Above the Fold Thought for the Week
Are We Putting the Right Things First?
Mark 7:27 And Jesus said to her, First, allow the children to be satisfied, for it is not good to take the children's bread and to throw it to the dogs.
 
Who is getting fed first? Are my children satisfied first every day? Before phone calls, household chores, email inboxes, message boards, errands, volunteer activities, church functions, hobbies...are my children deeply and fully satisfied with soul-filling nourishment?
 
From "May the Children Eat First...." (© Ann Voskamp 2003-2009)
 
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Testing Time!
Have questions about testing? Confused by the array of options? Check out the information in our testing section. Looking for someone to administer a test? Here's a list of counselors, testers, and tutors. Wondering how your child will score? Achieving Peak Performance is a helpful test-preparation resource.
 
We also have a Testing and Evaluations success seminar coming up on March 4 to help alleviate "test anxiety."
 
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Other News and Announcements
Discounted HSLDA Rate - Ends February 28
 
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UPCOMING HEAV SUCCESS SEMINARS AND HOMESCHOOL DAY EVENTS

Getting Organized: A Different View
Richmond - February 25 
CANCELLED -- Watch for rescheduling!

Testing and Evaluations
Richmond - Next Thursday, March 4!
Sarah Olbris, an experienced test administrator (she's been administering tests for more than 15 years!) and a homeschool mom of four, will present practical information on achievement tests, including how achievement tests differ from other tests, how to prepare your students for the test, and how to interpret the results. Learn more.

Home Educator Day at Monticello - Charlottesville - March 10
Homeschool Day at the Science Museum - Richmond - Rescheduled for March 16!
View all upcoming Homeschool Days and Success Seminars.

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CONVENTION COUNTDOWN: ONLY 15 WEEKS TO GO!

GRAD Packets Now Available
Calling all graduates! Information about and registration for
HEAV's 2010 graduation ceremony is now available.

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Help Needed!
Our surveys consistently show that most people first hear about the convention from a friend--we need your help in letting others know about this tremendous resource! This year's convention offers vision, encouragement, resources, and so much more to make a difference in families--and the future of the next generation.
 
How can you help?
It's easy! Just visit our promo page and print a flier to hand to a friend...or post a description on your Yahoo group or online forums. While you're there, sign up as an Outreach Partner, and we'll send you ready-to-go material as it becomes available.

Volunteers Needed at the Convention
Shop early in the Used Curriculum Sale when you volunteer for two or more hours at the convention!

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1) Homeschool Items
View All Homeschool Items
1.1 U-TURN Homeschool Physical Education - Richmond - Begins February 26
1.2 Williamsburg Homeschool Retreats - Williamsburg - February 26-March 21
1.3 Homeschool Parents Fine Arts Open House - Newport News - March 4
1.4 Homeschool Curriculum Swap - Harrisonburg - March 20
1.5 Homeschool Track and Field State Championships - Richmond - Discount by April 3
1.6 Black History Month Studies

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2) General Interest Items
View All General Interest Items
2.1 Science Museum Activities - Richmond - March
2.2 Bible Bee Chairman Registration - Nationwide - Begins March 1
2.3 Free Software and West Point Bridge Design Contest - Enter by March 6
2.4 Teacher Workshop: Perspectives on South Asia - Charlottesville - Register by March 12
2.5 International Children's Festival - Hampton - April 17
2.6 Renaissance Faire Auditions - Fredericksburg - March 6 and March 20

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3) Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
View All Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
3.1 Bible Word Games
3.2 Free - Many Budgeting Worksheet Printables
3.3 Jan Brett's Coloring Alphabet
3.4 Math Is Fun!
3.5 A.P. United States History Quizzes: 110 of Them!
3.6 Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss - March 2, 1904
3.7 March: Women's History Month - Another Slave Trade
3.8 Don't Give Up on "Lost" Websites!
3.9 Free Manuscript and Cursive Printable in Three Styles
 
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4) Parting Thought - Love Notes
Love notes aren't just for Valentine's Day! A contributing mom on the Homeschool Post recently suggested a tradition in her family that's a big hit.
 
Here's how it works. Each child has a notebook (a composition book or small loose-leaf notebook will work) in which the mom writes a short note to her "pen pal." She leaves it under the child's pillow. The child writes a response, or just waits until she or he has anything at all to write to mom. You can read the whole description on the Homeschool Post. Do you think this would also work with husbands and wives?
 
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5) Worth Repeating
"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy."
- William Blake (1757-1827), English poet, painter, and printmaker.
 
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6) Verse of the Week
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
- Psalm 139:17 (KJV)