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THE CONVENTION APPROACHES!
Home Education: Turning Our Hearts Toward Home

Get ready to be challenged, encouraged, equipped, and inspired to make a lasting difference in your home! This year's convention is packed with incredible speakers, exhibitors, and events. Take a few moments to view the convention details, register (if you haven't already), and tell a friend.

New this year! Qualifying parents of preschoolers can attend the entire convention for FREE! Here is an amazing way to encourage young parents as they are making educational choices for their children. Be sure to tell your friends and MOPS groups.
Here is everything you need to know!

What Others Have to Say...
"I came to the convention not knowing anything about homeschooling or homeschoolers. After two and half days at my first convention in 1995, I knew exactly what homeschooling was all about, I had met other homeschoolers, I had curriculum that would start me in the right direction and I had the most important thing of all--confidence that I could succeed and my children would thrive (and even be socialized!).

"...It is thirteen years later and my family has attended fourteen conventions...it amazes me how each convention is better than the one before! We had so much fun at the Used Curriculum Sale this year. We have never done that previously, but this year we had a blast. We always enjoy the Support Group Leader's Luncheon and this year was no exception. The speakers are always wonderful, the camaraderie is always enjoyable and this year, the food was exceptional....

"The Exhibit Hall just gets better and better every year...It is wonderful to have so many different things from which to choose for educating our children...

"The seminars are always educational and helpful. When I needed to know how to register with my county, Yvonne Bunn was there to guide the way. When I needed to know how to prepare a transcript, you provided Transcript Boot Camp. When our youngest had trouble reading, you had Diane Craft to help me figure out what the problem was. Now that we have teenagers, you provided me with the opportunity to listen to the experiences of the Miller family in order to learn how they navigate through courtships and weddings. There are dozens of examples of HEAV giving me the right information at the right time.

"When I go home after two days at the convention, I am exhausted, but also disappointed that it is over and I must wait another year to go again. Our 18-year-old daughter asked if we may still go to the convention, even after we are not homeschooling anyone. Imagine an 18-year-old who enjoys the convention so much that she does not want to ever stop going." - Pam Proffitt

View convention information online at www.heav.org/convention!

Anatomy & Physiology Summer Camps - Boone, NC
Directed by Veteran Homeschool Dad / Professor
- Week-long camps at Appalachian State University
- Caring, close supervision
- We use human cadavers for optimal anatomy
- Fun, instructive physiology labs
Please Visit Our Site for Details.

http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com

March's Top Pick - Save More than 20%!
The Socialization Trap
- by Rick Boyer
Reviewed by Vicki Bentley, mom of 17 homeschooled students, speaker, and author.

While most of us like to think that schools exist to teach children the "Three R's" over a twelve-year period, did you realize "John Holt has found that it only takes about thirty hours for a person to learn to read," and "John Taylor Gatto claims that plenty of evidence exists that people can learn to read, write and do basic arithmetic--in other words, learn to be self- educators--in about one hundred hours"? So what is the purpose of the other 11½ years of compulsory "education"? Rick explains why you, as a homeschooling parent, should still be concerned about what is taught in public schools, and how society's paradigm still affects your family.

Read the rest of the review and order your copy today!

For the month of March, we are offering The Socialization Trap for only $6 (members)/$7 (non-members), plus shipping. That's a savings of more than 20%!

Creating an Orderly Home - Coming to Northern Virginia
Chantilly, Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Do you know you need to get organized, but aren't sure where to begin? Unsure if you even can get organized? Join Flo Feldman, HEAV's beloved convention director and a professional organizer with more than 25 years' experience. Flo has a unique way of dealing with the root issues of organization, encouraging you to get started and find ways to organize that work for you. Read more and register today!

Note: The day of the week was accidentally listed incorrectly last week; we apologize for any confusion. The seminar is TUESDAY, March 31, 2009.

High School 101: Blueprint for Success - Newly Scheduled!
HEAV Office, Thursday, April 2, 2009
Vicki Bentley, mom of 17 homeschooled students, shares the secrets to mapping out a successful high school course of study and shows why the high school years are the most important years to homeschool. She covers planning; recordkeeping; preparing for college admission and/or apprenticeship, military service, or other options; and much, much more. Don't miss this you-can-do-it seminar! Read more and register today.

Graduation Packets - Deadline Is Approaching!
Graduates, to participate in the graduation ceremony at the HEAV Convention in June, GRAD packet forms must be filled out and returned to HEAV by April 3, 2009. If you haven't requested a GRAD packet, don't delay! Contact the HEAV office at 804-278-9200 and request a packet. You may also download your GRAD packet.

For more information on graduation, please see the graduation FAQs at www.heav.org/convention/graduation.

We Need Your Help!
We could use your help both at the convention and as we prepare! Volunteering is easy--simply fill out our online checklist and we'll be in contact with you. Volunteers who help out two or more hours at convention get to shop first at the Used Curriculum Sale.

HEAV Receives E-mail Designation
HEAV was recently named a Constant Contact 2008 All Star! Constant Contact, the company HEAV uses to send out our e-mails, gave HEAV this designation to recognize the consistent and well-managed way HEAV has made use of e-mails. Among other things, Constant Contact told HEAV, "You've maintained sound permission-based email marketing and list management best practices" and "You're part of a special group of our customers that we want to thank for setting a great example for other email marketers. Congratulations!"

Reminder for Ukrop's Customers - Golden Gift Period in Process!
Until March 28, 2009, Ukrop's customers can help support HEAV while shopping! No registration is required--just use your UVC card when you shop. Earnings depend on the number of Golden Gift points contributed--with enough participation, HEAV can earn up to $4,000! View more details here, and check out the other ways to effortlessly support HEAV every day!

The Magazine Is Coming!
It's been a long time in coming, but the magazine has been sent to the printer and should be mailed early next week! In this issue, travel with the Ryan family to the Holy Land, discover how to take incredible family vacations at amazingly affordable prices, get a preview of what's coming up at this year's convention, and more. Watch your mailbox!

If you're not signed up to receive the Virginia Home Educator magazine--AND WANT TO RECEIVE THIS ISSUE--please call TODAY (804-278-9200) or use the online form.
Subscriptions are FREE!

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1) Homeschool Items
View All Homeschool Items
1.1 Classical Conversations Info Meeting - Lexington - March 19
1.2 Free: Introduction to Homeschooling with Yvonne Bunn - Chesapeake - March 21
1.3 Classical Conversations Meetings - Newport News - March 23/April 21
1.4 Homeschool Takeover Day - Norfolk - Register by March 26

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2) General Interest Items
View All General Interest Items
2.1 Thomas Nelson Community College Open Houses - Hampton - March 20-21
2.2 Gunston Hall Kite Festival - Mason Neck - March 21
2.3 Military Through the Ages - Williamsburg - March 21-22
2.4 Wings 'n' Rails Model Railroad Exhibit - Richmond - March 21-22
2.5 DAR Scholarships - Deadline Is April 1 or 15
2.6 Generation Joshua "iGovern" East - Purcellville - July 26-August 1

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3) Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
View All Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
3.1 Women of the Bible - Women's History Month
3.2 Free Book and Videos - Tortured for Christ
3.3 Clara Barton Interactive Website
3.4 Mini Unit Study: Patrick Henry's Speech - March 23
3.5 Free Israel Unit Study
3.6 Free Sample - Emergen-C Supplement
3.7 Career Aisle Guidance Website

4) Parting Thought - Age-old Questions
A grandmother got a congratulatory phone call on her birthday from a very young grandchild. He asked how old she was. When told, "Sixty-eight," he paused noticeably and then asked, "Did you start at one?"

5) Worth Repeating
"If I Were the Devil... I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit...I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation."
- Paul Harvey (1918-2009), American radio broadcaster who passed away recently at age 90, from his column, "If I Were the Devil." Read the entire brief column here.

6) Verse of the Week
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee."
- Psalm 33:20-22 (KJV)

Taken from the Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons (www.familymanweb.com). Reprinted with Permission.

Submit an Item
Know of an event, contest, or resource that would be of interest to homeschoolers? Please submit it using our online form at www.heav.org/resources/update/submit-event.html.

Note: We compile information for publication at least two weeks prior to send-out date, so please submit items as early as possible (preferably one month in advance). HEAV reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted.

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Disclaimer
The Virginia Homeschool Update is produced by Kathleen Dillie (copy editor), Chris (editor), Anna Dykhoff (graphic designer), Sarah Kohrs (update manager), Katherine Loop (assistant director of publications & marketing), and Anne Miller (director of publications & marketing).

HEAV does not necessarily endorse the above-mentioned resources, nor guarantee the accuracy of information found on any external resource we may mention. If you find anything wrong on our website, please let us know so we can correct it.

HEAV diligently researches each link prior to publication. However, we recommend you, the parent, fully examine websites before allowing your children to surf them without supervision.

Copyright © 2009 by the Home Educators Association of Virginia. All rights reserved. You are free to pass along all or part of this Update, but please include the following credit line when you do: "Taken from HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Update, a free newsletter for Virginia homeschoolers. You can sign up at www.heav.org." You may modify this credit line if needed, but please credit HEAV and link to the HEAV website (www.heav.org).

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