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HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Update

April 29, 2009

Above the Fold
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Susan Defazio Bless Others...and Be Blessed!
Here at HEAV you and your teenage children have many opportunities to help the homeschooling community in a BIG way! HEAV is made up mainly of volunteers--busy families just like yours who see a need and get involved. Volunteers have been an integral part of making a difference in our state.

That's the big picture. The lesser-known aspect of volunteering is the change it can make in the volunteer's life. Volunteers not only gain valuable experience and skills, but also develop character from serving others!

Whether you are interested in volunteering year-round at the HEAV office or from your home or in volunteering once a year for a few hours at convention, volunteering can give you exposure to skills that will positively impact your daily life and future. Take some time out of your busy schedule to get involved!

View our Volunteer Opportunities and fill out our Volunteer Checklist for more information. You can also contact HEAV's volunteer coordinator, Susan Defazio, at VolunteerNow@heav.org.

Take Music Lessons From The Comfort Of Your Own Home! Take Music Lessons From The Comfort Of Your Own Home!

Do you have a computer and video chat software such as Skype? If so, take music lessons in banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and dobro from your home at a time convenient to you. High-quality instruction at an affordable price! Visit the website for more information, free tablature, and videos.

www.bluegrasslessonsonline.com

Online Science Classes and Camps: Anatomy, Biology, Forensics, Pre-Biology Anatomy & Physiology - One-Day Camp - Boone, NC

- Grades 6-12; May 9, 2009
- Directed by veteran homeschool dad/professor
- We use human cadavers for optimal anatomy
- Fun, instructive physiology labs
Please Visit Our Site for Details.

http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com

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Yvonne Bunn THIS THURSDAY!
How to Begin Homeschooling: What You Really Need To Know!
Richmond, Thursday, April 30, 2009
Are you ready to begin homeschooling? Get your questions answered and use the information from this seminar to get off to the right start! What are the first things you should do to get started? What does the law say? Where can you get curriculum? What kinds of records should you keep? Where can you get help? Maximize your success with practical ideas from Yvonne Bunn, a veteran homeschool mom who has helped thousands of families begin homeschooling. Cost: $20/HEAV members; $25/non-members; spouses are free. Read more and register today!

Be sure to tell anyone you know who is just getting started!

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HEAV's 26th Annual Homeschool Convention

The Convention Approaches!
The convention is just a little more than six weeks away! Are you ready? Here are a few ideas to help you prepare:

  • Pray. Pray for us as we finish preparations, and pray for the attendees, especially for the hundreds of parents of preschoolers who will be coming for free this year.
  • Share. Let other families know about the convention. See the convention promo page for some easy ideas.
  • Get Ready. Below are some quick links to help you take a look at the convention information and prepare.

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Inge Canon Special Convention Feature:
Transcript Boot Camp with Inge Canon
Do you have a junior or senior high school student at home? Are you trying to decide whether or not to homeschool through high school?

Don't miss this rare opportunity to attend Inge Canon's Transcript Boot Camp, an engaging seminar designed to equip you for preparing your child for graduation. There's no extra cost--admission is included with full convention registration.

This special three-and-a-half-hour session explores transcripts, record keeping, diplomas, and much, much more! There will be two 15-minute breaks during the session.

Read more and purchase the complete syllabus at a discount so you can make the most of this opportunity!

www.heav.org/convention/workshops/bootcamp.html

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Free Science Experiment - Build Your Own Fruit Battery! Free Science Experiment - Build Your Own Fruit Battery!
Ever wonder how batteries work? Now you can build your own using household hardware and a quick trip to the fridge!

Read more and download a FREE step-by-step video by Supercharged Science that will walk you through the process. Be sure to also check out the Supercharged Science Camp coming to Virginia this June!

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Website Reminder
Remember to check the websites of your favorite museums, historic sites, or cultural groups for updates, or subscribe to their newsletters. Space limitations keep us from publicizing all of the events that may interest your family! If you need ideas on field trips, check past Virginia Homeschool Updates to find events or sites we have listed in the past. You may also want to consult the Virginia field trip information we have on our website.

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Calls Needed to Congress TODAY to Stop Hate Crimes Bill
In spite of the outcry, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1913) was passed out of the House Judiciary Committee by a party-line 15 to 12 vote. The full House is scheduled to vote on it Wednesday. Your call could prevent an overzealous prosecutor from turning a criminal prosecution into a political correctness prosecution. This bill could be used to advance the politically correct agenda in this country by providing greater protections for certain classes of people. Future legislation could expand these protections and place restrictions on religious liberty and free speech. Learn more and find out how to take action on HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Blog.

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1) Homeschool Items
View All Homeschool Items
1.1 Free Symphony Program - Fairfax - May 4
1.2 Classical Conversations Practicum - Williamsburg - May 4-6
1.3 FIRST Robotics Team Demo and Information Meeting - Hampton - May 9
1.4 Mariners' Museum: Spring Dollar Days - Newport News - Register by May 15
1.5 Free Programs: Virginia Historical Society - Richmond - June and July
1.6 Free Newsletter and Resources: "Homeschooling Thru the Early Years"

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2) General Interest Items
View All General Interest Items
2.1 Fairfax Symphony Orchestra - Fairfax - May 2
2.2 Free Science Museum Activities - Richmond - May
2.3 Isle of Wight County Museum Events - Smithfield - Beginning May 9
2.4 Historical Society: Mother's Day Tea and Tour - Richmond - May 10
2.5 John Rosemond Speaks - Williamsburg - May 14

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3) Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
View All Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
3.1 Missions, Geography, and Language: Wycliffe for Kids (and Parents!)
3.2 Homeschool Math and Writing Contests
3.3 Simply in Season Weekly Recipes and Produce Guide
3.4 Take Me Fishing

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4) Parting Thought - Animal Know-How
An ostrich's eye is bigger that its brain.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds.

More people are killed annually by donkeys than die in air crashes.

There are more chickens than people in the world.

Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.

- Collected from various Internet sources

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5) Worth Repeating
"The most controversial issue of the 21st Century will pertain to the ends and means of human behavior and who will determine them. The first education question will not be `What knowledge is of the most worth?' but `What kind of human behavior do we wish to produce?'"
- National Education Journal, February 1968.

[ Editor's Note: For the past several months, we've been running quotes revealing the Humanist thinking and agenda behind today's secular education. Watch for more quotes on this theme in the upcoming weeks! ]

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6) Verse of the Week
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
- Colossians 3:23-24 (KJV)

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

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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 (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).

Home Educators Association of Virginia - Supporting Homeschooling in Virginia Through Information, Legislation, and Resources


Home Educators Association of Virginia

e-mail: update@heav.org

phone: 804-278-9200

web: http://www.heav.org

Note: Your membership and donations to HEAV enable us to continue monitoring legislation and help us to guard and promote homeschooling freedoms.

Not a member? Join today!