Field Trip List 2013-14

Ø  September- Greek Festival- 9/27-  12 Noon-  We will meet and explore the music, dancing, arts and crafts.  All of these events are free.  If you would like to purchase a food ticket to taste a variety of food you will need to get one of those. Please RSVP so we will be looking for you.  Alabama Wildlife Federation – They are finalizing home school plans.
Ø  October 25-  Living History Day at Old Baker Farm Hapersville, AL-  Join us for our Annual American Civil War and Living History Day! Open only to schools groups grades 3 thru 6. $7 per person. Classes will meet Civil War living historians who will tell and demonstrate different aspects of one of the most influential wars in the United States.  Demonstrations include artillery firing, infantry manual of arms, learning and participating in some basic infantry marching drills, cavalry, signal corps, and old fashion soap making. Classes will learn about uniforms and equipment used by soldiers, what camp life and food were like, different flags of the war, and see and learn about earthworks forts by stepping into a full size replica earthworks fort.  Includes tour of each aspect of the war described and an Old Baker Farm hayride. (Lunch is not included, so be sure and bring lunch for your class).  RSVP by October 1^st.
Ø  November 8th-  Golden Flake Chip Factory- Birmingham, AL -  We will be visting the plant on this day.  They will not give us a official time till after September 1^st.  So watch for updates!
Ø  December-  No field trip.
Ø  January -  Meeting at Hope!
Ø  February 7^th- Rosa Parks Museum 10 am- Montgomery, AL. Experience the energy and emotion of the Montgomery Bus Boycott at this museum, which features a recreated street scene and reenactment on the bus with video footage that transports witnesses to the fateful day on December 1, 1955. The Children's Wing prepares visitors for the museum reenactment involving Rosa Parks. RSVP by January 15^th.
Ø  March-Alabama Power Martin Hydro Dam-  This field trip will be for grade 3^rdand up.  Because of water levels and other conditions they will not confirm dates and time to after the first of the year.
Ø  April 4^th 10 am- Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington Columbiana, AL  The Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington collection focuses on art and artifacts from the colonial period through 1865.  The collection contains paintings, letters, furniture, porcelain, glassware, silver, jewelry, busts and more.  Martha Washington’s prayer book printed in New York in 1783, an original 1787 Samuel Vaughn sketch of Mt. Vernon grounds, writing instruments and tools from George Washington’ s survey case and an original tin type depicting Robert E. Lee in his uniform for the last time are just a few collection highlights. This is a free field trip.

Good Monday afternoon, my friends! I hope everyone's summer is going great. Rhonda and I are already planning next year's activities and keeping up to date on all of the latest info for you guys. We are heading to our leaders' meeting this week at Hope and are getting excited about what is in store. 

Is there anything we can do to help you? What would you like to see us repeat or begin this year? Almost game time, people! :)

Also, please be sure to check out the Hope Christian Blog for info on the upcoming Hope Days next month.

January Required Meeting

It's that time again! Our required January meeting is next Tuesday, January 22nd at 1pm at the school. Everyone is encouraged to attend because this is the midpoint of the year and this informative meeting may remind you of something or let you know about an event you didn't even have on your radar. It is also so good to see everyone!

That being said, we wanted to let you know that if you have schooled with Hope Christian for 3-5 consecutive years, you may email the school office and request to be excused from this meeting. We would just need to get with you outside of the meeting to check lesson plans or you can send 5 copied pages to the school office for approval. If you have schooled with Hope for more than 5 consecutive years, you can request to be excused from the meeting and you do not have to have lesson plans checked unless you have a question or just want someone to look at them. Again, you must check with the Hope office in order to be excused.

Rhonda and I both have previous obligations at the Calera Library immediately following the meeting on Tuesday (it's almost Fairy Tale Ball time!) so we won't be around after the meeting to chat. However, we can be there early if anyone needs to meet with us for any reason. Just shoot us an email and let us know!

We can't wait to see you all next week!

DonDee & Rhonda

School Pictures

Do you need school pictures for your crew? Here's a great option. We have had a couple of moms use Alayna Woods and be very pleased. Alayna is offering a special just for Hope Christian Homeschoolers. Check it out!

Field Trips!

Here is our field trip list. Some of our trips have a cost, even though we have worked really hard the last couple of years to have only free field trips.  But this year we have found some great things that we thought were too good to pass up!  We do have one other change; there is a minimum of children registered per trip.  If we do not meet that most of our trips will have to be canceled.  So check out your calendars, Read up on the places and let us know!

Wednesday, September 19^th      Alabama Nature Center

You are invited to join other area homeschoolers at the Alabama Nature Center on Wednesday, September 19th for the 4th Annual Homeschool Day! The 2012 Homeschool Day at the Alabama Nature Center is designed for grades K-8 and this year's program will be a fun filled day starting at 9:00 am and ending at 1:30 pm. Pack a lunch and wear your play clothes because we WILL get wet, dirty, sweaty and hot!  The cost for the day is only $10.00 per child and $5.00 for adults.

The Alabama Nature Center is a 350 acre outdoor education facility located a few miles east of I-65 in Millbrook, AL. Our property offers a variety of landscapes, including forests, streams, fields, wetlands and ponds, and is all linked by five miles of boardwalks and trails. If you've never been a visitor to the ANC, or if you've only visited with a small group, please take this opportunity to join your fellow homeschoolers for an exciting day in the woods!

For more information:   http://www.alabamawildlife.org/alabama-nature-center/

****WE NEED TO PRE-REGISTER ASAP, SO IF YOUR INTERESTED IN GOING PLEASE LET US KNOW BY 8/27/12, WE WILL NEED THE NAME, AGE AND GRADE OF THE CHILDREN GOING********

Tuesday, October  23^rd at 2:00pm.  Montevallo National Cemetery

 The National Cemetery Administration honors veterans with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service to our Nation.  They have a short video and then we will tour with a docent.  This will be about an hour long.  This field trip is free.

Please RSVP by 10-1-12

Wednesday, November 7^th 10 AM- Fort Toulouse Frontier Days – Wetumpka Alabama

Once a year in November, visitors can enjoy stepping back in time to what it was like in the period from 1700 to 1820 during Alabama Frontier Days. See genuine blacksmiths at work, traditional Native American dances, battle re-enactments and more. Browse the living history exhibits or tour the 1751 French Fort Toulouse occupied by a full force of authentically costumer French Colonial Marines or visit the War of 1812 camp set up next to 1814 Fort Jackson. Learn the history of both forts from the Living History enthusiasts who give their time to inform the public what life was like in a much harsher times.  For more information check out the website:  www.forttoulouse.com

Some of the demonstrations and events will include:
Native American Stomp Dance Hide Tanning Flint Knapping Storytelling and Songs Village Life and Foodways Pottery Making Creek Indian Hunting Camp Colonial/Early American Firing of Flintlock Muskets & Cannons Spinning, Weaving & Dying Blacksmithing Ft. Toulouse Colonial Marines Creek War/ 1812 Military Encampment	Admission Students $6.00 Adults $7.00 Children 5 and under - free

You need to RSVP for this field trip by 10-15-12.

We will not have a field trip in the month of December, but watch for updates on a Mom’s night out event!

In January we will be having our group meeting so we will not have a field trip planned for this month either.

Monday, February 4^th, 10 AM National Weather Service Center Calera Alabama

National Weather Service Calera Alabama.  We will be on a guided tour of the facility and talk about current weather conditions, while also watching it all happen in their update weather facility.  This is a free trip!

Please RSVP by 1-16-13 for this trip. 

Monday, March 18^th, 10 AM    Aldrich Coal Mine Museum – Montevallo, Alabama

We went on this trip about 3 years ago and it was AMAZING.  The gentleman has been on this property and working in this area his whole life, he has pictures documenting all the changes good and bad.  In 1873 Truman Heminway Aldrich leased the Montevallo coal mines and purchased the mines outright in 1875.  He named the surrounding settlement Aldrich.
The Museum is housed in the “Company Store” of the former Montevallo Coal Mining Company in Aldrich, and Historic Farrington Hall.  As coal and coke production increased the mining company constructed communities around the area.  Centrally located were the company stores providing a common gathering place for town residents.  There were churches, schools, and fraternal organizations in the community.  The town has family dwellings, boarding houses, and retail stores lining the streets.  The deductions for company services and payments in scrip frequently undercut a miners pay.
From the end of the 19th century to the 1930′s approximately one-half of all coal miners in Alabama were African-American, and blacks comprised more than 90 percent of convict miners.  Segregation among miners existed above ground but underground miners earned equal pay for equal work and endured the same hazards and risks of a dangerous occupation. 
The Aldrich Coal Mine Museum features coal mining memorabilia, a mine replica and vintage equipment photographs of the town of Aldrich at its coal-mining peak.  Here you will see pictures and artifacts of Aldrich, coal mine, prison, stores, churches and post office.  The site has the only coal miner monument in Alabama.  The store was built in 1928.
The mine closed in 1942 although the store remained open until 1944. 
In the meantime, Emfinger (Museum owner) gives museum guests a guided tour through his own simulated coal mine located inside the company store. 
The cost of this trip is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students.  This trip is for grades 2^nd and up!
Please RSVP for this trip by 2-11-13

Monday, April 15^th 10 AM-Alabama Recycling Center

The Alabama Environmental Council organized and still runs the oldest nonprofit recycling center in the state. It processes close to 2,000 tons of newspaper, glass, plastic, aluminum, mixed paper and cardboard a year. We helped launch state-wide curbside recycling programs, promote recycling education in schools and low-income communities, and operate a toll-free recycling hotline.  This tour will last about 45 mins.

For more information:  http://www.aeconline.org/recycling/center

This field trip is great for grades 1^st and up, this will be a free trip. 
Please RSVP by 3-11-13

It's Almost Time!!

Good afternoon! I just wanted to post some info about Hope Day. We are privileged to have a great building to do things in now, but it's still not big enough to hold everyone at one time. So, we are doing things a little different this year. There are going to be 4 different Hope Days, with different groups meeting each day. Our group meets on August 16th at our school office located in Pelham. We have our leader meeting a couple of weeks before that so I should have more detailed information then. For now, mark your calendars for Thursday, August 16th! Can't wait to see you all then!

So You Think You Can Debate?

Well, whether you think you can or not, these debate workshops taught by experienced debater and coach Isaac Lichlyter* will help you learn and hone the skills needed to participate in competitive team policy debate. Parents, whether your student is totally new to debate or simply looking to take the next step, these workshops will provide them with the instruction and hands on experience they need.

Two separate workshops for both novices and advanced debaters will be held at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, during the week of June 25. The first workshop, a 1 day class for new debaters, will take place on Monday, June 25 from 9 AM – 3 PM. This workshop will cover:

-        Speaking in public

-        How to write an affirmative case/negative brief

-        How to flow (take notes during) a debate round

-        How to persuasively present an argument

-        Basic research techniques

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to practice applying the concepts discussed by participating in an informal debate round.

The second workshop is geared towards students who have been debating for at least 2 years (going into their 3^rd year) although exceptions may be given on a case by case basis. This workshop will be held June 26-27 from 9 AM – 3 PM. Topics to be discussed include:

-        How to sharpen your Cross-Examination skills

-        How to effectively use evidence

-        Negative organization and strategies

-        Non-traditional case structures

-        Resolutional Analysis (A laptop computer is not required, but would be helpful)

The price is $45/student for the beginner workshop and $70/student for the advanced workshop (Family discounts may be offered for families with multiple students)

Registration is limited to the first 20 participants!!

To register or if you have any questions please contact Lisa Lichlyter at: lichlytl@bellsouth.net

* Isaac Lichlyter competed in NCFCA Team Policy debate for 5 years. During his senior year of high-school, Isaac served as a student assistant for the Contenders Speech and Debate Club in Birmingham. While in college, he has also served as an assistant coach for the Memphis Debate Club. Isaac is a 2-time NCFCA Region 7 Team Policy Debate champion as well as an NCFCA National Team Policy Debate semi-finalist. He has earned numerous speaking awards including 9^th place at the 2007 NCFCA National Tournament and 11th at the 2009 NCFCA National Tournament. For the past two years, Isaac has contributed to NCFCA's The Source.