West Chicago Public Library Nature-Made program

Received via email (note, this is not a homeschool specific event, but they reached out knowing this is something many homeschoolers might enjoy):
Homeschooling families in the West Chicago area-
please save the date for the following programs at the West Chicago Library!
Save the date- Friday, September 9, 2016; 3:00-4:15 pm
Nature-Made at the West Chicago Public Library
Let’s connect to the great outdoors around us with some fun nature-inspired art! We will have various art stations set up for kids to make their own unique works of art. Our creations will be designed using small natural art materials like flowers, leaves, pinecones and more! During this program we will use a generous donation of 30 pansy flower plants from Ball Horticultural. No registration required, just drop-in. Kids ages 5-11 years old are welcome. Parents and other adult caregivers are encouraged to join their children and have fun making together!(Please note: children under 9 years old must be accompanied by an adult.)
http://westchicago.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=4899&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2016/09/01

Homeschool Spelling Bee in South Suburbs

Dear Families,
I wanted to let you know that it is time to sign up for the 4th annual Homeschool Spelling Bee! We need to sign our group up and pay in the next few weeks (SCRIPPS charges $136 per group but thankfully ComEd underwrites some of the cost). Each family cost would be $10 no matter how many students per family participate.
So . . . if you are interested in the SCRIPPS official Homeschool Spelling Bee sponsored by this group of local homeschoolers please contact me at : dcjohnson723@yahoo.com The Bee is open to students (not participating in any other Bees) in grades 1 – 8. On one afternoon we usually run one Bee with the lower level grades (K-3 or 4) and one with the higher level grades (3/4 – 8). The winner of our Bee is eligible to keep moving on to the district & regional Bees with an opportunity to head to Washington D.C. and the Nationals!! Our winners the last 3 years have enjoyed the district Bees.
The Bee will be held the second Thursday of December, Dec. 10. We will be at Moraine Valley Church in Palos Heights again this year. When you register with me, I will send you an email with the password info that gives access to the official website, spelling lists, rules, fun games to help with practice, etc.
If you “think” that you aren’t a good speller, THEN HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL EVEN BETTER!! Nothing like a little friendly competition to spur each other on to greatness! Friends and family may come to cheer you on, and it is a fun afternoon together! Last year we had such a fun and encouraging crowd and it was great!!
Our group needs to be supported by enough families and signed up with fees to me by October 10th! so I will be waiting to hear from YOU!! Please feel free to pass this along to any homeschoolers in the South Suburban area who might be interested. They do need to live in Illinois 🙂
Blessings!
Cindy Johnson

Illumination Celebration at Wheaton College

Received a notice about this event via email:

Illumination Celebration!

Illumination Celebration!

Saturday, April 11, 2015, 1 – 4pm

Location Meyer Science Center Building

In celebration of the United Nations’ International Year of Light, Wheaton College hosts a free open house featuring science- and light-themed fun! The event takes place on campus at the Meyer Science Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 11.

This family-friendly event invites children and families to learn how light-based technologies work, enjoy interactive, hands-on labs, and (weather permitting) use our state-of-the-art equipment for solar observations.

The Meyer Science Center is located at 430 Howard Street in Wheaton; parking is available in the Howard Street parking lot, or on the east side of the Billy Graham Center. For more information, please call the Office of Media Relations at 630.752.5015.

Judson Music Camp

Fox Valley Music Camp at Judson University

The Fox Valley Music Camp at Judson University is a great place for budding musicians to learn about music basics and for more advanced musicians to hone their skills.  Camp week is June 23-27, 2014. They offer a Half Day camp (9 am-noon) for K-2nd graders and a Full Day camp (9 am – 4 pm) for 3rd-12th grade campers.  Visit www.judsonu.edu/FVMC for more information and an on-line registration form – but hurry, the Early Bird discount ends May 23rd and Registration closes June 13th.


Where: Judson University
1151 N. State Street
Elgin, IL
60123

Email: cheryl.richardson@judsonu.edu

Website: www.judsonu.edu/FVMC

Phone: 847.628.1110

Volunteers needed in Will County’s Heritage Village

Received via email:

Would you like to know how it feels to a be a Pioneer? Dress in a Pioneers Costume? Meet new people? Volunteers needed at the Will County Historical Society’s Heritage Village, in Lockport,Il

Our goal is to keep the Heritage Village open one weekend a month during the summer. It will take at least three volunteers to keep the buildings open & show people around.

We are looking for families or groups that would like to volunteer together. Children could play on the grounds with traditional toys, play games or just walk around in costume. Adults would monitor visitors to the school house, depot, farm house and calaboose.   Home school families could set up in the school house, sit at the desks and fell what it was like to learn in a one room school house atmosphere.

Costumes would be provided, but costumes are not mandatory.

Hours served will count toward community service hours for high-schoolers. Miles driven to the Village would be tax deductible.

If you , your family, or group would like to volunteer at the Heritage Village, please contact Sandy Vasko at 815-341-0226.

West Suburban Home School Band

2014 Spring Open House and More


The West Suburban Home School Band will be holding an Open House during regular rehearsal times on Thursday, April 3, 2014.

All interested home schoolers are invited to come and watch any rehearsal in Cornelius Hall at Resurrection Church at the NW corner of Army Trail and 59 in Wayne.

Rehearsal times for the four different band levels are:

5:15-6pm Cadets (beginners),

6-7pm Concert Junior,

7-8pm Concert Senior,

8-9pm Symphonic.

Feel free to come any time and stay as long as you like. Free gifts for all who visit!

For more information or questions, please contact the director, Karen Borow, through the website www.wshsb.org.

Mark your calendar for the following performances–

The WSHSB’s 13th Annual Spring Concert at 7 pm, Friday, May 16, 2014, at Edman Memorial Chapel, on the campus of Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. This concert is NOT a function of Wheaton College.Map and directions are on www.wshsb.org.

Thursday, June 5, the WSHSB will play from 12 to 12:30, just prior to the keynote speaker at the ICHE Convention.

Israel Wayne coming to Aurora

When: Thursday, March 6, 2014 — Israel Wayne, Guest Speaker
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (free admission)

Where — New Song Community Church
2858 Hafenrichter Road (One half mile east of Eola Rd.)
Aurora IL 60503

Who: Israel Wayne is an author and conference speaker who has a passion for defending the Christian faith and promoting a Biblical worldview. He is the author of the books Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview, Full-Time Parenting: A Guide to Family-Based Discipleship, and The Questions God Asks. He is a homeschooled graduate and father of eight. He serves as the Director of Family Renewal, and is the site editor for ChristianWorldview.net.

What:  “Revival in the Home” – Families in America are under attack. Teenage rebellion, divorce, juvenile delinquency, emotional disorders, and relational dysfunction are way too common, even among church goers.

How can you have a Godly family in the midst of such a worldly culture? Israel will provide practical and Biblical answers. Learn how you can
effectively disciple your children to know, love and serve God.

All are welcome! (Childcare available for children under 5 years of age.
Children are welcome to sit quietly during presentation.)

Writing instruction in Evanston

If you are in or around Evanston and looking for some help or inspiration in the writing department . . .

Susan Dickman is an experienced English teacher as well as a writer. She offers individual writing support and classes for students, as well as workshops for parents seeking to support their children’s written expression. Whether it is writing poetry, fiction, personal or nonfiction essays, research arguments, opinion pieces, or analytical analyses, she believes anyone can learn to brainstorm, draft, and revise, developing voice and giving structure to his or her ideas. Highly experienced and knowledgable about Gifted, Twice-Exceptional, LD/ED, and a former homeschooling parent.

Organization name: Write for Excellence

Email Address: writeforexcellence@hotmail.com

Fermilab adventures

Check this out from Fermilab:

Fermilab Science Adventures — January – May 2014

Fermilab: Explore the Science Around You

The Spring Science Adventure class list, registration instructions and a downloadable registration form are available on our website. http://ed.fnal.gov/sciadv

In addition to many favorite classes, look for these new and returning adventures:

January 25, 2014 – Magnetic Magic, grades 1-4

February 1, 2014 – Snow Crystals, grades K-5

March 1, 2014 – Girls Scientific Salon, grades 4-7

April 26, 2014 – Creativity and Circuitry, grades 3-5 – NEW!

May 3, 2014 – The Bugs are Back! grades 2-4

Spread the word to your friends. To be added to our e-mail notification list, contact sdahl@fnal.gov.

Links to Upcoming Public Events:

Fermilab Family Open House – February 9, 2014, 1:00 – 5:00 PM

The FREE open house will be most appropriate for families with children in grades 3 and up. Tours restricted to those ages 10 and up. Go to the website to register for the tours. Watch the website for updates.

Visit the Fermilab Education Office at Family Science Days at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting

February 15-16, 2014, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Family Science Days

Family Science Days are FREE and open to all. Explore interactive science exhibits, learn about cool science jobs, and have your questions answered by scientists! This free community science showcase features hands-on demos, shows, and other activities appropriate for K-12 children and their families. Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IlL 60601.

Wonders of Science (Ages 7-12) – April 6, 2014, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Tickets: $4.00/person (nonrefundable). Contact edreg@fnal.gov (preferred) or 630-840-8259 with questions. Printable registration forms available on our website at: http://eddata.fnal.gov/lasso/program_search/wos_form.html

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)) High School Career Expo April 23, 2014, 5:30 – 8:30 PM

The program, held at Fermilab’s Wilson Hall, is FREE and no registration is required.

Fermilab Outdoor Family Fair (Ages 5-12) June 8, 2014, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Activities include walking the emerging tallgrass prairie, netting for land and water critters and visiting the bison herd. The fair is FREE.

Get to Know the Lederman Science Center

Explore Fermilab science from a kid’s point of view! Bring your family for a guided tour of Lederman Science Center exhibits on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon. No registration is required.

Fermilab Science Adventures is also a Facebook Group.

If you are a Facebook member, go to the top search box and search for “Fermilab Science Adventures” and click “Ask to Join Group” on the top right. As a member you can read and post questions and comments to the other members of this group. You can also have online chats with other members of the group.

Contact Program Staff

Marge Bardeen, Education Office Manager, mbardeen@fnal.gov

Susan Dahl, sdahl@fnal.gov

Andrea Cox, avarry@fnal.gov

Six Flags Reading Program Sign up

We always look forward to our annual visit to Six Flags Great America. Now is the time to prepare for it and motivate the kids to keep reading as well.

Follow the link to register your homeschooled kids to earn free admission for completing 6 hours of reading. https://feedback.sixflags.com/rts/default.aspx

Ready, Set, GO!

The Six Flags Read to Succeed Program is now accepting registrations for the 2013-2014 school year.

Go Big this school year when you and your students participate in the Six Flags 2013-2014 Read to Succeed Program.

Register for Read to Succeed 2013-2014

If you participated last year, your online account is still active. You can login and confirm your information is still correct and make any updates, if needed.

If you are new to the program, registration is now open so you can sign up today. Once you login to your account, you can download everything you need to get started from your Teacher Toolbox in your online account. Your Teacher Toolbox will have the Student Reading Log, Parent Letter and instructional guides. Your students can begin logging their hours as soon as you hand out the Student Reading Logs.

We appreciate your dedication to encouraging students to read and look forward to another successful school year.

Sincerely,

The Six Flags Read to Succeed Team
sixflags.com/read