"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
The Colorado Rockies are sponsoring
published in an upcoming Rockies
Friday, September 4, 2009
Attention Homeschool Writers
Finishing the Job in Preparation for Life
October 3, 2009 – Denver Metro (Parker)
Join us for a one-day homeschool conference specifically
addressing the High School Years and Beyond!
The High School and Beyond all day Seminar:
…help your child live out their calling by preparing now
…receive guidance on how to teach high school from
experienced homeschool moms and dads
…plan ahead with our new college preparation and an
entrepreneurial workshop
…explore mentorship and apprenticeship options through
the AME program.
Includes a full syllabus and resource booklet chockfull of
information. Register here or call 1-877-842-2432.
Communicators for Christ
How would you like your child or student to be capable (and yes, even comfortable!) speaking on a public platform anywhere, anytime, and effectively convey their message? Mark Oct 14-17 on your calendar!
What: Communicators for Christ‘s ―Lead the Escape
Tour, public speaking and critical thinking conference
Where: Northglenn Christian Church, 1800 East 105th
Place, Northglenn, Colorado
How:
Find out all the news here
Scroll down and select Denver to register (before Sept 23
for best pricing!)
Answers: Amy Craddock—craddockclan@comcast.net
Cost: FREE! 7:00 pm Friday evening program is open
to the public. Bring your friends, neighbors, and also
non-conference attendees for an unforgettable
performance!
...and much more!
Please consider allowing us to help get the word out
about what you do while we help this year's graduating
seniors!
Pizza Hut Book It!
SAT Prep & Writing Seminar
You are invited to this upcoming seminar! We are thrilled to bring Dr. James P Stobaugh all the way from Pennsylvania to present this essential SAT Prep ( and writing seminar ). Dr. Stobaugh has allowed us to set up special pricing for this Colorado presentation based upon the number of registrants. The price goes down as more families register. This can make the SAT Prep very reasonable, especially compared to those typically found online for $200 and up. And be sure to pass the word on to those you think might also benefit and help us bring the price per family down. Please find all the info below:
Homeschool with Excellence
SAT Prep & Writing Seminar
by Dr. James & Karen Stobaugh
For both parent and student
Fort Collins, Colorado
September 17-19, 2009
The link for info and registration can be found here.
4 out of every 5 American colleges require the SAT ~ College Board The new SAT I emphasizes higher math, increased reading passages, writing samples and grammar. Shorter, leaner, and meaner, the SAT I is tailored-made for Christian home-schooled students. Never has an exam so heavily depended on empathic stress reduction and critical thinking. It is NOT knowledge that trips up the home-schooled students, it is the time restrictions and inexperience with test taking. However, those who devote themselves to a directed course of instruction, like the one by Dr. Stobaugh, will generate unprecedented high scores!
“Stobaugh has done an excellent job of combining literature, composition, and worldview/Bible studies, while teaching students how to think and analyze literature and ideas!”–Cathy Duffy, Christian Home Educators’ Curriculum Manual
You have worked hard all these years with your children’s studies. Take that next step to help them successfully enter
into the college of their choice by achieving top scores on this critical Scholastic Assessment Test!
Dr. Stobaugh, home school father since 1985, is the president of ‘For Such a Time as _is’. He is a SAT grader for College Board. His education includes: B.A., cum laude, Vanderbilt U., M.Div., Princeton _eological Seminary, M. A.., Rutgers University, Merrill Fellow, Harvard University, D. Min., Gordon Conwell Seminary.
More information on Dr. Stobaugh can be found on here.
National Home School Honor Society
The purpose of Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among home school students. To achieve this purpose, Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society shall provide opportunities for the development of leadership and service. Eta Sigma Alpha shall encourage the development of an intellectual climate that will stimulate the exchange of ideas and ideals, foster scholarship, and promote academic excellence. Eta Sigma Alpha shall also advocate homeschooling as a viable and successful educational methodology and act as a liaison for homeschooling to the general public, colleges/universities, and the media. To find out more, check our their website.
Honor Society for Homeschoolers
Mu Eta Sigma is a National Math Honor Society founded to encourage mathematical excellence and scholarship specifically within the homeschool community. To achieve this purpose Mu Eta Sigma encourages our students to enhance their mathematical skills through community service within their sphere of influence and therefore promoting Christ-like values. For more information, visit here.
Junior Speech Tournament
This is an announcement that the Junior Speech Tournament is coming up on November 14
(registration opens Sep. 2nd).
Hello Colorado homeschool Community,
If you are homeschooled and under twelve years old by January 1st, this is a great opportunity to start working on speech skills! We'll also be needing a lot of more experienced speakers to judge —if you have competed in the NCFCA, or are over 18 please consider judging.
More details on the tournament can be found at here. Also, if you have any additional questions feel free to email the tournament staff at jrtournament@gmail.com
Hope to see you there!
Thanks,
Josiah Dasher
Tournament Director
Homeschool Science Colorado - Olympiad
Hi friends,
Now is the time to look into Homeschool Science Colorado, an exceptional Science Olympiad team composed entirely of homeschooled students, based out of Colorado Springs. Last year was Homeschool Science Colorado's first year and their performance was stellar. The team, composed of 13 middle schoolers (and younger) placed 3rd in the Southern Colorado Regional Tournament (in a field of about 30) and advanced to the Colorado State competition where they placed 3rd among the state's top 30 or so teams, many of whom are hand-picked from selective science magnet schools around the state. Our team "came from nowhere" and unseated some schools that had traditionally scored in the top 10 for many years. The team was featured on the front page of the Woodmen Edition local paper and has had their awards on display at the Rockrimmon Library.
This year, Homeschool Science Colorado is fielding two teams, one to compete with other middle schoolers and one to compete at the high school level, since four of the students on last year's team are too old to compete in the middle school division. All but one of our 13 original students have returned and a handful of homeschoolers has joined us. However, we still have several slots in each division open for ambitious science-loving homeschooled students. Perhaps this science option is just right for your older student.
We are accepting homeschool students that are not part of a distance learning public school program (such as COVA) or any other program that has a Science Olympiad team already. We are looking for motivated middle schoolers and high schoolers but will consider slightly younger students if they are willing to study and if there is room on the roster (priority is given to middle and high school students over upper elementary ones).
The team meets monthly through December and twice monthly through April at the East Library. At meetings, the team members sharpen their general science skills and study for their specialties. Between meetings, team members often communicate online and meet at houses to work on projects and share notes.
What is Science Olympiad? It's a national science competition for students. Teams consist of up to 15 students. Each student competes in about 4 or 5 "events." Most events are with one other teammate. Some events require the students to build something such as an airplane, a bridge, a tower, a musical instrument, or a robot. Other events require students to study a certain subject such as zoology, ecology, meteorology, astronomy, fossils, or biology in preparation for a written test or labs. A few other events combine physical challenges with science knowledge or ask a team of students to design and write up an experiment. There are events where students have to think on their feet and where they have to communicate ideas and describe things. There are three levels of competition. First, teams compete at regional tournaments in March. In April the top teams from the regionals move on to state. Finally, the top team in the state goes to a national competition in May.
Students receive medals for events that they place in. Scores in the individual events are tallied to create team scores.
For homeschoolers, Science Olympiad has some really outstanding advantages:
1. The team members get to know other homeschoolers that are interested in science and often work with experts in the community. My kids got to meet other science-minded students and these friendships are active during the summer, showing me that the relationship was deeper than just the team.
2. Students are reassured that homeschooling is a legitimate option (some homeschooled teens begin to doubt that their education is legitimate compared to their peers) as they compete against their public and private schooled peers and do well. Science Olympiad legitimizes homeschooled kids' science studies. They see that they can compete against hand-picked teams of the best students at science magnets!
3. Families find that Science Olympiad participation fulfills their science requirements quite well, and they leave boring textbooks behind.
4. Science Olympiad is a nationally recognized program and participation in it is a wonderful resume-builder for our students. Colleges that see Science Olympiad on a transcript look twice at our homeschooled kids. An "A" from mom or dad looks good, but a medal from Science Olympiad gets noticed.
5. Many colleges offer scholarships to students who have done well in this program. My old college offers a four-year full-ride scholarship to high schoolers that medal at the Alabama state competition!
6. Many students learn well with hands-on projects instead of just reading books. When my daughter built a bridge she learned a lot more about structure and forces than she would've from just reading a book.
7. Students develop independent research skills.
8. Students learn valuable test-taking skills. Public and private schooled students get a lot of practice in test taking, but our homeschooled kids often don't. In Science Olympiad, they learn test taking skills such as picking between two okay answers and time management.
9. Homeschoolers get a "good rap" from participation. The community coaches, often people who might not have a favorable view of homeschoolers, see that homeschooled kids are bright, motivated, and can work independently. Similarly, when the team name "Homeschool Science Colorado" is announced from the award podium at the competition, the public and private schools in attendance start to take notice of these very capable young scientists.
10. Students get a reward for their hard work in the form of individual medals and team certificates. Unlike our city sports trophies that gather dust in our basement, the medals are EARNED awards not simply "everyone gets one" awards. If a student brought home a medal (and everyone on the team did this past year!), he or she could know that it was earned, not just given out to everyone. Students worked hard and their hard work was recognized.
Please let me know if you are interested in joining our team. There are only a few slots left and when they are filled, we cannot accept new members any more but will maintain a waiting list in case someone moves or withdraws and can no longer participate. We will be assigning events soon.
Kelly Bell, assistant coach Homeschool Science Colorado
719-534-9817
Young Marines of Douglas County
The Young Marines of Douglas County is calling boys ages 8-18. The youth meet as Young Marines every Saturday and have the opportunity to learn new skills, earn rank, wear the Young Marine uniform and work toward ribbon awards. Check them out here or contact Christ Proctor - 303-663-7988