This just in from Catherine Fortin:

My colleague Diane Farrug & I are starting up an exciting resource for homeschooling parents: a free e-newsletter full of free ideas, activities, and printables supported by clear "how to teach" tips for parents.

We realize that what we do, teaching a foreign language takes so much training and experience, and we want to give this to homeschool parents.

We also include free videos on how to teach and how to do specific lessons and activities. The days of giving children a Spanish or French handout and not really knowing what to do with it to maximize it are over.  We're here to help.

Here is the link to the sign up for the free homeschool e-newsletter:

http://foreignlanguagefun.com/2009/11/free-nativity-mini-book-in-french-and-spanish-for-homeschoolers/

Catherine F Fortin

http://foreignlanguagehouse.com

This looks wonderful - Go sign up! Merit K

WHAT: Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

WHO: Students in grades 3 to 12 that reside in the 11 county area comprising Region 5
(Alamance, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Person, Randolph,
Rockingham, and Stokes counties)

WHEN: Saturday, January 30, 8:30-5:00pm

WHERE: High Point University, Congdon Hall

DETAILS: There will be a science demonstration and hands-on science activities.

There will also be campus tours available for high school students and their families.
Lunch is on your own. There are restaurants in the area (none available on campus) or bring your own bag lunch.
Interviews will begin after lunch.

Award Ceremony will be held at approximately 4 p.m. after the score tabulation.

Winners of this fair can advance to the Region 5 Science Fair at SciWorks on Feb. 19, 2010.

IMPORTANT: All participants must fill out the required forms as stated on the NC Science & Engineering Fair website:

http://www.ncsta. org/

These forms should be completed before starting the experiment.
The forms do NOT need to be displayed with the project board, but should be available if asked for by the judges.

HOW: To register, please email the following information.
(Due to space limitations, there is a maximum of 12 students per school.)
============ ========= ========= ========= =
Name of School or Homeschool Group:
Contact Person:
Contact Person Address:
Contact Person Email:
Contact Person Cell Phone:
(This is in case I need to get a hold of you during the science fair.)
============ ========= ========= =========
For each student, include the following...
Student's Name:
Student's Grade:
Title of Project:
Category of Project (select one of the following):
Biological Science
Physical Science
Earth/Environmental Science
Technology
(For a description of the categories, see 

http://www.ncsta.org/sciencefair/students/categories.html

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION is Saturday, January 23.

Registration fee is $10 per student, payable at check-in on the day of the science fair.
Please make checks payable to Jeanne Reppert.
Team projects are allowed.

Please feel free to email with any questions at:
thepineweaver@ gmail.com

Sincerely,
Jeanne Reppert and Heather Blonsky
Co-coordinators of the Piedmont Science Fair for Non-Public Schools

Greensboro Black Belt Academy is offering to co-ordinate a  Homeschool TaekwonDo class!

This looks like a terrific deal and a great opportunity!

Please respond back directly to them with any questions @

Greensboro Black Belt Academy
109-B Pisgah Church Road,  

Greensboro, NC 27455
(336) 218-5056


MeritK

Now Enrolling

* Class length: 45 minutes

* Belt ranks will be earned. Testing normally occurs approximately
every 2 months and is by instructor invitation only.

* Fees: Monthly Tuition: $30.00 per month for 1st family member, $15.00 per month for 2nd family member $10.00 per month for each additional family member

* Uniform costs: $40.00 for 1st uniform, $20.00 for each additional uniform purchased at the same time per family!

*Testing Fees: $25.00 per test (includes belt and certificate)

If more than 12 participants are interested, we can arrange multiple classes.

Saturday, October 24, 10AM – 4PM

Bethania Visitor Center

5480 Bethania Rd

Winston-Salem

www.townofbethania.org

336-922-0434

It is time for the 3rd Annual Black Walnut Festival located in the beautiful setting of Historic Bethania, celebrating our 250th Anniversary this year. Area artists and craftsmen will be showing their talents. Food and beverages, including Brunswick
stew and hot dogs and hamburgers, can be enjoyed by all. The "Fiddle and Bow Society" is providing a variety of foot stomping music. A Children's Activity area will give children a chance to participate in activities such as corn husk and doll making!

Next weekend at Bethabara Park is the Revolutionary War Living History Weekend.
Saturday & Sunday, October 24 & 25, from 10am – 4pm
The British are coming to Bethabara!

Join the 64th Regiment of Foot as they demonstrate drills, weapons, and camp
life. Visitors will also get a chance to see what daily life was like in
Bethabara during the time of the Revolutionary War.

2147 Bethabara Road in Winston Salem
336-924-8191

www.bethabarapark.org

The website doesn't say if there is a charge for this event, but it says the
park and gardens are free all year round and there are tours $1 for children and
$2 each for adults. Looks like inexpensive family fun!

Directions available here:
http://www.cityofws.org/Home/Departments/RecreationAndParks/BethabaraPark/Visit/\
Articles/Visit

Hope you are all having a nice weekend-

Merit

This looks like a very helpful and resonably priced Class for Biology Students! Check it out:

A Dissection Class on the heart 

November 12th from 10-1

In Wendell, NC .

Students will learn CPR, and the anatomy and physiology of the heart. We will take blood pressure , Auscultate each others hearts with a stethoscope and so much more. This is a fun and very educational class. Each student will dissect their own specimen. I supply the dissection guide, all the tools and the specimens. The cost is 30.00 per student. This is a great class for any student age 8 and up who is interested in biology, medicine or just how the body works.Students will receive a certificate upon completion of the class. I am a registered Veterinary technician and I have been teaching dissection classes for 3 years. Many students came to class apprehensive only to leave telling me they can not wait to do another class. This will also count for dissection credit for Biology if you have a high school student. If interested in signing up or if you have any questions please contact me at

3dhelbig@gmail. com Thanks!

Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009

4-H archery class at Camp Sertoma.

This class is for anyone ages 10 and up. No experience is necessary & all equipment is provided. There is still space available, but you need to sign-up by calling Terri ASAP at 593-8197.

Hi All - Here is the recent information I received regarding the Page Program. If you would like your student to serve as a Page, they are currently accepting applications for students to serve in  the Governor's Page Program during the week of October 19th- 23rd.

Please refer questions or requests for applications to:

Mari Fitz-Wynn  Legisadmin@earthlink.net

You can pass this information on to your Homeschool Support Groups!

Thanks - MeritK

Institute for Excellence in Writing

IEW will be in the Lynchburg, VA area, October 19-21, 2009

You are invited to join Andrew Pudewa and his Excellence in Writing team for Four Workshops for students, parents, & teachers:

Location:
Living Word Baptist Church
4130 Waterlick Rd., Forest, Virginia

October 19 2009:

High School Essay Intensive for College Prep Students
Get immediate experience and inside tips on how to do your best on the SAT or ACT essay. Includes strategies for composing the college/scholarship application personal essay. Presenter: Andrew Pudewa
Cost: $50, materials included

Nurturing Excellent Communicators for everyone!
With humor and insight, Andrew Pudewa explains the two most critical things parents and teachers can do to nurture a high level of writing aptitude-from a young age through high school. For the whole family!
Open to all; no charge!

October 20-21:

Student Writing Workout for Students Grades 3-8
Students will spend two enjoyable days learning essentials from Institute for Excellence in Writing structure & style program. Taught by IEW Accredited Instructors Laura House and Sue Reese. Parents must be concurrently enrolled in the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar.* Space is limited; register soon!
Cost: $89 for both days, materials included

 
* Teaching Writing: Structure and Style for Parents and Teachers
Invest in your teaching skills, not in more consumable workbooks! This award-winning method will help you engage your reluctant writers and coach your budding novelists into excellent communicators. Results guaranteed! Presenter: Andrew Pudewa
Cost: $89 for both days, materials included

For more information or to register:
http://www.excellen ceinwriting. com/events
Toll free: 800-856-5815

Can't make it to the VA event? Check out our DVDs, books ,and audio downloads:
http://www.excellen ceinwriting. com/index. php?q=catalog

Institute for Excellence in Writing
800.856.5815
info@excellenceinwr iting.com

UNCG iSchool Registration is Still Open

Steve and Teri Maxwell, popular homeschool authors and speakers, are coming to North Carolina in October!

The Maxwell's will be in Wilmington on Monday, October 5 from 7-9:30pm at Winter Park Baptist Church. There is no charge for the conference (a love offering will be taken to help with travel expenses). 

Steve and Teri Maxwell, parents of eight homeschoolers, have for 19 years been writing books and articles addressing issues that are at the heart of Christian families. Some of their titles include Managers of Their Homes, Managers of Their Chores, Keeping our Children's Hearts, and Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit. The Maxwell's are engaging speakers, and those attending are able to witness the beauty of a homeschool family devoted to following Christ as they watch the entire family working together in unity.

We thank you in advance for helping to get the word out about this amazing opportunity.

You may contact Holly hollyyandle@hotmail.com or Alaine a.hofland@earthlink.net

 for more information or to register.

Meet authors, illustrators, chefs &

storytellers at a FREE family-oriented festival

for readers and booklovers of ALL ages!

BOOKMARKS Festival of Books

Saturday, September 12, 2009

9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Downtown Arts District

6th & Trade Streets

Winston-Salem, NC

Friday, September 11, 2009

"Meet the Authors" Party

Associated Artists Gallery

301 W. 4th Street

Winston-Salem, NC

7:30 p.m. - $30 / person

For more information, please visit:

http://www.bookmarksbookfestival. org/

HOME SCHOOLERS BEGIN SEVENTEENTH YEAR OF MUSIC MAKING

 
The 2009-2010 School Year will mark the seventeenth year of the High Point Home Schoolers Band!  The band program started in 1993 as an experiment, and since then more than 250 students from all over the Triad have converged on John  Wesley College to learn the art of making music with a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument. 

The band program consists of two Bands: a beginning band for students with little or no background in music and an  advanced ensemble for students with a minimum of one-year prior experience
playing a band instrument (an audition is required for entrance into the Advanced Band).
 
The Beginning Band meets
on Thursday afternoons for students in grades four through eight that have had no previous training on a band instrument.  The hour-and-a-half of group instruction is supplemented with a mandatory 30-minute private lesson for each student that is scheduled for a time during the week that
is arranged with the parents.  The cost for the Beginning Band, including the individual lesson time, is $175 per semester (payable in five installments of $35 each, if necessary).  Students are responsible for providing their own instruments for the band, and the Beginning Band students also must
purchase an inexpensive band method book that typically costs about $5. 
 
The Advanced Band
consists of students who have played a standard band instrument for at least a
year.  The Advanced Band meets on Wednesday afternoons at the college from 

Advanced Band students have the option of deciding whether or not to take individual private lessons with the director, which would affect the cost of the instruction:  For those students who choose not to
study privately with the director, the cost for the Advanced Band is $150 (payable in five installments of $30 each, if necessary) per semester; for Advanced Band students who take private lessons the cost of instruction is the same as the cost for the Beginning Band students ($175 for the semester). 

  

 
The 2009-2010 Home
Schoolers Beginning Band will meet for the first time on Thursday, August 20,
for registration and orientation. 

Individual lesson times will be arranged at that time.  Beginning Band students who are
undecided about the type of instrument they want to play could set up an
appointment to meet with the director prior to August 20 for consultation. 
 
The 2009-2010 Home
Schoolers Advanced Band will meet for the first time on Wednesday, August 19, at
which time chair placement tryouts will be held.  Students new to the band program who
have played for at least a year on a traditional band instrument desiring to
participate in the Advanced Band may audition prior to August 19.

 
A Winter Concert usually is held in mid-December.  In January 2010, a second semester will begin with separate charges identical to the Fall Semester, and a final Spring Concert will be presented in early May at the end of that semester. 

 
For more information
about the band program, please call
889-2262, Extension 139, or send
an e-mail to drenfroe@johnwesley .edu.  

 

The Toussaint family from Atlanta, Georgia started a regional support group, Southeastern Christian Home Discipleship Families.  This group would be a tool to train and equip Christian homeschooling families to stand firm in the faith, pass on a Biblical vision to the next generation, and provide an opportunity to network with other like-minded families.

They are hosting a Father/Son Camp in Franklin, Georgia, September 18-20, 2009.  The guest speaker will be Norm Wakefield from Spirit of Elijah Ministries. 

More information can be found at http://sechristianhomediscipleshipfamilies.blogspot.com

Cooking is such a great Learning Experience! Here is a class available soon given by Renee a professional educator and cook!

Happy Cooking!

MeritK

For Information and costs:  704-910-3743
 

Cooking classes for the home school community!

 Level 1 is an introductory class that I feel any child age 8 or older can succeed in. Level 2 will build on level one and both will cultivate practical life skills. Here is a brief outline of goals for each level. For a detailed list of each lesson objectives as well as the meals they will prepare, please visit website:

http://learntocookf oryourfamily. wordpress. com/day-class- for-homeschooler s/

Level 1 Goals (Sept. 1-Oct. 15-7 classes):

·        Introduction to basic kitchen safety, use and cleanliness

·        Learn how to read and adapt recipes as needed (doubling, halving, basic ingredient substitutions)

·        Become comfortable in the kitchen and develop the confidence to succeed

·        Prepare for level 2

Level 2 Goals (Oct. 27-Dec. 4-5 classes):

· 0      Review kitchen safety and continue to build confidence

·        Build on level 1 by increasing the difficulty of dishes

·        Challenge students to create their own dish by the end of the course

"Warriors" are still in need of players age 13-18, JV and Varsity. First scrimmage, Aug. 22nd. First game, Sept. 12th. For more information, call Bill Holloway, 704-664-0369, or visit

http://ncwarriors. teampages.com