Homeschool HUB News Update--October 8

Homeschool HUB News Update--October 8 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. 15--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp HERE'S THE BUZZ: 1) Exploravision Contest 2) Mid-Winter Homeschool Conference 3) MCAC Wildcats Basketball 4) Upward Michiana 2011 Information 5) St Joseph Museum History Clubs for kids 6) HUB Board Meeting 1) Exploravision Contest open for team sign-ups Now is the time to start working on this in order to have your entry finished and to them by February 2nd.  ExploraVision has four entry categories:     * Primary Level (Grades K – 3)     * Upper Elementary Level (Grades 4 – 6)     * Middle Level (Grades 7 – 9)     * High School Level (Grades 10 – 12) To enter ExploraVision, students work in groups of two, three or four — simulating a real research and development (R&D) team. A teacher serves as team coach, and you can also choose an optional mentor. For homeschoolers, the teacher must be someone other than the student's parent. The mentor can be a parent. Each team selects a technology (or an aspect of a technology) that is present in and relevant to their lives.  First, the team explores what the technology does, how it works and how, when and why it was invented.  Next, the team imagines and explores what that technology could be like 20 years from now.  Finally, each team prepares an in-depth report that conveys its vision to others In each age division these are the prizes: First Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $10,000* at maturity for each student.  Second Prize (4 teams): U.S. EE Savings Bond worth $5,000* at maturity for each student. National Finalists: An expense paid trip to Washington, DC in June for ExploraVision Awards Weekend for each national winning student and his/her parents/guardians Regional Winners: A Toshiba Camileo™ Camcorder for each student and an awards ceremony for each regional winning team at its school where the team will receive a winner's banner, plaque and other gifts 2) Mid-Winter Homeschool Conference Our Early Bird special for MWC 2011 expires on October 15, 2010. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to be refreshed in your home education vision at the time you will need it most- MID-WINTER 2011! Veteran home educators David & Shirley Quine, Carol Barnier and Nancy Costello are preparing now to inspire, encourage and bless us with messages full of humor, practical helps and fresh vision. For all their stories & details please visit each of their web sites found on our home page.   Early Bird ticket prices are $40/ attendee or $75/married couple. After October 15th the prices will be $50/ adult, $40/ teen, ministry leaders or support group leaders, $80/married couple.   Envigorating speakers, HELP session for newbies, favorite vendors, and fellowship with like minded home educators- it doesn't get any better than this!   Act now to save money!   Go to www.midwinterconference.org for registration and further details. 3) MCAC Wildcats Basketball This is the last call for anyone interested in boys' basketball.  We have elementary, junior high, and junior varsity boys' teams for this coming season. We have a few more open gyms before we officially start the season for anyone who would like to try it out and meet some of the other players. We also have a junior high boys' coaching position open. If you would like to apply for this position, we are now taking applications. Junior high boys practice with the elementary team most of the time on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. The Wildcat's website is www.mcac-wildcats.com. You can email Dana DoBrodt at mcacwildcats@yahoo.com if you are interested in playing or coaching. 4) Upward Michiana 2011 Information - Boys & Girls, K5 thru 8th Grade UPWARD is a first-class sports experience that emphasizes healthy competition, sportsmanship, skill building and fun; versus the "win- at-all-costs" mentality found in many children sports leagues. We would love to have you on our team! Whether you want to play basketball or cheer; UPWARD is the league for you! All league registrations will be online at www.upwardmichiana. com or view our quicklinks at the bottom of the page. 2011 Basketball & Cheerleading Program Information: Evaluation Dates: Saturday November 6, 2010 & Saturday November 20, 2010 Visit www.upwardmichiana. com to find your evaluation location. Program Costs: All registrations online at www.upwardmichiana. com Basketball & Cheerleading are $99. Early registration discount of $19 if registered online before your evaluation date so the program cost would be $80. Optional Items: Basketball Shorts $20 Cheerleading Mock Turtlenecks: $20 Key Program Dates: Practices begin the week of January 10, 2011 First game day is Saturday, January 29, 2011 5) Homeschool History Club Attention 12 to 17 year old homeschoolers!  Join the Junior Historians of Niles!  Next meeting is October 19th - 3 to 4 p.m. at Fort St. Joseph Museum (meetings are on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.)  Sign up by calling Annette Morales, Education Curator (269)683-4702 ext. 236, or by email amorales@nilesmi.org. No program fee. New preschool program designed for 3 to 5 years olds -Little History Explorers Toddler Tuesdays!  Don't miss these fun Little History Explorer workshops on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.  Next program October 19th!   $1 per child.  See attached flyer. Annette Morales Education Curator Fort St. Joseph Museum 508 E. Main Street Niles, MI 49120 269-683-4702, ext. 236 amorales@nilesmi.org 6) HUB Board Meeting The Homeschool HUB Board of Directors is meeting Thursday October 14 at 7 pm at The Niles Police Station.  All board meetings are open to the public.  If you have ideas, suggestions, or questions - or if you are just interested, you are welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINKS TO SHARE: Free educational DVDs http://www.izzit.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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   PIANO LESSONS I am a piano teacher located in Buchanan, MI.  I grew up a home schooler, graduated a home schooler, and returned from college with a degree in Music Education and have been teaching private piano and violin students ever since -- mainly to homeschoolers. I currently have morning and early-afternoon slots in my studio that are available for new students and wanted to inquire whether your group had any members interested in lessons.  I have had over 10 years of teaching experience and charge $13 a lesson.  I am looking for students who are able to practice consistently and make a commitment to attending weekly lessons. For more information on my studio, you can go to my website:  www.pianobysarah.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.