Sign up Now for homeschool recreation group at Star Hill in Tolland, Ct.

Next 6 week session starts on Friday January 6. Activities will be planned each week on the turf fields, the basketball/volleyball courts, and the indoor track. Children ages 4-15 will enjoy activities in both smaller age-appropriate groups and larger groups. While the kids are playing, Moms and Dads are welcome to use the track in the dome to get their exercise! Members $35 a child, non-members $40 a child.

  To register online click on this link:

http://www.starhillsports.com/vacation-week/home-school-programs

Please register your children by January 4, 2012 

Star Hill Family Athletic Center

100 Gerber Drive

Tolland, Ct

860-871-8800

WINTER IN THE WOODS for Homeschool Families

Passing this along from Kris McCue fvhegroupis@hotmail.com

WINTER IN THE WOODS for Homeschool Families

at Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Road, Canton

Monday mornings

January 9th

January 16th

January 23rd

January 30th

9:30 -11am

Designed for Homeschool families, this class is a hands-on, active exploration of nature in winter. Themes may include: hibernation, active animals, animal tracking and plant survival. Content will be guided by the interest of the group. Each child will complete the class with the beginnings of their own nature journal to take home. Appropriate for children age 3-8 with an adult. A portion of each class will be held outdoors. No strollers or carriages, please! The group will be divided into 2, a younger group and an older group, for the initial classroom portion, then we will all go outside to explore together and may also do the indoor journaling together. Be sure that parents and children dress for the weather - we will go outside every time.

Cost is $40 per child for all four sessions. Pre-registration is required.

You can register either by calling the nature center or emailing Kris McCue at fvhegroupis@hotmail.com and sending Kris McCue the registration form below.

You may also call the Nature Center for additional information at 860.693.0263.

If you choose to register through Kris, please copy/paste the following registration in an email back to her.  Kris McCue will give your class registration to Roaring Brook then you only need to send payment to confirm your registration.

Registration Information for Monday Classes at RBNC:

Child's Name Age

Parent's Name

Home Phone

Cell Phone

Email Address

Announcing the 8th Annual FVHE Science Fair

Passing this along from Kris McCue, please email her to register at fvhegroupis@hotmail.com

8th Annual Science Fair

sponsored by Farmington Valley Home Educators Group

Date: Friday, February 3, 2012

Time: 6:00-7:30.

(Set up beginning at 5:45)

Location: The Apple Barn

60 Old Farms Rd., West Simsbury

Cost: --$5 per participant

(registration fee covers rental of space, pizza and beverage)

--$3 per visitor if you’d like to have pizza and beverage

--free to any visitor looking but not eating

Who: Open to all home-schooled kids

To Register: email Kris McCue at fvhegroupis@hotmail.com

Please provide the following information:

Children’s names and ages or grades

How many projects your family will bring, as sometimes kids will work together on 1 project. You don’t need to tell me the nature of your project unless you need to make a special request (such as electricity needed, more space needed, etc...)

How many of you will be attending. I need to keep a head count on guests as well, as the building has an occupancy limit.

Your willingness to bring a dish to share on our buffet-counter. Finger-foods and desserts are welcome additions to the festivities.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

1 person needed to make certificates of participation for each child. These can be store-bought or made up on the computer at home. I will give you a list of names close to the date of the fair. These are presented to each of the children at the close of the fair.

A couple people are needed to arrive early (5:30) and help set up 18 tables.

One person is needed to pick up pizzas at 5:45 at Antonio's Restaurant (located on Rt. 10 in the north end of Simsbury, about 7 minutes from the Apple Barn)

Come join the science fair for an evening of fun and learning!

Choose any science topic and research it, then make a display to show what you’ve learned.

Science fair projects should be either experimental or illustrative. They should show/use the 6 steps of scientific method where possible.

The 6 steps of scientific method are:

question - what did you want to know?

hypothesis - your guess at the answer to your question

list materials - what did you use to conduct your experiment?

procedure - how did you conduct your experiment?

observations - what did you see happen?

conclusion - what answer did your experiment give to your original question?

Kids should be prepared to explain or demonstrate their project as guests and family go around and look at the different displays. Kids will also have time to go around and learn from each other. (If your child does an experiment, they should plan to spend more time manning their display so as to show it properly, whereas if your child does an illustrative project they just need to make sure there is enough detail in order to be self-explanatory. Either way, it is nice for the kids to spend some time showing off their hard work.) Kids will each have 1/2 of a 6 foot table unless otherwise requested. This is about the space a tri-fold cardboard stand takes up. There are electrical outlets available on a first-ask, first-receive basis. We are not allowed to hang anything on the walls. Each participant should have a small booklet as part of their display, for the family and guests to write comments in. This makes a fun keepsake, and is great feedback!

I am not worried about multiples of the same project, so kids don’t need to worry that someone else will claim a topic before them. I don’t want any child to be discouraged from following what interests them.

Please keep in mind the purpose of this evening. It’s hard to believe anyone could get tired of looking at all the wonderful displays our kids dream up, but sometimes they do. At the Apple Barn there is a smaller 2nd room with couches/chairs and table/benches in case younger kids want to visit or play cards/do coloring and such.

I will respond to your emails with details of where/when to send payment for registration, as well as additional details of our using the facility, and the pizza ordering.

If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Happy inventing!

Kris McCue
fvhegroupis@hotmail.com

Ct. Science Center $5 field trip deal

Passing this along from Laurie Fraher  elfraher@sbcglobal.net email her if you are interested. 

The CT Science Center is having a special this month for $5 field trips. I spoke the the man who runs the field trips he said homeschool groups can be part of this deal. My family and I will be going on Thursday December 8th. The only down side is you do need to enter as a group. Bring cash to pay and we will meet there at 10AM and enter at 10:15AM. Anyone who want to come can join us no pre-registration needed. Parking can be expensive so car pool if you can. (I think it is $3 the first hour and $2 after that with a cap of $10 or $15 - I have not been there in a year so it could have changed)

Location: 250 Columbus Blvd., Hartford
http://ctsciencecenter.org/groups/school-field-trips.aspx

Please pass this on to all your friends!!!

Laurie 

Homeschoolers in Nutcracker Ballet

Passing this along from Shelley Wurst...........

The Connecticut Concert Ballet is presenting a fully staged, beautifully costumed and performed Nutcracker ballet at Manchester High School on Saturdays Dec 10 and 17 at 2pm and 7pm, and Sundays Dec 11 and 18 at 2pm. MANY homeschooled kids (and parents!) involved in this production amongst the school's students, dancing alongside nationally reknown dancers as well as local professionals.

This is a gorgeous show, not to be missed! Tickets and further information can be found here:

http://www.connecticutnutcracker.com/

Hope to see many of you there!

--Shelley, mom to Jacob (11) and Gabe (8)

__._,_.___

Mom's Night Out this Friday

Passing this along from Laurie Fraher elfraher@sbcglobal.net, email her if you are interested.

Mom's Dinner out and shopping

Panera Bread

90 Elm Street, Enfield, Ct.

Friday Dec. 2, 2011

6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Come meet us at Panera Bread for a light dinner or dessert, then holiday shopping if you choose.

No kids or husbands allowed!

Come and Relax!!

Consider a membership at Star Hill

Passing this along from Tess Grous; She had a few questions and called Star Hill herself and wanted to share with everyone what she found out. For anyone who is already attending on a regular basis and is looking to save a few dollars, you may want to check this out:

*If you are attending Star Hill on a regular basis at LEAST 4X a MONTH, you may want to CONSIDER a FAMILY MEMBERSHIP!

Star Hill is running a promotion right now. Sign up by November 30th and they will waive the reg. fee and give you one month free. Your monthly charge is $83 per month for a FAMILY MEMBERSHIP. If you would like to pay in full at the time of sign up, your cost would be $924.

This family membership is ALL INCLUSIVE. This means:

FULL use of the fitness center and track.

FULL access to group fitness classes (including aquatic group fitness classes).

FULL access to the swimming pool.

FULL access to turf fields.

FULL acess to basketball & volleyball courts.

The facility opens at 4:30 a.m. (DADS!)

The pool opens from 5 a.m to 10:00 a.m. with free swim times throughout the day with a lifeguard on duty.

There is also additional classes which come FREE of charge and some at an ADDITIONAL FEE. Futsal (soccer alternative) is now being offered EVERY tuesday night for ages 9-15 at 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. and age 16+ 7:30 -9:00p.m. It's FREE WITH MEMBERSHIP! This is a great gym class alternative. Also for the clinics and any specialized classes offered that are an additional charge, there is a discount price for all members. *Members also get discounts on the homeschool programs.

*If you are attending Star Hill on a regular basis at LEAST 4X a MONTH, you may want to CONSIDER a FAMILY MEMBERSHIP!

http://www.starhillsports.com/membership

Time change for Homeschool Open Swim at Star Hill

Passing this along.........

http://www.starhillsports.com/vacation-week/home-school-programs

100 Gerber Drive

Tolland Ct. 06084

860-871-8800

Homeschool Day at The Children’s Museum Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Homeschool Day at The Children’s Museum in West Hartford, Ct.

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

Join us for our final Science Education Day this fall dedicated to homeschool families. The Children’s Museum in West Hartford understands the challenges that homeschool educators face tackling science topics. We hope to bridge the gap with specialized programs for children from five to thirteen. We invite children who are homeschooled to visit the Museum and take part in classroom programs or a planetarium show. You can choose up to three programs for your child.

This is the last homeschool day for your family this fall. The winter session of exciting, fresh, new programming begins the end of January. We look forward to seeing you after the New Year.

View the program schedule at the website:
http://thechildrensmuseumct.org/pdf/PROGRAM%20SCHEDULE%20Nov%202011.pdf

We have structured the schedule so you can select up to three different classes. Younger students can experience our solar system’s most extreme weather events, examine the facets of light and color, or discover how the weather shapes our landscape. Children in the third through fifth grade-range can encounter endangered species and learn what threatens their survival, investigate the world of germs, or travel with us as we invade Mars. Older children can journey to the edge of our solar system, drive a robot rover, or be a scientist and track Rainforest species.

To register online: http://thechildrensmuseumct.org/homeschool_day.php

Leonids Meteor Shower Star Party on November 17

Passing this along from Bill Fournier.....

Leonids Meteor Shower Star Party

Day:                Thursday       

Date:               November 17

Time:              7:00-8:30 p.m.

Location:        Bruce Park Pavilion Mountain Rd. Suffield, Ct.

                     (behind Spaulding Elementary School)

Ages:              Family

Fee:                $5.00 Adults, $3.00 Children, Under Age 3-Free.

Instructor:        Bill Fournier, JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador.

Description:   Come enjoy  some night sky sights with the Lazy Gazer!  The Leonids Shower can be spectacular!  A short instructional DVD program will be provided. Meteorites will also be on display.  A great family activity!  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Dress appropriately for this outdoor event. 

Registration Deadline is Thursday, November 10 and/or when the program is full.

To register: http://www.suffieldtownhall.com/content/143/2857/1880/default.aspx

Sign up Now for homeschool recreation group at Star Hill in Tolland, Ct.

Next 6 week session starts on Friday November 11. Activities will be planned each week on the turf fields, the basketball/volleyball courts, and the indoor track. Children ages 4-15 will enjoy activities in both smaller age-appropriate groups and larger groups. While the kids are playing, Moms and Dads are welcome to use the track in the dome to get their exercise!

  To register online click on this link:

http://www.starhillsports.com/vacation-week/home-school-programs

Please register your children by Nov. 10, 2011

Star Hill Family Athletic Center

100 Gerber Drive

Tolland, Ct

860-871-8800

There is homeschool recreation group at Star Hill this Friday!

Star Hill Family Athletic Center is open and they plan on having the last class for this session on Friday Nov. 4
 at 12-30 - 2 pm as usual. 
Also...they are open to the public for free hot showers! Check out their website: http://www.starhillsports.com/

100 Gerber Drive

Tolland, Ct. 06084

860-871-8800

Sewing classes for homeschoolers

Passing this along from Jan Porri, the owner......

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself!! My name is Jan Porri, and I have a small sewing school located at my home in Windsor. I have been doing lessons for children from age 6 (and also adults) for a year, and have been having a great time!! I use the Kids Can Sew program based in Texas, and have been quite successful with that. Please check their website.. www.kidscansew.com   My classes run once a week for 1 hour, and are limited to a class size of 4. We use a project book developed by Caroline Curtis at Kids Can Sew, it offers 9 projects in book one, and students can continue through a series of books as they progress. I also will add other projects from time to time that are not in the book, but add other skills. I also have a book that is for boys as well.


I currently have 3 home schoolers (in addition to my other students) that have begun the program, and it has been suggested that I contact other home school groups to share my information. I have quite a bit on my web site...www.janssewingroom.com  


If you have any questions or would like to come over and visit my studio to see if this is something that your family might like to incorporate with your home schooling, I would be happy to give you a 'tour'. I recently remodeled my studio space, so we have plenty of room for all the aspects of sewing. 


I supply all the tools necessary, as well as some fabrics. All the students have to bring is the desire to learn! There is a link on my web site to my Facebook page as well, where you can see many photos of the studio, and the transformation. 


I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached via email or by phone at 860-680-1290.


Jan Porri


Jan's Sewing Room 
www.janssewingroom.com

Homeschool LEGO Connections Program Longmeadow Library

Passing this along from Donna Johnson.......

Homeschool LEGO Connections Program

Longmeadow Library

Richard Salter Storrs Library 
693 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow Mass.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

1:30 - 2:30pm

Cost: FREE!

Call (413) 565-4182 to register

ALL homeschoolers are welcome;

please forward this e-mail to anyone who

might be interested!

Longmeadow Library is offering

this program to homeschoolers

the first Tueday of every month. If

another day or time is better for the

majority of people, please let them know.

New England Air Museum – Homeschool Field Trip

Passing this along from Diane Connors, to sign up see registration info below.......

New England Air Museum – Homeschool Field Trip

http://www.neam.org/

November 17, 2011, Thursday

1:30 - 3 PM

 people can stay longer after the tour (the actual tour will be as long as each group holds sustained attention, for up to 90 minutes)  

Adults and children aged four and above are $8 each (group rate)

Children aged three and under are free

Maximum group size (total head count) is 100 – 125

Now, a few questions:

1) Will an open cockpit time be a part of this trip? YES! Children can sit inside a real cockpit!

2) What about the Flight Simulator Zone? I assume that is part of what will then be, the overall exhibits.

3) Will our tour be as one group with a docent to lead us? Yes, in groups of 15 – 20 as they arrive.

Group Tours

The Museum offers guided tours for visitors of all ages.

Upon your arrival, our docents will meet your group and take you on a fully guided tour through the Museum's three large display hangars. You will see helicopters, modern jets and trophy-winning racers. Take a close look at the airplanes that so proudly served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Marvel at our fascinating exhibits which tell the story of the men and women who built, flew, and made history with these fabulous machines.

The great thing about our tours is their flexibility. A variety of demonstrations, interactive activities, stories and themes are available. Our guided tours are both educational and entertaining and have been enjoyed by thousands of visitors for the past several years.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE INFO:

Diane must receive payment BY November 3rd with registration information including the number of paid adults and children as well as the number of free children (just for headcount).  There are no refunds. ANY registration/payment received after November 3rd will be returned to you. Please be sure to include your neatly printed EMAIL address for a confirmation and for further communications about this trip. Importantly, remember to note this trip on YOUR calendar so you don't forget you registered!

Mail check, payable to Diane Connors, to P.O. Box 629, Columbia, CT 06237

Please feel free to forward this to other homeschoolers; there’s plenty of room in this trip. 

Home School Day at OSV

Home School Day - November 2

Home School Days offer you and your children the opportunity to visit the Village and participate in hands-on activities and participatory programs. This is a great opportunity for children to gain exposure to many aspects of 1830s New England life in an interactive way. 

On this Home School Day, Thanksgiving Traditions, learn about the much-loved tradition of Thanksgiving and how things have changed over time. With the busy agricultural season coming to an end, New England citizens began preparing for the much-anticipated Thanksgiving celebration. This was a time of merriment, hearty eating, and giving thanks. In October 1621, the "first" Thanksgiving included two very culturally-diverse peoples and became a much-loved tradition that has changed over time. Learn about some of these changes, experience some of the culture, and compare then and "now"-- the 1830s!

For more information and to register click on this link: http://www.osv.org/orders/listprograms.html?ID=14&G=T

Homeschool Zip Line Program

Passing this along from Victoria Eisenhauer, victoriaeisenhauer@att.net 

email her if you are interested.......

Homeschool Zip Line Program

Where: Hebron Fairgrounds, Section “F” of parking lot

When: Wednesday, Oct. 12th. Raindate: Thursday the 13^th. 1PM to 4 (Good day to use the Crock Pot!)

Who: Members of homeschooling families age 9 and up. Our harnesses fit people up to 220 pounds. Limit of 14 participants per session. Well-supervised younger siblings are welcome to watch.

Fee: $15 per participant

Who Am I? I am a homeschooling mother with certification as a Level 2 High Ropes Facilitator. I have 6 years of experience working part-time with youth and adults during teambuilding, low and high ropes programs.

Since When Is There A Zip Line at the Fairgrounds? Since three weeks ago. The owner, Mark, of Mark’s Tree Farm in Colchester, decided to build a second zip line in a more accessible location. It was constructed to meet current safety standards by a professional vendor who is an accredited member of the Association for Challenge Course Technology. The cable is over 600 feet long, giving riders the thrilling experience of “flying” between 30-40 mph. PHOTOS available upon request.

Program Details: In this three-hour program, we will spend roughly the first hour warming up with games and learning to use the equipment safely. Older children will be given responsibilities to help keep younger ones safe. There is an exciting and challenging tree climb (about 30’) to reach the launch platform, during which the climber is protected by a belay system. I will need one adult to supervise the “Take Down Team”, helping riders come off the zip line safely (that adult can register one child for half-price, and will need to arrive a half-hour early). Each participant will receive one ride. If time allows, we can “draw straws” for a few people to ride a second time. A parent must be present to supervise his or her own children at all times.

Focus is on Fun: Most people, no matter how old, have some fear of heights. “Challenge By Choice” is taught, that each participant chooses his or her challenge for the day. No one will be pressured to do more than they can handle. Sometimes people change their minds and decide not to climb all the way up. My hope is that each participant will leave their comfort zone, feeling safe to go farther than they normally would. The group will celebrate every climber’s decision to return to Earth, no matter the exact route.

How to Register:

1- Send me an email with the participants’ names and ages, as well as the name and contact info for the parent attending. Also let me know if you would like to be in charge of the “Take Down Team”. Please specify your preference of morning or afternoon.

2-I will email you the  liability and release form. Read, print and sign right away so you don't forget. I will only hold space in the program temporarily until the form is received. Mail it to Victoria Eisenhauer, 175A Clubhouse Rd, Lebanon CT 06249. If you don’t think you can remember to bring cash (exact change) that day, you may send me a check (made out to me) as well.

3- I will send a confirmation email once I have received the liability release form.

You are welcome to email or call me, Victoria, with questions. 860-423-4049 victoriaeisenhauer@att.net

October Homeschool Day at The Children’s Museum

950 Trout Brook Drive

West Hartford, Connecticut 06119 1437

860.231.2824

Homeschool Day at The Children’s Museum

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The fun and learning continues this fall with our second Science Education Day dedicated to homeschool families. As supporters of your family’s choice for self-directed, home-based education, we invite children who are homeschooled to visit the Museum, tour our exhibits, and take part in classroom and planetarium programs. Our workshops and planetarium shows are appropriate for children from five to thirteen years old.

Because of the popularity of our Homeschool Days, we have planned fall and winter sessions this school year. Our final program this fall is Tuesday, November 29. The winter session begins in January.

 It is our goal that your children receive the maximum learning enjoyment from our variety of programs. We have structured the schedule so you can select up to three different classes. Younger students can find out why some animals are extinct, learn why bubbles are science, or "take a ride" on a snowflake. Children in the third through fifth grade-range can tinker in the wonders of physical sciences, go to extreme planets, or be washed away on our landscape. Older children can meet critters native to Connecticut, study the atmospheres of Earth and Mars, or take a live journey through space. 

Click here to view the program schedule for October http://www.thechildrensmuseumct.org/pdf/SCHEDULE%20October%202011.pdf 

For more info and to register please check out this link: http://www.thechildrensmuseumct.org/homeschool_day.php

Free online classes from Universal Class offered at various Connecticut public libraries

I wanted to let everyone know about these free online classes that you and your family can access through your hometown library's website. If your library isn't offering the Universal Classes, ask them to consider it.

Universal Class Library Edition, a new online continuing education service designed specifically for use by the patrons of public libraries. Universal Class offers over 540 courses in a variety of subjects including Entrepreneurship, Arts and Music, Cooking, Computers and Technology, Homeschooling, Job Assistance, Parenting and Family, Pet and Animal Care, GED preparation, Science, History, and others. With real instructors guiding the learning in a collaborative learning environment with engaging video-based lessons. Assignments are graded, certificates of achievement and Continuing Education Units are given upon completion of most courses (CEUs are not generally recognized by colleges).

You need your library card to sign up on your hometown library's website. Most classes are for middle school age and up, but some classes you could do with the whole family. You can read the descriptions of the courses to decide if it is appropriate for your child.

So go check out your hometown library's website and see if they are offering Universal Class!