Coordinator’s Report
In January, the New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition Board will begin planning our 2018 (!!) annual spring workshop. Let us know what home education topics you might be interested in learning more about by dropping us a line in our interactive Facebook group.
In the meantime, we are keeping our eyes on House Bill 1263 in order to bring you the most up-to-the-minute information about the development of this pending legislation.
The Home Education Advisory Council is busy working on its internal operating procedures. If you have any issues or concerns about homeschooling in your school district, please contact a HEAC member so that we can make sure home education laws and rules are being applied fairly and consistently across the state.
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!
Amy Gall, Coordinator
Homeschool Semi-Formal Dance in Tuftonboro
Saturday, December 16, 6 to 9, at Camp Sentinel, 29 Sentinel Lodge Road in Center Tuftonboro
High school aged homeschoolers are invited to a semi-formal event at Camp Sentinel. The evening will include hors d’oeuvres, socializing, and dancing. This year’s theme will be “Under the Sea.” Tickets will be sold as singles for $25. To RSVP or receive more information email Ben at ben@campsentinel.org or call 603-539-4839.
Solstice Celebration with Legends, Stories, and Music in Portsmouth
The New Hampshire Theatre Project will celebrate the winter solstice with master storyteller Diane Edgecomb, Celtic harper Margot Chamberlain, and multi-instrumentalist Tom Megan. Join us on the longest night of the year for haunting legends of light, entertaining tales, and traditional music and song. Diane Edgecomb brings to life the ancient myths that reveal the deep meaning behind winter holiday traditions. Featured stories include the Scandinavian Legend of the Mistletoe, the Greek myth The Coming of the Days of Peace, the Cherokee tale of Evergreen, and humorous English Wassail traditions. Margot Chamberlain and Tom Megan accompany the tales with instrumental melodies along with traditional and original songs evoking the warmth of the season.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 7 p.m. General admission $28, students and seniors $24.
To reserve tickets, call 603-431-6644 ext. 5 or reservations@nhtheatreproject.org.
Still Time to Set Up Destination Imagination Teams
Destination Imagination is a creative problem solving program for children aged pre-K through college. Up to seven children may participate on a team to solve one of the six competitive challenges; those in pre-K through grade two may solve the non-competitive challenge. The competitive challenges are based in science, technology, engineering, fine arts, mathematics, or service learning. Visit nh-di.org or destinationimagination.org for more information about the program, challenge synopses, and starting a team.
The $325 team registration fee covers written materials and challenges as well as the fees associated with participating at the regional and, if applicable, the state tournament. If you are interested in starting a new team and need assistance with meeting the registration fee, please contact NHICC Executive Director, Anna Maenhout at 603-868-2140, ext. 700, or email anna.maenhout@nhicc.org.
Art Contest with Environmental Theme
The New Hampshire Plastic Pollution Alliance and The Surfrider Foundations invite students to participate in an environmental art contest. Upload or email a clear photograph of your drawing or painting showing a solution to decreasing waste. Make sure to include your full name, age, and school. For full details visit www.nhplasticpollutionalliance.org. To email or mail submissions contact Danielle at deebaudrand@gmail.com.
All K-8 grade students in New Hampshire are eligible, and all entries must be submitted by December 24.
A Yule Ball Hogwarts Style
A Yule Ball hosted by Mosaic Explore Homeschool Enrichment program. Saturday, January 20, 2018, at 2013 Elm Street in Manchester, for ages 12 to 18. Preregistration will open soon; tickets will be available online only. $30/pp; no tickets available at the door.
Please come dressed in your finest Yule Ball attire. One hour of waltz instruction shall be provided at 6 p.m. This is a drop off event and the Hogwarts staff are looking for chaperones. Please contact Tonks via owl or by use of the quaint muggle communication called email at TheYuleBall2018@gmail.com.
Young Inventors Program Invention Convention
Monday, February 12, 2018, from 1 to 3, Location TBD.
The YIP is a national program that encourages creativity in students. This will be the first homeschool specific convention. Students enter General Invention, Challenge Category Invention, or Rube Goldberg machine. For challenge and general category inventions there may be one or two inventors. For Rube Goldberg machines there may be up to four in a team.
Inventors identify and solve a problem with a unique invention or choose an existing invention that they can improve. Working models can be made, or the idea can be presented via diagrams. Students then create a presentation. During the presentations, volunteer judges will visit each student. At the end winners will be chosen for each age group in each category. First place winners will be nominated to compete in the regional convention held March 25, 2018 in Hooksett.
All participants will receive a certificate of participation.
This year’s challenge category is Invention to the Rescue. Examples of rescue in a crisis: escape from a fire, save a home from flooding, help first responders in a disaster, help someone in swift water make it to dry land; rescue day to day: find a lost item, prevent something from breaking, pull a pet from a storm drain, or save a boat beached on rocks.
Short videos of examples of Rube inventions can be seen at https://youtu.be/V4BuUnimp8s and https://youtu.be/GE6WXcMbWnE.
Email Christine Smith at Fleurysfan29@gmail.com and put N.H. Young Inventors program in the subject line. Once you confirm attendance I will send you a copy of the intent to invent form which will need to be returned no later than January 2. Guidelines for participation and judging criteria will be emailed once the intent to invent is submitted. Starting January 2 I will send out weekly emails with ideas to share with your inventors to help them create an idea and follow the invention process.