Friday, April 20, 2012

[HUBnewsletter] Homeschool HUB News Update--April 20

 

Homeschool HUB News Update--April 20


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  (You can also sign up on the home page of our website hshub.org--just type your email in the box!)

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

April 27--Bowling at Chippewa Bowl 10:00-12:00pm.  $1.50/pp per game
April 27--Bowling at Strikes and Spares, 1:00-3:00, $5/pp
May 1--Homeschool Hangout at Clay Church Firehouse Youth Center 2-3:30
May 7--Club BLUE Martin's Cafe in Niles 7 pm
May 10--Homeschool Showcase 6-8 pm LMC Bertand in Niles
May 18--Homeschool Skate at USA Skate 1:00-3:00, $3/pp including skate rental



GENERAL INTEREST

G1)  Online AP Calculus Class
G2)  Homeschool HUB Newsletter Archive
G3) Free Unit Study 


G1)  Online AP Calculus Class

Andy DeJaco, a former Electrical Engineer in the wireless industry and a High School Calculus, Statistics, and Computer Teacher for the last 9 years, is taking his Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus Courses online starting in the fall of 2012.

Give your college bound Homeschool student that mathematics advantage with a rigorous full year AP Calculus AB course or a 1/2 year Advanced Placement AP Calculus BC course.

These courses will meet online with Mr. DeJaco each day Monday - Friday for a 50 minute fully live and interactive video conferenced class where questions are answered, solution method and approaches are discussed, and connections are made with previous material.  Additional formal lectures are online for students to listen to outside of the morning class.  Homework and quizzes are graded online.  Paper tests will be given and returned for chapter, unit, and practice AP tests.
 
Essentially, the online class will follow the same schedule and curriculum that Mr. DeJaco has used successfully for the last 9 years in his St. Charles Preparatory School classroom. With 8 years of AP Calculus results, Mr DeJaco's students earn a 5 on the AP Calculus test 93% of the time.

Please visit www.calculusconquered.com for more information about the course offerings starting in August 2012


G2)  Homeschool HUB Newsletter Archive

A wealth of information at your fingertips.  Newsletters from September 2011 to today are archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HUBnewsletter/ so if you remember seeing something and can't find it on your computer, you can look through past issues to find the info you want.  If you are new to the newsletter or missed a few issues here and there, you can search through and find info on scholarships, contests, websites, and online events that might be of interest.


G3) Free Unit Study 

A free unit study is attached to this newsletter.  This is for a Pilgrim unit.  It is meant to go with the new book The Pilgrim Adventure, but it can be used with any unit on the Pilgrims.
 
The creator of it has added lots of new freebies and some new sections to her website:
http://funtasticunitstudies.com/  including a section that lists chapter books to help with studying history.
 
Here's some information on The Pilgrim Adventure, so that you can see what book the activities were designed for:
 
     Finn & Ginny's parents are lost back in time, and the two young twins have decided to go back to early America to find them. Their search takes the twins to the Mayflower where they discover that the Pilgrims had far more adventures than they had ever realized.

     This first book in the Our America series is designed to teach the real story of the Pilgrims in such a fun way that the reader won't even realize that it's educational. The Pilgrim Adventure is based on actual accounts written by the Pilgrims themselves, and kids who read this book will find that by the end of the story they may know more about the Pilgrim's adventures than their parents do.  Ages 10 and up.



MICHIANA EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

1) Homeschool Showcase!
2)  Michiana Covenant Academy Open House
3) Bethel Athlete Coordinates Second Spring Community Blood Drive
4) Homeschool Book Award Bookclub for Teens
5) Volunteer opportunities


1) Homeschool Showcase!

Show off!  Don't hide your light under a bushel.  Share your accomplishments, interests, and talents with other homeschool families.  Projects, science experiments, artwork, musical performances, skits, speeches, whatever it is, we want to give you a chance to share.  The HUB's annual Homeschool Showcase will be held Thursday May 10th from 6-8 pm at Lake Michigan College's Bertrand campus in Niles.  You do not need to be a member of the Homeschool HUB to participate.  All homeschoolers are welcome.  Contact Diane Day for info or to arrange for a display/performance/speech/skit, etc.  269-370-4589 or joharding_20@yahoo.com.  Even if you don't want to share, come and see what others are doing--get inspired!  Refreshments will be offered.


2)  Michiana Covenant Academy Open House

Please join us for an Open House at Michiana Covenant Academy, 14567 Cleveland Road, Granger, on Thursday, April 26, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Our teachers, Board members and Administrator will be there to talk with you about our academically challenging, faith-based, small class experience offered to homeschooled students.  Some teachers will have examples of work done in class.  Please visit our website at michianacovenantacademy.org for more information about our classes.


3) Bethel Athlete Coordinates Second Spring Community Blood Drive

Bethel College will host a community blood drive on Thursday, April 26 from 10:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Goodman Gymnasium. Coordinated by softball player Danielle Reilly ('13), this is the second drive on campus this spring.

"Being involved with the American Red Cross has been such an amazing experience," says Reilly. "I have been given the chance to help in the effort to save lives. The need is always constant for blood and it is important that we make our goal [of 64 pints] for this drive."

The blood drive is open to the public, and the Bethel College softball team is providing childcare. To make your donation appointment, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1.800.REDCROSS. Use the sponsor code "pilots." Walk-ins are also welcome.


4) Homeschool Book Award Bookclub for Teens

A book club for homeschoolers age12 and up will be meeting in Dowagiac on Fridays (afternoon or evening).  The exact time and the frequency of the meetings is flexible and depends on the participants.  We will read and discuss the books The Candymakers by Wendy Mass, Selling Hope by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, My Name is Mina by David Almond and Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick.  We will be doing fun activities based on the books, too.  These books are the current nominees for the 2nd Annual Homeschool Book Award.  Any homeschool student or parent who has read all the books can vote on which one should win.  (Younger kids may participate if parents wish and if they are mature enough.)  Contact Andrea andreamom001@gmail.com if you are interested.


5) Volunteer Opportunities for adults

A)  MCCoy Creek Trail Clean-up

WHAT:  McCoy's Creek Trail Clean-Up - if you would like to read the history go to: http://mccoyscreektrail.parks.officelive.com
WHEN:  Saturday, May 12, 2012
WHO:    Adults, minimum age 18 years old, who like a challenge and like to make a difference outdoors.  Join a team or recruit some friends to join you.
ACTIVITY:

Team One:  Start at the Schirmer Parking Lot, north of Front St. on Schirmer. Sweep and litter pick up in Parking Lot, prune back heavy brush and overhang at Trail Entrance, blow off entire asphalt trail surface and see what needs to be pruned back on both asphalt trail and wood chip loop. Sweep and clean up the parking lot at Third and Skyline. Straighten out concrete parking bumpers; kill off vegetation in parking lot with Round-up.

Team Two:  Prune back vegetation and overhang on Third Street so the sidewalks are not blocked, bag any litter, proceed west to the Bainton Mill Area and weed planted areas, paver patio, clean up bench and bike rack areas, strap the black fence fabric where necessary.

Team Three:  Clean Up the Tin Shop and Firehouse Park areas, weeding, brush removal, may need chains saws.

Team Four: Go out to the City Prairie Loop Trail and clear any vegetation growing on the dirt Trail.

-If the weather permits repaint the Buck Prints from the Library to Third and Skyline.
-If Garlic Mustard is evident pull and bag.

Tools to Bring:  Loppers, pole trimmers, shovels, hand snips, weeding tools, gas blowers, chain saw, rakes and brooms.
Dress: for poison ivy exposure and bring your favorite work gloves.    

Registration and release forms to be signed at 8:45 a.m on May 12th at Buchanan City Hall , 302 N. Redbud Trail. Work will begins at 9:00 a.m. with volunteers breaking into teams for four different locations on the Trail. Plans are to work until 1 p.m. and then lunch is on your own, water will be provided.           

If you would like to volunteer - email adult@volunteerswmi.org for more info.


B) Another option to consider:  Benton Harbor Community Clean Up Weekend! May 18 & 19, 2012

Benton Harbor is getting ready to host the Senior PGA.  One particular area that will require a lot of "manpower" is the community cleanup effort. The major transportation routes have been identified and volunteers are being sought to help clean up these targeted areas during a "Community Cleanup Weekend", which will take place from 9am to 5pm, Friday, May 18th and Saturday, May 19th.

Want to connect? Go to www.volunteerswmi.org, log in as a volunteer and link to Cornerstone Alliance and the Community Clean Up volunteer option.

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

"The Volunteer Center promotes, supports and connects volunteers working to build a strong, caring community."


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LINKS TO SHARE:

If you have a favorite link or website, please share.

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CLASSIFIEDS


HELP NEEDED 

!!!Attention Benton Harbor Residents!!!
 
The Homeschool Hub is looking for a volunteer to place and monitor a textbook bin at the LMC Benton Harbor Campus from mid-April to end of semester.   This person would be asked to place the bin with a sign advertising the "Donation of textbooks" near the bookstore and check the box for donations 1 time per week until the end the semester.  At such time, gather the donated books and arrange pickup by a Homeschool Hub board member.


Looking for a group?  Join the HUB!  We need you.

The HUB is a volunteer organization.  Without the support and participation of homeschool families, we can't function effectively.  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!  (Advertisements stay in for two weeks unless we work out something else in advance)

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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