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

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.

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

This week, the "Winston-Salem Journal" ran an informative article on Homeschooling in our home state of North Carolina. The article gave some statistics which indicated that currently more than 41,000 Homeschools are operating in NC with more than 77,000 students receiving their education at home. 

" Home schools can be found in all of the state's 100 counties. The counties with the largest number of home schools were Wake with 3,771; Mecklenburg, 2,956; and Buncombe, 1,637. Forsyth County's total made it fifth in the state, after Guilford, "

Once again, we heard about the "Socialization" issue:

"Some people have suggested that home-schooled students are less socialized than other students."

I often wonder if by "socialization" they mean "social" :) All they have to do to answer that question is look at the calendar of any Homeschool Support group on our NC group list to see how much socialization is goin' on around here!

Here is the full article:

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2009/aug/06/more-families-find-merit-in-home-schooling/

Enjoy your weekend -

MeritK

Don't forget the first Friday in August ( Aug. 7,8 and 9th) starts the Tax Free weekend on items you will need for school this year! Put it on your calendar :) Below is a link to a list of items that are "Tax Free" on that weekend. Enjoy your "Tax Holiday" !

Merit K

http://www.dornc.com/taxes/sales/holiday_4-08.pdf

Wow - It's Homeschool Days at Carowinds again! Check it out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merit K

Home School Days
August 12
Group Tickets Available

Featuring guest speaker Lisa Whelchel

Ms. Whelchel is perhaps best known for her starring role as Blair Warner on NBC’s The Facts of Life and currently home schools her three children. 

In addition to Ms. Whelchel special activities include an exclusive behind the scene look at the many careers needed to create Fun! Watch a creative 35-minute DVD on how Carowinds utilizes all 16 of the career clusters in operating the Carolina’s premier destination for family entertainment.

During the movie, be on the lookout for “Mindbugs” or Misconceptions in Science and Math. Use our map to locate the “Square Foot Traveling Scientists” to help debunk the Misconceptions.

Order online tickets NOW!

 http://www.carowinds.com/shop/shopping_corporate_partners_list.cfm

Advanced Ticket Price – (Tickets purchased by August 11, 2009) – Via Web, Information Center & Mail

• Any guest over 48” tall in shoes --$26.50
• Jr/Sr ticket price - $20.99

• All-You Can Eat Picnic Meal --- $10.50
• All-You-Can-Eat Picnic Meal & Bottomless Soda Wristband** ---$16.50

Day of Ticket Price – (Tickets purchased at the gate on August 12 & any reservation not paid for prior to August 11, 2009)

• Home School Youth Ticket (Individuals 48” or taller; 18 years of age or younger) - $29.99
• Home School JR/SR Ticket (Individuals under 48”; Ages 3+) - $21.99
• Home School Chaperone - (Individuals 48” or taller; 19 years of age or older) $31.99
• All-You-Can-Eat Picnic Meal --$12.00

*No complimentary tickets with day of ticket orders
**Bottomless Soda Wristbands cannot be purchased at the gate.

All-You-Can-Eat-Meal is served from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM in the Plaza 2 Picnic Pavilion and features a tasty meal of: Fried Chicken, Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Potato Chips, Cookies & Coca Cola products

August Sales Tax Holiday

Support Leaders, Vendors, and Bloggers--

join the Homeschool Party!

So Click above and head on over !

Enjoy the contest - MeritK

Speech and Debate for Home Educators:

NCFCA of NC is a service organization designed to promote and encourage speech and debate for home education students in the state of North Carolina. Membership in the organization is composed of participating students and parents who home educate their children in speech and debate according to National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA) guidelines.

The National Christian Forensics and Communications Association ( NCFCA) is now compiling information on clubs and activities for the coming school year.

 
If you have made any plans for the coming year, please contact Susan so that she can start compiling a list of opportunities and/or contacts for new families.

2 qualifiers scheduled already!!

South Carolina: March 17-20, at Columbia Internationall University
North Carolina: March 28-31 at The College at Wake Forest

Contact for more information on opportunities for speech and debate throughout NC: www.ncfca.org

Contact for the Northern Region:

Susan Nelson
Volunteer NCFCA Rep
For North Carolina
704-987-0824

Here you will find location information and program information for the libraries in the North Western Region of NC :

http://www.nwrl.org/locations.asp

Spend a lot of time at your library this summer :) and Splish ( The TOS Featured Blogger) will be very proud:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/summerreadingsplash

Go here to find out about reading rewards on TOS !

Have a creative week

MeritK

Hey there all you NC bloggers - you know who you are, but I might not  and I would love to link your blog here so leave me your url, a comment or email it to me!

Thanks !

Merit K

Just FYI, here is an important announcement from HSLDA regarding a recent occurence with one of their Member Families:

Phone Scam Aimed At Homeschoolers

We want to bring your attention to a situation that occurred recently so you can be on your alert for any suspicious calls. Yesterday, the Home School Foundation (the charitable branch of HSLDA) received a call from an HSLDA member family who had received a suspicious call from a "Dr. Carey." Dr. Carey claimed to be a homeschooling mother of 12 gathering information for research work on behalf of the Home School Foundation.

She told the family, in this case, the leader of a local homeschool group, that their group had been nominated by members in their group for a compassion grant from HSF. To qualify for the grant, Dr. Carey explained she needed to ask some questions. These questions started with general queries about homeschooling and quickly led to questions concerning the family's disciplinary techniques. The family then called HSF and confirmed that there isn't a Dr. Carey on the payroll with either HSF or HSLDA.

While the Home School Foundation does offer compassion grants to homeschooling families in need, neither HSLDA nor the Home School Foundation would ever call their members and question them on the discipline of their children.

Also, if you have caller ID, all calls from HSLDA read: (540) 338-5600 while all HSF calls read: (540) 338-8688. This caller showed up as a restricted or blocked number. HSLDA does not block our number from your phone.

If any families in your group receive any calls from someone claiming to be from HSLDA or HSF and the caller's number is either blocked or doesn't match either of the numbers above, please gather as much information as possible and let us know. And let's pray that this person will not be successful in deceiving any HSLDA members or other homeschooling families.

Please contact DiscountGroups@hslda.org if you have any further questions or need to report a suspicious call.

Regards,

Discount Group Program Administrator
Home School Legal Defense Association

Sign up here for FREE online Science Seminars from Greg Landry, M.S. of  Homeschool Science Academy:

http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/

You can also find information on Science Camps at the link above. This is a wonderful resource for Homeschooled parents!

Hope your Homeschool week has been blessed!

Merit K

It looks like this Prom is very centrally located for a lot of Homeschool Groups (Newton NC) :

Catawba Valley Area Home School Prom

"The Masquerade Ball "

Friday, April 17

6-11 pm


Tickets $35 each in advance
$40 at the door

Conservative attire
"Dates" and masks optional

A full seated meal served by the club wait staff.

Music by: Sound storm DJ's
www.Soundstormdjs.com

Portraits by: R Thomas Photography
www.rthomasphotography.com

For detailed information, please contact :  Stacy Gibson

828-310-3457
stacygibson@ charter.net

** ** All home educated high school students welcome. ** **

It is not too late for students to attend. BUT they need to call or email me ASAP so I can give the correct number to plan for dinner.

Single Parent Scholarships are available for the 2009 Conference. The deadline is April 19th. Email singleparents@nche.com to apply for one.

For more information :

http://www.nche.com/

You can register online for the North Carolina Conference here:

https://nche.com/secure/regC.php

Read all about it in the Greenhouse report:

http://www.nche.com/conference/2009/ghr.pdf

Hope to see you there !

MeritK