Saturday, November 5, 2011

[HUBnewsletter] Homeschool HUB News Update--November 4

 

Homeschool HUB News Update--November 4


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

To subscribe to this newsletter, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HUBnewsletter/ OR send an email to the following address: HUBnewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Yes, you are welcome to forward the newsletter to anyone who might be interested!  :-)


ON THE CALENDAR:

Details for the following events are on the calendar at: www.calendar.yahoo.com/homeschoolhub

November 8--HUB Board of Directors Meeting, 7 pm at the Niles Police Complex
November 11--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp
November 18--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental.


GENERAL INTEREST

G1) 2011 OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Video Contest
G2) Youtube/NASA Student Experiments in Space Opportunity


G1) 2011 OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Video Contest

NASA has opened registration for the 2011 OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Video Contest. Featuring OPTIMUS PRIME, the leader from the popular TRANSFORMERS brand, the contest highlights spinoffs from NASA technologies that are used on Earth. The goal is to help students understand the benefits of NASA technology to their daily lives. Last year's contest was open to students in grades 3-8 and resulted in 76 video submissions from over 190 students in 31 states.

For 2011, the OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Video Contest has been expanded to include students in grades 3-12. Each student, or group of students, will submit a three- to five-minute video on a selected NASA spinoff technology listed in NASA's 2010 "Spinoff" publication. Videos must demonstrate an understanding of the NASA spinoff technology and the associated NASA mission, as well as the commercial application and public benefit associated with the spinoff technology.

Participants must register for the contest by Jan. 3, 2012. Video entries are due Jan. 17, 2012.

Video entries will be posted on the NASA YouTube channel, and the public will be responsible for the first round of judging. The top five submissions from each of the three grade groups (Elementary [3rd-5th], Middle [6th-8th] and High School [9th-12th]) will advance for final judging. A NASA panel will select a winning entry from each group. Among other prizes, a crystal OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Award Trophy will be given to winners at a special awards ceremony being held in Florida in April 2012. The innovators associated with the NASA technology highlighted in the winning videos also will receive trophies, as will their commercial partners.

TRANSFORMERS and OPTIMUS PRIME are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

For more information, visit the OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Contest website at http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/optimus.

Questions about this contest should be directed to Darryl Mitchell at Darryl.R.Mitchell@nasa.gov.


G2) Youtube/NASA Student Experiments in Space Opportunity

NASA is providing support to Space Adventures, Ltd. of Vienna, Va., to conduct a global competition for students to design experiments that will be performed in space and broadcast around the world. Contest entrants may submit up to three experiments in either life sciences or physics. They must submit a two-minute video application by Dec. 7 via YouTube.com. The public will be able to follow the competition and watch the experiments via video streaming on YouTube's website.

You can find more information about how to enter the competition or to submit a video application at http://www.youtube.com/SpaceLab.

For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/YouTube.html.



MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

1) Concert Band Shows Off Talent in Free Performance
2) Jazz and Percussion Ensembles to Present Free Concert
3) Spelling Bee
4) Hospice at Home Open House
5) Teen 4-H Club
6) Announcing a New Support Group
7) Volunteer Opportunity


1) Concert Band Shows Off Talent in Free Performance

The Bethel College Concert Band, under the direction of Professor of Music Mike Kendall, will perform its free fall concert on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center.  The concert will open with a number of chamber works for brass choir, brass quintet, saxophone quintet and clarinet trio. Some of the exciting numbers on the program will include Johann Altenberg's "Concerto for Seven Trumpets" and "Timpani and Flashing Winds" by Jan Van der Roost. The concert will conclude with a multimedia presentation of Robert W. Smith's four-movement symphony for band titled "The Divine Comedy."

"Our fall Concert Band program will feature a wide variety of challenging music and will showcase our many talented Bethel students, in both chamber and concert band settings," says Kendall.

For more information contact the Bethel College music department at 574.807.7575.


2) Jazz and Percussion Ensembles to Present Free Concert

 The Bethel College Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo and Percussion Ensemble will present their annual fall Jazz and Percussion Night on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center – Auditorium.  The program is under the direction of Professor of Music Reginald Klopfenstein, D.M., and will feature the jazz compositions of Sammy Nestico, Gordon Goodwin and Sonny Rollins. Percussion works include "Atenteben" for African drum and keyboard ensemble and Steve Reich's famous "Clapping Music."  Soloists include vocalist Rachel Wilkins, alto saxophonist Steve Horton and trumpet player Joshua Klopfenstein.

"The concert will encompass an exciting variety of styles, from the jazz music of the Count Basie Band, to the traditional melodies of Ghana," says Klopfenstein.

For more information contact the Bethel College music department at 574.807.7575.


3) Spelling Bee

The 2012 Scripps Spelling Bee is up and at full force!  What an exciting time!  The Homeschool Hub is sponsoring this event and looking for spellers!  Enrollment is just  $15 and open to all homeschoolers to grade 8 or under 15 years of age.  Word lists are available now.  Email with interest, call with questions or mail your check today.  Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity.  The top speller gets an all-expense paid trip to Washingtom, D.C.
 
Our local bee will be held near the end of January and the regional will be held early February so there is still plenty of time to study.
 
Word lists are available to ANYONE.  Request an emailed word list today.
 
Mail check to:
Homeschool Hub
P.O. Box 286
Niles, MI 49031
 
Contact:  Diane Day 269-445-1900, 269-370-4589
email:  joharding_20@yahoo.com
 

4) Hospice at Home Open House

Hospice at Home is celebrating 30 years of serving our community.  They holding open houses at their facilities and have invited homeschoolers to join them for refreshments, tours, and good conversation.  November 9, 4-7 p.m. St. Joseph,  Lory's Place, 445 Upton Drive, 7-Year Open House/Hospice at Home 30 year Anniversary Open House


5) 4H Teen Club

[Note:  I believe this announcement refers to a Berrien County club, but email for more info.]  The 4H Teen club is looking for more members! This is a great way for teens, ages 12-19, to earn their community service for high school graduation. The group does food drives, blood drives, and other community service activities. It also does entrepreneurship by running the 4H lemonade booth at the fair.

Bonus: Since your teen would be actively participating in a 4-H club and as a member of 4-H they will be eligible for scholarships! Some rules apply such as being an active member for 4 years (for the college scholarship). There are many other opportunities such as Citizenship Washington Focus where 4-H members can go to Washing D.C. for a week. Meetings for the teen club are only once a month! If interested, email me at specialk3749@yahoo.com and I will give you the contact person's telephone number.


6) Announcing a New Support Group!

CLUB BLUE (Bringing Learning to an Unprecedented Experience)

The group is designed to empower and enable Home School Families by sharing curriculum and ideas that will facilitate stronger Home School programs.  It's purpose it not in the area of providing social interaction for the children, but instead for the parents.  We will met in the Martin's Cafe in Niles on the 1st Monday of the month at 7:00pm.

This is open to anyone who currently homeschools, homeschooled in the past and would like to share experiences or is considering homeschooling in the future.  Homeschoolers today have more freedoms then ever before, but along with that freedom comes responsibilities and  pressures of all kinds.  This support group is intended to provide parents with access to as much information and support as possible.  We will be  focusing on concerns that Homeschoolers may have such as; laws, curriculum, sources to augment Home School programs as well as just providing "a shoulder to cry" on if need be.

Please come and join us!  If you have further questions please contact Gail Bliss at (269)683-0439, (574) 340-1025 or email at blissfamily@gmail.com


7) Volunteer Opportunity

A) Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual National Family Volunteer Day with the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan

in partnership with First Church of God in St. Joseph , located at the corner of Niles Ave. and Botham on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, from 10 a.m. until noon.

You can just show up and participate with the hands on volunteer activities.  If your schedule allows, come for the whole time and do all of the activities or come when you can and leave when you must.  If you would like to volunteer at the event respond to this email.
From the Volunteer Family web site: Benefits of Family Volunteering

Family volunteering strengthens families and strengthens our community. When you decide to become a family volunteer, you are not only contributing to an important cause, but you are also helping your family and children in ways you never thought possible. Here is a sample of benefits your family and your community can achieve through family volunteering.

  *  Children are able to develop compassion and an understanding for others. Not only will involving children in the decision-making process and volunteer activity help them feel appreciated and respected, but the volunteer activity will also enable them to acquire new skills.
  *  Parents can help others while spending more time with their kids, passing on important values, and sharing meaningful conversations in a positive environment.
  *  Nonprofits are often understaffed and overstressed and need additional help. Family volunteering helps them broaden their outreach to the community while improving community image and relations. Depending on their interests, family volunteers may want to help many types of non-profits, including the homeless, the sick and disabled, the elderly, children, animals, and the environment.
  *  Society benefits from family volunteering, as it is a natural multiplier of volunteers. Studies show that children who volunteer are much more likely to continue as adults and carry on the tradition with their own children.

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


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LINKS TO SHARE:

Know of an interesting site?  Share the link!
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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. 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!

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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 functions that we have.  Thank-you!


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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.

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