what`s happening locally cont. what`s happening

Southeast Texas Home School Association
THE TEA
CHING
EACHING
PIONEER
Serving Area Homeschoolers for over 20 Years!
AFTER ANO
THER S UCCESSFUL
NOTHER
C ONFERENCE
The SETHSA Staff would like to say “thank you” to all those who attended
this year’s conference. After the long school year, it was important to
take time to refresh and renew. We are grateful for each of the speakers
who gave of their time to enrich our lives and our homeschools. A
special “thank you” goes out to the teens who volunteered in the children’s
program this year. This year, our children’s program was staffed with
teens from Heaven Sent Choir, Joyful Sound Choir, The National Honor
Society, and The Math Honor Society. These teens showed incredible
leadership skills by offering their time and energy to make the weekend
run smoothly. This group of teens showed integrity and a desire to work.
We can’t thank them enough for their help. Each of these groups has
something to offer the homeschool community. This might be a great
area of for your student to participate in. If you are interested in these
organizations, visit the link on the web for each groups’ contact
information. http://www.sethsa.org/exhibitors2009.htm.
F AITH & F AMIL
AMILYY N IGHT
WITH THE
TO
R ENEW !
With the new school year fast approaching, don’t forget to renew your
yearly subscription to The Teaching Pioneer! Renewals will be sent out
mid August so be on the look out and call us at (281) 756-9792 or email at [email protected] if you do not receive your renewal form.
July 2009
A RT C ONTEST
This year was the start of what we hope to be a long standing event. The
1st Annual Gulf Coast Home Education Conference Art Contest was a
huge success. The Contest saw 39 entries ranging from sculptures to
paintings and photography. This year SETHSA is happy to announce
three winners:
Best of Show – Sarah Anderson
Outstanding Achievement – Maggie Erickson
Honorable Mention – Helen Gracie Elgie
A very special “thank you” goes to the three wonderful ladies who judged
the contest. Thank you to Cindy Johnson, Cinde Matocha, and Beth
Bishop for giving of your time and talent. This is the hardest part of any
contest and they spent a lot of time going over each entry. It was not an
easy task, since these entries where exceptional in every way. The
examples submitted for the contest represent a talented group of
homeschoolers. Check the web next month for pictures of the contest.
Now is the time to start making plans for your student’s entry next year.
DYN
AMO S OCCER T EAM
YNAMO
Do you or your kids love soccer? This sport takes fun to a new level.
SETHSA is teaming up with Houston’s very own soccer Team for a Faith
and Family Night. This evening offers a great opportunity for homeschool
families to enjoy time together and participate in wholesome fun for
everyone. How many opportunities do you get to take the family to an
event like this one? Join the Dynamo Players for a special pre-game
player testimony time and a concer t by Matt Brouwer
(www.mattbrouwer.com). The game is Saturday, August 1st at 7:30 p.m.
Join the Dynamo Team at the UH Robertson Stadium for an exciting
night. The tickets are $20 so go to SETHSA’s web page for a link to
purchase tickets. http://www.sethsa.org/calendar.htm The password is
dynamo. You will find the Dynamo’s link on August 1st of SETHSA’s
calendar. Good luck Dynamo Soccer Team!
T IME
JUL
ULYY 2009
B OX T OPS
Many thanks to those who contributed Box Tops to SETHSA last year!
SETHSA receives Box Tops for Education year-round; there’s no deadline
other than the expiration date listed right on the Box Tops. Your family or
support group can contact our new coordinater, Luisa Hernandez, via email at [email protected] to find where to send them. SEND!
DON’T SEND!
Box Tops
Betty Crocker points
Bonus Box Tops
UPC codes
Upcoming Events
July 7 - 28 - BJU Solutions Meetings
July 22 (other dates available) - Family Arts Center Summer Classes
July 24 - Big River presents The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
July 24 - IHM Dallas Homeschool and Parent Conference
July 24 - KVPAC High School Musical & Annie
July 26 - Toyota Center Homeschool Discounts
pg. 06
pg. 11
pg. 05
pg. 08
pg. 10
pg. 07
Page 1
HSLDA News
HSLDA News
TEXAS: YOUR CALLS HELPED WORK
I NVESTIGA
TION B ILL !
NVESTIGATION
TO
DEFEA
EFEATT H ARMFUL CPS
Thanks to an overwhelming response from you and other organizations
in Texas who are lobbying for parental rights, Governor Perry vetoed SB
1440 last night! Also special thanks goes to HSLDA Legislative Counsel
Tom Sanders, who was co-counsel in the Gates case decision that
significantly persuaded the Governor to veto this legislation. What was
most amazing is that the Governor vetoed the legislation in spite of it
passing unanimously. Your calls and emails made the difference!
Thank you for your calls and emails. They played a big part in bringing
this dangerous bill to the attention of the Gover nor.
ACTION REQUESTED:
We now ask that you send Governor Perry emails or letters thanking him
for his decision to veto the bill. Governor Perry will most likely be
attacked by the media for his stance on this issue, so we need to
encourage him in any way we can. You can send your notes of appreciation
and thanks here: http://hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=6658
B
A
C
K
G
R
O
U
N
D
:
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 14, of the Texas Constitution, I, Rick
Perry, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove of and veto Senate Bill
No. 1440 of the 81st Texas Legislature, Regular Session, due to the
following
objections:
As a result of Gates v. Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services, Senate Bill No. 1440 would establish guidelines for Texas
Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) caseworkers to
follow when making entry and transport-for-interview decisions in alleged
child abuse and neglect cases. The court’s decision in Gates is extremely
narrow in its articulation of the standards that must be met for
transporting a child to conduct an interview. The decision also creates
uncertainty about how court orders allowing such transport are to be
obtained by DFPS under existing law. This court-created uncertainty
must be addressed. Senate Bill No. 1440, however, overreaches and
may not give due consideration to the Fourth Amendment rights of a
parent
or
guardian.
DFPS is charged with protecting the unprotected, and all parties involved
benefit when procedures are clear and easily under stood.
Texas law should provide a clearly delineated investigative process that
not only supports the rights of parents and guardians, but also provides
DFPS with the proper authority and flexibility to protect the most
vulnerable
Texans.
TEXAS: YOUR CALLS HELPED W ORK
I NVESTIGA
TION B ILL ! ( CONT .)
NVESTIGATION
TO
CONT.
DEFEA
EFEATT H ARMFUL CPS
I am directing DFPS, through its parental advisory committee, to study
the effect of the Gates decision on the ability of the department to
appropriately enter a residence and, if necessary for the protection of
the child, to transport the child for interviews in a neutral location. I am
also directing DFPS, through its parental advisory committee, to develop
and recommend statewide procedures to follow when seeking court orders
to aid investigations, while protecting the rights of parents and families.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused
the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this the 19th day of
June, 2009.
RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas
HSLDA PERX
Transcript Boot Camp on DVD, produced by Inge Cannon, is a special 4hour training seminar for home-educating parents of junior/high school
students. With Inge’s customary dynamic teaching style, you will learn
everything you need to know about diplomas, accreditation, graduation,
academic history, grades, Carnegie units, textbook equivalency, time
logs, class rank, grade point averages, weighted grades, extracurricular
activates, test scores, portfolios, and resumes-and you can do it in the
comfort of your own home at your own pace-no travel costs, no babysitter,
and lots of substantive help! More details are available at
www.homeschooltranscripts.com.
Southeast Texas Home School Association (SETHSA) is a volunteer, non-profit
501(c)3 organization committed to ministering to home schoolers in the southeast
area of Texas. We receive over 4000 phone calls per year in which we inform and
encourage new and veteran home educators. SETHSA provides central communication
through our monthly newsletter The Teaching Pioneer as well as on the web, which
contains information on legal updates, local news and activities. SETHSA hosts an
annual conference each year with more than 50 workshops and over 100 vendors, as
well as sponsoring Bees, reading incentive programs, homeschool days, and much
more.
Individual subscriptions to The Teaching Pioneer are available. Contact SETHSA
via e-mail or phone to find out more information.
Your financial contributions help SETHSA better minister to the homeschool
community and are tax deductible. For more information or suggestions, e-mail,
call, or write to:
SETHSA
10592 - A Fuqua #503
Service 281-756-9792
web page: http://www.sethsa.org
Houston, Texas 77089
Fax 281-756-8199
e-mail: [email protected]
Submissions to The Teaching Pioneer are accepted and must be received electronically
or in writing by the 15th of the preceding month. The newsletter is sent electronically
on or before the 30th of each month. SETHSA reserves the right to edit articles for
content and length. Articles and reviews do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the
SETHSA board or it’s members. E-mail all articles to [email protected].
July 2009
Page 2
NEWSLETTER WORKSHOPS
HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES AT A GLANCE
S TRESS R EDUCTION
P RE -K C URRICULUM R ESOURCE
ND Tip of the Month by Jan Bedell, M.Ed, M.ND of Little Giant Steps
www.littlegiantsteps.com
Are you looking for a strong, energetic Pre-K curriculum? Christian
Liberty Press offers a curriculum that engages active young minds and
bodies with creative fun lessons and activities. This colorful course for 35 year olds provides a solid framework in pre-writing, pre-reading, and
pre-math proficiency.
There is an intimate relationship between posture, working distance,
working surface and lenses. Pioneering experiments by Dr. Darrel
Boyd Harmon and subse-quent research by Drs. John Pierce and Steven
Greenspan clearly prove a reduction of stress and improved performance
when conditions are arranged properly for near point visual activities.
The following changes were observed: reduced heart rate, more
regular and deeper breathing, reduced neck muscle and overall body
tension.
To achieve these benefits the following must be arranged:
Sufficient Light:
Make sure the lightening of the student’s desk is sufficient and without
directionality that would create shadows on the writing or reading surface.
Posture:
Seated comfortably, relatively erect, feet flat on the floor or on a box to
form a 90 degree angle.
Each student develops at a different pace. Christian Liberty Preschool
Program encourages sensitivity to the individual capabilities of each
student, especially in the area of handwriting development. Learning
should be fun and rewarding. Preschool students in this program,
regardless of developmental ability, develop a positive mind-set for
learning that will carry forward into their future.
Christian Liberty Preschool Program introduces the letters of the alphabet
and the counting numbers, 0 through 10. Colors, shapes, size, matching,
opposites, patterns, and other basic skills are also presented. The
curriculum includes an age appropriate Bible study for young hearts. By
the end of this 30-week course, students will be able to write each letter
in the alphabet, pronounce short vowel sounds, read short vowel words,
count up to ten, and much more. Components of this program include:
•
Wor king Distance:
The “Harmon Distance”, (the distance from the elbow to the first knuckle)
is the optimal distance from the eyes to the working surface. This can
only be assured with a proper height to desk relationship.
•
•
•
Near point Lenses:
A specific, low power prescription not used to correct a defect in the eyes
but to put the eyes into better balance for near tasks. This enhances and
integrates the posture, working distance and surface relationship.
Eye Fatigue:
It is always recommended that when working at a desk, computer, or
even watching TV, that the viewer look up every 5 to 10 minutes and
refocus on different items at near and far point. Resting your eyes
will prove to be more productive regarding the information studied,
the health of the eyes and nervous system in general.
July 2009
•
•
Activity Book—30 weekly units of activities & lessons.
Drill Book—exercises to reinforce concepts, with extra practice
in basic handwriting skills.
My ABC Bible Verses—book of devotional stories & verses to
memorize.
Readers—five booklets that highlight the short vowel sounds:
a, e, i, o, and u.
Teacher’s Guide—a user-friendly guide that integrates all
components of the program.
Trottino’s Tale—a book of moral, character driven stories
about a precocious, young rabbit.
For more information or to order, please visit Christian Liberty Press’
website at www.ebiz.netopia.com/clpress/.
Page 3
MONTHLY TIP
MONTHLY TIP
CONT.
T EACHING M ONEY S KILLS
T EA
CHING M ONEY S KILLS
EACHING
Summertime; it’s that wonderful time of year when the almighty schedule becomes very flexible for those of us with children. Co-ops and
classes are over, most of the school work is finished and we have some
time to just be lazy. We take vacations, spend time at the pool, go to the
mall, check out a movie, and attend everyone’s birthday party. With the
season it seems that kids need extra money for everything. This is a
great time to start implementing some of life’s lessons through learning to handle money. Do your children want to rent just one extra movie,
visit the ice cream shop an extra time, stop for fast food, go skating or
maybe to a water park? All of which cost money. Especially the endless
birthday presents you have to buy and not to mention the consumption
of batteries. All of these take money. Sometimes our children just don’t
understand that even though it only costs a couple extra dollars, this
adds up during the year. Let’s talk about a way to take some of the
pressure off of you by always saying no. There are ideas you can implement to give them an idea of the almighty dollar and how far it stretches.
Hopefully this will put the brakes on all of the “I Want” syndromes.
Let’s look at the terrific concept using the allowance to help get them
out of the “I Want” syndrome. It’s the perfect way to handle some of the
money and time issues along with teaching financial responsibility. Here
is how the plan works. Mom and Dad need to sit down and decide on
what a reasonable amount is for the allowance and what the budget can
handle. With a large family you may decide that there is an age cut off
and those below that age don’t get an allowance. You might try giving
them the same amount as their age. This amount can be given weekly,
bi-weekly, or monthly. Just remember that monthly can sometimes not
be as effective because they never make enough to really teach the
financial skills. While deciding on the amount, remember that you are
going to divide this amount three ways.
· 1/3 tithe
· 1/3 long term savings
· 1/3 spending
Tithe is to be taken out and put into a special envelope and placed in
their Bible so that they will have it on Sunday morning. Then in another
envelope, 1/3 is put back for long term savings. This may include a new
bicycle, huge Lego set, and many other purchases that will need to be
saved for over time. This is the difficult concept to teach them as they
set their sight on the goal, but patience is not easy. There will be many
times that they will want to use this money to satisfy a short term want.
So be sure to keep them focused on the end result. You might want to
print out some photos and fun facts about the item to help them remember their goal.
Finally, we come to the 1/3 spending. To me this was where I taught the
financial lessons the most. I have one child who holds on to their money
faithfully and then one who needs a pitcher to catch the water as it runs
through their fingers. As parents we know that sudden expenses come
up when you least expect it. For us in the early years of marriage it was
our home owner’s fees. It never failed, right after Christmas came that
$200 bill. It took us a few years to figure out that this bill was reoccurring. It’s strange how we missed the connection from one year to the
next. So out of that spending envelope came money for items like that.
This is a great time to teach saving for the short term uh-oh’s. Here are
some ideas that you might want to implement to help teach.
· Money for ice cream – If you have a certain number of times
they are allowed this treat, then when they ask for an additional treat it comes out of their envelope.
· Gum- Some kids chew gum for 5 minutes then spit it out. This
needs to become their expense to show them how much they
are using.
· Birthday Presents – This is a great way to teach financial
responsibility. Our limit was $15 and then we set a portion of
that amount that our children contributed out of their short
term goal. This idea helps to teach them to not spend it just
because they have it.
· Batteries - I know it’s a strange concept but I used to complain
about how many batteries my kids went through each month.
My friend who introduced this system to me said that she had
a battery drawer in the kitchen and every time they took a
battery they left a quarter. It was amazing how this slowed
down the battery consumption. Just remember that this can be
used in other areas. Just be creative.
· Skating or other events that are extras – Just choose a portion
that you expect them to pay for. Kids are always wanting to do
just one more activity.
· Cokes and junk food – Sometimes as teens get older and are
away from home more they tend to consume more of these
lethal items. As my kids became more money conscious over
time this was one item that I levied on them. It was amazing
how fast this consumption came to a halt. They would grab a
bottle of water from home instead of buying something. No
problem when it was my money, but it’s amazing how much of
a tight wad they became with their money.
These are just a few ideas that we came up with. Your family will find
many more ways to implement this system if you decide to try it out.
Good luck and remember to think outside the box. Each family has
different likes and needs so you will begin to implement this in the areas
that affect your children the most.
July 2009
( CONT .)
Page 4
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
B IG R IVER – T HE ADVENTURES
OF
CONT.
H UCKLEBERRY F INN
The Houston Family Arts Center (HFAC) presents Roger Miller’s
adventurous and humorous musical Big River – The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Come
along for the adventure of a lifetime! Join Huck Finn and runaway slave
Jim on a musical trip down the Mississippi River in Mark Twain’s classic
tale. Performed by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals and
directed by Ilich Guardiola, Big River opens for a three week limited
engagement July 24th, at the Berry Center (8877 Barker Cypress in
Cypress, TX). Tickets are affordably priced at $12-$16 and are now on
sale for all performances. Tickets are just $16 for adults, $14 for
seniors, and $12 for students. For tickets and additional information call
(281) 685-6374 or select your seats online at www.houstonfac.com.
Group prices are available for groups of more than 10.
Performances are at The Berry Center, which is located at 8877 Barker Cypress
Road, Cypress, TX 77433. Performances dates and times are:
Friday, July 24, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, July 26, 2009 at 3 PM
Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 8 PM
Sunday, August 2, 2009 at 3 PM
Friday, August 7, 2009 at 8 PM
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
G EOR
GE O BSER
EORGE
BSERVVAT OR
ORYY C LASSES
FOR
H OMESCHOOL STUDENTS
We offer hands-on astronomy classes for homeschool elementary students.
Classes are specially designed for grades K-2 and 3-8.
H OUST
ON M USEUM D ISTRICT D AY
OUSTON
FOR
F AMILIES
Houston Museum District returns Saturday, September 12, 2009. Stay
tuned for updates. Note: The Houston Museum Educators Open House
will be held on January 24, 2009. http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/
.
The classes at the George Observatory are designed to be a series of
classes. However, individual classes may be purchased if desired. You
may book classes by e-mailing your registration forms to Vanessa Garcia
at [email protected] or by contacting Vanessa at (713) 639-4733
beginning at 9 am on Monday, August 10, 2009. http://www.hmns.org/
files/education/GeorgeHomeSchoolReg09-10.pdf
CYT H OUSTON S UMMER S CHEDULE
A terrific season of successful classes and shows for Christian Youth
Theater is over and will resume in the fall – be sure to check the website
in August for the schedule for 2009-2010! Summer is upon us, and so
is camp time! CYT is offering five theater arts day camps for ages 6-18
based on the Disney musical Newsies at locations in Spring, The Woodlands, Tomball, Cypress, and Montgomery. Camps for ages 11-18, based
on the hit Broadway musical Wicked, will be in Conroe and The Woodlands. Each camp includes workshops in voice, dance, and drama, as
well as lots of high-energy games and a wild and wacky water day. All
campers receive a camp t-shirt and participate in a showcase for friends
and family at the close of camp on Friday evening. For camp information
and registration, visit the website: www.cythouston.org. For questions,
email [email protected] or call (832) 338-5869.
July 2009
C IVIL W AR R EENACTMENT
You are hereby cordially invited to attend the Civil War Weekend at Plantation Liendo. Friday, November 20th 2009. This will be open to the
schools and homeschools alike. The camps will be open for the students
to walk through, ask questions, and gather research material. The fee is
$5 per student; chaperones teachers are will receive free entry. We ask
that the ratio of students to chaperones be no more than 10 to 1, and
groups must remain together. If the ratio above is more some teachers
will be charged $5. Tours through the Plantation House are available
free to students on school day. For more information, contact Susan
Gibson at [email protected] or (713) 205-1897.
Page 5
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
CONT.
H OMESCHOOL T HEA
TER D ISCOUNTS
HEATER
B OB J ONES U NIVERSITY P RESS S OLUTION M EETINGS
Thanks for the great response to our recent offers - Phantom of the
Opera (over 120 tickets) and Wicked in both Austin and San Antonio
(over 200 tickets for each city). We will be setting up new polls for the
coming season to see which shows homeschoolers would like to see.
Please check http://www.jsoft.com/archive/taffie/theater/ for more
information including current offers. New BAA Houston season includes:
Mary Poppins, Wicked; New TUTS season includes: Sound of Music,
Little House on the Prairie. Only those shows that show enough interest
to make our required minimums will have homeschool offers. When
offers become active, orders must be placed before the offers expire or
you will not get the homeschool discount. Questions contact Susan
Frederick at [email protected].
BJU Press Solution Meetings are hosted by a veteran homeschooling mom of
25+ yrs who is also a BJU Press Precept Marketing Representative. She will be
available to show you the BJU Press curriculum and to answer any questions you
may have. Free shipping on all orders! Mark your calendar for the following
dates. All times are 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Need more information? Call (281)
923-9956 or (800) 845-5731.
July 7
July 13
July 14
July 21
July 28
Beaumont
Houston
Seabrook
Stafford
Houston/Spring
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn
Hampton Inn(NASA)
Comfort Suites
Comfort Suites
3795 IH 10.S
12439 NW Freeway
3000 NASA Rd. 1
4820 Techniplex Dr.
21222 Tomball Pkwy
T HE H OMESCHOOL TV C HANNEL
H ERIT
ERITAA GE M USEUM
IN
C ONR
OE
ONROE
Each year in July the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County hosts
“Pioneer Days,” a summer program for 9-12 year olds. Cost is only $35
and space fills up quickly. The museum is located next to Candy Cane
Park in Conroe. http://www.heritagemuseum.us/pioneerdays.shtml.
KVP
CK A CRE T HEA
TRE T EAM U P
KVPAAC & B LA
LACK
HEATRE
The FIRST weekend of every month this summer will be a blast thanks
to Attention Deficit Improv, where it pays to think fast! KVPAC provides
the venue for young adults and teenagers to spend quality time with
their friends in a safe and entertaining environment. Admission is only
$7 at the door (cash only please).
Hosted by Black Acre Theatre, the new program promises an evening of
comedic ventures ranging from quirky characters to on-the-spot song
creation. Participate in the fun and games, or just sit back and laugh
with your friends and enjoy the show! Concessions are available for
purchase. Age groups alternate between Friday nights, designated
for young teens age 13 through 18; and Saturday nights, designated for
older teens and young adults 18+. Age limits will be strictly enforced! All
guests must observe the rules outlined by Hosts. No re-admittance
allowed after leaving the KVPAC theatre building.
Many of the young adults from Katy’s newly created young adult theatre
company, Black Acre Theatre, will serve as Improv Hosts each evening.
Mary Black is a junior in the University of Oklahoma’s School of Drama.
Ben Chai is on hiatus from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Both graduated from Cinco Ranch High School, are active alumni of the
Cinco Ranch Theatre Company and are the founders of Black Acre
Theatre. For more information on Black Acre Theatre visit
http://www.blackacretheatre.org.
July 2009
KSBJ announced that Sky Angel TV will launch a homeschool channel
beginning in the fall. It sounds like it is going to be a great resource. For
more information, visit http://thehomeschoolchannel.tv/
THE HOMESCHOOL ST
STORE
ORE
ON
1355
JUDIWAAY HOUST
HOUSTON
ON,, TX 77018
355 JUDIW
713-683-8894
Discount Prices - Childr
en Welcome
Children
Pub
lisher s in Stoc
Publisher
Stockk
Saxon - Alpha Omega - Bob Jones - Apologia
Singapore Math - Lamplighter Books - Classic Novels
Explode the Code - D.I.V.E. Cd’s - Shurley Grammar
Tapestry of Grace - Runkle Geography - Easy Grammar
Write Source - DK - Story of Liberty - Master Books
Learning Language Arts thru Literature - Pathways
Spelling Power - Sing, Spell, Read & Write - Baker
Christian Liberty Press - Progeny Press - Usborne
Five in a Row - Well Trained Mind - Diana Waring
Horizons Math - Veritas Press - Henty Books
Greenleaf - Writing Strands - Power Glide
English from the Roots Up
Over 200 Publishers in Stock, Others arriving Soon
100 Bookcases of Used Books
(including A Beka & Bob Jones)
Map at www.thehomeschoolstore.com
or Call for directions
We buy used Curriclum
Page 6
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
09-10 A POLOGIA H IGH S CHOOL S CIENCE L ABS
Apologia High school science labs are taught by Karen Garza who focuses
on mastery of the material with a deeper understanding and appreciation
of God and of science, as well as teamwork amongst students. She truly
believes that science reveals the nature and character of God, thus she
adopted the name Revelation Science for the classes she offers. Karen is
passionate about science and teaching. Her classes are challenging, but
worth the effort.
The labs are for high school only and include Biology, Chemistry, and
Advanced Biology (human anatomy) utilizing Exploring Creation with
Biology 2nd edition, Exploring Creation with Chemistry 2nd edition, and
The Human Body, respectively, published by Apologia. Note: It is
recommended to have taken a biology course and chemistry prior to
Advanced. For details on the curriculum and timeline recommendation
of when to take them, visit www.apologia.com. For class schedule and
fees, visit www.revelationscience.com.
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
Give your student a junior high and
high school education through the
B ASKETBALL C AMP
Alodia Basketball Academy in Tomball is interested in reaching the
homeschool community. They offer basketball camps and training. For
more information contact Luanne Walling at (281) 255-2552 x12 or
[email protected]. www.alodiabasketball.com
study
of
World
Views
of
the
Western World.
This is a classical, interdisciplinary
approach to everything a student will
need for a high school education
except for math, science and a
foreign language.
T OY OTA C ENTER H OMESCHOOL D ISCOUNTS
The Toyota Center is offering discount tickets to Cirque du Soleil –
Saltimbanco from July 22 – 26th. Tickets start at just $28. Best
discount on Friday, July 24 at 3:30 pm. Order deadline July 8, order
early for best seating. For further information:
http://www.jsoft.com/archive/taffie/Toyota.html. Contact Courtney
Aldrich at (713) 758-7577 to check ticket availability. Questions email
Susan Frederick at [email protected] These offer are open to all
homeschoolers, friends and family.
July 2009
Check out Bobby Frazier’s classes at
www.cornerstoneclasses.com
for
schedules and places of classes. Mr.
Frazier’s phone number is (281) 6855430
and
e-mail
address
is
[email protected].
Page 7
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
M USEUM DISTRICT D AY
Get ready to enjoy a free day in the Houston Museum District on Saturday,
September 12 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Board a free bus shuttle and
spend the entire day exploring favorite museums and discovering new
destinations. Museum District Day will feature fascinating exhibitions,
hands-on activities, demonstrations and performances throughout the
day. Fifteen museums will waive their general admission fee to offer the
community the opportunity to enjoy the District’s diverse displays of art,
science, nature and history. For more details about Museum District Day
please visit our web site. www.HoustonMuseumDistrict.org
S CIENCE
AND
D ISSECTION L AB C LASSES
AT THE
HMNS
We will begin booking all classes for groups on July 20, and whether you
brought the registration form in personally, submitted it by e-mail or
faxed it, Vanessa will call you when your booking is complete. Please do
not call to inquire about the status of your reservation as this will delay
the processing. You may continue to submit group registration forms for
science and dissection lab classes at HMNS by e-mail throughout the
school year. However, we will not be taking group reservations by phone
until Monday, August 10 at 9 am.
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
H EART
OF
CONT.
T EXAS L EADERSHIP C ONFERENCE
It’s Time to Get Connected and Encouraged! Do you help newbies get
started homeschooling? Do you coordinate activities or field trips? Do
you lead a homeschool support group, co-op, or e-list? Come to the
Heart of Texas Leadership Conference July 18 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
On-Site Registration starts at 8:00 am. Conference will be held at
Restoration Church located at 1350 W. Euless Blvd., Euless, TX 76040.
More details coming soon!! http://www.heartoftex.org/
When you call Vanessa on or after July 20 to register for group science
labs at the Museum, you will not be required to make a deposit. However,
in the event that a group does not show up for a scheduled class or does
not give the Museum 48 hours notice when cancelling a class, the group
will be charged 50% of the missed class(es) before attending other
classes. Questions contact Susan Buck at [email protected] (713) 639
4764.
IHM D ALLAS H OMESCHOOL
G EOR
GE O BSER
EORGE
BSERVVATOR
ORYY C LASSES
FOR
H OMESCHOOL S TUDENTS
We offer hands-on astronomy classes for homeschool elementary students.
Classes are specially designed for grades K-2 and 3-8.
The classes at the George Observatory are designed to be a series of
classes. However, individual classes may be purchased if desired. You
may book classes by e-mailing your registration forms to Vanessa Garcia
at [email protected] or by contacting Vanessa at (713) 639-4733
beginning at 9 am on Monday, August 10, 2009. http://www.hmns.org/
files/education/GeorgeHomeSchoolReg09-10.pdf
July 2009
AND
P ARENT C ONFERENCE
The 2nd Annual Immaculate Heart of Mary Dallas Homeschool and Parent
Conference will be held July 24 from 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm and July 9:00
am – 4:00 pm in Grapevine Texas (1209 South Main Street, Grapevine,
TX 76051). This conference includes many Catholic vendors and speaker
workshops. http://www.ihmconference.org/dallas
From their flyer: “This conference is for everyone, not just home schooling
families. All religious are especially welcome. Although we love children,
we must restrict attendance to teens and nursing babies.”
Page 8
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
3URWHFWKRPHVFKRROLQJ
CONT.
T HE A USTIN LEGO S UMOBOT T OURNAMENT
The Austin Lego Sumbot Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 8,
2009 at the Austin Recreation Center at 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd. This
event is sponsored by Austin Robotics Network. Check-in begins at
12:00 and we will get started by 12:45. We will finish by 3:15 as we
have to clear the building by 3:30.
As in the past, there is no age limit for this tournament. Robot entries
can be made by individuals or teams. There are some changes this year.
Due to the overwhelming response last year, we have decided to limit the
number of entries to one per individual or team, and individuals may not
be on more than one team. There are also rule changes pertaining to
size & allowed sensors.
,W·VHDVLHUZLWKIULHQGV
[email protected] with Sumobot in the subject line. Tell me
how many robots you are registering, the names of the participants, and
request a registration form. Fill out one registration form for each robot
and bring that with you to registration.
)FWEALLHELPALITTLE
WELLALLBENElTALOT
*/).53
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
There is a suggested donation of $5 per entry. Register by Monday,
August 3, 2009. To register, send an email to Diana Heinig at
CONT.
SA-HERO H OMESCHOOL R OUNDUP
We regret to announce that SA-HERO, normally held in July in San Antonio,
will not be holding the Homeschool Roundup Conference this year. We
were unable to secure an affordable venue to hold the Roundup in time to
plan for a successful event. We intend to resume the conference in 2010
and are working on securing a location early. We appreciate your past
support and hope to see you next year. http://www.sahero.org/
N EW S UPPORT G ROUP
Calling all those who live Brazoria County or close by (this includes Alvin,
Manvel, Rosharon, Damon, Santa Fe, Liverpool, Angleton, and anyone in
or around these areas. A Support Group for this area is in the works. Our
goal is to have a kick off meeting in August. Then plan on meeting
probably once a month for mom’s while working to incorporate field trips,
and maybe some fun education days for your children. South Park Baptist Church, in Alvin, has graciously agreed to allow us to use their facilities for meetings and for any educational days we may want to plan for
the kids. Please contact Holly at [email protected] for more
information and date of the first meeting.
S CHLITTERB
AHN H OMESCHOOL F AMIL
CHLITTERBAHN
AMILYY D AY S
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels is hosting their annual
homeschool days August 29-30 and September 12-13. An advance
ticket purchase with a minimum order of four tickets is required. Orders
must be prepaid ten days prior to your visit. This event applies ONLY to
the New Braunfels location, does not apply to other Schlitterbahn
locations. http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/groups/ Contact Group sales
at (830) 608-8532 for ticket prices and order forms. http://
www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/groups/contact.htm
July 2009
NTHEN S UMMER C ONFERENCE
NTHEN Summer Conference will be held at the Plano Convention Center
(2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX) on August 7 & 8, 2009l
See website for updates and online registration. NTHEN - North Texas
Home Educators Network http://www.nthen.org.
Page 9
95% Of All College
Applications Include
An Honor Society.
Will Your Student’s
Transcript Be
Competitive?
MU ETA SIGMA
National Math Honor Society
for Home Schooled Students
www.MathHonorSociety.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
KVP
W AY
KVPAAC’ S S UMMER C AMP B R OAD
ADW
S ERIES P RESENTS H IGH S CHOOL M USICAL 2
School is out for the summer, and the Wildcats are looking forward to
some fun in the sun. Sharpay sets her sights on Troy and cooks up a
scheme to get him a summer job at daddy’s country club in Lava Springs.
When Troy gets all his friends, including girlfriend Gabriella, a job there
too, Sharpay is incensed. The Wildcats vow to make it the summer of
their lives, but spoiled Sharpay vows to catch Troy and get the rest of her
classmates fired.
When: Friday, July 24 at 7:00 pm & Saturday, July 25 at 2:00 pm and
7:00 pm
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
C OLLEGES
THA
THATT
CONT.
C HANGE L IVES TX S TOPS
Forty of America’s most remarkable colleges and universities are profiled
in former New York Times education editor Loren Pope’s influential book
Colleges That Change Lives, and they will be traveling to an area near
you later this year. We invite interested students, families, and college
counselors to learn more about making a well-informed college search
by joining us for an information session and college fair. Sponsored by
Colleges That Change Lives, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
support of a student-centered college search process, these programs
are free to the public and pre-registration is not required. http://
www.ctcl.org/events/map. The Texas locations are listed below:
Houston - Saturday, August 15, 2009, 10:00 a.m.- Marriott Houston Westchase
Austin - Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm - Austin Convention Center Dallas
Dallas - Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 3:00 pm - Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre
KVP
W AY S ERIES P RESENTS A NNIE
KVPAAC’ S S UMMER C AMP B R OAD
ADW
JR.
As an infant, Annie had been abandoned on the front steps of The New
York City Municipal Orphanage with a note from her parents promising to
return for her someday. Life in the orphanage had been rough under the
strict hand of Miss Hannigan, but Annie’s life was about to change.
Billionaire Oliver Warbucks invites Annie to spend Christmas with him in
his mansion, and together, they each discover new happiness.
When: Friday, July 10 at 7:00 pm & Saturday, July 11 at 2:00 pm and
7:00 pm
Wher
e: The Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center, located in the Great
here:
Southwest Equestrian Center, 2501 Mason Road #290, Katy, TX 77450.
Tarif
ariff:f: All Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased ONLINE at
www.KVPAC.org.
Contact: Lisa Connolly, KVPAC Marketing Director, 281-829-2787,
[email protected], www.KVPAC.org
Wher
e: The Katy Visual & Performing Arts Center, located in the Great
here:
Southwest Equestrian Center, 2501 Mason Road #290, Katy, TX 77450.
Tarif
ariff:f: All Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased ONLINE at
www.KVPAC.org.
Contact: Lisa Connolly, KVPAC Marketing Director, 281-829-2787,
[email protected], www.KVPAC.org
July 2009
H OUST
ON M USEUM D ISTRICT D AY
OUSTON
FOR
F AMILIES
Museum District Day returns Saturday, September 12, 2009. Stay tuned
for updates. Note: The Houston Museum Educators Open House will be
held on January 24, 2009. http://www.houstonmuseumdistrict.org/.
Page 10
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
H OUST
ON F AMIL
OUSTON
AMILYY A R TS C ENTER 2009 S UMMER C LASSES
June 22 – July 27
Ages 8-12: AESOP’S FABLES held on Mondays: June 22 – July 27 (no class July
20), from 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Directed by Joshua Clark. Students will work on
a collection of fables, employing memorization, improvisation, vocal inflections
and projection, and storytelling. Concludes in free parent/family performance at
5:00 pm on July 27th.
June 29 – July 3
Ages 10 - Adult: INTRO TO STAGE COMBAT/SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP. Taught by
Ilich Guardiola and Josh Clark and held Mon-Fri, 10:00 am – 12:00 am. Learn
techniques to make fights or even just a slap look realistic on stage while also
learning the principles that keep everyone safe. Top it off with special effects
makeup and look like you’ve been in a fight after all!
WHAT’S HAPPENING LOCALLY
CONT.
HOUST
ON F AMIL
AMILYY AR TS C ENTER 2009 S UMMER CLASSES
OUSTON
(CONT)
Ages 13-Adult: FIVE DAYS OF FOSSE! Monday – Friday 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm.
Taught by Monica Bradley. A one-week intensive study of Fosse’s dance style,
resulting in a showcase performance on the final day.
Ages 13-Adult: CONDITIONING FOR DANCERS. Monday – Friday 2:00 pm –
3:00 pm. Taught by Monica Bradley. One-week of intensive conditioning especially designed for the moderate to experienced dancer.
July 27-31
Girls, Ages 5-8: PRINCESS CAMP Monday - Friday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Taught
by Amy Henderson and Beth Chrisman You too can be a princess! Learn musical
theatre princess songs, simple choreography, and lessons on poise and etiquette. Each day includes a tea party luncheon and a simple craft project.
Ages 13-Adult: ADVANCED STAGE COMBAT Mon-Fri, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Taught
by Ilich Guardiola. This class builds on previous stage combat experience,
incorporating more difficult factors into the fight, including weapons.
Ages 13-Adult: DANCE LIFTS. Mon-Fri, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Taught by Beth
Chrisman and Stephen Bedede. Learn the fundamentals of lifting and being lifted
safely, and perform a large variety of fun dance lifts and dips with a partner.
Concludes with performance showcase. Height/weight guidelines for safety. Previous dance experience required.
July 6-10
Ages 5-10: FRACTURED FAIRY TALES. Held Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 12:30
pm. Taught by Josh Clark and Brendis O’Sullivan. Children act out fun twists on
the original stories. Have fun with “Jack and the Giant Sunflower,” “The Emperor’s
New Hair,” “Aladdin and the Magic Pickle Jar.” Ends with parent performance
showcase.
Ages 7-10: INTRO TO MUSICAL THEATRE. Held Monday – Friday, 12:45 pm –
1:45 pm. Taught by Monica Bradley. Spend one week working on a couple
musical numbers, complete with choreography! Performance showcase on final
day.
Ages 10-Adult: MUSICAL THEATRE TAP. Held Monday – Friday 2:00 pm – 3:00
pm. Taught by Monica Bradley. For men and women, and experienced students
10 and up, class is designed as a refresher combined with additional instruction.
Brush up on the most commonly needed tap steps.
Ages 13-Adult: SHAKESPEARE SCENES AND MONOLOGUES. Mon– Fri 1:00 pm
– 4:00 pm. Taught by Jonathan Foster
A class designed to build appreciation for and understanding of the works of
Shakespeare, with an emphasis on reading and interpretation. Final performance
opportunity.
July 13-17
Ages 13-Adult: PREPARING FOR THEATRE DANCE AUDITIONS. Monday – Friday
10:00 am – 11:00 am. Taught by Monica Bradley. Learn the most frequently
used musical theatre dance steps and terminology and put your best foot
forward at your next dance audition.
July 2009
Page 11