Homeschool HUB News Update--October 22

Homeschool HUB News Update--October 22 Homeschool HUB phone: 269-240-6094 email: homeschoolhub@yahoo.com   website: www.hshub.org Editor: Andrea Bikfalvy   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: Details for the following events are on the calendar at: www.calendar.yahoo.com/homeschoolhub Oct. 29--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp HERE'S THE BUZZ: 1) Corn Maze and Bonfire Homeschool Get-together 2) Blaise Pascal High School Math Competition 3) Volunteer Opportunity - goodies for the troops 4) Bethel College Chamber Orchestra Presents Free Concert 5) The Museum at SMC's Fall Homeschool Day 6) SMC Museum Fall Homeschool Day 7) SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE 8) Upcoming Plays 9) More Volunteer Opportunities 1) Corn Maze and Bonfire Homeschool Get-together The HUB is hosting a fun romp through a corn maze with a bonfire following. WHEN: Thursday October 28, 2010 6 pm WHERE:  Amazing Acres on US-12 E in Edwardsburg COST: $6.00 per person 10 years and up, $4.00 per person age 2-9, under 2 is free Bring whatever food your family would like to eat and drink.  The bonfire will be available for roasting hotdogs and marshmallows, etc. Pumpkins will be available for purchase.  Wear warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes.  This is a fun outing many have enjoyed in the past. If you plan to go, please contact Donelda at lohrgalore@juno.com by Tuesday, October 26th.  She can also answer questions. 2) Bethel to Host Blaise Pascal High School Math Competition   High school math groups can now sign up for the annual Blaise Pascal High School Math Competition to take place at Bethel College on Saturday, Nov. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is free for those who sign up by Saturday, Nov. 6. Those who register after that date will have to pay a fee of $2 per student. Each school may bring up to 20 students to the competition. Home school students and students who attend schools that are not participating are encouraged to register individually or as a group. Individual and team awards will be given, some of which include substantial scholarship money. In addition, Bethel will conduct several random drawings among registered students for prizes, including iTunes gift cards. The schedule of the day includes opening remarks from Dean of the Division of Sciences Robert Myers, Ph.D., a talk from Chair of Mathematical Sciences Department Adam Hammett, Ph.D. the competition, various department displays and demonstrations and a Bethel College informational booth. The competition itself will consist of taking a 45-question test and students will be given 90 minutes to take the test. Lunch will not be provided by the school, but there are many options for dining in the area and also among Bethel's dining establishments. For more information contact Robert Myers at 574.257.3524 or by e-mail at robert.myers@BethelCollege.edu. 3) A volunteer opportunity to consider: Blue Star Mothers Of America pack boxes for the troops.  Donate Items and/or help pack them up. For more information on where you can drop off your donations please call Tammy Sebasty at 269-695-7977.    Idea: start a donation box where you work. All items donated will be packed and sent to the troops overseas.  You can volunteer at the packing event: Saturday, Nov. 6 from 1 to 4 pm, at Michigan   Lutheran High School located at 615 Marquette Woods Rd. in St. Joseph .  You can donate: Edibles:individual snacks, candy(no choc), beef jerky, slim jims, small cans of fruit in pop top cans, pop tarts, drink mixes for bottled water, tuna pouches, cereal bars, granola bars, individual size cereal boxes, cheese and cracker snack packs, peanut butter squeeze tubes, nuts of all kinds, sunflower seeds, gum, mints, suckers, pringles, small cans of soup in pop top cans, individual serving size pudding and applesause,dried fruit, microwave popcorn, hot cocoa packets, Hygienic/Personal: band aids, hand lotion, shaving cream(non-aerosol), toothbrushes, toothpaste, chapstick, ladies sanitary liners, tampons, disposible razors, nail clippers, emery boards, non-alcoholic wipes, zip lock bags, small laundry detergent packets, calenders, sunscreen, white cotton socks, tan t-shirts, foot powder, body powder, toilet paper, individual size tissues, combs, sticky fly strips, hand sanitizer Entertainment: batteries, playing cards, Sunday funnies, frisbees, puzzle books, CD's, bubbles, disposable cameras, small hand held games,ink pens, checkers, dominos, x-box games, unsigned greeting cards so the soldiers can send them to loved ones here in the states. Blue Star Mothers And Our Soldiers Thank You For Your Support! For more information or to get connected contact: Debra Panozzo Adult and family volunteer coordinator Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan 269-983-0912 ext 303 St. Joseph 269-683-5464 ext 322 Niles www.volunteerswmi.org 4) Bethel College Chamber Orchestra Presents Free Concert The Bethel College Chamber Orchestra will present a free concert to the community on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center.   Repertoire for this year's program includes J.S. Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, featuring senior Carmen Ritchie as flute soloist, and Franz Joseph Haydn's popular Trumpet Concerto, with junior Joshua Klopfenstein as soloist. Also by Haydn will be a movement of his Symphony No. 101, "The Clock." The orchestra will also perform Edward Elgar's celebrated "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1," as well as Leroy Anderson's delightful miniatures "The Syncopated Clock" and "Plink, Plank, Plunk." A different type of miniature will be a movement from Debussy's Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, played by three members of the orchestra. Senior Caitlin Eicher will take on the role as new concertmaster and the orchestra will be conducted by assistant professor of music, Vicky Warkentien, D.D.M. For more information, contact the music department at 574.807.7575. 6) The Museum at SMC's Fall Homeschool Day December 8, 2010, 1:00pm to 3:00pm "Local Heroes:  The Pulitzer, the Pilot and America's First Spaceman" The Museum at SMC welcomes our homeschool families for an afternoon program focusing on three of Cass County's "Local Heroes": Webb Miller, Pulitzer-prize nominated journalist; Leigh Wade, pilot on the first flight to circumnavigate the globe; and Iven Kincheloe, fighter ace and test pilot.  Curricula covered include reading skills, geography and maps, and the science of flight and is designed primarily for students in grades 3-5.  (Other levels are welcome, but we do not provide alternative activities.  The program is not recommended for preschool and kindergarten students.)  Program starts at 1:00 pm.  Preregistration is required.  For more information or to reserve a spot for your homeschool student, contact the Museum Educator at 269-782-1334 or jquail@swmich.edu 7) SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE Sign up today for the Scripps Spelling Bee. Word lists are available now and there is still plenty of time to study! This is an excellent opportunity for your child to get involved in some healthy educational competition. I expect this local bee to be small around 6-10 spellers. The top 3 spellers will go on to compete in the regional competition. Dates for these events are as follows: Local Bee: January 21, 2011, 1 P.M. At LMC Bertrand Crossing Regional Bee: February 9, 2011 at Mendel Center in Benton Harbor Deadline to sign up for this bee will be December 10, 2010 Please contact Diane Day at 269-445-1900 or 269-370-4589 or you can email at joharding_20@yahoo.com if you are interested in entering your child. Word lists can be emailed so there will be no waiting. 8) Upcoming Plays This weekend Center Stage Theatre in Kalamazoo presents, "Alice In Wonderland" Tickets are $10 for more information go to http://www.cstheatre.com/tickets. Performances are Tonight 7:30, Saturday 7:30, Sunday 2 P.M. Coming up in December Homeschool Performing Arts presents, "Little Women". Tickets are not yet available for this play, but follow the update for more information. 9) More Volunteer Opportunities 1)  Do you love to dress up for Halloween and pass out candy?  Come to the Curious Kids Museum and Curious Kids Discovery Zone in St. Joseph to pass out candy during their trick or treat open house.  Volunteers do need not to be previously enrolled in the volunteer program to participate in this event.  Please show up at either museum site at 3:30 p.m. on October 30th.  Volunteers are encouraged to wear costumes, but costumes are not necessary. 2)  Berrien County Juvenile Center is looking for someone to volunteer at their front desk a few hours a week, during regular business hours.  The tasks include: answering the phones, typing, filing and serving as a receptionist.  This volunteer option would be a good way to gain experience in the field if you are a college student or as a way to keep your skills sharp as you continue to look for a paid position. 3)  American Cancer Society has a very valuable way you can serve and that is by being available to take patients to their doctor's appointments.  They are welcoming volunteers from all over southwest Michigan .  If you would like to know more about this volunteer option, please contact the Volunteer Center . Cass Counties events: 4)  Tri-County Head Start is hosting a Community Resource Event at the Federated Covenant Church located at 202 Center St , Dowagiac , MI 49047 (269) 782-5656 on Friday, November 12th 2010 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Ideally they would like volunteers to arrive about 9:30 am for a time of training but they are willing to do individual training, when you arrive to volunteer.  Volunteers will serve food, greet people, provide directions, and assist people as they move around to information booths.   5)  The Cass District Library in Cassopolis is hosting a program called Prime Time Family Reading Time on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8:30 pm from Oct 21 to Dec. 9.  The goal of the program is to bring families, that have been unfamiliar with the library, into the library for an evening together, reading and doing activities.  Volunteers prepare and serve meals, manage the exchange of books, assist with child care or with the pre-school program or help with reminder calls.  If reading is your passion and you would like to pass on the excitement, contact Jennifer Ray at the Library or the Volunteer Center for details. 6)  Family Volunteer Day, Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Cass District Library in Cassopolis.  We will be making kitty toys, tying blankets for kids at the shelter, making cards for over seas military personnel or seniors receiving Meals on Wheels and much more.   The excitement is contagious as families come together to do volunteer activities that serve a variety of organizations. If you have questions or would like to get connected contact: Debra Panozzo Adult and family volunteer coordinator Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan 269-983-0912 ext 303 St. Joseph 269-683-5464 ext 322 Niles www.volunteerswmi.org   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINKS TO SHARE: Math Playground http://www.mathplayground.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLASSIFIEDS Looking for a group?  Join the HUB! There are several benefits of membership including a travel club and a resource library. Members receive first chance at events and classes when availability is limited.  The cost of membership is only $24/year.  Information about becoming a member is on the website www.hshub.org   School Pictures Fall means time for School Pictures Packages are $15.00 which includes three units of your choice A unit consists of 1-8X10 or 2-5X7 or 8-Wallets Additional units are only $5.00 each Senior pictures are welcome as well.  As this is a special time in their lives, I spend additional time with them at their choice of location and as many changes of outfits they would like.  The sitting fee is is $35 within Niles and $50 at Lake Michigan.  Units are $13.00 each with retouching. For a peek at my blog check out: www.crystalsphotography1.blogspot.com     Have something for sale, free or trade?  Advertise here! Homeschool groups are welcome to advertise their group, too.  It's free! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LETTING IT RIDE: The Homeschool HUB is collecting used textbooks.  Contact Diane Day:  joharding_20@yahoo.com or 269-445-1900. 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 many products. 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.