Manchester Area Homeschoolers * January 23, 2009 * January Newsletter

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Parents Support Group

This month Mother Nature threw us a curve ball of 14+ inches of snow on Sunday January 18th, which forced us to cancel our meeting.  Here’s to February being kinder to our schedule!

Representative Judith Day has proposed legislation requiring more monitoring of homeschooling programs.  HB367 and HB368 propose new restrictions on evaluations and requirements on homeschoolers.  You can read the content http://webpages.charter.net/beaverlodgehs/legislation/legislation2009/
A large discussion is ongoing at the NHHL-Politics group  http://mailman.dimentech.com/mailman/listinfo/nhhr-politics
on this issue.  If you are interested in participating in the political process, please join their discussion to become knowledgeable and involved in fighting this proposed legislation.

We’re half way through the school year.  Evaluations are due in 6 short months! In February, we’ll be talking about preparing portfolios and setting up evaluations to get ready for the end of the school year.

We meet the 3rd Sunday of each month at Barnes and Nobles on South Willow St. Manchester, NH from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Hope to see you there! 

Log-on to groups.yahoo.com and join our discussion group manchesterhomeschoolers to ask more questions and add your own ideas.

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Cornerstone Performing Arts Center 

Performance:  The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
Location:  Phillips Hall First Parish church, 923 Main St.  Fitchburg, MA
Dates & Times:  7pm performances:  2/19, 2/20, 2/21, 2/27, 2/28 
			2pm performances:  2/22, 3/1

Purchase tickets online (www.cpacfitchburg.org) or by phone (978) 345-2915

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Performance:  Columbian Music, Dance and Delightful Desserts featuring Luz Elena Morey
Location:  Cornerstone Performing Arts Center, 914 Main St. Fitchburg, MA
Date & Time:  March 21, 2009 8pm.  Snow Date:  March 22, 2009 4pm
Cost:  $10 cover at the door.
For more information, call 978-501-2795

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English Tutor available in Manchester, NH

Marcy Kelleher was homeschooled from 4th grade through high school.  She received her bachelors degree in English from Hillsdale College in Michigan.  She is available for tutoring in the Manchester area.

Rates:  1 student: $20/hour   2 students:  $30/hour    3 students:  $35.00/hour.

If anyone is interested in organizing a small literature class, Marcy would be happy to lead it.

Contact:  603-935-9459  marcy.kelleher@gmail.com

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Art Class
Visual Arts class: 
Classes will focus on the principles of design and the elements of art. Student will learn about the tools of the trade, using a variety of materials. Creativity and having an individual voice is encouraged. 
Dates & Times: Wednesdays 1:00 to 2:15 ages 9-11 March 11th -June 3rd 		Tuesdays 1:00 to 2:15 ages 12-up March 10th - June 2nd 		Thursdays 10:00 to 11:15 ages 12-up March 12th - June 4th N			No classes held on April vacation 
Cost:  12 week class is $120.00, includes all materials 
Contact:  Wildwood Studio and Art School Lisa Winant 428-8249 

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Homeschool Prom 2009

All homeschool High school Teens are welcome 
This Prom is for all homeschoolers 14 years old through high school age. Dates are not required. If you do bring a date, or friend they do not have to be a homeschooler (but still at least 14 years old). One person in a "couple" needs to be a homeschooler. Bring your friend, or a date, or come yourself and have a night of fun surrounded by other homeschool friends.

Contact Brenda Tucker at tuckerhomeschool@yahoo.com if you are interested in attending.  Put "PROM" in the subject line when Emailing Brenda about the prom.

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Homeschooler Sign Language Class

6-week American Sign Language class for 3-6 year olds 
Starting Jan. 28th at 1pm 
Location:  The Watson Family home in Concord, NH
Cost:  $60 for one child enrolled in a 6 wk class. Discounts for multiple siblings $108 for 2 children enrolled, or $144 for 3 children. 
Contact:  The Watson Family at mirmi@comcast.net if you are interested and for directions.

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News from NASA

Name the Mars Science Laboratory Rover Contest

NASA is looking for the right stuff, or in this case, the right name for the next Mars rover. NASA, in cooperation with Walt Disney Studios 
Motion Pictures' movie WALL-E from Pixar Animation Studios, is 
conducting a naming contest for its car-sized Mars Science Laboratory 
rover that is scheduled for launch in 2011.

The contest is open to students 5-18 years old who attend a U.S. school 
and are enrolled in the current academic year. To enter the contest, 
students will submit essays explaining why their suggested name for the 
rover should be chosen. Essays must be received by Jan. 25, 2009. In 
March 2009, the public will have an opportunity to rank nine finalist 
names via the Internet as additional input for judges to consider during the selection process. NASA will announce the winning rover name in April 2009.

Disney will provide prizes to students submitting winning essays, 
including a trip to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, 
Calif., where the rover is under construction. The grand prize winner 
will have an opportunity to place a signature on the spacecraft and take part in the history of space exploration.

For more information, visit http://marsrovername.jpl.nasa.gov/.

2009 Thacher Scholars Awards

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies is currently accepting 
entries for the 2009 Thacher Scholars Awards. The awards will be given 
to students in grades 9-12 who demonstrate the best use of geospatial 
technologies or data to study Earth. Eligible geospatial tools and data 
include satellite remote sensing, aerial photography, geographic 
information systems and Global Positioning System. The main focus of the project must be on the application of the geospatial tool(s) or data to study a problem related to the Earth's environment.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens currently in grades 9-12. Students in 
public, private, parochial, Native American reservation and home schools are eligible. Entries can be submitted by individuals or teams.

Cash awards will be given to students who place in the top three. First, second and third place will receive $2,000, $1,000 and $500, 
respectively. Teachers or adult "coaches" of winning entrants will 
receive a $200 gift card.

Entries must be postmarked by April 6, 2009. Entries may also be 
submitted electronically.

For more information, visit www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars 
<http://www.strategies.org/ThacherScholars>.

Please email any questions about this opportunity to 
ThacherScholars@strategies.org

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Save the Date: National Teach-In on Lincoln!!
History Channel invites you to join The National Teach-In on Lincoln February 12th 2009 at 1:30 PM ETHISTORY™, together with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission,will feature a National Teach-In on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 1:30pm EST. The teach-in will take place at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Educators and students nationwide can tune-in and view this LIVE webcast onlineat http://www.history.com/lincoln/. 
Teachers, students, and families will find enrichment resources and study guides at this site, which may be used at any time and/or can help prepare for the event. You can now register for this event online at http://www.history.com/lincoln/. The first 500 registrants will receive a National History Day sourcebook onLincoln and a Lincoln coin box. 
Questions? Email us at lincoln@aetn.com
This special live event will feature two Lincoln scholars, Matthew Pinsker and Harold Holzer, sharing their expertise and answering students' questions from all over the country. The content is recommended for middle through high school, with an emphasis on 8th grade, and easily fits within all fifty states' standards of learning.
HISTORY™ is proud to offer this National Teach-In on Lincoln as part of its Give a Lincoln for Lincoln™ campaign.Lincoln saved our nation. Let's help save his legacy.Visit http://www.history.com/lincoln/ and find out how you can help.

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