Homeschool LEGO Connections Program Longmeadow Library

Passing this along.......

Homeschool LEGO Connections Program

Longmeadow Library

Richard Salter Storrs Library 
693 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow Mass.

Tuesday, October 4th

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.

__._,_.___

Rocky Neck Beach Day Postponed

Rocky Neck State Park

Rte. 156

East Lyme, Ct.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

11:00am - 4:00 pm

Due to today's weather we will meet next Thursday at the West Beach side of Rocky Neck Beach. A group of homeschoolers from CTCHEER will be there also! There is no fee to get in since it is after Labor Day. Here is the link for info and directions: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325256&amp

Homeschool Recreation Programs at Star Hill Family Athletic Center

Wednesday swim time usually includes time for free swim and then structured games. Children wearing flotation devices must be accompanied by a parent in the water 

On Fridays 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 Sept. 27, 2011

Star Hill Family Athletic Center

100 Gerber Drive

Tolland, Ct

860-871-8800

Beginners Pre-Engineering FUNdamentals Lego Class

Passing this along from Karen Cupit.........

Beginners Pre-Engineering with FUNdamentals Lego Class

CLASS DESCRIPTION: With access to over 100,00 pieces of LEGOs, students will create, play and tackle challenges that explore the fundamentals of engineering, all while having fun learning. Build cities, bridges, planes and motorized cars. Your child will have opportunity to build what they have only dreamed of, with the support of an experienced Pla-Well Engineering Instructor to guide them.

WHERE, WHEN, HOW MUCH, ETC.

Starts September 27, 2011- November 8, 2011

• Will be held every Tuesday for 7 weeks
• Classes will be held at the Whiton Library at 100 North Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042
• Class time:  10:30am – 12:00pm
• Min enrollment = 10
• Max enrollment = 16
• Cost is $105 per student
• Open to boys and girls ages 5-7

OTHER DETAILS

Class size is limited and enrollment is on a first come first served basis.  All materials will be provided.  No refunds will be issued after the first class.  Refunds only issued prior to first class. 

TO REGISTER

Email Andrew Escalera  at Andrew@play-well.org or call him at 860-573-5039.  Information needed:

• Parent(s) First and Last Name(s)
• Parent(s) contact info (email, phone numbers, etc.)
• Child(s) name, age and medical information (allergies, asthma, etc.)
• Make checks out to Play-Well TEKnologies, Attn. Andrew Escalera * Checks will be collected on first day of class

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit www.play-well.org

QUESTIONS?

Feel free to contact Andrew Escalera.

CT TROLLEY MUSEUM 2nd Annual Autumn Pumpkin Patch Event

Passing this along from Diane Connors..........

FIELD TRIP – CT TROLLEY MUSEUM 2nd Annual Autumn Pumpkin Patch Event

WHEN? Friday, October 14th, 2011 at 10 AM.

WHERE? 58 North Road, East Windsor, CT (plenty of free parking available at the site)

WHO? All ages welcome.

COST? Adults are $9 each, children 3 through 17 are $5 each, and children two and under are free.

ARRIVAL: We will meet for a check-in, on the front lawn just outside the Visitor's Center. Please be sure to meet me there and have your name marked as present. Wristbands will be passed out between 9:50 and 10 AM. If you arrive later, you need to go indoors to the counter for your bands.

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: The Annual Trolley Museum Pumpkin Patch event is a special event that they arrange for visitors. For your admission fee, you get UNLIMITED trolley rides for the day of our visit, and one stop at the Pumpkin Patch to select a pumpkin that your child(ren) may want to decorate back at the Visitor’s Center building. It is a decorated area, good for some cute photos ! On the front lawn of the Center, weather permitting, there will be a variety of lawn games set up for our use, such as bean bag toss, hula hoops and a bubble table to name some of the games. There’s also free face painting and tattoos for the kids.

The Conductors of the trolleys are very friendly and happy to talk about the history of trolleys in general, how they are run, and the history of the particular car you are riding at the time. They have multiple cars running on any given day, so it’s fun to take a turn riding all of them and learning about the history and function of them. The ride is 3 miles long, and in October, it’s gorgeous with the foliage, as well.

In addition, the Visitor’s Center is a great place to visit and the changing exhibits there are quite fun to explore, too.

There are picnic tables are on the front lawn if you’d like to bring a picnic lunch.

There is also a cute little Gift Shop, as well.

ATTENDANCE: There is no reasonable limit to the number of people that can register for this trip, so feel free to pass the information along to a homeschool friend who might be interested, or to your local group. In 2010 we had over 110 homeschool adults and children enjoying the grounds and unlimited trolley rides.

WEBSITE: To get an idea of what this wonderful place has to offer, check the site out http://ct-trolley.org/ctm/

TRIP COORDINATOR: Diane Connors

TO REGISTER: Please print out the field trip form at this webpage http://ct-cheer.com/FIELDTRIPFORM.htm and fill it out. Mail it to Diane as the instructions are listed on the form. You will be contacted via email to confirm your payment and space at the event.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Your payment and *completed* registration form must be postmarked no later than September 30 ^th so that I can report a headcount to the museum and they can have the appropriate number of volunteers prepared to greet us. Once that headcount is given, by 9/30, there are no refunds; the money is committed to the museum.

WEATHER ? This is a rain or shine event. There is a covered area to wait for trolley rides outside, and the exhibits are indoors. Check your email before leaving for the trip in case of unlikely changes!!

Homeschool Soccer League- Fall 2011 (Ages 7-10 years old)

Passing this along from Christian Alarie, email him if you are interested caandysp@aol.com 

Homeschool Soccer League- Fall 2011 (Ages 7-10 years old)

Does your child enjoy or want to learn how to play soccer? Are you or your child hesitant to sign up for your Town’s Recreation League or have you missed the sign-up deadline? There’s great news- you can still join the homeschool soccer league for free.

Yes for free!

Interested – Please Read On

My name is Christian Alarie and I have 2 daughters that play soccer. Full time qualified coaches with years of experience playing soccer, with homeschool children have been putting on successful soccer programs for the last four seasons with great success. We work with new and experienced players on the following:

• Getting much needed physical exercise
• Developing and/or improving a soccer skill set
• Enhancement of critical thinking skills
• Development of leadership qualities
• Helping to improve self-esteem
• Improving coordination
• Team building and developing positive sportsmanship

Still Interested? See Below for the Details.

Field Location: Soccer field adjacent to the Squadron Line School in Simsbury, CT

Dates: Saturdays- September 17^th, October 1^st, 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, and 29^th (6 Total)

Times: 1 to 3:30 PM

What does my Child Need:

• Must have their own soccer ball, a size 4 is best and will be used during league play, however a size 3 is also sufficient
• Shin Guards and cleats are not required, but many children choose to wear them
• Plenty of water for every game and any medications deemed necessary

What to expect:

• September 17^th is the first session, whereby all children will be evaluated to be placed on proper teams (we will exercise, run some drills, and play a structured scrimmage)
• Team Jersey’s will be provided at no cost with number and logo and official games will be played with referees during the 5 Saturday’s in October

Notes:

• We have children of all skill levels participate in the programs every season, and all come away with great success
• Every Child participates in the games regardless of experience

Ready to take the plunge?

Contact: Christian Alarie caandysp@aol.com

860-620-2845 (8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday)

----------MUST SIGN UP BY SEPTEMBER 12^th---------

Sign up for Fall Session of Writer's Workshop

Passing this along from Patty Schmid, please contact her if you are interested patty.schmid@gmail.com

Writers’ Workshop

The “Write” Connection

Sign up now for the fall session of Writer's Workshop!

We will have a Meet & Greet on Thursday, September 22nd

2:00-3:00 pm

For new students and parents to meet Mrs. Fitzgerald

and returning students who have questions or just want to say Hi!

Classes will begin on September 29th.

11:00 am-12 noon 1^st and 2^nd grade

12:30-1:45 3^rd and 4^th grade

2:00-3:15 5^th and 6^th grade

Classes will be held at

The Church of the Living God

199 Deming Street, Manchester

The cost is $20/week/student.
To Sign up please contact Patty Schmid at patty.schmid@gmail.com

Below is a letter from the teacher...

Dear Parents:​

​Writing skills are accomplished in the same way bike riding, soccer skills, learning a song, ormemorizing lines in a play are achieved-practice, determination, modeling, and coaching. As parents, we would never put a child on a two wheeler and just say “go for it!” Most certainly we would build confidence with a smaller bike, gradually move to larger bikes that had training wheels and finally holding the backseat of the bike and running along side, we would guide our child to balance and pedal on his/her own. Lots of cheering and encouragement would be necessary along the way.

​In a similar fashion, writing skills are most often improved when children have many opportunities to practice, hear other ideas from peers, learn strategies to enhance expression and receive guidance and coaching from an adult. Originally, I was struggling with my own children when I knew they needed to write “more” but couldn’t figure out exactly how to “coach” them without just telling them what to write.

​Writing is a life skill. It can be the difference between getting into college, getting the job, getting the refund, or convincingly changing a person’s mind. Writing will carry you forward, demonstrate academic strength and will be a reflection on a student’s education.

I have taught for 16 years and have worked with children in first through eighth grades in writing. I have had extensive training in teaching the strategies that help students become successful writers. For the past year and a half, I have had the pleasure of running Writers’ Workshop classes on Thursdays, in one of the classrooms in the Church of the Living God, in Manchester.

I would love the opportunity to set up class times for small group instruction in the many areas of writing-friendly and business letters, fiction stories, persuasive and expository writing. In the past we have also worked on writing strong paragraphs, main ideas with details, how to organize a 5 paragraph essay, poems, book reports and research.

Before you sign up for art, gymnastics, piano, or sports in the fall, please consider reserving a spot for weekly classes on Thursday afternoons for Writers’ Workshop! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

​​​​​​​Kathleen Fitzgerald

​​​​​​​knfitzgerald23@gmail.com

References: Mrs. Patty Schmid​email: patty.schmid@propark.com

​​Mrs. Michele Milazzo email: milazzomic@aol.com

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