The Niles Area Christian Homeschoolers held their History Fair in March.  We had a new location this year which worked out really well. 

As always we enjoyed seeing what all the kids put together!  They did a great job! 

This year we also had reinactors come in and give some presentations about how life used to be in Niles.

Thanks to everyone who helped make it a success and especially to all the kids who worked so hard on their speeches, displays and reports!

Here's a shot from the ski trip at Madeline Bertrand this past January.

Here are the freezer recipes that were submitted from our November meeting where we discussed Freezer Cooking.  If someone didn't get there's in and stills wants to please email me your recipe and I'll add it.  Just click the link below to download and enjoy!

Gina

Niles Area Christian Homeschooler's Freezer Cookbook

MAKE IT TAKE IT

What a great event for kids of all ages at the Evangelical Free Church in Niles. November 11^th 2008, Moms got a small break while watching the creativity of their young ones unfold during the Make It Take It Christmas projects. Organized and directed by Michelle Prillwitz, who's hard work was greatly appreciated, was able to round up volunteers and enough materials to allow the children an extra special boost in gift giving this year. Grandparents, and parents alike, will be able to unwrap a gift made especially for them from tissue paper flowers to painted stockings and more, with each item created with love from the little hands they cherish.

There were even a few new faces and as new comer mom Sarah Snyder put it, "My kids had a blast making these gifts. Everyone was so kind to them and that it made it all the more special. We can't thank you enough."

So thank you Michelle, and all the volunteers, who worked hard to give our children confidence in creating reflections of themselves and Christmas gifts to give their loved ones this Christmas.

If you missed this special event this year, don't fret, there is always next year!

Submitted by Kellie Frazier

The Michiana Christian Homeschool Band marched in the Apple Festival parade in Niles.  It turned out to be a great day for a parade.  Here are some thoughts from a few of the kids!

Me and my best friend got to hold the Banner and I loved listening to the music.  It was a long walk but it was worth it!  I liked it.  Lexie Reynolds

 I thought we did a good job even though our bass drum fell apart.  We pulled it in a wagon while Philip played it.  Great job Philip!  Brennan

I thought we did very well for the size band we have.  John

I got to hold the American flag.  It was pretty fun and I liked the walk except for in the end. Ariel Reynolds

 It was fun for my first time ever marching.  Dakota Schoolman

I think it went really great .  It was tiring but fun.  Lydia Moss

I liked the atmosphere.  Everyone was clapping no matter what mistakes we made.  Philip Moss

We had a great time at our end of year picnic.  After rescheduling due to a huge storm we still had a little rain.  Apparently, Friday nights in June are always rainy?  It didn't matter really, the kids played on the playground and we had a covered pavilion for the parents who didn't want to get wet and most importantly the food!

A big hit at the picnic for the boys were the laser guns.  Several families brought them and the boys were most often found in the woods playing army I suppose.  Don't know really, I wasn't into guns as a child being a girl and all but I suppose that's what they imagine, or maybe a futuristic star wars type battle, who knows?  At any rate there were other lawn games and the playground was a hit with the younger kids.

Food was great!  You are all such good cooks.  I even caught a member of the leadership team ,who shall remain nameless but I will say she was blaming it on some pregnancy related complication that she needed protein or something before the meal was to begin, sampling the food!

Special thanks to the Schreiners for doing the grilling!  I think it was mostly Michael but we'll give the whole family credit!

Hope to see you all at the meet & greet August 25th, till then have a happy summer!

Gina

  Submitted by Renae Warn 

Attending the first NACHS Planning Time, I came away very encouraged.  There were a handful of HS moms present ~12 or so. The tone was focused yet relaxed, and with foodJ.  We walked through some excellent tools to evaluate our last year of HS-ing and great tools for planning next HS year, but what captured me was the heart of encouragement WITH the tools to equip us.

Not only is there great merit in evaluating how things worked last year, but re-assessing my kids, where they are at developmentally, socially, and spiritually now. All this dovetails into why a curriculum does or does not work.  Gina gave us some thought provoking surveys to help us do an evaluation of each child, our home, our walk with the Lord, and even what we put in our freezers J.  That pretty much covers life!

The specific HS planning tools are wonderful!  Most of the time I just need a form to get my brain working in the right direction.  With the different categories presented, I am on the right track.  Categories presented were daily, weekly, and the whole year And what child is using what curriculum all on one sheet.  This is great for keeping records year to year. O I really like to be organized and these tools will be put to use!  I am planning on incorporating a few “project weeks” that will give my boys (and me) new opportunities. 

I have a major dietary restriction and meals can become "same-old, same-old" kind of thing.  I come away even encouraged in this!  Not because I came away with new recipes but with new courage to make it work for MY family.  (Just like HS---make it work for MY children)...This is not a cookie cutter world and I am so grateful!  I love the blank freezer list that I can use. J

Even for home-life in general, there were tools.  Although I am convicted by such evaluations, I know it is a very healthy thing to do. What is the tone I set, or the way I teach my children school and daily living (that would be chores J) and how I involve my husband were topics that were covered. My husband is the leader of our home.  This is so key...involving my husband and encouraging him to lead in the home even though I do 99.9% of the home schooling.  Thanks Gina for your clear godly thoughts and words on this!

There was good input from a variety of the Moms.  The way the answers were given to various real life HS questions was done with of a heart of encouragement.  I feel like these HS moms are my advocates for our family to succeed in HS-ing. 

Thanks Gina and Leadership Team for making this happen.  I am better equipped and encouraged to teach and train our children next year J!  

Hello and welcome members and friends of the Niles Area Christian Homeschoolers (NACH).  I'm hoping this blog will serve as a tool to share the fun and excitement of our activities with each other and other interested homeschoolers.   Your children may have fun seeing their pictures or samples of their work on the web and mom's may gain some insight on an activity you haven't tried yet.  Any member of Niles Area Christian Homeschool group is welcome to submit an article with or without pictures.  Please email me (reyncg1@aol.com) your submissions as soon as possible after the event and I will post them. 

Thanks!

Gina Reynolds, Niles Area Christian Homeschoolers president