Library Programs, CCHE on Facebook, A Note From Finlandia, March 26th Science Field Trip REMINDER

COPPER COUNTRY HOME EDUCATORS UPDATES

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Portage Library Hosts Kids and Adult Programs 
The Portage Lake District Library invites all children to a special Spiders! Storytime on Saturday, March 13, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Kids will hear stories about spiders, learn spider facts, and create a spider project with presenter Sarah (withheld for archive). Anyone with a pet spider is invited to bring it for show and tell. 

On Monday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m., Advanced Master Gardener Lynn Watson will guide gardeners through the early spring care and planting of bare root stock. In her program "Bare Roots, Bare Branches: What to Do When There Are No Leaves," she will explain and demonstrate how to plant bare root stock, tell when to do it, and share the benefits of why this should be done. "Bare root stock is different," Watson explained. "They need special care."

Watson will also have order forms available for the annual Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District 2010 Tree Sale. Orders for nursery stock must be placed by March 26 at the District's Lakeshore Center, and orders will arrive in May. Varieties include deciduous and evergreen trees, ornamental and native species of shrubs, and garden stock. Watson will explain what people should do with the nursery stock that they get.

Kids are invited to join Copper Country Association Director Libby Meyer and Keweenaw Family Music Director Amanda Plummer for a lively St. Patrick's Day musical presentation on Tuesday, March 16, from 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. As part of the "Big Violins for Little People" series of events, kids will be able to try out the instruments after the performance.

On Tuesday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m., train enthusiasts and those who are eager for a good story will enjoy hearing how Michigan author James McCommons spent a year riding across America on trains. In his slide show presentation "Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of Passenger Rail," McCommons will narrate his experiences and take the audience on a journey that will challenge the way one thinks about transportation in this country and the possibility of  rebuilding America's railway system. A book signing will follow the program.

McCommons grew up in a railroad family and has spent thirty-five years riding trains in America. A journalist for more than twenty-five years, he has published hundreds of articles in magazines and major newspapers and was a senior editor at Organic Gardening magazine. He specializes in ecology and travel writing and currently teaches journalism and nature writing at Northern Michigan University.

Everyone is welcome to attend library events and presentations are free. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org. 

CCHE ON FACEBOOK

Copper Country Home Educators is now on Facebook!  Feel free to join us and post homeschooling questions, tips, discussions, etc.  It's a great networking tool and will help to keep us connected.

A NOTE FROM FINLANDIA UNIVERSTIY

Dear Parents and Home-School Associations,

Welcome to Finlandia University! It is my pleasure to serve as your contact with the university and my task is to find out how we might help serve your needs as home-school educators and parents.

I received my B.S. in Sociology/Social Studies and served as a teacher in Michigan at the elementary and secondary level from 1992-2003. I am also a parent of two young children, and friends with many who choose to home-school their children. I am in awe of all of you out there making all of the content areas come alive for your children each day. I would like to see the university help to assist you in ways to enhance your home-schooling efforts as you see fit.

Attached please find the latest Finlandia News e-newsletter which is distributed every two weeks. I hope the information included in the e-newsletter is helpful to you in keeping up with university events at Finlandia University.

In addition to the newsletter, I wanted to let all of you know that your students can take advantage of dual-enrollment opportunities and enroll in a class or two at the university level. Students can apply online absolutely free at www.finlandia.edu. Transcripts are needed to verify course work completed to date.

Also, along with your children, you are welcome to enroll at Finlandia for one class or many, either enrolling to obtain a grade in the class or taking an audit of a class where no grades are issued.

We have a MEET FINLANDIA DAY scheduled on Friday, March 26, 2010. Those in attendance will have breakfast with Finlandia's President Philip Johnson, take a campus tour, attend a Psychology class, learn more about Financial Aid opportunities, and meet our Admissions Team.  If this particular day does not work for you and your family, you are welcome to visit anytime it's convenient for you. I'd also love to host a day just for home-school educators and welcome your input as to when this event might take place (and what you would need) to make your time on campus as beneficial as possible.

I look forward to the conversations. Contact me with all of your questions and concerns. To find out more about Finlandia University before we speak, visit our website at www.finlandia.edu.

If there are others (in Michigan or other states) who would benefit from receiving these emails from me and Finlandia University, send those emails to me of individuals or other associations, and I will be glad to include them in upcoming emails. Forward this email as you see fit.

Finlandia University is ELCA-affiliated; however all faith traditions are welcome on campus. Our Campus Ministry program is very inclusive. The Chapel of St. Mathew on our campus has services every Monday and Wednesday at 1230 PM. Most services are student-led and pastors from the area provide leadership at many of these services. Our university chaplain Soren Schmidt has a lot of energy for programming and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our campus. He has added Pep Band and University Choir as electives for Fall 2010 in his very short tenure here at Finlandia.

Enjoy the latest Finlandia News. I look forward to hearing from you soon either via email or by telephone. If you are in the immediate area, feel free to stop in and visit anytime. The Office of Admissions is located in Old Main, right across from the former Fallon's Subs.

I am downstate the week of March 15th attending college fairs in the Detroit area. I will have email access during my time away and will be checking my office telephone  as well.

Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend.

Lynn
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Lynn 
Coordinator of Admissions Programs

 Good Afternoon, Home-School Parents & Associations,

Dr. Fredi de Yampbert, MSN, RN and the Chair of Finlandia's Nursing Department came to talk with the Office of Admissions about her program and what she likes to see in a prospective student who is interested in Finlandia's Nursing Program.

If a student is very interested in the Nursing program, they are strongly encouraged to take at least one year of Algebra, preferably completing through Algebra II with a B- or better.

Additionally, she recommends that students take a minimum of two years of Human Sciences---Biology AND Chemistry with a minimum of B- or better.

This will be a solid foundation for student success with this particular career path in mind. In addition, it will save money and time at the university with these pre-requisites already completed.

Contact me with questions.

Lynn

MARCH 26TH SCIENCE FIELD TRIP

 It's almost time for another science field trip!!!  Mark your calendars for Friday, March 26th at 1pm and come to the Lake Linden School Forest (get there ~10 minutes ahead to time).  What we have lined up is the following:

Winter Weeds—grades 6+
We'll take a closer look at herbaceous plants in the winter.  What does their presence tell us about the habitat? How do people and wildlife use these plants for survival? Shelter? Food? Medicine? What methods of seed dispersal have these plants developed? Which is most effective?
Objectives: Students will identify various forbs commonly seen in our winter landscape and consider their importance to wildlife, insects and humans. Students will be able to explain five methods of seed dispersal.  (for advanced knowledge, you could read up on plants/weeds native to our area)

Best Insulator – grades 2/3 - 5
Summary: Students will test the insulating qualities of different materials in both wet and dry conditions. They will collect data and create a graph of their findings.
Objective: Students will make a hypothesis, use thermometers to collect data, and evaluate their results using a graph.
(for advanced knowledge, you could work with your kids on graphs, hypotheses and learn about insulation and what purpose it serves)

Younger kids can observe/participate in the sessions with their parents and older siblings or they can snowshoe or sled (or maybe even splash in mudpuddles!).   

This has always been a great place to go, especially in the winter.  There is a log classroom where we start and end our field trip.  We spend the majority of the time outdoors – dress appropriately-- on snowshoes (bring your own if you have a favorite pair, otherwise you can use those that are provided at the Forest).  If we can all plan to put about 10 minutes into cleaning up the classroom when we are done, that would be appreciated (we need to make sure any trash is picked up and the floor is mopped before we leave).

If you could RSVP with the number and grade levels of your kids, just so that I can let the presenters know approximate numbers of attendees for each program so they can bring adequate supplies.  There is no limit on the number who can attend.  You can RSVP via email to(withheld for archive)(leave a message) by Monday March 22nd.  If you have questions, just holler (I will be out of town between 3/15 and 3/22 so you won't catch me then).  Hope to see all of you there!
Amy

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