Homeschool Nations - New Hampshire - Homeschool Blogger

Remembering Chris Klicka

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:47:00 -0500

From HSLDA:

A longtime champion of homeschooling rights around the globe, Home School Legal Defense Association Senior Counsel and Director of State and International Relations Christopher J. Klicka was called home by his Lord on October 12, 2009, at age 48, following a 15-year battle with multiple sclerosis. An attorney, spokesman, lobbyist, and homeschooling husband and father, Chris is survived by his wife, Tracy, their seven children (ages 11–21), and his parents, Ardath and George Klicka.

You can click through to this page at HSLDA and read more about this wonderful man who did so much for the homeschool community. You can also leave a message, offer your condolences or offer a donation to the family.

Remember this family in your prayers.

Action Alert!

Sat, 3 Oct 2009 20:38:00 -0500

The "Survey" subcommittee will be meeting on October 20, 2009 at 10am in Legislative Office building 207. Please plan to attend this meeting. HSLDA writes:

We encourage strong attendance from homeschoolers at these work
sessions, because it shows that homeschoolers are concerned about
their freedoms. While there will likely be no time for public
comment, the public is welcome to attend. If possible, bring a tape
recorder or video recorder along to capture the proceedings.

Now is also a good time to make contact with your local representative
to inform him or her about your opposition to increased regulation of
homeschoolers in New Hampshire.

I personally plan to attend. If you are interested in meeting somewhere, please send me a message. It is important that we, as homeschool parents, be vigilant in protecting our rights to homeschool. Please prayerfully consider making your presence known on this date.

School Year 2009-2010

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:38:00 -0500

Hello my fellow Granite State-ers! I trust you've enjoyed a relaxing summer with your children. As the summer winds down, I am eagerly anticipating my first fall back in NH in 11 years! Ahhhh....my favorite time of year!

However, I have to focus. The new school year is just around the corner. I was curious when each of you were anticipating the start of your new school year? I had grand hopes of starting this coming Monday but I am not sure I'll be ready. Maybe a light load for next week and then full swing the week after?

We were blessed with complimentary tickets to the Cog Railroad and are eager to go this coming Monday afternoon. Thankfully, since we home school, we are allowed a field trip on the first day. What a way to kick off the new year!

Would love to hear from anyone homeschooling in or around the NH area. Is there anything you would like to see posted here? Please feel free to let me know!

NH Portfolio Evaluations

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:42:00 -0500

I wrote a few days ago about my impending move back to the Granite State. What I didn't tell you was my anxiety over homeschooling in my home state. Since the beginning of our homeschool journey, we have lived in states were homeschool laws were lax or non-existent.

I came across CandleStar Educational Services website just a few evenings ago. The owner, Bethany Barnosky was very helpful in allaying my fears and answering all of my questions.

So, if you're looking for a portfolio evaluator, check out her website. And if you have an evaluator that you've worked with and would recommend, please leave a comment and let me know!

Summer Fun in NH

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:37:00 -0500

I have a confession to make. I don't live in NH, I live in NC. So, you might ask, "why is the coordinator of the NH blog living in NC?". Well, I'll tell you :-) I am a NH native who moved to Fl twelve years ago for my husband to go to Bible college. He's been a pastor in the south ever since. A little over a year ago, my husband started praying about going home to NH. He resigned the church he was pastoring in KY and we moved to our "home church" in NC. Here, we waited. Waited for God to open doors. So, why am I posting this on the nations blog? Because it seems that after a year of waiting, God has opened that door! A church in northern NH will be voting on my husband on July 12. If all goes as it should, we'll be home by the end of July!

Having said that, we were just up there for two and a half weeks while my husband was going through the candidating process. In that time, we got to do a lot of neat things in the northern NH ~ White Mtn. region. One of the funnest things we did though was actually in VT. We went and toured the Cabot cheese factory. Our girls thought it was really neat to learn about how they made their cheese as well as the history of the factory. They even had a large selection of cheeses and other goodies to sample.

So, if you are in the northern NH region and are looking for a day trip, I would highly suggest a trip to Cabot, VT.

CABOT CHEESE COOP

FREE trial membership to HSLDA

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:56:00 -0500

If you are not currently a member of Homeschool Legal Defense Association, now is your chance to try it before you buy it! Our family has been members for years and I enjoy the sense of security that membership brings.

Here is a part of the their promotion:

For a limited time, we are offering a free trial membership. Join by April 30, and approved applicants will be granted a free membership good through July 31, 2009.

Click here to join online >>

Send no payment; there’s no commitment. This is an opportunity for you to see how committed we are to securing your right to homeschool—and to do so successfully. This offer includes all the great additional member benefits as well, like access to our exclusive Homeschooling Thru High School Program, The Homeschool Court Report, our PerX program, just to name a few.

This offer for a free membership is short. The opportunity to sign up extends only through April 30—so please don’t delay. Of course, you will be able to renew for continued benefits after this trial membership period.

Get connected NH!

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:23:00 -0500

Are you feeling alone in your little corner of the homeschooling world? I just found an awesome resource for NH homeschoolers. The NH Homeschooling Resource List is a mailing list open just for those homeschooling in the Granite State. Here, you can exchange information, ideas for projects, and generally discuss topics that might be of interest to other homeschoolers....

Looking for something more age specific? Here is a list for those of you with teenagers. Parents Homeschooling Teens

Go get connected NH!

ATTN: NH Homeschoolers - Bills to watch in 209

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:02:00 -0600

Bill HB 367: According to HSLDA:

If enacted, H.B. 367 would make New Hampshire's homeschool law one of
the most restrictive in the country. Because of its scope, the bill
would create new burdens on homeschoolers and participating agencies.

Bill HB 368

You may find and contact your state legislatures HERE. After the bills are presented, they will go to the House Education Committee. You may contact the Education Committee members to give them your opinion and information about the bills. When a date is given for the Committee Hearing, you may want to plan to attend and give your input.

'Tis the Season in NH

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:35:00 -0600

New Hampshire - what a wonderful place to spend the holiday season. Although, the recent ice storms sure have caused many headaches, there is still no place on this earth I'd rather be for the holidays! Here are a few ideas for some family fun! If you have any suggestions, please post them in the comments!

Charmingfare Farms, Candia, NH: Are you ready to experience a winter wonderland? How about a sleigh ride through Charmingfare Farms? This is one of our favorite family outings during the winter season. There is also a petting zoo for the little ones. Book your tickets online and enjoy the adventure!

The Polar Express, Lincoln, NH: Limited tickets are still available for this special event. Don't miss it!

White Mountain Holiday Magic Light Park--Campton, NH: an entire mile of animated light displays.

Holiday House Tours--Portsmouth, NH: How about a little education with your entertainment :) Strawbery Banke tells the stories of the many generations who settled in the Portsmouth, NH, community from the late l7th to the mid-20th century. These guided 90-minute tours focus on the evolution of winter traditions over this time as visitors tour five historic houses and experience the widely various decorations, sights, sounds, and smells of holidays and winter days past. The tour culminates with hot cider and hearth cooking—a homey highlight to the holiday season.

“The Nutcracker” – Concord, NH December 19, 2008 to December 20, 2008: Still time to see the Nutcracker! Information and tickets: 603-225-1111 or online at www.ccanh.com.

How about something fun & free?

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire will be opening its doors to all for Free Family Fun Nights this fall and winter. The Citizens Bank Foundation Family Fun Nights will be held on the first Friday night of each month from October 2008– February 2009. The museum will be open to families at no charge from 5:30pm–8:00pm on those nights, offering a special after-hours opportunity for busy families to spend quality time together. The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover, NH and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. A special area on the second floor has been designed especially for children under age 4 with a large train set, soft toys and puppets to spark imaginative play, board books and more. The museum also features two classrooms for field trips and birthday parties, a snack area, and gift shop. The schedule for upcoming Family Fun Nights is:
Friday, December 5 from 5:30pm-8:00pm
Friday, January 2 from 5:30pm-8:00pm
Friday, February 6 from 5:30pm-8:00pm

TOS Black Friday Sale!!!

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:16:00 -0600

The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine is having an amazing sale on subscriptions during their annual Black Friday Sale November 26 � 30. For those 5 days only, they are actually lowering their new one-year U.S. subscription price to $7.95! That's the price you would usually pay for just one issue at a bookstore!

This is their lowest price ever on the magazine and they want all of you to take advantage of this offer and share the info with your friends.

Please don't miss out. Your one-year subscription will pay for itself time and time again as you receive practical tips and Biblical encouragement to keep going strong in your commitment to homeschooling and to the Lord. Since it's a quarterly magazine, they even have a monthly subscriber's only E-Newsletter called Teacher's Toolbox that will give you seasonal teaching ideas and a free E-Book download! It's like joining a unit study of the month club! The free E-Books alone are valued at almost $250/year. It's really perfect for people who are homeschooling on a shoestring or just wanting to add in some little extras to your teaching.

Plus during the Black Friday Sale, they have all kind of bonus gifts when you spend $50, $75, $100, or $150. Some are electronic downloads that you can download immediately, while other are physical products mailed from various vendors directly to your home.

Visit The Old Schoolhouse store at: www.TheOldSchoolhouseStore.com

Order Yours Today! And don�t miss out on this great price!!!