Homeschool HUB News Update--July 1 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 July 5--Homeschool Beach Day at Fuller's $1/pp July 8--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp July 7--HUB Board of Directors Meeting 7 pm, Niles Police Complex July 15--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental. GENERAL INTEREST G1) MI Statewide Math Competition G1) MI Statewide Math Competition Thousands of Michigan's elementary and middle school students will come to Cobo Hall in Detroit on Saturday, November 5, 2011 to compete in an intense math competition called MathFest.  The MathFest Competition capitalizes on the students' natural affinity to compete and play, in order to develop strong programming which stimulates and improves achievement in math.  MathFest is one of the largest programs advancing student excellence in math. It is a math competition for 1st-8th grade students in public, private, charter, and home school programs. We focus on national math standards, provide individualized math prep, and bring parents and students together to improve math skills.  This alternative teaching strategy, which is sweeping across the country, generates tremendous interest and enthusiasm for math while reinforcing existing mathematics curriculum.  We have attached a MathFest Flyer in PDF Format for your parents.  For more information, visit us on-line or contact Dr. Boykins at 404 391-0249 or ronboykins@gmail.com MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 1) Help Foster Kids 2) Volunteer Opportunities 1) Help Foster Kids Have you started your Christmas shopping yet for this year? If not, consider sponsoring a Foster Child as your first purchase of the year! In the spirit of the season, the Foster Care Staff at the Department of Human Services, will again hold a special holiday party in early December for the children receiving services. This year; however, they would like to do things a bit differently, but they need YOUR help!  Operation Good Cheer is a program sponsored by Child and Family Services of Southwest Michigan. Through this program, the Department of Human Services can pay a $30 fee to have a child sponsored; in return, this child will receive three gifts, each gift valued at up to $60. In past years, the sponsored foster children have received one gift at the holiday party with a value of $25.   The challenging part of accomplishing this awesome opportunity for our kids…..the sponsorship fees are due September 2, 2011, leaving us just about two months to raise $6,000! We are confident that this can be done with your help. If you, your staff, your family, your friends, your church or organization, or any group that you may be affiliated with are interested in sponsoring a child and making a wish (or three!) come true this holiday season, please pledge your commitment by July 22, 2011. Your donation is due by August 8, 2011. It's as easy as responding to Shireen Hall, Community Resource Coordinator by email: HallS4@michigan.gov or calling her at (269) 934-2184 to pledge the number of children you would like to sponsor.  Ms. Hall will come to you to collect your money at your location.   No shopping, wrapping, or transporting required! If you have questions or would like to donate, please contact: Shireen Hall, Community Resource Coordinator, Berrien County Department of Human Services, email: HallS4@michigan.gov or phone: 269-934-2184. Debra Panozzo Adult and family volunteer coordinator Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan 269-983-0912 ext 13 St. Joseph 269-683-5464  Niles www.volunteerswmi.org 2) Volunteer Opportunities A) There are some final volunteer slots to be filled for the Krasl Art Center 50th Annual Art Fair.  The place to be is going to be on the bluff in St. Joseph on the weekend of July 9 and 10.  Do you have a few hours to volunteer, before or after you visit the fair? Tasks looking for volunteers could include: 1)  Booth sitters: cover the booth for an artist while they take a break. 2)  Krasl Kids Zone Helpers:  Activities for kids show them how to do it, supervise, restock supplies, etc. 3)  Water Sales:  Water will be for sale - benefits the Krasl Art center 4)  Visitor Survey Helpers:  survey the visitors as to their Art Fair experiences 5)  Parking and Operations:  provide directions as to parking for both visitors and art fair participants, tend to the behind the scenes details required to make the event go smoothly. The volunteer coordinator with the Krasl Art Center will be able to provide you with details as to slots and tasks that are open - to see if it fits your schedule.   For info: Danielle Shepherd   Krasl Art Center   dshepherd@krasl.org  Ph: 269-983-0271  Cell: 269-876-9475 www.krasl.org B) Which animal is your favorite to ride on the carousel?  Or do you love to eat the popcorn and watch all the kids having fun? The Silver Beach Carousel is looking for volunteers take tokens, pop the popcorn and make sure the kids are safe.  For more details as to volunteer options and days/times go to: www.silverbeachcarousel.com Contact: Debra Panozzo Adult and family volunteer coordinator Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan 269-983-0912 ext 13 St. Joseph 269-683-5464  Niles www.volunteerswmi.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LINKS TO SHARE: Check out the new links on www.hshub.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLASSIFIEDS QUICKBOOKS AND/OR ACCOUNTING HELP SOUGHT The treasurer of the Homeschool Hub is looking for a little volunteer help with Quickbooks and/or Accounting.  If you have knowledge of either or both and have a little free time, I would be willing to bring it to you! Once you show me, I can take it from there. Approximately 1 hour. I have open availability! Call Diane Day 269-370-4589. Looking for a group?  Join the HUB!  We need you There are several benefits of membership including a travel club and a resource library that includes things like books, games, laptops, video cameras and other items to borrow (free, members only). 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 at www.hshub.org Have something for sale, free or trade?  Advertise here! Homeschool groups are welcome to advertise their group, too.  It's free! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LETTING IT RIDE: Amazon.com--Please come to www.hshub.org before you shop at Amazon.  You can either shop the Associate Store listed in the Menu bar or click on the "Help the Homeschool HUB - Purchase at Amazon" link just below the Menu bar. By using this link to Amazon The Homeschool HUB will earn money through Amazon's Associates program on everything you purchase. So whenever you think "Amazon" please remember your purchase can help The Homeschool HUB. 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.