*Who:* Homeschool families and friends

 *What:* Roller skating -- large rink + mini rink

            Also visiting with other kids/parents

            Snack bar

            Pool table (games at 50 cents each)

            Popular tunes, both secular and Christian

            Skating games: Four Corners, Limbo

            Non-skating dance: Cha-Cha Slide 

*How much:* $5.00 for skaters -- free for non-skaters

*Where:* Super Skate - 5100 Northland Ave NE

               Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-6206

                (319) 377-3767

*When:* 1:00 -- 3:00 PM

                Friday, September 18, 2009

                Friday, October 16, 2009

                Friday, November 13, 2009

                Friday, December 11, 2009

                Friday, January 15, 2010

                Friday, February 19, 2010

                Friday, March 19, 2010

                Friday, April 16, 2010

                May -- August dates to be determined

*Why:* Physical activity

            Socialization  ;)

*Questions:* Contact Heidi Haney at 366-1465 or Heidi.B.Haney@gmail.com

    Date: Fri May 8, 2009 11:00 am ((PDT))

Eastern Iowa Home School Conference: Still time to register for early registration! Register early until 5/9/09. Twenty-five workshop sessions on a wide variety of topics! Lunch is included. Join us for a great time connecting with other home schoolers! Registration also taken at the door, but registering early helps us to plan.

 http://www.eihsconference.com

 Dr. Bette Klein

 May 15 – Catching Croakers, 8 p.m. Chichaqua Longhouse, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, northeast Polk County

May 15 – Family Friday Night, Fascinating Frogs, Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines

May 18 – Registration begins for summer reading programs at many local libraries

May 19 – Nature Friends – Birds, 6:30 p.m. Jester Park, Granger

May 23 – Night Hike, 8 p.m. Prairie Flower Campground, Saylorville Reservoir

May 29 – Family Friday Night, Playful Pandas, Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines

May 30 -- Mammals of Iowa, 1 pm., Yellow Banks Park, southeast Polk County

June 5, 6 – Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators Conference, Des Moines

June 9 – Nature Tales, 2 p.m. Saylorville Lake Visitor Center

June 12 – Family Friday Night, Feathered Friends, Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines

June 13 – Night Hike, 8 p.m. Cherry Glen Campground, Saylorville Reservoir

June 17 – Nature Play Date, 10:30 a.m. Greenwood Park, Mary Miss Pond, Des Moines

June 17 – Nature’s Story Hour/Animal Habitats, picnic lunch at MacRae Park, upper shelter, Des Moines

Until next month,

Cathy Frueh                                 Julia McGuire
Managing Partner                      Founding Partner   

 The official 3rd Annual Not Back to School Days Rally™ at Disneyland (California) – September 14-17, 2009 - is bringing you the first-ever homeschool conference at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, and you won't want to miss it!

 We now have a conference packet available for download, you can view the latest updates on speakers and exhibitors, and you can register in one convenient place:

http://www.southwest-home-education.com/Conference2009/conf2009.htm

 Membership in the sponsoring organization is NOT required to attend this conference - it is a national conference open to all.  We have worked very hard to obtain the lowest group discounts, and the most unique speakers and exhibitors.  This is a homeschool conference unlike any other, plus a super great deal on the best family vacation!

 Deadlines are quickly approaching – check the conference packet for all the deadlines and get your room reserved today.  If you want to make payments, or you need to do fundraising, please contact me TODAY (this week).  We are running out of time to set these two things up. 

 You can make three equal payments, and this is set up manually, so contact me offlist with an email of everything you want included in your payments and I will invoice you.  Don't wait, the deadline was extended to the end of this week to get the first payment in.

 On fundraising, I need 100 families to commit to selling raffle tickets.  Again, please contact me offlist.  You will need about 2-3 months to sell your tickets and raise the points to go, so if you want this option, you need to sign up by April 17th.  We have to have 100 families who are wanting to do this fundraiser to make it work.

 Hope to see you at Disneyland in California this September!  I have left my email and phone number at the end of this post – so you know it's not spam – it's a real homeschool conference at Disneyland!

 Dianne McLean

fieldtrips@sw-home-edu.com

928-542-1387

Spread the word!

 Iowa Energy Basketball

Thursday, April 9

WellsFargo Arena, Des Moines

Tickets are $8

 The Iowa Energy Basketball team is a NBA Development League team, minor league affiliate of the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns. Iowa Energy is planning a Faith and Family Night on Thursday, April 9th and has invited homeschool families to take part. This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy top notch basketball and child friendly entertainment. The highlight of the night will be a Preachers & Sneakers game during half time.

Contact:

Jenna Croft, Account Executive

 (515) 462-2849

American Legion National Oratorical Contest

 2008-2009 is the 72nd year of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Competition. This competition is designed for all contestants to discover a deeper understanding of the US Constitution.

 The competition is a prepared oration on these 4 topics from the US Constitution:

 Amendment 1

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

 Amendment 3

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

 Amendment 4

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

 Art 3, Sec 3

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court. Clause 2: The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

 The 6-8 minute oration is delivered without written notes before the Legion's selected judges. The first level begins in December 2008 and then moves into local and regional competitions. The national finals are in Indianapolis in the early spring of 2009. State winners earn $1,000 scholarships. National winners receive $18,000.

 To learn more go to

http://legion.org/programs/youthprograms/oratorical

Dear Friends,

We are excited about new opportunities to serve homeschool families in our area for the 2008-2009 school year.  After speaking with several of you, we have decided to make Thursday afternoons “Extension 4-H" afternoons for our homeschool friends.  There will be activities for five through twelve year olds, as described on the attached flyer.  Reserve your space early by completing the appropriate registration form, and mailing it back to our office at:

Scott County Extension

875 Tanglefoot Lane

Bettendorf, Iowa 52722

As always, if you would like to be added to our direct-mail database, or have questions about our programs, contact Jen or Jodi at Iowa State University Extension, Scott County at 563-359-7577. 

We look forward to another great year of learning at fun with our homeschool programs.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Best, MS Ed., CFLE

Iowa State University, Scott County Extension Educator

Drawing to Win: "Love As a Way of Life" by Dr. Gary Chapman

 This was sent to me by NICHE.  It sounds like a great opportunity, too bad my son is only 13. - Nancy

A unique opportunity for homeschoolers age 14 - 18 is taking place in Bloomfield, IA the week of August 12 - 16.  You must respond soon as space is limited.

 A Christian camp, Forest Lake Camp, is hosting the Brigade Air program for youth with interest in aviation and in missions aviation.

 Campers have actual flight time each day weather permitting,  ground school sessions, many DVD videos of stories from the mission aviation field.  Each day they travel to and from the local airport, and back at the camp ground are the usual fun activities like swimming and campfires at night.  They are challenged to get involved with world missions. 

Over 1,300 teens at 74 week-long Brigade Air camps have had this wonderful experience over the past seven years. 

Brigade Air, Inc. networks with over 40 missionary aviation organizations.  Our camps have been operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship, JAARS, LeTourneau University, and Prarie Bible College to name a few.

 Go to our web site, www.brigadeair.org  and listen to the 2-minute video introduction to our ministry by Steve Saint, son of the missionary martyr, Nate Saint. 

You can register your youth right there on the web site by clicking on the "Camper Registration" button.After you do, a follow-up contact will be made by Forest Lake.

 Don't miss out on this new and unique opportunity for your homeschooled youth in Iowa!

 Best Regards,

 Bruce E. Wolff   Executive Director   Brigade Air, Inc.   dba: Mission Aviation Adventure Camps  6968 N. Starshine Dr.   Tucson, AZ 85741   bruce@brigadeair.org     www.brigadeair.org   (520) 408-2359

Did you know there is a new monthly e-magazine from TOS available to all subscribers for free?  It's called "The Teacher's Toolbox."  Here is some more information about this from Nancy Carter, Director of Marketing.    I'm afraid there isn't an episode to peek at, but if you are a subscriber already, check it out and pass the word on to your friends what they are missing by not subscribing. 

Nancy

Our homeschool group participated this last year and it was great fun.  Check it out.  US groups are also allowed to participate even though this is in Canada.  - Nancy

Fun science project to get involved in...Tomatosphere

Posted in Special Offers
The basics of Tomatosphere is a "blind" test in which you and your
students will not know the treatment of the seeds until completion of
the germination process and submission of results. Students will
learn how to conduct a scientific experiment and compare the
germination rates of the seeds. They may also report on the growth
and development of their plants... and may be inspired to pursue
further education in science and technology.

The partners in Tomatosphere are working to develop new optional
units for teachers and students - new components which are science-
related but also linked to other areas in the curriculum:

Grades 3 - 4 - nutrition focus for astronauts for long trips
Grade 6 - life support for astronauts (other than food)
Grades 7 - 8 - the Mars environment
Grades 9 - 10 - chemistry and biology of food and nutrition
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We are getting ready for the first mailing of 2008. As someone who is
already registered, your seeds will be mailed out in the third week
of February. If you are doing some planning for early March, you
will, in all probability, have your seeds by about the 3rd of March,
if not sooner. IF YOUR SEEDS DO NOT ARRIVE by the 7th of March,
please let us know.

As we move into phase three of Tomatosphere with plans for seeds
being sent to the International Space Station for distribution in
2010, please encourage any of your colleagues who would like to be
involved in the program for 2008 - 2009 - 2010, to register soon.
Although we will have ample seed available for 08 and 09, we are, of
course, limited by the number of seeds that we can actually send up
and retrieve for the 2010 edition. Teachers can register at
www.tomatosphere.org.

Our web site has been undergoing some visual changes. The basic
organization will not change, but the visual impact will improve
greatly. Watch for these changes to be implemented in the next few
weeks. We think you will like the new look to the Tomatosphere web
sit.

I have been cleaning up the data base and would ask that, if you are
NOT interested in continuing with Tomatosphere to let us know by
sending an e-mail to projectmanager@tomatosphere.org.

As always, if you have questions, please feel free to call (905-627-
3685) or send an e-mail to the above address. Except for some times
on vacation (e.g. from January 25 - February 3), responses are
usually within 48 hours.

Best wishes from the Tomatosphere Project Team and sponsors -
Canadian Space Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Stokes
Seeds, H.J. Heinz, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and the University
of Guelph.

Robert Morrow

Project Manager

In the Des Moines Register, link below, Whitney Williams from Texas, homeschool graduate, is now on the ISU Women's Basketball team.  Apparently she was spotted by talant scouts at Summer Tournaments.  She also played on a team that won the home-school national championship in Oklahoma City and was named most valuable player. 

http://www.hslda.org/docs/link.asp?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fdesmoinesregister%2Ecom%2Fapps%2Fpbcs%2Edll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D%2F20071114%2FSPORTS0208%2F711140363%2F%2D1%2FSPORTS0803

Hang in there Whitney !!!

It's NOT too late to take the survery from The Old Schoolhouse.  In return for giving your opinion, there are TWO FREE E-BOOKS to download. 

The first is "Homeschool Dialogues."  It is packed with interviews of homeschool greats such as Dr. Raymond Moore, Lisa Welchel, Karen Andreola, and other persons important to homeschooling such as John Tayler Gotto, Dr. Bruce Shortt, "Little Bear" Wheeler, John MacArthur, Josh McDowell, and many more. 

The second free e-book is "20 Homemade Games for Learning."  Included are games for reading and phonics, games for spelling and writing, math games, games for geography, and memory games.  There is also a section on John Tayler Gotto.   

This info is thanks to "the Homeschool Minute," a TOS e-newsletter.  To receive a weekly newsletter full of neat ideas and topics, check out www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com and sign up for your own copy of this and/or many other e-newsletters for free. 

Here is a fun FREE project you can do within the homeschool community!

During the month of October, all new subscribers to the Knowledge House newsletter will get a free “Costumes for All Seasons” e-book. This colorfully illustrated six-page e-book contains hundreds of costume ideas including suggestions for educational costumes, how to outfit boys’ and girls’ costume trunks, easy-to make sweat suit costumes, how to throw together last-minute costumes, host a masquerade ball, and more. Go to www.knowledgehouse.info and scroll down for more info on this offer and to subscribe to the Knowledge House Newsletter. This free e-newsletter features original articles, unit studies, holiday ideas, teaching tips, quotations, book reviews, experiments, biographies of famous homeschoolers, learning links, etc. Each issue contains a freebie or bargain, too!