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September 2007 Newsletter
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PCHEA 2007-2008 Officers
Leaders: Fredrick and Jeri Akin
Co-leader: Teresa Burnett
Secretary: Julie Cockroft
Treasurer: Kim VanBebber
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UPCOMING EVENTS
September
5th - 8th: Pott. County Free Fair
21st: Fall Social
29th: Moms Tea Party
TBA: Omniplex/Omnidome Field Trip
October
12th: Eco-Caching Field Trip
18th: Dessert Contest/Family Fellowship
24th: Corn Maze
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Coordinator Notes:
I know as I start each new school year it is easy to get caught up in curriculum, class choices, and how to best teach each of my kids. I want them to be academically prepared to fulfill God’s plan for their lives. So what is “The Absolutely, Most Basic, Most Indispensable Constituent of a Good Education”? According to an article by Kevin Swanson, president of the Christian Home Educators of Colorado, the answer to this question is found in Proverbs which states that its purpose is to give wisdom, instruction, and knowledge to a son. This book tells us that the beginning of wisdom and knowledge is the fear of God. Therefore, if I want my children to have the best education, to be prepared for all God has in store for them, I need to make sure that everything I teach has this “foundational truth either clearly expressed or assumed.” We need to see God’s hand in all we teach, experience, and do. The main reason I homeschool is that I want to help my children see everything from a Christian world view, but sometimes I have to take a step back from the daily demands and remind myself of this. So as PCHEA starts its new year and many of you are getting started, or continuing on in yours, I would like to encourage each of you to take time to remember that it is for the glory of Christ that we have chosen to make the effort to teach our children at home.
God will bless you as you seek to train your children to serve Him.
Fredrick and Jeri Akin
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Book It Program
Contact Person: Julie Cockroft
Those who would like their K-6th graders to participate in the Pizza Hut Book It program need to contact Julie Cockroft by email or phone. Coupons should be in by the middle of September. Each parent sets their own child's reading goal for the month, and when they have reached that goal they get a coupon for a free Personal Pan Pizza. The program runs from October thru March but coupons can be redeemed thru the end of the school year.
Braum's Book Buddy Program
Contact Person: Pam White
Braum’s Book Buddy program is for grades 1st through 5th grades. Students read 6 books for each of the 6 coupons which may be redeemed for a Braum’s treat. Coupons are good through June, 2008.
If you are interested in the Braum’s Book Buddy program, please email Pam White as soon as possible with names, addresses and grades of your participating children.
Send information to Pam White.
Scholastic Books
Contact Person: Ivy Poe
Scholastic book catalogues are available from Ivy Poe. To order, send one check made out to Ivy Poe for the total amount along with the completed order forms from each catalogue to Ivy Poe. No tax or shipping is charged. Ivy needs all orders by the 25th of each month. The first order is due September 25th. If you are unsure that your order will get to Ivy by the due date, please call her to let her know it’s on the way. New catalogues will be available each month due on the 25th of their respective month.
Skate Day
We are no longer able to use the skating rink in Prague. Kim VanBebber will let us know when other arrangements are made for a PCHEA Skate Day.
Excalibur Vollebyall
Contact Person: Jeri Akin
The Excalibur volleyball team will be meeting on Fridays from 2-5 pm at Pink Baptist Church. Practice begins September 14th. For more information call Fredrick or Jeri Akin.
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Pottawatomie County Free Fair: September 5-8 at the Expo Center
A fun time for all! Visit the Children’s Barnyard, watch a milking demonstration, see the chickens, rabbits, goats and other livestock, meander through the arts and crafts and horticulture rooms, and ride the ferris wheel at the carnival! For more information and for the schedule of events visit http://www.news-star.com/freefair/.
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PCHEA Fall Social
Friday, September 21st at 6:00 p.m.
The PCHEA Fall Social is right around the corner, so make your plans to attend. This event will take place at Mark and Ruth Smith’s home, just ten miles east of Shawnee. Call for directions. We're easy to find!
Dinner will be a potluck. Please bring a main dish, dessert and/or side dish to share. PCHEA will provide the plates, napkins, utensils, and drinks. Bring your lawn chairs and your bug spray.
A volleyball net will be set up. You may also bring your footballs, Frisbees, balls, croquet, bubbles, or any other activities you might like. If it works out, we are going to try to have a hayride available.
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You’re Invited...
to an Old Fashioned Tea Party
WHEN: Saturday, September 29th at 10:30 am
WHERE: Julie Cockroft’s home
WHO: All mothers of homeschoolers who are members of PCHEA
(nursing babies are welcome)
RSVP: Julie Cockroft or Nancy Schwab.
Come and enjoy a morning of food, friendship and encouragement as we start out the new school year. Please bring your favorite teacup and 20 of your favorite *tea sandwiches.
*To make a tea sandwich, start with regular sliced bread and fill it with your favorite ingredients. Cut off the crust and then cut the sandwich into fourths. (You can also use cookie cutters to make interesting shapes). 5 sandwiches will yield 20 tea sandwiches that we can all share.
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Eco-Caching Field Trip
Friday, October 12th
10:30 am - 2:00 pm
$2.00 per child with a $10 max per family
PCHEA's first field trip will be Eco-Caching at Lake Thunderbird. We will meet at Lakeview Baptist Church on 10510 Alameda Drive in Norman. Judie from the Kuriakos Nature Center will divide us into teams and show us how to work with a handheld GPS to locate hidden nature treasures. Click here for a map.
Dress for the outdoors and bring a sack lunch.
This is a wonderful and very educational field trip. Those who love the outdoors will especially enjoy this. It is something for whole family if you desire. Those with younger children need to plan accordingly as there will be places that strollers or little legs will have difficulty.
There is a limit to the number of children we can bring. There are only so many handheld GPS devices and instructors. This will be on a first come basis with those who pay their fees getting priority. If you are unable to attend, contact Julie before the field trip deadline to have your money refunded. If you do not cancel by the evening before the field trip, your money will not be refunded
Families already signed up:
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Rowan
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Seeley
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Schwab
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Anderson
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Bishop
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Lindsey
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Mason
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Bourlon
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Burnett
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S Foster
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Thorton
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ITEMS FOR SALE:
Microsoft Office books that Fredrick Akin has used to teach from at VoTechs for businesses. Contact Fredrick or Jeri Akin.
$5 - Microsoft Office 2000 Suite (Levels 1 and 2) – Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Access, etc. (2 books)
$5 - Microsoft Office 2000 Excel - Introduction, Intermediate, Advanced 1, Advanced 2 ( 4 books)
$15 - Microsoft Office 2002 Word – Introduction, Intermediate, Advanced (there is no Advanced 2) ( 3 books)
$15 - Microsoft Office 2002 Excel - Introduction, Intermediate, Advanced 1, Advanced 2 ( 4 books)
$10 - Microsoft Office 2002 Access - Introduction, Intermediate ( 2 books)
Microsoft Office XP Access – Introduction, Intermediate (2 books) (Office XP is the same as Office 2002)
$5 - Shelly Cashman series Discovering Computers, well written book with good pictures for the college level, but must most homeschoolers can handle easily.
Algebra Video Text, Complete set with VHS videos as seen here. This is the complete 6-module set that retails for $519.00. A great bargain for $300.00. In used but good condition. Contact Ruth Smith.
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Shawnee Centennial Celebration Offers Something for Everyone
The City of Shawnee will be celebrating the Centennial of the State of Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday, September 21-22 in Downtown Shawnee. The kick-off event will be at the Santa Fe Depot with two monuments dedicated in Centennial Park at the south entrance of the Depot just off Main Street. One monument will honor county towns that are at least one hundred years old and the other will honor Louise Funk Fluke who designed the Oklahoma State Flag. She was raised in Shawnee and graduated from Shawnee High School.
The annual Santa Fe Homecoming Festival, partially supported by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council, will feature artwork and live demonstrations by the Plein-Air Painters of Central Oklahoma. Art in various mediums including clay and metal will also be on display. Art exhibits inside the museum include works by various local artists including Cliff Lehmann, Winnie Dawson, and two unfinished watercolor sketches by Ernest Spybuck. Children will be invited to experience their creativity with activities that include Soap Carving, Red Dirt Painting, Hide Painting, and Print Making using everyday objects. Multi-cultural performers will include Los Ninos de Espania y Mexico, J.D. Blanton, Al Bostick, All About Irish Dancers, Francine Robinson, Dean Hudlow and Golden Reflections.
Both Friday and Saturday, there will be displays and demonstrations of antique farm machinery at the Santa Fe Depot. Mike Adkins from the Oklahoma History Center will portray a Dust Bowl Farmer and Walter Eskridge, also from OHC, will portray an Oil Field Roughneck. Various other characters will be on hand such as Civil War Re-enactors, Gunfighters, Daryle McVey portraying an 1890s peddler and Bill and Anna Hester. Visitors are invited to come in period dress from ANY DECADE of Oklahoma History from pre-1900 - present day.
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Fine Art and the Citizen Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center will have open house both days and the Mabee Gerrer will offer FREE ADMISSION.
The Shawnee Public Library will have a display of local historical photographs and county coloring contest entries both Friday and Saturday.
Woodcarvers and Quilters will be demonstrating their skills at the Shawnee Senior Center at the Woodland Park (north) entrance both days of the event. Visitors are invited to “Sit and Visit a Spell” as old-timers reminisce about their personal experience of history.
On the first floor of the Board of Education Building, with entrance from Woodland Park, county towns have been invited to display photos and stories of their history. Many will offer personal stories and memorabilia for sale. A newly published book of JoLee Rodke's works will be offered by Janis Williams, her step-granddaughter. Ms. Rodke taught in the Shawnee Public Schools for many years.
The Shawnee High School Alumni Museum will also be open both days and is located at the south door of the Board of Education Building.
A Battle of the Bands is scheduled for Woodland Park Friday evening while the Centennial Queen Candidates will be introduced at the Shawnee High School Football Game.
The Oklahoma Baptist University Bisonathon and a Santa Fest Poker Run will kick off Saturday's events. Downtown Shawnee will host “100 Years of Oklahoma” Parade down Main Street at 10:00a.m.
Trick Roper Marty Tipton will perform at the Shawnee Public Library at 11:30 on Saturday.
At 12:30 the City Art Project, HORSES IN THE CITY will be unveiled at Mills Machine Shop on 9th Street between the Shawnee Public Library and the Santa Fe Depot. Ten horses by ten different artists will be on display.
Woodland Park will be the site of Santa Fest's annual car and cycle show on Saturday. Family oriented activities, contests, pony rides, food and merchandise vendors will be offered. A live deejay will be on hand and there will be a live auction by Keith Webb at 2:00p.m.. Funds raised from this event will support Santa's Kids.
At 1:00, the Shawnee Public Library will unveil their Photo History Mural. At 2:00 p.m. an old fashioned “Bee” will challenge ninth graders through adults on their knowledge of Oklahoma. Winners will receive cash prizes.
The band IRON HORSE will perform at a Street Dance on Bell Street while a Centennial Queen and her court will be crowned at the Statehood Ball at the Municipal Auditorium. Falderal Band will perform at the ball.
Tickets may be purchased from Ann Davis at Ell's Jewelry in Shawnee.
A fireworks display, which may be viewed from Bell Street, will top off the celebration.
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Contact information for the PCHEA events can be found in the PCHEA Directory. You may also email me at pcheainfo( at) gmail (dot) com and I will give you the contact info.
Ruth Smith
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