January Newsletter

 

ICE SKATING at JAMESTOWN ARENA

Get some exercise and have fun too, as a whole family!  

Go to the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena during an open skate time.  

Call them for open skate times at 716-484-2624.

You can try to win 4 tickets by coloring a picture.  Go to: http://www.jamestownarena.com/kidzzone.php to download a picture.  One picture per month per child but you can send more than one in an envelope.

 Do you have any students who want to challenge themselves in the upcoming Spelling Bee?  The Jefferson Room at the Warren County Library has been reserved for January 17 for our Home Schoolers' Bee.  Please email the names, ages, and current grades of students who wish to participate to rfmatheny@countrypreacher.com or call 728-8774 so certificates of participation can be printed.  Winner information must be submitted to the school district by January 25.

Three important rules to remember are:

• The speller must attend a school that officially enrolled with the Scripps National Spelling Bee between August 16, 2010, and December 17, 2010.
• The speller must not have passed beyond the eighth grade on or before February 1, 2011.
• The speller must not have repeated any grade for the purpose of extending spelling bee eligibility.

The official eligibility rules can be read at http://spellingbee.com/eligibility-0.

The Warren County Spelling Bee is scheduled for February 9, with a "snow day" of February 11.

 Jamestown Audubon Center

• Little Explorers – Plant Skeletons
Saturday, January 8, 2011, 10am-noon
Children aged 3-8 and their favorite grown-ups enjoy a nature lesson, walk, craft, and snack. Reservations required by the Thursday before the program to ensure sufficient supplies. $5 per person for members, $7/person for non-members.
Call 716-569-2345 for reservations. 

• Doors Open Jamestown
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Visit Audubon and the other “attractors” for free!  

 Fri, Sat & Sunday January 21-23rd

Come on out for ice skating, sled dog races, ice fishing, geocaching, sled riding and more!  Warren County Winterfest is the largest winter event in the Pennsylvania Wilds region. Held at Chapman State Park in late January of each year, our event features a variety of Winter outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. 
Go to the website for more info... http://www.warrencountywinterfest.com/Home.html

Struthers Library Theatre Arts & Education Program

The following plays are FREE for the student in the specified grade, and the parent, only.  

No siblings in other grades please.

If your other children and/or whole family would like to attend, the plays will also perform in the evening, which cost $5 per student, $10 per adult.

January 14 @ 9am - CONCERT PIANIST ALPIN HONG

Intended for 7th and 8th grades.

February 22 @ 9am - SONG OF MULAN

Intended for 3rd and 4th grades.

Contact Nan Chapman if you would like to attend.

723-7367

December Newsletter

 

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

 

Get some exercise and have fun too, as a whole family!  

Go to the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena during an open skate time.  

Call them for open skate times at 716-484-2624.

You can try to win 4 tickets by coloring a picture.  Go to: http://www.jamestownarena.com/kidzzone.php to download a picture.  One picture per month per child but you can send more than one in an envelope.

 

and Christmas Walk

Friday, Dec 3rd at 6pm

The Santa Parade begins at 6pm along PA Ave. West in downtown Warren and ends at the Municipal Bldg for the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree. 

At 6:30pm the children are invited to the Blair Store with Mrs. Santa for treats before enjoying the Christmas Walk beginning at 6:30pm - 8pm.   

Santa will be in his house on Liberty Street to greet children and there are lots of open houses, live windows, music, vendors and much more!

Sugar Grove Christmas Walk

Friday, December 10th at 5 pm

Come on out and see all the decorated and living windows, take part in the merchant drawings and give aways, enjoy music of the season, see art exhibits, live animals and more. Dress warm and walk through the beautifully decorated town and visit the merchants through the borough for a variety of Christmas fun and activities. The AMVETS/Ladies Auxiliary has reserved a place in the Sugar Grove park for Santa Claus. He will be arriving with the help of the Sugar Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Mrs. Claus will be on hand to read special stories at the Sugar Grove Free Library. There will be Christmas costumed characters throughout the town and many businesses already on the holiday schedule. There will be surprises for you if you stop by Hebner’s Towne Styling, Wilcox Brothers, American Legion, Schuylers, The OutPost, Linda York Craft Store, The Bucket, Town and Country, The Laundromat, The Sugar Shack, The SG Borough Building, Dream Fabrics, Sonny Anderson’s, Dave Bauer and Dave Williams offices, Jim Widrig Car Wash, and McKinney Funeral Home. EMHS will display a beautiful art exhibit, Catering Plus will be on hand with cookie decorating, PNC bank will have hot chocolate and cookies, Scouting groups will be on hand with activities through the streets. A Hay ride will be provided by Bill Gourley. The Presbyterian Church will be holding winter games. The United Methodist Church will have their holiday display, The Free Methodist Church singers will once again be caroling from the second story of the Bucket. The Warren County Dairy Association will have special surprises in town too.

  

The Allegheny Regional Dance Theatre Experience 

Presents

Alice in Wonderland

At the Struthers Library Theatre, 

Friday, December 3rd at 8:15 pm, following the Downtown Christmas Walk

and Saturday, December 4th at 2pm and 7:30 pm.

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole and tag along the trail of story-telling dancers and actors into a delightfully nonsensical world where tea with the Mad Hatter, croquet with the Queen, and words of wisdom from a caterpillar are everyday events.  Whether you're big or you're small - or sometimes you're both - you'll find that logic is no match for madness among the delirious denizens of Wonderland.  With a cast of over 50 talented local dancers and staged entirely by local choreographers this production will bring to life all the wonderful characters of Wonderland.  A show for all ages, tickets are available at the Struthers Library Theatre office or call 814-723-7231.  Tickets are also available through cast members.

Come out and watch and support our talented homeschoolers, 

Alyssa Samuelson,

Hannah Augenstein

and

Haeli Augenstein!

Tips, Tricks & Pointers!

Lowe's sells shower board that makes awesome wipe off boards!

They sell it in a large sheet, but will cut it to your preferred size and voila! You can nail up a large wipe off board or have them cut several 12x12 sized wipe off board slates.  We use these the personal slate size on a daily basis for homeschooling.  My kids even take them in the car for long trips, perfect for drawing or playing hangman, with their wipe off markers. 

Friday, December 10th from 6-8 pm

Saturday, December 11th from 5-8 pm

Sunday, December 12th from 4-8 pm

Calvary Baptist Church, 445 Conewango Avenue, Warren

Free of charge

The church is transformed into Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth.   A Roman centurion will lead you through Bethlehem, beginning with Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Messiah, to the angel appearing to Mary and her visit to Elizabeth, to the marketplace where you can see, touch and even taste some of the wares from Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

After spending time in the marketplace, your journey will take you to a crowded inn, a scene of shepherds whose tranquility is interrupted by a visit of angels, and finally to the manger where Joseph introduces you to the baby Jesus. There are even some real sheep at the manger. 

There is no cost for Bethlehem Marketplace; many people come back every year as a family tradition and reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.

Start practicing now because the Annual Spelling Bee is coming up in January!

Keep checking back here for updated information as it comes in.

Check out these websites for fun ways to practice:

http://spellingbee.com/

http://www.spellingcity.com/game-games-more-games.html

http://www.myspellit.com/

http://www.funbrain.com/spell/index.html

http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules/scripps-consolidated-word-lists.html

Homeschooling Websites

Here is a listing of the websites we use for homeschooling resources.  

If you have a site to recommend, email me and I will list it here!

• http://internet4classrooms.com/

• http://dltk-bible.com/ 

• http://www.dltk-kids.com/

November Newsletter

Free Concert

Warren County Summer Music School has invited us to a concert at the Library Theater this WEDNESDAY - Nov. 10th.  The concert will feature "Foothills Brass" - a group of 5 versatile musicians from across North America. They perform everything from Baroque classics to modern/contemporary music in a brass quintet. They will also discuss the music and take questions from the audience.

Students in 7 & 8 grade are invited to attend the 9:00 concert.  ALL others are invited to the Noon(12:00) performance, which should last about 45 min.  You are welcome to bring your lunch with you.  Both performances are FREE.   

 

Tips, Tricks & Pointers!

From Kym Mullins:

A friend who homeschools in Florida told me about a website: 

internet4classrooms.com. 

It has a variety of resources and has organized links to hundreds of websites with lesson plans or online educational games.  It is organized by grade level (pre-K to 8) as well as by subject matter.  It has been helpful to me to be able to have a resource that helps me to quickly find links to subject matter that I want to reinforce with my boys.  Having to do a web search for resources like the ones they have compiled would be very time-consuming, so this website has been a time saver for me.  

From Julie:

I am going to compile all of your favorite resourceful websites in one place, so email me with your list of favorites!  Then on the right of this blog, just click 'Favorite Websites' and you will be able to view that list.

Kitty, Sharon, Cay, Stephanie, Robyn and I all had a nice time at trivia night last week. 
Hope to see you there on December 2nd!

 Homeschool Paintball Fieldtrip

DATE:  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH 

TIME:    3:30 pm

LOCATION: 
Homeschooler Christina Wilson's home

1106 South Ave. 

Bradford, PA

DIRECTIONS FROM WARREN:

MapQuest directions To: 1106 South Ave, Bradford, PA 16701-3834 US
 
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
--------------------------------------------------
A) Warren, PA US
--------------------------------------------------
    1. Start out going WEST on PENNSYLVANIA AVE W/US-6-BR

toward LIBERTY ST. (go 0.2 miles)
    2. Turn LEFT onto HICKORY ST.  (go 0.1 miles)
    3. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto CRESCENT RD/CRESCENT PARK. 

Continue to follow CRESCENT PARK.  (go 0.4 miles)
    4. Turn LEFT onto US-6 E/GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC HWY. 

(go 2.0 miles)
    5. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto KINZUA RD/PA-59. Continue

to follow PA-59. (go 21.2 miles)
    6. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto PA-770.  (go 6.7 miles)
    7. Turn LEFT onto US-219/SOUTH AVE/PA-770. 

Continue to follow US-219/SOUTH AVE. (go 1.1 miles)
    8. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto SOUTH AVE.  (go 0.2 miles)
    9. 1106 SOUTH AVE is on the LEFT.  (go 0.0 miles)
--------------------------------------------------
B) 1106 South Ave, Bradford, PA 16701-3834 US

Per Christina, turn right at the 'blinking light'. You will see an old gas station on the left and they will have balloons tied to the entrance of their driveway on the right. Their driveway looks like an old logger road.

DETAILS:  All Homeschooling Families are invited to Homeschool Paintball Day at the Wilson's.   Dad's and Kid's will be playing paintball!      

The Wilson's have 45 acres and have 15 paintball guns and all supplies needed to play.  
Bring your own equipment if you like, but it's not necessary.

This is a FREE event.            

Wear layered clothing, the paintballs do sting if you get hit.
Mom's and non playing siblings invited to come and chat and get to know each other better!

The Wilson's will be providing a hot dog dinner.
RSVP:  CALL Julie to RSVP  406-4957 or EMAIL me at   anjt@hotmail.com

I have NOT heard from anyone in our group that will be attending.  Are any of you planning on going?

I believe my family will be going.

Pottery Field Trip Recap

Deb had a good turnout for the Pottery Field Trip.  The kids were given a bit of clay to shape, mold and paint.  Here are some pictures that Deb has to share:

A Merry Little Christmas

I created a new Christmas Blog that I wanted to share with you all.

It's all about Christmas Advent activities, crafts, recipes and such, all while keeping Christ in Christmas.

Starting December 1st, I will be listing a different Advent every day.  I hope you enjoy it!

http://merrylittlechristmas.blogspot.com/

Audubon Society Homeschool Day

Homeschool Day is going to be November 17 and it’s going to be all about Bears. We’re going to use some of the Project WILD curricula and the new Growing Up WILD curriculum to both teach the kids and let the parents know about the great resources. Same times, 10am to 12pm for the program, then an optional afternoon hike with a naturalist

Please call the Audubon at 716-569-2345 for more information and to sign up!

Thanksgiving Fun

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it's a great time for crafty fun!

Check back often, as I will be adding fun ideas throughout the next few weeks.

Thanksgiving Placemats

Print these cute placemats for the kids' place setting at the Thanksgiving table.  Set out with a few crayons or laminate the placemat and use washable markers.
http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2354098/ff0111mgi-placemat-pdf-november-6-2010-2-13-pm-457k?da=y

 

October 2010 Newsletter

Time for fall hikes, nature watching, leaf rubbings, pumpkin patches and apple picking, hay rides and campfires, what's not to love about autumn?!  

Lots to share with you this month!  Hope to see and meet some more of you at the upcoming field trips that are planned.

  US Forest Service Marienville Field Office 

Field Trip
POSTPONED until SPRING

   

 POTTERY MAKE & TAKE 

FIELDTRIP

Thursday, November 4th at 11 am

Meet at Deb Penley's home to make pottery (think Christmas gifts!).  

The cost will be $3 to make a small item, $5 for the larger items.  This will cover the cost of materials.
Address: 15 School St. Sugar Grove 

(right next to the elementary school, facing the school it's the house on the left with a front porch with a football "guy" on it. Bring your favorite snack or lunch food to share smorgasbord style.  
RSVP to Debbie at        penley75@verizon.net or 814-489-7832

 Homeschool Paintball Fieldtrip

DATE:  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH 

TIME:    3:30 pm

LOCATION: 
Homeschooler Christina Wilson's home

1106 South Ave. 

Bradford, PA

DIRECTIONS FROM WARREN:

MapQuest directions To: 1106 South Ave, Bradford, PA 16701-3834 US
 
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
--------------------------------------------------
A) Warren, PA US
--------------------------------------------------
    1. Start out going WEST on PENNSYLVANIA AVE W/US-6-BR toward LIBERTY ST.  (go 0.2 miles)
    2. Turn LEFT onto HICKORY ST.  (go 0.1 miles)
    3. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto CRESCENT RD/CRESCENT PARK. Continue to follow CRESCENT PARK.  (go 0.4 miles)
    4. Turn LEFT onto US-6 E/GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC HWY.  (go 2.0 miles)
    5. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto KINZUA RD/PA-59. Continue to follow PA-59.  (go 21.2 miles)
    6. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto PA-770.  (go 6.7 miles)
    7. Turn LEFT onto US-219/SOUTH AVE/PA-770. Continue to follow US-219/SOUTH AVE.  (go 1.1 miles)
    8. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto SOUTH AVE.  (go 0.2 miles)
    9. 1106 SOUTH AVE is on the LEFT.  (go 0.0 miles)
--------------------------------------------------
B) 1106 South Ave, Bradford, PA 16701-3834 US

Per Christina, turn right at the 'blinking light'. You will see an old gas station on the left and they will have balloons tied to the entrance of their driveway on the right. Their driveway looks like an old logger road.

DETAILS:  All Homeschooling Families are invited to Homeschool Paintball Day at the Wilson's.   Dad's and Kid's will be playing paintball!      

The Wilson's have 45 acres and have 15 paintball guns and all supplies needed to play.  
Bring your own equipment if you like, but it's not necessary.

This is a FREE event.            

Wear layered clothing, the paintballs do sting if you get hit.
Mom's and non playing siblings invited to come and chat and get to know each other better!

The Wilson's will be providing a hot dog dinner.





RSVP:  CALL Julie to RSVP  406-4957 or EMAIL me at   anjt@hotmail.com

Jamestown Audubon Homeschool Day

Wednesday November 17th   10am to 12 pm 

with an optional walk with anaturalist in the afternoon.

This time the topic will be all about Bears!

Please call the Audubon with any questions and to sign up at 716-569-2345

(I will call to confirm the cost, but last time it was $5 per person)

       Fall Testing Reminder

Fall Testing is October 11th, for 3rd, 5th and 8th graders.

Testing will be held with the PA Homeschoolers at Praise Fellowship Church.

Cost is $30 per child, if you pre-register postmarked October 7th or

posted online by October 9th.  Cost is $35 at the door.

            Go to http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/ for more info and to register.

YMCA Swim Lessons for Homeschoolers

  The next 5-week session will begin on Fri., October 15th.  Grades 5-8 will meet from 10:30-11:00am and grades 1-4 will have lessons from 11:00-11:30 am.  Cost is $13/session for members and $41 for non-members.  YMCA Membership for one youth is $124.

From Nan: Please let others who may not be on this email list know about this opportunity.  I have found from my own personal experience that I would rather go in the morning than late afternoon when I need to be getting dinner together.  This is also a great opportunity for our kids to get to know each other a little better.  Sign up is going on now.  Questions call Cathy Peterson at 726-0110.

                                                     For Sale / Needed Items:

• Needed: 

Prudence Perkins is looking for the Trailblazer Readers. 

Contact her at jimpru_perkins9801@yahoo.com if you have any that you would like to sell.

• Needed:  
Julie Turbide is looking for Abeka Place Value Concept Cards and Combination Dot Cards.

Contact her at anjt@hotmail.com if you have any for sale.

HSLDA Homeschool Material Auction Site: 

 http://market.hslda.org/auction/xcAuction.asp

  Tips, Advice and Ideas!

From Nan Chapman...

"When working in a workbook that you hate to let the kids write in - because you don't want to spend the money on another workbook or because you might not find another just like it or ....  Try using a sheet protector or clear report cover, a clip(to hold it in place), and dry erase markers.

  I found a pack of 5 different color dry-erase markers with erasers built right on the lids at Walmart for a few dollars that work really well and the whole thing is so portable.  Just initial the page once the child has done it and it is ready for the next child to use!!"

 

 HSLDA Essay Contest

Submission Dates:  October 1st through November 1, 2010

Category 1/Ages 7-10 - If you were asked to create a new invention to be used in 2011, what would it be, and how would it be valuable? 

Category 2/Ages 11-14 -   In 1620 the first pilgrims who landed in America wrote and signed a document called the Mayflower Compact.

Compare and contrast the attitude, passion and goals of the first pilgrims with James Truslow Adam’s definition of the “American Dream.” The term was believed to be first coined in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: The American Dream is “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.”

Category 3/Ages 15-19 - Read the following essay on a famous, old story that offers a new and controversial twist: “In Defense of Scrooge.” Write an essay in response to this author’s opinion. You may choose one or several points to address.

 

Category 1: Homeschoolers ages 7 to 10 as of October 1, 2010.
Category 2: Homeschoolers ages 11 to 14 as of October 1, 2010.
Category 3: Homeschoolers ages 15 to 19 as of October 1, 2010. 

Visit the HSLDA Website for qualifications, guidelines and address for submission.

 HSLDA Commercial Video Contest

Submission Dates August 16th - November 15th

This contest is open to anyone.  Each entrant will submit a video commercial that illustrates the value of HSLDA membership to a family. Videos will be a minimum of 60 seconds and may not exceed 90 seconds.

 Visit the HSLDA Website for guidelines, format, etc...

Struthers Library Theatre Arts & Education Program

The following plays are FREE for the student in the specified grade, and the parent, only.  

No siblings in other grades please.

If your other children and/or whole family would like to attend, the plays will also perform in the evening, which cost $5 per student, $10 per adult.

November 17 @ 9 am - HAMLET

Intended for 10th - 12th grades.  

January 14 @ 9am - CONCERT PIANIST ALPIN HONG

Intended for 7th and 8th grades.

February 22 @ 9am - SONG OF MULAN

Intended for 3rd and 4th grades.

Contact Nan Chapman if you would like to attend.

723-7367  

Reg Lenna Civic Center Youth Series 

Call the Box Office at 716-484-7070 to make reservations.

$5 per student, Accompanying parents are free.

 December 10 @ 10 am - CHAUTAUQUA REGIONAL YOUTH BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER

Grades K-12

February 2 @ 10 am and 12:30 pm - TOM CHAPIN

Grades K-4

March 4 @ 8 pm - JIM DONOVAN'S DRUM THE ECSTATIC

Ideal for Middle and High School

April 1 @ 8 pm - MAYHEM POETS

High School

 

 

 

 

May 13th & 14th - 25th Annual CHAP Homeschool Convention, Harrisburg, PA

http://convention.chaponline.com/

    September Field Trip Re-Cap

On September 29th, several families met at Port Farms for a fun fall field trip.  First, we took a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch where we each chose our favorite pumpkin to bring home.  After exploring the different areas, we all met at the barn for lunch.  We were blessed with decent weather and everyone had a great time!

A few of us also went out to the Lander Fire Department Community Safety Day.  The kids learned about fire safety, escape routes, got to watch the helicopter land and then tour it and even met Smokey the Bear.