Manchester Area Homeschoolers
August 19, 2010
Parent Support Newsletter
WEBSITE:  http://manchnh-homeschoolers.tripod.com/ 
Editor:  Kimberly Lacerte
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" Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
-- William Butler Yeats 
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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
1.  Overview of our August meeting
2.  Newsletter Editor and Webmaster (Mistress) Still Needed
3.  Exchange(Enterprise) City New Hampshire
4.  FRC Activities for September
5.  WeAre Home Educators – Open House
6.  Becks Arts Express
7.  Concord Fencing Club
8. Lights up Drama Fall program

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1.  Overview of our August meeting

Our August meeting was well attended and we had some excellent discussions around current homeschooling law requirements, homeschooling styles, and how each of our individual methods works for our family.  The biggest recommendation that came out of our meeting was no matter how you homeschool, you need some method to keep track of everything your child has done. Some methods that were shared at the meeting were: (1) a diary, journal, or log-book method where you write down everything your child does during the day.  (2) a summary method where you summarize conversations with your child that involved learning topics. This can be done on the computer or by hand.  (3) photographs and brochures of field trip locations and activities to help remember the trip.  Just write the date on the brochure and you have a record of your trip.  (4) a reading log of every book your child reads, or is read to them.  This is a state law requirement, but it’s also a good record of what you have covered during the year.

In September we’ll be lead by our new facilitator: Maureen Doyle!   Maureen has graciously accepted the position of facilitator for our Sunday meetings.  Come join Maureen at Barnes & Nobles in the café.  They have set up a special area for groups to meet in the corner.  There’s even a table, so we won’t have to balance our snacks on our laps anymore!  Look forward to seeing everyone there.

Our support group meets at Barnes and Nobles on South Willow St. Manchester on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 6:30 - 8:30pm.  Our next meeting is September 19, 2010.  The discussion topic will be your first “teaching” day of the year.  Come to the meeting ready to share your experiences.

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2. Newsletter Editor and Webmaster (Mistress) Still Needed

I will be retiring from homeschooling in 2011 when my youngest goes to West High School in Manchester.  It's his choice to attend West and I'm actually looking forward to the next phase of my education journey.  This also means that our group will need someone or ones to handle the things I usually handle for the group.

We have a volunteer to facilitate the monthly homeschooling meetings.  Anyone out there who would be interested in learning how to maintain the website or write the monthly newsletter, please let me know!  

Specifically, I do the following with the website and monthly newsletter:  (1) edit this newsletter, (2) maintain the MA Homeschoolers website, (3) moderate the Yahoo Group, and (4) manage the Email.  All told, I spend about 3 hours a month on all of these tasks.  

Please contact me if you are interested.  I'd like to start transitioning these tasks over sooner rather than later so I know you are comfortable with the tasks before I retire.
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3.  Exchange(Enterprise) City New Hampshire

Exchange City: where experience is the best teacher and students run the city! 

During the Exchange City experience, students learn first-hand what it takes to create a business, advertise their company, market products and services, supervise employees, hold elected office, and personally earn and manage money. 
  
The registration deadline for the November 29 & 30 program is September 17

The simulation experience requires a minimum of 80 students ages of 9 and up in order to run successfully. Please help us spread the word by sharing this information with your homeschool friends. 

Website for more info:  http://frc.homestead.com/ExchangeCity/ExchangeCity_INDEX.html 

To Register for this program: call 978-741-7449 Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm

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4.  FRC Activities for September

NOTE:  Some activities are part of a series that lasts the entire school year.

9/17: Deadline -- Please register today for the December 3 RETURN TO THE MOON MISSION SIMULATION! Students work independently from home to complete work prior to the mission date.  Then, Student Astronauts on board the Spacecraft and Student Scientists in Mission Control will have to work together to successfully complete the mission at the CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER (CT) Click here for complete information.  
9/21: Hands-on technology learning at MIT EDGERTON CENTER (MA). Build LEGO RALLY cars and test their limits. Click here for complete information.
9/22: 2 x 2 ADVENTURES (MA) presents ANIMALS of the ARK - a program about animal adaptations from a biblical perspective including the origins of life as recounted in the bible. Click here for complete information.
9/24: Students investigate marine organisms of the Atlantic Coast and develop a deeper understanding of biological concepts as SEASIDE NATURALISTS at BIOMES MARINE BIOLOGY CENTER (RI) Click here for complete information.
9/24: It's student orientation day for this year's junior ecologists exploring EARTH SCIENCES during this year-long program at the OCEAN EXPLORIUM (MA). Click here for complete information.
9/24: ZOO SCHOOL Through a variety of hands-on programs, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal encounters students will take an in-depth look at common zookeeping issues at ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO (RI) Click here for complete information.
9/27: Students investigate marine organisms of the Atlantic Coast and develop a deeper understanding of biological concepts as SEASIDE NATURALISTS at NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY MARINE SCIENCE CENTER (MA) Click here for complete information.
9/28: ANIMAL ACADEMY Student orientation for this year-long hands-on approach to learning about a variety of mammals, reptiles and birds at ANIMAL ADVENTURES (MA). Click here for complete information.
9/29: Students investigate marine organisms of the Atlantic Coast and develop a deeper understanding of biological concepts as SEASIDE NATURALISTS at NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY MARINE SCIENCE CENTER (MA) Click here for complete information.
9/29: Experience complete immersion in a 16th Century Pequot Village at the MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT MUSEUM & RESEARCH CENTER (CT).  In this village, students will look at life through the eyes of Pequot children in the summer of 1550: what they ate, what they wore, and where they lived with their families. Click here for complete information.
9/30: ANIMAL ACADEMY Student orientation for this year-long hands-on approach to learning about a variety of mammals, reptiles and birds at ANIMAL ADVENTURES (MA). Click here for complete information.
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5.  WeAre Home Educators – Open House

All homeschoolers are welcome to come to a convention-style open house,
Tuesday, August 24th, 6 - 8 PM @ Village Chapel Baptist Church in Weare**.

Website at http://whe.dimentech.com/

** Village Chapel Baptist Church is located at 15 Twin Bridge Rd, which is off Rte 114, 1 mile south of the Lanctot/Dunkin Donuts Plaza or 4 miles north of Goffstown village.

There will be someone on hand to answer your questions regarding the NH Homeschool Law.  There will be people available to discuss different learning styles and curriculums

There will be information on extra-curricular activities, lessons, and classes; some of the instructors will be on hand for you to meet and ask any questions you might have

The Weare Home Educators fall schedule of activities will be available.

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6.  Becks Arts Express

Becks Arts Express is offering a Monday 10 am art class in the fall for homeschoolers. This fun class will use materials ranging from oil pastels to clay and acrylic paints. We will explore the world of art history as we explore artists’ styles and techniques. Classes are booked by the month and are 12.50 per each one hour and fifteen minute class. Call or email Rebecca @ admin@artsexpressnh.com or 603-889-1670 to register. Check out Rebecca’s work and samples of her student work at admin@artsexpressnh.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------

7.  Concord Fencing Club

A new 8 wk. session begins next week for fencing at the Concord Fencing Club, Hall St. in Concord. Fencing is great exercise for the body & mind! There seem to be a lot of fencers who homeschool. 
For more info: www.concordfencingclub.org or call 224-3560.

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8. Lights up Drama Fall program

10 week programs (plus a show) for kids and adults at Milford Town Hall Auditorium
Price: Residents $150   Non‐Residents $160 
Class meets Thursdays ‐ Sept 23rd to Dec 9th
Teacher ‐ Roberta Woolfson Telephone: 603‐672‐7815

Classes:

Home Schoolers ‐ 2:00pm to 3:30pm 7 to 15 year olds
What if "Alice in Wonderland" were written by Monty Python? Write your own comedic script using improvisation as a base and perform for your family and friends on Friday evening Dec 10th.

Beyond Wonderful ‐ 3:30pm to 5:00pm 11 to 15 year olds
Warm up with theater games, design your own costumes and props and present a one act play called "Looking Glass Land" ‐ an updated romp with Alice and the Mad Hatter, but meet some new friends ‐ a baseball team, detectives, Miss America pageant contestants and more.. add your own friends with your own improvisation and script writing. They will present a show on Friday evening Dec 10th.

On Our Way to Wonderful ‐ 5:00pm to 6:30pm 7 to 11 year olds
Students will be captivated by storytelling at its best. Fly to Wonderland with Peter Pan and Tinkerbelle, and take tea with Alice and the Mad Hatter. Students will turn these wonder filled stories into plays and explore new realms of their imagination with music, movement, art and poetry They will present a show
on Friday evening Dec 10th.

The Wonderland Revue ‐ 7:00pm to 8:30pm Adults 18 and beyond.
Have fun on the stage. Come write and perform your own revue, combining satire, dance and sketches in a relaxed creative environment. They will present a show on Friday evening Dec 10th.