A Homeschooling Conference You Won’t Get Lost At! —The NHHC Homeschooling Workshop June 17
The New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition Spring Workshop isn’t like those giant conventions where you get lost between the curriculum vendors and the 15 simultaneous lectures. The Spring Workshop is a “cozy gathering” where you have a chance to hear from many experienced homeschoolers their stories of how they homeschool. There is plenty of time for questions and the audience has a good time as they share concerns and get to know each other. (This writer has been homeschooling for 24 years, and always comes away from the workshop feeling inspired and with lots of new ideas.)
This year’s workshop will have two main sessions: A Homeschooling Sampler with a panel of homeschoolers who all have different approaches to homeschooling, and Homeschooling Through High School with homeschooling parents and teens who discuss their high school programs and preparation for the workforce or for college.
The Spring Workshop runs from 9:00 to 12:00 at the Nackey Loeb School of Communications in Manchester. You can read more about the workshop and pre-register at https://nhhomeschooling.org/spring-workshop/ . But pre-registration is not necessary—if you can come June 17, please do. You’ll consider many aspects of education at home and get a new outlook as you plan for the coming year.
Currculum Sale June 17 in Rochester
Also on June 17, the SCHEA Curriculum Sale, 9:00-12:00, Emmanuel Church, Rochester, NH. For more info, contact seacoastchristianhomeeducators@gmail.com
Annual NHHC Representative Elections
Members have been sent their electronic ballots to vote for a representative for their area of New Hampshire. NHHC reps answer people’s questions about homeschooling and connect new homeschoolers to groups and activities in their area. Here is the list of this year’s candidates. Districts listed with “write-in” still need a homeschooler to serve as the contact for that area.
District 1 write-in
District 2 Amy Farkus
District 3 Emilia Brown
District 4 Robin Hanson
District 5 Faye Grearson
District 6 Becky DelSignore
District 7 Paula-Marie Passen
District 8 Karen Deighan
District 9 Jacquie Allman
District 10 write-in
District 11 Erica Sylvester
District 12 write-in
The next New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition Board meeting will be held on Saturday, June 17 directly after the Spring Workshop. If you have questions about the election or meeting, or are interested in serving as a representative, please contact Amy Gall, (603) 838-5081, amyginnh@yahoo.com.
Auditions for Children’s Chorus in Portsmouth
Seacoast Children’s Chorus will hold auditions for Sandpipers after school on June 5 and 6 at Portsmouth Music and Arts Center (PMAC), 973 Islington Street in Portsmouth. Visit www.sandpiperschorus.com, or contact Priscilla French at (603) 436-8154 or frenchfam5@comcast.net.
Field Trip to Whale’s Tale Water Park in Lincoln
Tuesday, June 13 from 10 to 2. $12 per person for anyone 4 and older; children 3 and under are $9. To register go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aa9aa2eaafe3-whales1. All money is due in advance; cash can be brought to Faith Bible Church in Littleton, Monday to Friday, 9-12. Checks should be made payable to Jaime-Rose Kelly, and mailed to:
332 West Main Street
Littleton, NH 03561
Young Hacks Tech Camp in Dover
Young Hacks Academy, a tech leadership camp, will offered in Dover this summer. Blending computer programming, problem-solving, and teamwork, YHA teaches kids to build video games about big challenges facing the world today.
Agent Training (for Ages 9-12)
YHA Agent Training models essential leadership techniques that will help students in and out of the classroom. Agents tackle daily missions using Scratch, a user-friendly, visual programming tool that assists students to start developing their own video games and interactive stories. The challenge is to come up with a project that will not only entertain their friends, but also teach something about important topics that are impacting our local and global community.
Beta Masters (for Ages 12-15)
Imagine a small indie game studio that has five days to pitch, design and build a new video game. Following a real-world production cycle, YHA Beta Masters work in teams to develop an innovative game prototype from conception to completion. Campers will use the Stencyl game engine to take their computational learning to the next level, creating original graphics and bringing them to life with Haxe coding. The program culminates with a beta release party for friends and family.
As serious as we are about exploring technology, YHA is also committed to having fun away from the screen, moving campers outside each day for unplugged games like treasure hunts and riddle relays. No programming experience is required. For more information, visit younghacks.com, or contact program director Thomas Bacon at 802-999-7092. An overview of how YHA aligns with the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards can also be found at http://younghacks.com/for-educators/.
Volunteer to Work With Therapy Horses
Touchstone Farm is a 501(c)3 non-profit, educational and therapeutic organization that uses certified instructors and well-trained horses to provide programs year-round, including therapeutic riding and driving lessons, many levels of riding instruction, and veterans’ therapy.
We invite volunteers of all ages and backgrounds to help with therapeutic programs, gardening, light maintenance, or fundraising. Training is provided, and no volunteer experience is needed. For more information contact Emily Garland at egarland@touchstone-farm.org.
Sign Up for the Weare Home Educators’ Co-op
Weare Home Educators is currently accepting registrations for the 2017-2018 Co-op.
Classes include Apologia Human Anatomy, Apologia General Science, Apologia Biology, IEW Speech Boot Camp, Art, CSI and P.E.
The WHE Co-op runs 14 times per year. We come together for labs and classes that enhance your homeschool experience. Our schedule means less time commitment, yet it still allows for structured classes with a group of peers as well as plenty of social time for parents and children. Classes are run by homeschool parents, which keeps our costs down. We require parents to volunteer in some capacity so everyone feels connected as part of the team.
Visit http://wearehomeeducators.com/co-op-classes for all of the details.
Foreign Language Classes in Durham
One World Language School is a 501(c) nonprofit organization based out of Durham, New Hampshire. Our mission is to make foreign language learning accessible at a young age, starting as early as five years old. The primary languages that we teach include French, Chinese, German, and Spanish. We have been teaching foreign languages for over a decade by using our one of a kind teaching curriculum and game materials. We are currently accepting students to join our language program that begins in October 2017. Space is limited to eight students per class.
Visit http://www.new.oneworldlanguageschool.org, or contact Pranav Dadarwala at 207-370-8398 or pranav@oneworldlanguageschool.org.
Fall eStart Courses—College Credit for High Schoolers
Registration for the Fall 2017 eStart semester is now open; courses begin on August 28.
eStart is an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their educational experience, and get an early and affordable start on their college careers. Financial assistance is available for eligible students.
New courses that can be utilized towards a programming certificate:
– Object Oriented Programming, Intro – CIS112G
– Python, Introduction to – CIS177G
– Web Development I – CIS124G
For more information visit, http://www.ccsnh.edu/academics/estart, or contact at Ed Symes at 603-717-5965 or estart@ccsnh.edu.
Employment Opportunity for Homeschooling Parents
Home Instead Senior Care assists seniors to successfully “age in place” at home by providing trained caregivers to be a companion as well as help out where needed, thereby improving the quality of life for the elderly while providing rewarding work and extra income for the caregivers. For more information contact Andrea Doyon, Director of Operations, Home Instead Senior Care, 100A Middle Street, Manchester, NH 03101, 603.668.6868 x 101