Ozzie Reading Program

Description: Ozzie ReadingClub

The Cougar’s have a great reading incentive program that homeschoolers are welcome to participate in as well. Following is some of the information related to the program and contact information to get all the details.

In a nutshell, your pre-K through 8th grade kids read for 8 weeks, working to reach their goals. The big prize is a free ticket to the Cougar’s game and accompanying guests can order their own tickets while ordering the free ones for the student.

Dates are available in April and May for various home games (you make a game selection when registering for the program) and this is always a fun outing as we near the end of our school year.

1.      We are now affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, meaning that many of the players who you see playing for the Cougars right here in Geneva will one day be playing at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

2.      We are offering a scholarship program called Ozzie’s scholars. All students enrolled in Ozzie’s Reading Club will have the opportunity to apply for one of ten $1,000 academic scholarships which they can use toward their future educational endeavors.

3.      If you have other programs in place during the typical Ozzie’s Reading Club months of January and February, you can run the program during another more convenient time.

Kane County Cougars One Cougar Trail Geneva, IL 60134

Phone: 630-232-8811 Fax: 630-232-8815 E-Mail: ozziereadingclub@kanecountycougars.com

ICHE Mother Daughter Day

ICHE

Mother Daughter Day

January 26, 2013

Save the date!

Valerie Elliot Shepard will be the speaker for the ICHE Mother Daughter Day on January 26, 2013.

Meet Valerie:

Born February 27th, 1955 in Shell Mera, Ecuador, Valerie was the only daughter of missionary parents, Elisabeth and Jim Elliot. They were missionaries to the Quichua Indians of the Amazon jungle. In 1956, while attempting to reach the Waodani Indians (a primitive and savage stone-age tribe) with 4 other missionaries, Jim was speared to death in January of 1956. Elisabeth and Valerie continued to live with the Quichuas until miraculously they were invited to live with the Waodani tribe that had killed Jim. They lived with these Indians for 2 years in safety and contentment, as Elisabeth and another missionary, Rachel Saint learned to speak the language and translated the story of Jesus to them. Most of them accepted the truth and said they would not kill anymore, and have not since that time.

Elisabeth decided in 1963 to move to the States in order for Valerie to receive an American education, and they lived in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 1968, Elisabeth married Addison Leitch, a professor of theology and Presbyterian minister. Valerie attended and graduated from Wheaton College in 1976 with a BA in English Literature. She married Walter Shepard shortly after that and moved to live with him in Louisiana.

Valerie has spent 36 years being a pastor’s wife, raising 8 children, homeschooling, and teaching Bible studies.

Valerie and Walter’s ministry has been one of hospitality, leading prayer meetings, and learning to live in God’s grace with joy. She has spoken at many retreats for women and has shared some of the radio ministry, called “Gateway to Joy,” with her mother, on Back to the Bible Broadcasting Network. Valerie loves to teach, and was part of the team with her husband in Kinshasa. Walter and Valerie’s desire, ever since they were first married, was to go to the mission field, and Africa was always part of that dream. God opened the door for them to move to Kinshasa, DRC, in August, 2005, and they stayed until June 2008. Because of health reasons, they decided not to go back, but God moved them into a different American mission field- planting a church!

Illinois Christian Home Educators | P.O. Box 307 | Russell | IL | 60075

Free Creation talk in Carol Stream

Midwest Creation Fellowship talk, “The Six Days of Creation” by John Dingess, on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. at 25W560 Geneva Road in Carol Stream, IL 60188.

Contact: Midwest Creation Fellowship

Phone (847) 223-4730

Email wscmcf@hotmail.com

Website http://www.midwestcreationfellowship.org

The Six Days of Creation.

Do you know that the six days of creation can be understood in threes reflecting God’s triune nature? You are invited to join us as we see what Genesis 1 says straightforwardly in context with other Scripture. Origin science will be used to provide models to help visualize how God formed the earth and universe.

Guest speaker, John Dingess, is a former President of the Midwest Creation Fellowship, following Paul MacKinney, one of MCF’s founders. John has made his living for 34 years as a chemist in product development and has been awarded three patents for his work on chemical product formulations. His full bio is posted on: www.midwestcreationfellowship.org.

Meet us for free coffee and refreshments at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. The talk and Q&A will be from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Please note that our November meeting is on the second Tuesday rather than the first.) Admission is free, but donations are welcome. We meet at: 25W560 Geneva Road in Carol Stream, IL. The entryway is just west of Gary Avenue on Geneva Road, on the north side of the street. Enter the drive just east of the sign (next to Slide Chart Company), and park behind the building. Enter through the rear door. Handicapped parking is in front, with entrance through the front door.

For more information, visit: www.midwestcreationfellowship.org, email: wscmcf@hotmail.com, or call: (847) 223-4730.

Birds of Prey demonstration at Cantigny

This is coming quickly:

What: Walk on the Wild Side (Birds of Prey)
When: October 18. 2012, 6:30-7:30 pm
Where: Education Center

More details: Free, family program, regular parking fee applies.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED due to limited seating. No walk-ins. Please call 630-260-8162 or email register@cantigny.org to save your seat! Registration closes 24 hours before the program or when capacity is reached.

Bring your family out to Cantigny Park for a Walk on the Wild Side! Dates have been set for a fun-filled learning adventure. Be amazed with fascinating animal facts! Each presentation will also offer the opportunity to interact with live animals.

This evening’s program will feature a live birds of prey presentation from the Willowbrook Wildlife Center Staff. Learn about this facinating group of birds and see some raptors up close!

Save the date for the next Walk on the Wild Side presentation!
November 15 (6:30pm)-Simply Snakes

Also check out their other classes for homeschoolers:

Kandinsky Kids for Homeschoolers

In this popular class, students will create using a wide range of media including but not limited to all types of paint, clay, fabric, sculpture, printmaking, etc.

Instructor: Kari Kraus, Water Street Studios

Ages: 7-11 years
October 22, 29, November 5, 12
10:30-11:30am
Location: Education Center
$60 per participant, registration required. No parking fee.

Click here to register online and pay by debit/credit card

Click here to download a registration form and send by mail or fax.

Questions? Please call 630 260 8162.

Click here to review our program policies and directions to class locations.

If you are a Cantigny Member Plus, please call 630 260 8162 to register and receive your class discount of $5.00.

Meeting for homeschoolers at IIT in Wheaton

This was forwarded through the Naperville Home Educators Yahoo group.

Looks like a great opportunity to give some input and hear about brand new opportunities for homeschoolers in a partnership with IIT.

at the Rice Campus

201 East Loop Road
Wheaton, Illinois 60189

October 2, 2012

Dear Home School aficionado:

We at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Rice Campus in Wheaton, would like to work with you and your students in their secondary education.

For everyone’s best quality of life, the staff at IIT realize that all citizens, both young and old, need to respect and appreciate the intricate and complex web of life on Earth, and understand its dependence on the abiotic factors that provide the edifice for our planet. In the words of the African environmentalist Baba Dioum “In the end, we will only conserve what we love; we will only love what we understand; and we will only understand what we are taught.” At IIT, our mission is education—and an important topic within that endeavor is living sustainably, within the means of the earth, as we go about our daily lives.

We are trying to increase our own sustainability efforts on campus, and are including outreach into the community as part of those efforts. Thus, our staff would like to work with you and your students as we feel we can offer expertise in the teaching of environmental science—an appropriate theme for integrating the various disciplines of science with technology, mathematics, the humanities and the social sciences. We have ideas for several different problem/project based learning offerings and would like to engage in discussion regarding how we can help you, with our facility and staff, in the education of your children.

To accommodate different schedules we will hold two meetings at the IIT Rice Campus: Wednesday, November 7^th at 6:30PM, and Saturday, November 10^th at 10:00AM. We anticipate that the meetings will last 1.5 to 2 hours. At the gatherings we will ask for your input as to how we can help you in the education of your children within the themes of sustainability and science, while using the Rice Campus facility as our “Petri dish.” We are open to your ideas and desire to gauge your interest in this collaboration. We plan to outline some of our project ideas in the dialogue.

Please respond to me regarding your interest in this collaboration, as well as your availability for either one of these meetings at camasus@hawk.iit.edu. Questions are also welcomed via email. Feel free to forward this letter to friends and colleagues whom you think might be interested in this project.

Hoping we can work together for our youth and their education,

Susan Camasta, PhD

Department of Mathematics and Science Education

School of Applied Technology

Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago & Wheaton, IL

National Christian College Fairs

High schoolers need to begin making plans for the years beyond graduation and the National Christian College Fairs want to help in that process. Their mission:

NACCAP exists to provide professional development, support and encouragement for Christian College, Graduate School and Seminary admissions personnel and High School guidance counselors across North America.

With that in mind they organize fairs across the country to bring college reps to you. October is the prime time for this and these are links to more detailed info on ones coming to the Chicago area:

Naperville: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/naperville-il
Rockford: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/rockford-il

Elgin: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/elgin-il

Palos Heights:http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/chicago-s-suburbs-il

Northfield: http://myblueprintstory.com/christian-college-fairs/chicago-n-suburbs-il

Each link shows detailed information for the specific event including what schools will host booths, times, locations, directions, and answers to other FAQ.

More encouragement for the homeschooler

This fall you have quite the choices if you are looking for some encouragement for your homeschooling journey. Here is another conference coming next week in Alsip. Check out all the details I received via email:

We wanted to send a reminder to pre-register for the upcoming conference called “Encouragement for the Christian Family” taking place on Friday, October 12th (7-9:30pm) and Saturday, October 13th (9am-4pm). This free conference is being held at Hazelgreen Baptist in Alsip, IL. We have the privilege of hosting Steve and Teri Maxwell, parents of 8, who for 19 years have written articles and books addressing issues that are at the heart of Christian families.

I have attached a flier that contains the full conference details, as well as a short write-up that is ready to place in your newsletter and/or bulletin. There is NO charge for the conference. Please consider passing this information along to your homeschool groups and congregations. We are grateful for any help you can give us in getting the word out about this wonderful opportunity!

Again, we are excited about this opportunity! I look forward to speaking with you!

Michael & Jennifer Dowdy

Michael.Dowdy@hazelgreenbaptist.com

708-990-3433

Encouragement for the Christian Family Conference

Chicago Area, Illinois

When: October 12th (7-9:30 p.m.) and October 13th (9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.), 2012

Where: Hazelgreen Baptist Church, 5022 W 115th Street, Alsip, IL 60803

Do you feel like you are running on a treadmill? Do you want to have sweet relationships with your children as they are growing up and not experience the heartache of rebellion and immorality? Do your children have greater purpose in life than just to have fun? Be challenged and find ways that God can set your family on a journey of spiritual unity, purpose, and direction.

There is no cost for this weekend conference, but love offering boxes will be on the book tables to help with the Maxwells’ traveling expenses. Your pre-registration is requested to Michael Dowdy (Michael.Dowdy@hazelgreenbaptist.com or 708-990-3433) or John Reed (PastorReed@hazelgreenbaptist.com or 708-389-5941). You may also contact Sarah Maxwell (info@Titus2.com or 913-909-9776). For more information on the conference, please visit www.Titus2.com

Todd Wilson coming to Sycamore

Don’t miss this!

Todd Wilson of Familyman Ministries will be
appearing at First Baptist Church, Sycamore, IL on Friday, September
28, 2012 at 7:00 pm.(Doors open @ 6:30)

A free will offering will be
taken. Sponsored by the HEART homeschool Support Group. Questions –
Contact: heart2homeschool@yahoo.com

Carole Joy Seid Seminar

November 3rd, 2012; Chicago area

Begin With the End in Mind

When: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

Cost: $45 online until October 23rd (spouse attends at no additional charge)
$45 postmarked by October 19th
$55 at the door

Where: West Suburban Community Church
825 N. Van Auken
Elmhurst, IL 60120

Questions: Michelle (630) 263-5238; mlpollard7@gmail.com
Karen (630) 279-2647; k.semrau@att.net

Online science class

This was forwarded to me, and so I’m passing it along as some of you might be interested:

Dear Friends,

This is an invitation to join us for our upcoming Online Creation Kids Class. No special equipment, no place to drive. We come to you. You can check “science lab” off your list, because we do the work for you.

CSI has partner with author, home school mom and owner of Media Angels Inc, Felice Gerwitz. This partnership was formed with the purpose of introducing a series of online educational classes for kids.

Tom DeRosa along with host, Felice Gerwitz will cover the topics from CSI’s Elementary Science Curriculum, “Investigate the Possibilities.” Exciting fun for middle school children or your upper elementary students.

Forces and Motion and Matter are the topics of this first series of classes. Join us for:

*Experiments
*Explanation
*Discussion and Questions: Ask Mr. DeRosa your questions

Date: Monday September 24th
October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Time: 3:00PM 4:00PM Eastern

Six classes
Cost: Only $5 per class
Payment options: Weekly $5 for Six Classes Or Get one class Free: $24.95

SIGN UP TODAY!

We are so sure you’ll enjoy this class we’ve recorded a preview just for you. Our gift.

Visit http://mediaangels.com/creationkids/�to redeem your video, no strings attached. Creation Kids Class videos is found on the Class Previews page. If you have any questions? Please contact Felice at felice@mediaangels.com