Tuesday, October 20, 2009

St, Augustine Lighthouse Homeschool Days

Hello! We are very excited to announce our next homeschool activity day here at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum. Please note: space is limited - pre-registration is required. A registration form is attached, to be filled out & returned to us (by email, or fax at 904-808-1248) . We will need a credit card number to reserve your spot. Please pass this email along to any other homeschool groups you think may be interested. Our contact info follows, if you would like to find out more about our special programs.

Civil War at Sea - Wednesday November 18, 2009: 10:00 - 12:00 & 1:00 & 3:00
$5.00 per student (ages 2 - 17) / $6.00 per adult
November 18, 2009
Ages 2-17

Meet local heroes, see sunken ships, hear tales of bravery, and secrets of survival during the Civil War. This program will address Sunshine Standards in the areas of Language Arts, Social Studies, Music, Science, and the Arts.

Station One: Songs of the Civil War A participatory presentation of songs and stories that look into our maritime heritage especially as it relates to the Civil War lead by Chris Kastle our Director of Education, an internationally acclaimed performer.

Station Two: Waiting Ashore See the war from the point of view of a young lady in St. Augustine waiting for her betrothed to come home. Learn about the clothes of the day and learn how to do the Virginia Reel from Susan Graffweg, our Educator and also a long-time historic interpreter.

Station Three: Entering the Harbor Students will learn about the historic challenges of navigating the St. Augustine Coast with one of our highly trained docents and be able to see the coastline as it now appears when they climb the tower.

Station Four: Ships of the Civil War Students will learn about the technological advances that changed the face of naval warfare through a story and comprehension exercise.

We are limited to 60 students per time, so be sure to reserve your place early!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Susan Graffweg
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum
81 Lighthouse Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904.829.0745 x 223
sgraffweg@staugusti nelighthouse. com

Collective Banter

CollectiveBanter.com

Attention: artists, musicians, and writers in jr. & sr. high

About us
Is your jr. or sr. high school student a budding writer, musician, or artist? Visit CollectiveBanter.com, a place for young creators.

The Collective Banter Salon is an online community where students can post their creative work and receive critique, encouragement, and inspiration from fellow students.

The Collective Banter Challenge is a biannual creative arts competiton where students must respond to a specific directive with their chosen art form.

Cash prizes for:

Drawing
Painting
Mixed-media
3-Dimensional works
Photography
Computer Generated
Instrumental Works
Songs With Lyrics
Poetry
Short Stories

CONTACT US
Click here if you have any questions or comments

UNSUBSCRIBE
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CALL FOR
ENTRIES
Use your favorite art form to:

Communicate the concept of freedom within boundaries.

Submission Deadline:

December 31, 2009

Click here for official rules and contest guidelines.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Home School Legal Defense

Did you know that the home school community has an advocate inside the legal system? If your district is pressuring you for information beyond what the law demands, or if your right to home educated your children is being threatened, the Home School Legal Defense Association is on your side.
Find out more about HSLDA at hsdla.org. Here is a brief overview taken from their "About Us" page.

Home School Legal Defense Association is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.


HSLDA advocates on the legal front on behalf of our members in matters which include conflicts with state or local officials over homeschooling. Each year, thousands of member families receive legal consultation by letter and phone, hundreds more are represented through negotiations with local officials, and dozens are represented in court proceedings. HSLDA also takes the offensive, filing actions to protect members against government intrusion and to establish legal precedent. On occasion, HSLDA will handle precedent-setting cases for nonmembers, as well.


HSLDA advocates on Capitol Hill by tracking federal legislation that affects homeschooling and parental rights. HSLDA works to defeat or amend harmful bills, but also works proactively, introducing legislation to protect and preserve family freedoms.


HSLDA advocates in state legislatures, at the invitation of state homeschool organizations, by assisting individual states in drafting language to improve their homeschool legal environment and to fight harmful legislation.


HSLDA advocates in the media by presenting articulate and knowledgeable spokesmen to the press on the subject of homeschooling. HSLDA staff members are regularly called upon for radio, television, and print interviews, and their writings are frequently published in newspapers and magazines across the country. HSLDA’s own bimonthly magazine, The Home School Court Report, provides news and commentary on a host of current issues affecting homeschoolers. And its two-minute daily radio broadcast, Home School Heartbeat, can be heard on nearly 500 radio stations.


HSLDA advocates for the movement by commissioning and presenting quality research on the progress of homeschooling. Whether it’s in print, from the podium, or on the air, HSLDA provides insightful vision and leadership for the cause of homeschooling.


Home School Legal Defense Association . . . tens of thousands of American families working through more than 50 dedicated staff members to preserve each other’s right to homeschool . . . together, “Advocates for Family & Freedom.”

Education Bug

Articles, tips, and advice for those interested in homeschool ideas, curriculum, resources and more! Includes subcategories for homeschooling laws, products, and methods for homeschool parents. We also have tips on starting a homeschool support group in your area to network with other parents and give your kids an opportunity to socialize with other students.
Check out this great new site at http://www.educationbug.org/c/homeschool.html

Cultural Fair Fun

How do you bring an international flavor into your home education program? Why not host a cultural fair within your homeschool network? It's a perfect event for homeschool co-ops, support groups, or even neighboring homeschool families. Each family represents a country, spending time in advance doing research and preparing a display board and/or booth that depicts that nation. On the day of the cultural fair, each family sets up their display for the group to view. It's a great way to share information. Children and parents alike learn about a variety of cultures in a fun family atmosphere.
Want to add an extra flair? Hand out miniature passports for the children to carry to each booth where they can recieve a sticker of that country's flag. You can also set up a buffet table and ask families to bring dishes of food that represent their country of study. A world map hung up in the display area can mark all of the countries on display at the cultural fair.
Get as elaborate as you like, and have fun with this event. It will be a high point in your school calendar planning for years to come!