Homeschool HUB Weekly News--Jan. 12 Homeschool HUB phone: 269-240-6094 email: homeschoolhub@yahoo.com website: www.hshub.org Editor: 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 by the Homeschool HUB. 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. 14--Open swimming for homeschoolers at Niles YMCA, 2-4 pm, $2 Jan. 15--Homeschool bowling, Strikes and Spares, 2-4, $5 Jan. 15--Tubing/cross country skiing at 5 Pines, 10:00 a.m., $6 or $9 for both Jan. 16--Chess, Niles library, 9:30 a.m., free Details for the following events are on the calendar at: www.calendar.yahoo.com/homeschoolhub HERE'S THE BUZZ: 1) Homeschool Science Academy 2) Niles library offerings 3) Iowa standardized testing 4) Homeschool Hangout changes 5) Piano lessons 6) Six Flags reading program 7) Author wants material 8) MME testing for Michigan students 9) Spelling bee info 10) Blessings Photography 11) Winter bird survival challenge And LAST BUT NOT LEAST: classified ads and links of interest at the end of your weekly news. See also the Letting it Ride section at the end. 1) Here are some items of interest from the Homeschool Science Academy: *My Utmost for His Highest--If you're between 13 and 18 years old and would like to commit to read along with us for 30 days, I'll send this book (free) to this first 20 people to commit. Details are here: http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/1209.htm *Postcard Addressers Needed--We need ten people willing to address 1,000 postcards for us.. and get paid for it. Details are here: http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/1209.htm *Artist Needed--We need a talented individual to do lots of science sketches (pencil) for us.. and get paid for it. Details are here: http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/1209.htm *Camp Counselors Needed--We need a male and a female to spend a month this coming summer as counselors at our Anatomy and Physiology Camps. Details are here: http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/1209.htm *Some Spring (January) Classes Almost Full -- Young Scientists Anatomy & Physiology (4th-6th grade) 3 spots left in this class -- Pre-Chemistry (6th - 9th grade) 6 spots left in this class -- FULL Pre-Anatomy and Physiology (6th - 9th grade) -- FULL Pre-Biology (6th-9th grade) -- Anatomy and Physiology (9th - 12th grade) 8 spots left in this class -- Forensic Anatomy CSI (8th - 12th grade) 5 spots left in this class -- CLEP/ACT Science Prep (9th - 12th grade) Details are here: http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/OnlineClasses.htm If you have questions, don't hesitate to call or email me: Greg@homeschoolscienceacademy.com or office:828-265-4101, cell: 828-964-1662. Thanks, Greg Landry, M.S. Director, Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab 2) February will be Fantastic in the Children's Department at the Niles District Library. Chess enthusiasts meet on February 6th and 20th at 9:30 a.m. to play their favorite board game. Chess Club is open to people of all ages and expertise. On Saturday, February 13th at 1:00 p.m., the Jr. Garden Club meets to make bird feeders and learn how plants help animals in mid-winter. This hands-on group is educational and fun. What a great way to spend an afternoon! Book Bingo is the theme for February's reading program. A child fills out a raffle ticket for every book read during the month. Two raffle tickets will be awarded for every book that is listed on the Bingo card. The drawing for prizes will be on March 1st. Bingo cards are available at the Children's Service Desk. Mother Goose finishes telling her rhymes at Storytime on February 10th and then the Preschoolers will start to learn their shapes through books and stories on February 17th to March 24th. Storytimes are on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30p.m. No registration is required. During the month of February, the Squiggler group will learn about vegetables, play band instruments, sign the alphabet, sing about clocks and calendars and lots more. Squigglers meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Any Wednesday in February, wear one silly sock or two and prizes will be given to the children who put those silly socks on their feet, head, ears or nose. Anything goes when silly socks are involved. Valentine books will be featured, of course, in February but there will also we displays on Black History, candy, the Presidents, Laura Ingalls Wilder, bulls and toes. While you are browsing the special books, pick up the free coloring pages and crafts. Niles District Library 620 E. Main St., Niles Phone: 269-683-8545 Contact persons: Nancy Studebaker or Darlene Jackson 3) 2010 IOWA/ITBS Standardized Testing/IOWA Test of Basic Skills--Wed, April 19/20/21, 2010 Registration: Send to Christy Hanlon postmarked no later than Feb. 20, 2010 NOTE: If your high school student scores 90% or greater on the composite battery of the IOWA test, he/she qualifies for membership in the National Home School Honor Society. A test score of 90% or greater on the math battery of the IOWA test qualifies them for the National Math Honor Society. Place: Mishawaka-Penn Public Library – Lincolnway East - downtown, Mishawaka, IN Dates: 4th-8th grades – Three Mornings (Spencer Gallery downstairs) April 19th, 2010 9:00am-12:15pm (Monday) April 20th, 2010 9:00am-11:30 am (Tuesday) April 21st, 2010 9:00am-10:45am (Wednesday) 9th-12th grades – Two Mornings (Lions Room downstairs) April 19th, 2010 9:00am-12:15pm (Monday) April 20th, 2010 9:00am-11:30am (Tuesday) Cost: $50 (including 7% IN sales tax) per child. Full payment required with registration. Ages: Testing offered for any homeschooled child 4th through 12th grades. Results: Computer-scored results will be mailed to Christy Hanlon and she will immediately send them to the parents at the address provided on your registration form. Results are usually received by the end of June, but the timing is dependent on how busy the scoring agency is. Registration: February 1-20, 2010 INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete the form in this newsletter and send it along with a check/money order (payable to Christy Hanlon) @ $50.00 per child to: Christy Hanlon, 420 N. Beech Road, Osceola, IN 46561. Please Note: you will be expected to cover all fees/costs if your check bounces! Please mail your paperwork by Feb. 20th so I will receive it no later than Feb. 23rd. I will send a confirmation email to let you know that I have received your registration. If you do not receive a confirmation email from me by Feb. 23rd, please contact me immediately. I will be unable to make any changes/additions after Feb. 25th. Please email Christy at the7hanlons@juno.com or call 574-674-9552 with any questions. IOWA/ITBS TEST of BASIC SKILLS Registration Form (Postmark no later than February 20, 2010) Parents: _______________________________________________________________ Street Address: _______________________________________________________ City/State/Zip Code: _________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________ Email address: ______________________________________________ (For testing correspondence only -- Christy will not give your email address to anyone) First Name Last Name Birth date Boy/Girl Grade Level ______________ __________________ _____________ ________ ___________ ______________ __________________ _____________ ________ ___________ ______________ __________________ _____________ ________ ___________ ______________ __________________ _____________ ________ ___________ ______________ __________________ _____________ ________ ___________ ______________ __________________ _____________ ________ ___________ Instructions: Complete this form (be sure to sign the Parent Signature area) and send it along with a check/money order (payable to Christy Hanlon) @ $50.00 per child to: Christy Hanlon 420 N. Beech Road Osceola, IN 46561 NOTE: You will be expected to cover all fees/costs if your check bounces! 4) Hi fellow homeschoolers, I know many of you have enjoyed the weekly hangout time, but for now, I will need to move it to the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. My boys have added more out of the house activities that take us out of the house more often, so a regular, but non-weekly Hangout schedule allows us to have some full days at home. I thought the first and third would be easiest to remember. It is very fun getting together each week, but I hope you will use this time to get together at other venues. Invite someone over this week! I need to work in other varied social activities as well. I also notice that not many of you make it every week, so I'm hoping you can empathize with my line of reasoning. If you would like to get together with others who come, or communicate and find their info., please feel free to post a message to the Google group asking them to email you. You can also add your name next to your email address in the Google group so we know who belongs to each email. Blessings to you all! Anne Huffman www.homeschoolhangout.blogspot.com 5) Experienced piano teacher with daytime openings for homeschooled students. I teach on a grand piano and hold weekly private lessons with a monthly group theory class. I teach all ages and levels; from beginners to adults. I am an active member of National Guild of Piano Teachers which affords my students the opportunity to prepare a yearly Guild program and be adjudicated in the spring at Lake Michigan College. My studio holds two recitals each academic year. Julia Oberheu 429.429.6388 Juliaon88@gmail.com 6) The Six Flags reading program is for elementary students (gades K-6). 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 and submit 2 separate forms (only one ticket allowed per teacher). Send the form, with a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to the Homeschool HUB: P.O. Box 286, Niles, MI 49120 attn: Peggy Schindler. We should receive it no later than March 1st. Please don't forget the SASE -- we need it to send you your 6 Flags tickets when they come. Admission tickets will be valid at participating Six Flags theme parks from June 14 to August 8, 2010. For more info, contact: Peggy Schindler at 269-695-2686. Go Online for FREE Lesson Materials--Visit the Wild About Reading section of weeklyreader.com/sixflags to download teacher's guides, student activities, suggested reading lists, and extension lesson ideas to supplement your language arts curriculum. 7) Psychology today wants your self-directed learning anecdotes: 8) Time to sign up 11th graders for MME test If you have an 11th grade student, or if you don't use grade levels, a student who was 17 by Dec 1st, it's time to call your local high school and register them to take the MME test at the school on March 9, 10, and 11. There are two benefits to having your student take this test: **One benefit is not a certain thing, because the $4,000 scholarship attached to it has not been funded again yet, but if they do come through with the funding, any student who completes the test would receive the money to attend a Michigan college. Here is info from a couple different spots on the State of Michigan web site: At this time, Michigan Promise funds are not available; however students should be advised to take the complete MME to ensure their eligibility status should funds become available. Pursuant to PA 132 of 2009, funding was not provided for the Michigan Promise Scholarship for the current Fiscal Year 2009-10. Therefore, all Promise payments, for all class years beginning with the Class of 2007, will be suspended. This suspension will apply to both installment and final payments. No new rosters/lists of eligible students will be forwarded to colleges and students will no longer be able to certify their awards. You may continue to check the Paying for College web site for updated information concerning any change in the funding status of the Promise program. **The student will be taking the ACT test the first day and will get ACT scores that can be used for college applications. It's a good idea to have your student look at an ACT study guide during the next two months. They are sold at Borders and Barnes & Nobles, and put out by companies like Princeton Review, Kaplan's, etc. When you call the local school to sign up, if they are unfamiliar with the state's rules, here is the pertinent section regarding homeschooled students: Michigan law (Public Act 521 of 2002) requires the public school district in which you reside to offer you the MME. You are not permitted to test anywhere else. It is YOUR responsibility to contact your local public school district in a timely manner, so do not delay. The district is not required to make special arrangements just to fit your schedule. You will test as if you were one of their students, but your scores will not be mixed with their students' scores. If they ask you to contact them later when details about testing dates and times have been finalized, be sure to follow-up. 9) Spelling Bee The date has been moved up one week to Friday, January 22nd, due to national deadline rules. The bee will be at Lake Michigan College's Bertrand Crossing campus at 9:30am. The cost is $12/student. The top three spellers will advance to the regional bee at the Mendel Center at LMC's main campus in Benton Harbor on February 9th. If you want your student to participate, please email Kathy Joyce at kathyjoyce@yahoo.com or call at 269-695-1654. 10) Hello to my fellow homeschoolers! My name is Elizabeth Babler, and I want to tell you about the new photography business that our homeschool family of 9 has started. Many of us have felt the same frustration of taking our children to a studio to get their pictures taken. By the time we leave the studio, we are feeling frustrated, more than one of our children are likely crying, and we've paid money for one or two pictures that are average at best! This is the struggle that I have had as a mother, and I know many of you have as well. So, I am using my talent for photography to bless others with on location, fun photoshoots for families, children..including school year pictures, seniors, couples, and any other events that are special to you that you would like captured! If you want to experience a much more relaxed and fun photoshoot at outdoor locations of your choosing, contact us at Blessings Photography. We exist to serve your photography needs! We have affordable packages to serve you, which also includes discounts for homeschool, military, pastor, and missionary families. You can view our portfolio by going to www.blessingsphotography.smugmug.com. You can also contact me at rebabler@comcast.net to find out all the information you need, and ask any questions you may have about our services. I can also be reached at 269-684-8534. Don't worry about how big a family you have....I do not charge extra for extra people! We are scheduling now for March-October of 2010. 11) Take Our Winter Bird Survival Challenge Dear Friend, How do birds withstand wicked winter weather and other daily threats to survival, even in warmer climates? We have a new environmental challenge for you from the Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We invite you to show us how birds are surviving in your neighborhood this winter. It can be a photo, artwork, video, even a story or a poem describing how birds are finding the food, water, and shelter they need. You can take part no matter what your age or skill level. Groups such as schools, libraries, clubs, and businesses are also more than welcome. As you may know, Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project focused on birds in neighborhood settings. I find it unbelievable how even tiny birds can survive being outdoors 24/7 in places where winter is cold and snowy! Your entry for this challenge could show a crow huddling near a chimney to get warm, birds visiting feeders or raiding a berry bush for food, birds dabbling in a fountain for water, or maybe even one of the lucky birds soaking up the sun in a warm, southern state. We have more great prizes including a pair of Eagle Optics binoculars, bird feeders, a birdsong calendar, books, posters, cards and more. The first 50 people who enter will receive a copy of the "Little Green Places" poster and selected images and videos will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds website. Here's how to enter: 1. Email entries to urbanbirds@cornell.edu. If you submit a video, post it on YouTube and send us the link. 2. Write "Survival_yourfirstname yourlastname yourstate" in the subject line. 3. Include your mailing address in your email 4. Explain why you submitted your entry—describe your winter conditions and what you observe the birds doing during winter. 5. One entry per person, please. Deadline for entries is February 15, 2010 Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds website for more information, to see entries for past challenges, and to read the terms of agreement for all entries. Then take the challenge--I look forward to seeing what you come up with! Sincerely, Karen Purcell, Project Leader ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLASSIFIEDS We no longer have room for our National Geographic magazines. They are in excellent condition, and range wildly in age. They are free to a good home, taken together. Please email slhollister@gmail.com if interested. Have something for sale, free or trade? Advertise here! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LAST BUT NOT LEAST--LINKS OF INTEREST (links do not imply endorsement): Literature study guides: http://www.homefires.com/click?literature Science and technology of WWII: http://www.ww2sci-tech.org/ Make your own science toys: http://www.sciencetoymaker.org/ Do you have any favorite websites? Send them to us and we'll share them! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LETTING IT RIDE: The Homeschool HUB is continuing to collect Campbell Soup labels, Campbell's Chunky Soup labels, Campbell's Healthy Request labels, Campbell's Select harvest, Franco-American, Pepperidge Farm, Spaghettios, Swanson, V-8 Beverages, V-8 Fusion, Prego Italian Sauces and Campbell's Food Service. Give your labels to any board member or bring them to our homeschool functions. --AND-- We are still accepting Boxtops for education labels. You can find these on: Betty Crocker goods Gold Medal Flour Nestle products Cherrios Cascadian Farm products Chex Cocoa Puffs Cookie Crisp Country Cornflakes Fiber One products Golden Grahams Honey Nut Clusters Lucky Charms Oatmeal Crisps TotalTrix Wheaties Green Giant vegetables Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Totino Pizza olls Hamburger Helper meals Old El Paso Suddenly Salad Yoplait Fruit Flavored shapes Ziploc Kleenex Scott Kotex Poise Depend Hefty Nature Valley Cottonelle Huggies Goodnites Pull Ups Avery School supplies Go to Boxtops for Education.org for more info, and then SAVE SAVE SAVE those labels. Each one nets 10 cents and every 10 cents adds up. You can give them to any HUB board director or bring them to any of our functions that we will be having. Thank-you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. |
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
HUB news update-Jan. 12
