Homeschool HUB News Update--August 12

Homeschool HUB News Update--August 12 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 Aug 16--Homeschool Beach Day at Fuller's $1/pp August 16--Homeschool HUB Annual Picnic, Fuller's Resort, noon August 15--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp August 19--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental. August 25--First Annual Homeschool Information Night, LMC Bertrand, 7-9 pm MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 1) Homeschool HUB Annual Picnic Tuesday 2) Participants Welcome--Homeschool Information Night 3) Homeschool Information Night--FAHHHIN! 4) Tennis Class in Niles 5) Classes for IN homeschoolers 6) Children's Choir Auditions 7) Fort St. Joseph Open House 8) Harvest Fest at Tiller's 9) Local Partnerships with School Districts--MI 10) Volunteer Opportunities 1) Homeschool HUB Annual Picnic Tuesday August 16 Don't miss it!  The Homeschool HUB Picnic will be At Fuller's Beach and Resort starting at noon on Tuesday , August 16.  Activities like swimming, kayaking, beach volleyball, inner tubing, etc. will be available.  Please bring a dish to pass and your own meat to grill.  The HUB will provide paper products, charcoal, and drinks.  Snack items and ice cream, etc., are available at the Fuller's camp store.  If you have any books or games or other items of interest to homeschoolers that you would like to donate, a table will be available for giveaway items.  Come and connect with local homeschoolers.  Find out about homeschooling and the opportunities in the area, etc.  It will be a fun time.  Fuller's will charge the special homeschool beach day rate for each person, which is $1.  More info on Fuller's:  www.fullersresort.com 2) Participants Welcome--Homeschool Information Night Calling all teachers, tutors, Scout leaders, museums, nature centers, homeschool groups, etc.  Do you have something to offer homeschoolers?  Want to get the word out?  Want some more students?  Come and promote yourself and your services to local homeschoolers.  It's free!  Piano teachers, math tutors, martial arts teachers, we want YOU!  Contact Andrea to reserve a spot.  writermom@surfbest.net or 269-240-6094  The Information Night will be August 25th from 7-9 pm in Niles, MI. 3)  Homeschool Information Night--FAHHHIN! Thinking of homeschooling and don't know where to start?  New to the area?  Wanting to find out how to join or start a partnership program in your area?  Or are you a seasoned homeschooler looking for new opportunities?  Just curious?  EVERYONE is welcome to come and check out the great stuff at the First Annual Homeschool HUB Homeschooling Information Night!  Or should I just say FAHHHIN?  It's going to be FIIINE and FUUUN!  :-)  August 25th from 7-9 pm, join us at LMC Bertrand in Niles, MI.  There will be "Homeschooling 101" meetings at 7:15 and 8:15 to help get you started and inform you about homeschooling, too.  Mark your calendars now!  Don't miss it. 4) Tennis Class in Niles I am trying to arrange a beginner's tennis class for 6 to 9 years old at the Lakeland Tennis Club in Niles. The classes were once a week for 8 weeks at about $65. My hope is that this would continue throughout the year. We may be able to get a reduced rate if this is the case. Please also forward to anyone else you think might be interested. Thanks. Hope to see all of you soon. Juliet 574-217-7653 julietgcollins@yahoo.com 5) Classes for IN homeschoolers The classes for Michiana Covenant Academy are posted on our website, michianacovenantacademy.org. We have included a short summary page that may help you select appropriate classes for your child. Please let us know if you have any questions. Registration begins on August 17, from1-3 pm at the Academy, and on August 18 by mail. We will be available at the Christian HOME Open House on August 22. Classes start on September 28.   Thank you, Sally Hanson Administrator 6) Children's Choir Auditions Auditions for the 2011-12 season of the Children's Choir of Michiana will take place at First United Methodist Church, 333 N. Main St. in South Bend on Tuesdays, August 23 and 30. Children entering grades 4-10 this fall are invited to audition. This choir is sponsored by Musical Arts Indiana (sponsors of Vesper Chorale and several other groups) and is directed by Wishart Bell (wishartmusicservices.com). For more information and to schedule an audition, call 574-229-2247. There are two locations for weekly rehearsals--either at First United Methodist Church in South Bend or in Dowagiac. Join us now and be a part of our concert tour to Washington D.C. in June of 2012! 7) Fort St. Joseph Open House Hello, I hope you will be able to attend the archaeology open house this weekend.  It will be a great event for the whole family, and there's no charge, so please attend!  See the attached flier for details. Carol Bainbridge, Director Fort St. Joseph Museum 508 E. Main St. Niles, MI 49120 269-683-4702, ext. 212 cbainbridge@nilesmi.org 8) Harvest Fest at Tiller's If you are looking for pleasant activities for autumn, come join us at the SW MI Community Harvest Fest! It's a great time to come see Tillers, learn about what's happening with local foods in southwest Michigan, enjoy some great local music and just have a great day. The fest is Sunday September 18 from 11:30-6:30 pm. The entry fee is still only $10 per car-load so everyone can come! For more information on activities at the fest, check out the website at www.swmiharvestfest.org. 9) Local Partnerships with School Districts--MI Right now, there are three local school districts with some sort of program partnering with homeschoolers. These programs are run by school districts in the state of Michigan, so students must be residents of Michigan to participate. Berrien Springs info (grades 1-12): http://www.homeoftheshamrocks.org/    Niles Info (grades 1-12):  http://nilesschools.schoolwires.net/212620428164940510/site/default.asp   Bradywine is also introducing a virtual high school option through Job Skills Technology.  You can call the school 269-684-7150, or JST at 800-783-5780 for information. 10) Volunteer Opportunities A) United Way is looking for volunteers to help with a project for the next couple of weeks.  United Way is running pledge cards for the Whirlpool divisions and need help folding and stuff the forms in envelopes.  Hours would be Monday through Thursday anywhere from 8 am to 3 pm.  Please contact Dawn Schroeder at dawn.schroeder@uwsm.org or call the number below. Dawn Schroeder Administrative Coordinator United Way of Southwest Michigan 2015 Lakeview Ave P.O. Box 807 Benton Harbor MI 49023-0807 Office 269-982-1700, extension 16 Fax 269-982-1701 www.uwsm.org B) THE FIRST ANNUAL HARBOR VISION FESTIVAL What: The first annual Harbor Vision Festival takes place August 12th, 13th, and 14th at the Benton Harbor City Center , adjacent to the award winning Arts District and just a few shorts blocks to the magnificent Harbor Shores Golf course, and Lake Michigan . (On the Corner of Main St & Pipestone) The festival includes a main stage showcasing Benton Harbor 's finest artists and entertainers, will feature Benton Harbor centric food vendors and a diverse selection of music, artists, and dancers.  Pause at the animal petting zoo.  Connect with local organizations or play in the Kids' educational arts & craft area.  Look for the ROLL BOUNCE parking lot for kids and adults to roller skate. When: Every day from 2:00pm - 9:00pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday August 12, 13, 14 Where: City Center, Corner of Main St. & Pipestone, Main St. & Pipestone, Benton Harbor, MI, 49022 volunteers: Set up on Friday, clean up at the end of each day, serve food, set up games for the kids, assist with the music, or be available for tasks to be done. GO:  Go to the Hospitality Booth to check in as a volunteer and to receive your assignment. phone: Questions? Call Mike Holton 269.861-5519 C) Do you know anyone who would be interested? It would be great for a future teacher, social worker or anyone going to school part time.  It would also be great for a young retiree or someone unemployed willing to do a year of service while they figure things out.  It can be someone of any age or life stage.  The important thing is that it needs to be a firm commitment to a year – if they leave we lose the slot.  We need to identify a high quality candidate in the next 3 weeks or lose the opportunity…. Thanks for your help in getting the word out.   AMERICORPS VISTA The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan currently has an opening for an AmeriCorps VISTA.  This is a volunteer position with a small living allowance and some health insurance coverage.  This is a full-time (40 hours) per week service position with the Volunteer Center 's youth volunteer program.  Qualified applicants must not have additional employment, but may be part-time students; applicants will be largely based out of the Volunteer Center 's St. Joseph office, but will spend at least one day each week in the Volunteer Center 's Niles office.  A successful candidate in this position will be expected to build capacity for youth volunteerism as part of the Volunteer Center team.  He/she will be involved in creating, planning, and coordinating new and ongoing activities that promote youth volunteerism and that create youth volunteer service opportunities and  projects throughout the Volunteer Center 's service area of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.   The candidate will focus on youth service projects that seek to alleviate and address poverty-related issues.  It is suggested that serious candidates check out the AmeriCorps VISTA resources found at: www.nationalservice.gov and www.americorps.gov.  Interested and qualified candidates should email cover letter and resume to: Callie Campbell, Youth Volunteer Coordinator, The Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan: youth@volunteerswmi.org.  Or for more info, 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: If anyone has a favorite site or interesting link for homeschoolers, please share!  Just send it to homeschoollhub@yahoo.com with "update" or "newsletter" in the subject. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLASSIFIEDS 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.