Monday, April 18, 2011

April 14th Updates!

Copper Country

Home Educators

"Updates!" by Val Juntunen

April 14th, 2011

Archive Notice:

This is an archived version of the emailed newsletter: "Updates!" All contact info has been deleted for privacy sake. If you need information on any of the events/items posted on this blog please email ccheupdates@gmail.com for further information.

 

The Basics & Benefits for Massage – April 14th

The Portage Lake District Library will host its monthly program in the Natural Health and Wellness Series on Thursday, April 14, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

Five students from the Institute of Natural Therapies will present "The Basics and Benefits of Massage." Adam Little, Mark Netell, Jessica Barr, Diane Taylor, and Myra Moyrala will share information on how to use reflexology, explain the benefits of Swedish massage, and demonstrate self-massage techniques. The students will also discuss aspects of and considerations for pregnancy massage, describe the importance of good posture and proper body mechanics, and explain how the propioreceptive nervous system works to settle the whole body system to experience inner peace. 

These students are studying a nine month course which includes Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Thai massage, and myofacial release. After successfully completing the course, they will graduate with a Certificate of Massage, which qualifies them to apply and test for National Certification.  

This program is free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please (withheld for archive) visit www.pldl.org.

Spring Fling – April 16th

The Houghton Police Department along with Dial Help will host a Spring Fling downtown on April 16, 2011 from noon to 2:00 p.m. There will be hot dogs and juice, as well as face painting and other activities, at the City Center. The Easter Bunny and McGruff the Crime Dog will be walking downtown handing out candy filled Easter Eggs to youngsters.

Kids are invited to put on their rain boots and wear them to a rainy day Storytime at the Portage Lake District Library on Saturday, April 16, at 10:15 a.m. 

Members of the MOMS Club will present "April Showers" for children and read springtime stories for a rainy day. Kids will do an activity and make a project to take home. 

The MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) is a non-profit support group specifically aimed at meeting the needs of mothers who choose to stay at home with their children, including those who work at home, work part-time, or have flexible schedules. 

The local chapter offers a wide range of activities for moms and their kids that include monthly meetings with guest speakers, playgroups, outings, holiday activities, service projects, a book group, arts and crafts activities, and a monthly MOMS night out. 

For more information about the MOMS Club or to find out how to join, contact the local chapter's president at (withheld for archive) or visit the organization's website at www.momsclub.org.  

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at (withheld for archive)   or visit www.pldl.org.

Suzuki Assoc. Cello Class – April 16th

Copper Country Suzuki Association to hold 8-week introductory cello class!
 
Who:  ages 7-12 (grades 3-5)
Where:  Portage Lake District Library Community Room
Day:  Saturdays (begins Saturday, April 16th)
Time:  1:00-2:00pm
Cost:  $100 (includes a cello rental for the 8-week course)
 
This class is an introductory class for students who have not played an instrument before but would like to try.  Cellos come in different sizes to suit a growing child.  The class is limited to 6 students.   If you would like to find out more, please call the CCSA Office at (withheld for archive) or visit our website at: 
www.coppercountrysuzuki.org  Pre-registration is required.

Gluten-Free Recipe Exchange – April 18th

Regular meetings of the Gluten-Free Recipe Exchange are held on the 3rd Monday of each month from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Portage Lake District Library. The next meeting will be April 18, and everyone is invited to participate.  

Each month features a different type of food, and April's meeting will focus on gluten-free breakfasts. Participants are welcome to bring their favorite gluten-free breakfast dish for sampling and are encouraged to share their recipes. Copies of the recipes will be made at the library. Please list all ingredients used in making foods that are shared at these meetings and identify the brand names of the gluten-free ingredients. Bringing food is not a requirement for attendance.  

The Gluten-Free Recipe Exchange is organized by and for those who are interested in or required to follow a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free eating requires the avoidance of all wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Most people find it challenging at first, but are excited to find recipes and foods that are fun and easy to make and tasty to eat. The Gluten-Free Recipe Exchange is an opportunity to share those great recipes and learn from others. Everyone who is interested in learning more about gluten-free eating is encouraged to attend. 

This program is free and open to all. For more information, please call a member of the group at (withheld for archive). You may also call the library at (withheld for archive) or visit www.pldl.org.  

Screen Free Week at PLDL – Starting April 18th

Even though its computers will be available as always, the Portage Lake District Library will host two programs that encourage families to turn off all screen devices for the week of April 18 – 24. 

On Tuesday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m., Joseph Hernandez will present "Screen-Free Leisure and Entertainment" for families and their children. Parents and children will participate in activities that demonstrate the ease of going screen free. Families will explore alternatives to TV and other screen devices and do hands-on activities together. This event will focus on the joy and benefits of doing indoor activities as a family that include reading, game nights, crafts, dress-up, and more. 

Wednesday, April 20, at 6:30 p.m., Hernandez will present "Enjoying Nature: Activities to Get You Outside." This program encourages families to spend more time together outdoors during Screen-Free Week. Ideas for outdoor family activities will be shared that inspire a love for and fascination with nature. Parents and children will make seed balls and simple window seed sprouters to take home. 

Families are welcome to share their ideas and describe how they spend time without the interference of TV and other screen devices. "Screen-Free Week isn't just about snubbing screens for seven days," Hernandez" explained. "It's a springboard for important lifestyle changes that will improve well-being and quality of life all year round." 

Screen-Free Week, formerly TV-Turnoff, is an annual celebration where children, families, schools, and communities turn off screens and turn on life. Instead of relying on screens for entertainment, participants read, daydream, explore, enjoy nature, and enjoy spending time with family and friends. 

These programs are sponsored by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood.  

Library Programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at (withheld for archive) or visit www.pldl.org.  

Spring-R-Roo Gymnastics April 18th

We are wrapping up the spring session next week. The regular class schedule that would be offered to the families would be Friday mornings 9:30 - 10:10 am for tots and pre-school ages 2-3  Pre-K & K from 10:20 - 11:10 and Grade School on Tuesday 3:30 - 4:30 pm.

I have also added a Trampoline and Tumbling class and have a few cheerleaders from Lake Linden that attend so I think I will offer this for Middle School through High School so the older students can be grouped together.

Thank you,

Jeanie

Please see the following link for the informational flier:

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=1Or9IakIgjRmJfMNdCtfF-m_o0HWwPrGpwEB_u26bjjFo8EfFQs0aSMMHjgld&hl=en&authkey=CJOSi4gG

Drama Club & Movie Club at Little Gem– April 19th  

Eric Erickson from the Little Gem Theater wants to see what interest there is out there among the home school families for a Drama club and a Movie Club.

"I would like to have a meeting for those interested on 19 April at 3:00 p.m. at the Little Gem.  Also at this time I would like to discuss volunteer opportunities at the Little Gem - Hope to see you all there!"

A Drama Club would give our kids a chance to perform more than once a year! Eric has some experience with Drama and the Literary Arts. Please stop in and check out what is being offered! If you need more information or would like directions to the Little Gem Theater – please email ccheupdates@gmail.com

Please pass this information on to any homeschoolers that may not be on this list. Eric would like to hear from as many homeschooling families as possible.

Wolf/Moose Field Trip – April 19th  

The wolf/moose field trip will be rescheduled to next Tuesday, the 19th.

If we could all meet at 1:45 at the gate at the Lake Linden School Forest, and we'll take the short walk into the cabin-site where we'll learn about moose/wolf ecology.

For those interested, I have a CD that we can share w/ our students to prepare them for the trip.  I just rec'd it yesterday.  After I am done w/ it, I will get it to Judy and from Judy, there will be a list of those I know will be attending so we can pass it around.  If we all spend a day w/ it, we should have it covered by next week.   Whoever has the CD, come the day of the field trip, just bring it with you for return to the owner.

Of course, there is still room for more!!

Discover Isle Royale Series at PLDL – April 21st  

The Portage Lake District Library will host the final event for the season in its "Discover Isle Royale" series of monthly programs that are sponsored by the Isle Royale Institute and Isle Royale National Park. 

On Thursday, April 21, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Liz Valencia will present "Under the Inland Sea: Exploring Isle Royale's Submerged Cultural Resources." She invites participants to "jump" into Lake Superior with her to explore the incredible collection of shipwrecks around Isle Royale. These wrecks have been called one of the most intact and significant collections of shipwrecks in North America. 

Valencia has spent 20 summers working on Isle Royale working first as a volunteer then as cultural resources manager and park historian, and currently as Chief of the Interpretation and Cultural Resources Division. A member of the park dive team for 8 years, she has had many experiences exploring Isle Royale's underwater realm. 

Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at (withheld for archive)or visit www.pldl.org.

Junior Ranger Storytime at PLDL – April 23rd  

The Portage Lake District Library invites all children to a special Storytime about our nation's national parks in celebration of Junior Ranger Day. 

Join Isle Royale National Park Ranger Valerie Martin on Saturday, April 23, at

10:15 a.m., for stories and songs about your national parks. Kids will learn about these special places and earn their own Junior Ranger badge. 

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at (withheld for archive) or visit www.pldl.org.  

Beekeeping – April 27th

The Portage Lake District Library invites those who want to learn about the amazing world of honey bees to an evening with local beekeeper Todd (withheld for archive) as he presents "An Introduction to Beekeeping" on Wednesday, April 27, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  

His slide show will cover bee hive basics and how honey bees go about their business. Participants will learn what types of equipment a beekeeper uses, how much time it takes to maintain hives, and what the costs and rewards of beekeeping are. There will be a small, empty hive and basic tools of the trade to examine and pure Keweenaw honey to taste.  

Todd has been a beekeeper for 11 years. He is fascinated by the important role bees have in nature and is eager to share his knowledge and experience with others.  

Library programs are free and open to all. For more information, please call the library at (withheld for archive) or visit www.pldl.org.

Parents' Night Out April 28th

Thursday April 28th, CCHE will be holding a Parents' Night out with discussion on the benefits of attending a homeschooling conference (and other home school topics) at 6pm. This will be followed by a board meeting at 7pm that is open to the public. There are some positions that need filling, so those interested are encouraged to stay for the meeting. The location will be announced in the next "Updates!".

The local Shriners' are raising money for the transportation fund that pays for kids from our area to go to the Shriners' Hospital (usually in the Twin Cities) where they receive free, advanced orthopedic, burn and cleft palette care. (From Val: My daughter, Jessica, is a Shriners' Hospital patient.) One of the many fundraisers they do to raise the needed funds is a Vidalia onion sale.

You get: 10lb bag of Vidalia onions for $10. The onions have a reputation of being excellent. They come from Vidalia, Georgia.

Please email me at ccheupdates@gmail.com if you are interested in ordering onions by April 28th (sorry I'm out of town the weekend of May 1st – so I need the orders in before then). You can pay when they come in – on May 16th. The onions will be available at either Bay Insurance on Sharon St. in Houghton or (if you make arrangements with me) I am willing to deliver.

Raptor Migration Fieldtrip - April 29th

Please review the information about safety, items to bring and how the fieldtrip will be conducted at https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=160XJX_GbjgJaeqn5sxPGpQAemm_USD6lBLYKlhUzg96cvteomwFgNRIWJoBK&hl=en&authkey=CPnRkpkM.

SKRC at PLDL – Months of April & May

During the months of April and May the Portage Lake District Library will host an informational display about the Sustainable Keweenaw Resource Center (SKRC) to help raise awareness about the Center and the resources it offers the community. 

The SKRC, located in the Jutila Center for Global Design & Business in Hancock, is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except during scheduled events. 

The purpose of the SKRC is to inspire and connect people with regionally appropriate resources and solutions for creating sustainable, livable communities in the Keweenaw Peninsula. 

The center offers a small reference library, community conference area, a few rotating exhibits spotlighting sustainable projects and resources in the Keweenaw Peninsula, and a number of online resources including the Keweenaw Green Map and Keweenaw Green Directory. 

The SKRC is supported and funded in-part by Finlandia University and is operated by a volunteer staff. 

Visit skrconline.net for more information about the Center. 

Register now for the 28th annual WPA Home Education Conference on Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7, at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Find information on the WPA Web site http://homeschooling-wpa.org/conference/index.shtml or get a hard copy by emailing WPA at wpa@homeschooling-wpa.org or calling the WPA voice mail at (withheld for archive).

Here's an overview of the conference:

98 workshops, 53 new

Choosing a Curriculum • Blogging • Hands-on Science • Starting a Family Business • Homeschooling Boys • Socialization • Being a Homeschooling Dad • Homeschooling Kids of Different Ages • Baking Sourdough Bread • Kids With Special Needs • Homeschooling Without Outside Support • Dealing with Boy Energy • Homeschooling for High School • College Admission and Financial Aid • and much more

Outstanding new and returning speakers 

Connections workshops for the whole family

Ham/Amateur Radio and Weather Spotting • Bird Banding • Nanotechnology • Ground School for Future Pilots • Theatrical Techniques • Unit Origami • Taekwondo • Rock Polishing • and much more

More opportunities to meet homeschoolers

General session and graduation ceremony

Affordable on-site housing and all-you-can-eat buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

 

The conference for everyone

Whether you're completely new to homeschooling or a veteran; Whether your children are toddlers, teens, or grown; Whether you purchase your curriculum, create your own, do unit studies, are eclectic, or unschool; Whatever your reasons for homeschooling.

 

Save $15 on your conference registration fees and $7 on each WPA handbook you purchase by becoming a member of WPA.

 

Get a $10 WPA coupon (NOTE from Val: Holly (withheld for archive) has graciously kept us informed about the WPA conference – so if you want to credit someone it should be her) for each individual or family who did not attend the conference in 2009 or 2010 and who names you on their registration form as the one who encouraged them. http://homeschooling-wpa.org/conference/special.shtml#coupons

 

Thank you.

The WPA Board

Wisconsin Parents Association

Voice Mail (withheld for archive)  

www.homeschooling-wpa.org

(withheld for archive)  

Find us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/homeschoolWI

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185900271426517&index=1

For educators, parents, family members, policy makers, researchers, practitioners, students and persons living with ASD. Presented by Oakland University's Center for Autism, Research, Education and Support (OUCARES) and the Department of Human Development and Child Studies.

Marriott at Centerpoint 

3600 Centerpoint Parkway

Pontiac, MI 48341

(withheld for archive)  

Discounted rooms at $89. Please call the Marriott at 1-800-579-8395 for reservations. Use group code: qlcqlca.

 

Registration Prices:

Early Bird: $175
Regular: $205
(after March 31st)

Includes lunch and refreshments

 

For more information and registration:

oakland.edu/oucares

or (withheld for archive)  

Story Line Project Deadline May 15th

Dear Homeschooling Families,
 
There is still time to participate in the Story Line Project, and it is my sincerest hope that you will decide to do this.
 
The Story Line Project seems like a perfect fit for homeschooling families. In fact, this is a great opportunity to learn a new art form, investigate your family history, pay tribute to your family's ancestors, enjoy friendship with others in doing a project of this size and scope, and attend "Rockland" at the Rozsa Center, an opera about local history.
 
Mary (withheld for archive), lead artist for and inspiration behind the Story Line Project, will do a public presentation about it at the library later this month. While she is here, we will have the fabric, transfer paper, and heat press set up in the community room and do a demonstration of how it works.
 
The supplies for making your family banner will be available in the community room for several days for you to use at your convenience. The only thing you will need to do is write your story and print it out as a document or pdf file. I will print your stories for you at the library free of charge.
 
In fact, this entire project is free. Fabric, transfer paper, use of the heat press, copies of stories, and tickets to "Rockland" are all free.
 
What an opportunity!
 
Please call or email me if you have questions. If you want the detailed information about The Story Line Project re-sent to you, I will be happy to do that. Please ask. (Please see the links below for more detailed information)
 
Thank you!
Chris
 
Chris Alquist
Community Programs Director
(withheld for archive)
 
Portage Lake District Library
58 Huron St.
Houghton, MI 49931
(withheld for archive)
 
www.pldl.org

Note from Val: Please contact Chris if you plan on participating in this project. Also, consider contacting me as I think this would be a great presentation for one of the "Parents' Night Out".

The following links will explain more:

Dear Teachers: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1qyxaHWxrbzEy3X4o6RDvIW8dWmjOQciTkxsAujf6V3vQ1MFHYrHP3wlPs8DV&hl=en&authkey=CNup6sYH

Lesson Plans: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1yB9ZCtZMxMTOPip-SwiaCgtBlwC9_XSrsgKzpBnL_5POvS-AELFR9GDsDTdZ&hl=en&authkey=CKim4eIJ

A New Wave of Genealogists: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1lw-_1LX0N8HFhrlfF6Sl2sEyjdfd4HzRRtcztRh2L78Xm3XRAKPzbCif7toG&hl=en&authkey=CLrP_PwD

Remembering the Chairs: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1doBw3Kzpr3LRKG070xTFbPPVwBlRU0ZxEgdwkOt0NwnENKOlXdmiemu2xm9v&hl=en&authkey=COme3IsJ

INCH Homeschool Convention May 20th – 21st

28th Annual INCH Homeschool Convention in Lansing Michigan is May 20th – 21st. See http://inch.org/convention/ for details.

Open Swim at Finlandia's Pool, 1-2pm on Thusdays ($2 per a person; $6 for a family, with possible gym time afterwards until 2:30). Parents can swim too or enjoy some time chatting with other adults. This is an excellent way to get to know other homeschoolers while giving the kids some exercise and group activities! Remember that in order to participate in the Open Gym the child must wear clean gym shoes or socks. Per Finlandia's rules – bare feet are not permitted.

Gymnastics with Jeanie- New Session Starting April 18th! The schedule offered to the homeschool families would be Friday mornings 9:30 - 10:10 am for tots and pre-school ages 2-3.  Pre-K & K from 10:20 - 11:10 and Grade School on Tuesday 3:30 - 4:30 pm.

Make your Amazon.com purchases through CCHE. Just go to our website at: http://www.cchomeeducators.com/store. Then you can browse some of the books we've put together or just click the "powered by Amazon.com" in the upper left and you can shop on Amazon.com just like normal. There's no added cost to you but CCHE receives a small commission from every purchase you make when you click through from our site. Thank you!

The kids did a GREAT job at the homeschool Drama Presentation. I'm hoping to see many people at the Little Gem Drama Club & Movie Club informational session on Tuesday (see above).

 



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