschool Speakers at this convention include: Susan Wise Bauer, Jim Weiss, Dr. Wanda Phillips, Dr. Mary Hood, Mark Hamby, Dr. Stephen Guffanti, Karen "SPUNKY HOMESCHOOL" Braun, Amanda Bennett, Dr. Jay Wile, Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler, Dr. Christopher Perrin, David Gibbs, Esq., and many more! A WORLDVIEW TEEN-TRACK has also been added for this year's convention, and features John Stonestreet of Summit.org DON'T MISS THIS EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE CONVENTION at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati on April 16-18, 2009. For more information - including Parking and Hotel discounts, please visit CincinnatiHomeschoolConvention.com 3) The Color of Justice is being presented at the Mendel Center Friday, February 13 at 12:30 pm. Seats have already been reserved. If you still want to go, you may contact Deedy at the Mendel Center for tickets: (269)927-1000 A Doll's House is being performed at Bethel College Thursday, February 12 at 9:30 am. Tickets need to be reserved by January 24. Call Diane Day to reserve: 269-445-1900. 4) NOTE: The second tubing date at 5 Pines has been rescheduled for the 20th of February. There may not be another tubing date scheduled for this year, so don't miss it! Call Diane Day to reserve: 269-445-1900. 5) ATTENTION ALL HUB MEMBERS!!! We will be having our first Members Meeting of the new year on February 5th at 7:00 pm at the Niles Police Station in the large conference room. This meeting will be covering important information such as changes to the Bylaws, Membership Dues, Membership perks as well as other information important to you as a member. If you haven't already sent in you membership dues, but would be interested in finding out more, please feel free to attend. Due to the facilities, you may bring your children but you will be required to keep them in the room with us. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact Gail Bliss at 269-683-0439 or 574-340-1025. We look forward to seeing you there! 6) It's time to register for the 2009 Iowa Testing. Registration dates are February 1-20, 2009. This year's testing will be held at the Mishawaka library on April 27/28/29. The cost is $50 per student. We offer testing for grades 4 through 12. For further details and a registration form, please email Christy Hanlon at the7hanlons@juno.com. 7) Registration for Optimist Soccer is due January 31st for students K-8th grades. Forms are available at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA or at www.nilesoptimist.org/osl. On site registration will be held on Saturday, January 31st from 10:00am until 1:00pm or any day before the 31st during normal YMCA hours. If you played soccer in 2008, a form should come to you in the mail. If you have any further questions, please contact the YMCA. 8) The following information is from a press release for a comedy show that we are putting on at The Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend. We are bringing in the very funny Paul Aldrich for a night of fun for the whole family and as a benefit event for Hope Ministries (formerly Hope Rescue Mission). Please help us help those in need by bringing your friends and family. It's fun with a cause! Please purchase tickets in advance at The Morris box office.
South Bend, IN- Comedian Paul Aldrich brings his 100% clean and 100% funny brand of comedy to the Morris Performing Arts Center Friday, January 30 at 7:30 PM for an uproarious night of laughter designed for the whole family and to help those in need in Michiana.
Aldrich, whose comedy style hits the funny bone and the heart has performed the world over, making people laugh and distributing the message of faith. Aldrich will be in South Bend for an evening of comedy, hilarious observations and musical impressions that have been viewed on Showtime, at The Improv and thousands of events throughout the country and the world. The evening, in addition to being filled with laughter, will help Hope Ministries of South Bend support their efforts with a portion of the proceeds going towards the caring of those in need. Tickets are $15, $20 or $25 and are available at The Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office, by calling (574) 235-9190 or online: www.MorrisCenter.org 9) Birds in Art/Art in Birds Challenge--People of all ages are invited to go outside and look for Birds in Art/Art in Birds for a contest sponsored by the Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project focused on birds in neighborhood settings. For the Birds in Art/Art in Birds challenge you can take photos, do some painting, write a story, create a sculpture. What do you see in a bird that is beautiful, stirring, or inspirational? It could be a broken-down nest in winter, a song recording, video of a bird perching on your window, something that makes you stop, look twice, laugh, cry. Prizes include bird sound recordings, books, gift certificates, "green" products, and more. We'll send the first 50 entrants a copy of our "Doves and Pigeons" poster by Julie Zickefoose. Selected images will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds website. How to enter: 1. Email your photo, art, or video entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. Links are acceptable for videos. 2. Write "Art in Birds/Birds in Art contest" in the subject line. 3. Include your name and mailing address 4. Tell us why you submitted your entry to the Art in Birds/Birds in Art contest. Deadline for entries is February 28, 2009 Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds web site for more information.
10) The 6 Flags reading program is for elementary students. Attached is the form you should print out and fill in with the books you read. You need to log 6 hours of reading by February 24th. List the teacher, who will also get a ticket. If you have two children, list mom as teacher for one, and dad as teacher for the other (only one ticket allowed/teacher). Send the form, with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to the HUB address at P.O. Box 286, Niles, MI 49120. We should receive it by March 1st. Please don't forget the SASE -- we need it to send you your 6 Flags tickets when they come. The tickets will be good for use from June 15, 2009 to August 9, 2009.
11) Here is a list of classes being offered this semester at The Music Academies. Monday: children's choir ages 5-8 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
beginning strings class ages 6-10 years old 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
beginning guitar class 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. Thursday: Symphonic Orchestra: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Youth Choir 11:30 - 12:45 a.m.
beginning strings class ages 11- adult 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Friday: Pre-school music 9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Pre-school music 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. Private lessons also available on : piano, violin, cello, voice, recorder, guitar and percussion. Please email Valerie at music_academies@yahoo.com or call 269-362-5780 to receive additional information on fees, materials needed, etc. (please leave a detailed message if you receive the voice mail and your call will be returned as soon as possible) or visit us at 115 North Third Street in Niles, Michigan. 12) Juniors - Sign up now for March testing, it's time to call your local school and tell them you want to take the MME test in March. This is the year (junior) that the scores count for a $4,000 scholarship from the state of Michigan. The schools have to order everything in preparation for the test now. Here is the web site with more info: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-22709_35150---,00.html. 13) A group of at least 10 families will get us each a $20 discount on HSLDA membership, making it only $95 in dues per year. You may contact Diane Day for more information or to sign up: 269-445-1900. 14) Here are the upcoming Homeschool Ice Hockey dates: February 13
February 27
March 13
March 27 These are all Friday mornings, from 10 a.m.- noon at the Ice Box in South Bend. Cost is $5 per session. New players (boys and girls, ages 7-18) are always welcome. Contact Marv Bolt at (574) 234-1584 for more information. 15) Volunteer opportunity:
Children need caring adults in their lives in order to be successful in school, in relationships, and in life. You may already be that adult for a child or be thinking about becoming a mentor in 2009. Events being held as part of National Mentoring Month include the following: Big Brothers/Big Sisters receptions for current mentors and those interested in learning about their program will be held on Tuesday, January 20th from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Big Brothers Big Sisters offices at 205 Broadway in Niles and Wednesday, January 28th from 6 -7:30 at the New Buffalo Community Youth Center at 219 W. Madison. The Southwest Michigan Mentoring Collaborative is sponsoring the following trainings. They are free of charge and participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. RSVPs are requested, but not required. Call 269-983-0912 or 683-5464 to RSVP. Mentoring Today's Youth on Wednesday, January 28, noon – 1:30 p.m. at Michigan Works in Benton Harbor , 499 W. Main Street. This session will explore: communication skills, setting boundaries and cultural sensitivity. Sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan . Taking the Mystery Out of Mentoring on Friday, January 30, noon – 1:30 p.m. at the Superintendent's office conference room at New Buffalo High School , 1112 E. Clay Street . This session will explore: characteristics of a mentor, building a healthy mentoring relationship, as well as realistic and unrealistic expectations. Sponsored by the Collaborative and the Volunteer Center . Trainings are free of charge and participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. RSVPs are requested, but not required. If you would like to receive a free booklet about mentoring programs located in Berrien, Cass and VanBuren counties contact the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan at 683-5464 or 983-0912. You can also visit www.volunteerswmi.org to check out hundreds of volunteer opportunities. 16) The SMC Board of Directors recently approved a new certificate program at Southwestern Michigan College in Construction Technology. This program will be up and running for Fall 2009, with a strong possibly that some classes will start this Spring. This program is designed for someone interested in getting the skills/training to get a position in the Construction Trades. We anticipate that this program will be very popular with many of the adults who are looking to gain new skills for the workforce. The program will be hosted on our Dowagiac Campus. 17) Niles District Library offerings--620 E. Main Street in Niles It's Getting Sweeter and Sweeter during February in the Children's Department at the Niles District Library *Chess Club meets on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on February 7 and 21. We furnish the Chess boards, pieces and timers. Set aside these times for some stimulating action.
*What's big and red? Clifford the big red dog, of course, and he will be featured at the Thursday evening storytime on February 12 at 6:30 p.m. Come prepared to hear some of your favorite Clifford stories, play a Clifford game and take home Clifford coloring pages.
*In February two large display areas will be devoted to the incredible world of weather. Fact and fiction books, hands-on gadgets and safety tips will help everyone to understand the earth's outdoor conditions.
*Be a Read-A-Saurus. For every book you read from February 1 to February 28, you fill out a raffle ticket to win bags of dinosaur books. We didn't reach our goal of 400 books in November so the challenge is still there: the person who turns in book number four hundred gets to give Ms. Darlene a pie in the face. Ms. Darlene gets to pick out the flavor of pie, however.
*On February 18 the Preschool Storytime will start their "Folktales from Around the World" series. The countries they'll visit through stories and activities are: Mexico, Korea, Australia, Egypt, Nigeria and then back home to Niles on March 25. Storytimes are at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Introduce the young ones to different cultures through this fun program that includes coloring pages and fact sheets.
*During February the Squigglers will talk about a different veggie each week while singing One Potato, Two Potato. They will also play band instruments, learn a letter of the alphabet and lots more. Squigglers meet every Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Phone: 269-683-8545
Contact Persons: Nancy Studebaker or Darlene Jackson 18) It may be cold, icy, and 20 shades of bleak outdoors, but inside Studio Art Classes we've got fruit smoothies in the afternoon, lots of great classes, workshops, seminars, open studio, Saturday Samplers, and exhibits going on that we hope you'll come in and be part of the winter fun! Flexibility * Convenience * Affordability * Quality We like to think our classes are all the above. Classes and workshops are available for all skill levels. A new round of classes begin the weeks of January 26 and February 2. Classes in drawing, painting, colored pencils, calligraphy, portraits, still-life can cure the winter blues. Purchase 8 sessions of the class/workshop of your choice and have the flexibility of attending 8 sessions within a 12-week period of time. For a complete listing of art instruction offerings please visit http://studioartclasses.org/Grid.html Saturday Samplers Short of time? We've got five 'no talent required' projects. Learn how to use a dip pen, make some beautiful decorated papers, learn how to use the Pilot Parallel Pen, and learn some simple greeting card structures during these two-hour sessions on five Saturdays. Please visit http://studioartclasses.org/Seminars.html for details. Best Wishes for a Creative New Year!
Anne Binder, Leslie Straniero, and Adham Halsaver
Studio Art Center
4609 Grape Rd., Mishawaka
574-243-2006 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TOTAL RECALL (These items will run until their pertinent information expires) 1) Here is a chance to go to dress rehearsals for professional plays, operas, dance performances, etc for only $10. All over in Detroit, on Friday afternoons. Alvin Ailey Lecture/Demonstration Fri, Feb 13, 11:00 - Noon
Aladdin Children's Ballet Fri, Feb 27, 10:00 AM
Brundibar Dress Rehearsal Fri, Mar 20, 11:00 AM
The Elixir of Love Dress Rehearsal Fri, March 27, 10:00 AM Tickets are $10 each. Please include an additional $1 PER ORDER (not per
ticket!) to cover the cost of mailing the seating voucher from my house to
yours. Deadline for ordering tickets is 15 days before each performance.
That gives me time to place the order, receive the seating vouchers in the
mail, and then mail them out to each family. Be sure to include your
address with your payment so I can mail your seating voucher to you! I try
to get the vouchers to everyone by the Monday or Tuesday before the
performance. Seating is first-come first-serve. Checks: Kimberly Hooper, 29898 Beacontree, Farmington Hills, MI 48331 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLASSIFIEDS Have something for sale, free or trade? Advertise here! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAST BUT NOT LEAST--LINKS OF INTEREST (links do not imply endorsement): Here's and article of interest from a HUB news reader: The National Center for Education Statistics, which is part of the Department of Education, estimates that homeschooling grew 36% between 2003 and 2007. "Homeschoolers can now be found in all walks of life," said Michael Smith, HSLDA President. The NCES estimates 1.5 million homeschooled children, or 2.9% of the school age population in 2007. This is a significant increase from 1.1 million in 2003, or 2.2% of the school aged population. The NCES survey also considered the reasons parents are turning to homeschooling. Parents continued to cite the negative peer influences of public school, the desire to provide religious or moral instruction as well as concern about the academic quality of public school as their reasons for homeschooling. The greatest change from 2003 was an 11 point increase in the desire to provide religious and moral instruction which went from 72% in 2003 to 83% in 2007. Concerns about the school environment, however, remained the top reason with 88%. "Homeschooling is a mainstream educational alternative. It will continue to flourish as parents and children continue to experience the social and academic benefits of a home based education," said Smith. From the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website. HSLDA is a 25-year-old, 85,000 member non-profit organization and the preeminent national association advocating the legal right of parents to homeschool their children. Do you have any favorite websites? Send them to us and we'll share them! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMERS:
While the Homeschool HUB believes that these events or opportunities may be of value to home educators, announcements do not constitute an endorsement by the Homeschool HUB, or its Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of individual parents to determine the appropriateness of any event or opportunity for their children.
Participation in any event is voluntary and the participant assumes complete responsibility and liability for themselves, their family, anyone accompanying them, and their personal property.
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