Events and Happenings…

There’s a lot going on…..

Nature Lessons

Joan Russell is offering homeschooling Nature Lessons to any and all homeschooling children this fall. They are held on Thursdays at 10am – usually every other week. Please contact her directly for any more information at joanrussell@ suddenlink. net. She NEEDS a headcount and she will email you directly about each each lesson information and directions. The first class is this week and is about trees in our area.

Chemistry Open House

Event: TAMU Chemistry Open House
Date: October 17, 2009
Location: College Station
Every year the Department of Chemistry hosts a free, open to the
public, Chemistry Open House and Science Exploration Gallery to
celebrate National Chemistry Week. The Chemistry Open House features
the popular Chemistry Road Show, guided lab tours, hands-on and
computer activities, door prizes and science goodie bags. The
Chemistry Road Show* is recommended for all ages and includes
demonstrations of popular science.
Several departments including Physics, Engineering and Biochemistry
are represented at the Chemistry Open House.
The Chemistry Open House will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2009.
Activities are held from 10am to 3pm. Chemistry Road Shows will begin
at 10am, 12 Noon and 2PM. People should arrive at least 15 minutes
early for all Chemistry Road Shows.
Free and open to the public. No
reservations required.
For further details visit:
http://www.chem. tamu.edu/ openhouse/

Star Wars Concert

Event:Star Wars in Concert – Homeschool Discount
Date: October 25, 2009, 2009
Location: Houston
Toyota Center
Star Wars in Concert – Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 6:00 PM Show, 4:30 PM Exhibit Opens
Narrated live by Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), the production features a full symphony
orchestra and choir performing music from all six of
John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores.
Accompanying the concert is an exclusive exhibit of Star Wars costumes, props,
artifacts, production artwork and specially created behind-the-scenes videos from the
Lucasfilm Archives. Many of these pieces are leaving Skywalker Ranch for the first time.
Tickets start at just $32.
Order Deadline October 16, 2009, Tickets On Sale NOW!
Buy your tickets early to guarantee great seats!!!!!
To order contact Courtney Aldrich at 713-758-7577

Homeschooling College Fair

Central Texas Homeschool College Fair
Date: October 10, 2009
Location: Austin
Representatives from dozens of colleges around the country
coming to Austin, just to meet home school students.
WHEN Saturday October 10, 2009, 9:30 am – 11:30am
WHERE The Quarries
11,600 North MOPAC Expressway
Northbound Frontage Road, Just north of Braker Lane
WHY This will be a great place to gather a lot of helpful information
at one
time. Colleges want to meet home schooled students.
To ask specific questions about applications, scholarships, financial
aid, housing, and more.
WHO Anyone who is interested in attending college is welcome to attend.
No registration fee will be charged – no reservation will be required.
http://onedayacadem y.com/event- calendar/ college-fair/
Sponsored by One Day Academy
http://onedayacadem y.com/

AND…..

Thursday, October 1st Story telling skills with Ms Bonnie. (ages 6+)
Thursday, October 8th. Nature Walks at the Colorado Refuge.
Tuesday, October 13th. Pumpkin Day/Elgin McD’s.
Thursday, October 15th Fall Craft Day.
Tuesday, October 20th Jardine’s tour.
Thursday, October 22nd Nature Walks at the Colorado Refuge.

Antique Show

One of the great things about homeschooling is that you can make almost anything educational.  The BIG antique show is happening this weekend (Oct 3rd).  It starts at Warrenton and goes all the way to Round Top.  It’s just not antiques either. You can find handmade items, unique jewelry, organic soaps, and anything you need to clutter your house.  Don’t miss it!

Upcoming Events

SEA WORLD HOMESCHOOL DAY

The homeschool day at Sea World in San Antonio is scheduled for Thursday, 9/24 at 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The cost is $8/person, no parking fee. If you’re planning on going, call 800-700-7786 soon to make reservations because it’s first come, first served. You will have to pay at the time of the reservation. Here’s info on what it will include:

INSTRUCTIONAL FIELD EXPERIENCES

PreK – Grade 6
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Enjoy SeaWorld when it is open exclusively for groups. Bring your own lunch and enjoy a picnic with your group, plus during your half-day program, you can visit:

Dolphin Cove

Atlantic and Pacific bottlenose dolphins

Sharks/The Coral Reef

Sandtiger, nurse and black-tipped sharks, and fish from around the world

Seal & Sea Lion Community

Harbor seals, California sea lions, North American river otters, Asian small-clawed otters and the endangered Hawaiian monk sealYou will also receive an educational animal presentation at two stadiums designed specifically for education groups.

September 17 is Constitution Day.  This link is good until Sept. 9.

http://www.weeklyre ader.com/ constitution/ preview.asp? trkid=wrSeptNews letter
<http://www.weeklyre ader.com/ constitution/ preview.asp? trkid=wrSeptNews letter

Home School Day

Home School Day
Thursday, September 17, 10 AM-3 PM

Home school families will receive the discounted school group rates
for Exhibits, IMAX® Theatre, and Texas Spirit Theater admissions on
Homeschool Day. Explore the Story Learning Stations will be scheduled
from 10 AM – 3 PM. Education volunteers will lead students in hands-on
activities, demonstrations, and much more!

For more information or to make reservations, please call (512)
936-4649.

www.thestoryoftexas .com/education/ homeschool. html

Smoothing the Way

The Smoothing The Way courses will be starting up Thursday, August 27th at 7pm.  This is geared for new homeschoolers or if you missed any classes in previous years.  This is a WONDERFUL series of classes for homeschoolers – or even if you are wanting some support.  Melody Gillum(512-639- 9341) is leading the classes this year.  Or you can go to the website www.smoothingtheway .com for all the info.   Classes will be held in the AQUA building on Old Austin Highway in Bastrop the 4th Thursday of every month until May (will be different in November and December).  There are many moms in the area who have attended these classes.  Some of my dearest friends I met through the classes.  There is a fee which includes the books and a life time membership.  Every month has a different topic and the book is great for resources.  Any mom homeschooling no matter how long or at what stage i think could learn something through these courses.

From the website:

Smoothing the Way is a support group dedicated to serving first-year homeschooling mothers. Each month a topic of specific interest to the new homeschooler is offered. Veteran homeschooling moms and guest speakers are available to inform and encourage those who have decided to take on the exciting, yet sometimes daunting, task of educating their own children.

South Austin Used Curriculum Book Fair

Clear out your bookshelves and grab your wish lists.

We’ve got a date for the South Austin Used Curriculum Book Fair.

Mark your calendars:  August 21
Bethany Lutheran Church
3701 W. Slaughter Lane
Austin, 78749

Vendors unload:  3:30-4:30 pm
Shopping from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Clean up 7:30-8pm

If you are interested in selling, please contact Laura lmhwarrick@flash. net .
A $5 donation per table  (to help us thank the church) is suggested from vendors.

All are welcome!

Elgin Co-op

The Elgin Homeschool Co-op has openings for the Fall semester. If you are interested please contact me at patriciagrifno@ yahoo.com. Please read below for more information:

Thanks,
Patricia
************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* **
The Elgin Homeschool Co-op is a brand new co-op which which will open in the Fall 2009. We will meet at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Elgin, and classes will be held between the hours of 9:30am-2:00pm on Tuesdays, with a lunch break in between. We plan to offer classes from K-12; a nursery will also be available for infants-preschool. We ask that parents teach at least one class or assist in the nursery/pre- k. Parents will also be asked to assist lead teachers in other classes. This is not a drop off co-op, so parents must remain on Church property while their children are attending classes. Whereas most members are of the Christian faith, and the co-op will hold Christian devotionals, the co-op is open to homeschooling families regardless of religious affiliation.

An attack on TX parental rights… call Rick Perry

The information below is posted without editing from another site:

Call Rick Perry at 512-463-2000 to VETO SB 1440, an attack on Parental Rights !!

Call Gov. Rick Perry to VETO SB 1440
- it is an Attack on Parental Rights and
your 4th Amendment rights!
Call Gov. Perry’s office at Phone: (512) 463-2000 and Fax:(512) 463-1849.

Tim Lambert of the Texas Home School Coalition urges a VETO of SB 1440! : http://www.rightint exas.com/

Alert from Parent Guidance Center: http://www.parentgu idancecenter. org/web/

I am writing because SB 1440 is a bill sponsored by Kirk Watson passed with an amendment written by Rep. Patrick Rose. The amendment should terrify all parents, and especially homeschoolers. It is a bill designed to overcome the court decisions in the FLDS case by the 3rd Court of Appeals and the 5th Circuit case, Gates vs. Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (CPS).

This bill violates 4th amendment rights as it is an end run around the requirement that CPS obtain a search warrant based on probable cause to go into your house to take your kids away for an “interview”. It also allows access to medical records without a search warrant or parental consent.

The bill allows CPS to take an affidavit to a judge for an order “assisting investigation” and does not even require “a cause to believe”(that language was taken out) before the judge can issue the order. The standard is a “a fair probability that allegations of abuse or neglect will be sustained”, which is ambiguous on its face and can easily be manipulated.

The bill also says that the affidavit can be “based on information available” which could merely be an anonymous complaint! Thus, your neighbor with whom you are feuding can call in and anonymously make a report, triggering CPS to obtain this order.

Homeschoolers are at risk because, one of the elements is that the order “is necessary to aid in investigation. ” That will always be the case for homeschoolers because CPS does not have the ability to go take your kids out of a government school without your knowledge. Thus, CPS will argue the fact that you are homeschooling as a ground for obtaining this order.

We are mobilizing a veto campaign to convince Governor Perry to veto this bill and we need your help.

Texas Home School Coalition Association

Legislative ALERT

Important Legislative Update

from Tim Lambert

SB 1440

I personally urge you to contact Governor Perry’s office, as I have, and ask him to veto SB 1440 (to which the language from SB 1064 was added) to protect the fundamental right of parents to guide and care for their children. Click here to view the Governor’s contact information

SB 1064 by Senator Kirk Watson was filed early in the session, and it sought to allow CPS, in the course of an investigation of abuse or neglect, to get the medical or mental health records of children who are the focus of an investigation. In order for CPS to accomplish this, the person refusing to give the records and parents must be given notice and a court hearing and CPS must show “good cause” for the action before the court would order the release of said records to CPS.

However, the bill was substituted in committee for a very different SB 1064, which was passed out of the Senate and sent to the House. The new SB 1064 gave the court authority to force parents to give CPS access to the child and/or transport the child for “interview, examination and investigation, ” without a court hearing or notice to the parent. Worst of all, the language in the current statute that requires CPS to prove “good cause shown” was stricken. Click here for full details.

Tim Lambert

Used Curriculum Sale Lockhart

C.H.E.C.C. – Christian Home Educators Caldwell County
Friday June 5, 2009
5:00-8:00 PM
Lockhart Church of Christ
317 Blanco St. @ the corner of Prairie Lea
Lockhart, TX 78644

Sellers set up between 4 and 5 PM
If you want to be a seller contact Mary Roberts @ _MKPinkCadi@ aol.com_
(mailto:MKPinkCadi@aol. com) with your name and if you need one or two tables.
No fee. You may sell anything Homeschool Related- books, games,
manipulatives, videos etc.

Buyers, please do not arrive before 5 PM – Thank you!

Library Kick Off Party

Bastrop Public Library has their Kick off party Saturday June 6th 10-12.
Check out this link for all of the fun activities.
http://www.bastroplibrary.org/summer09/summer09. html

Free Summer Movies

REG Free Family Film Festival Beginning June 2009! When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Tickets for our 2009 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

http://www.regmovie s.com/nowshowing /familyfilmfesti valschedule. aspx?state= TX

Amarillo Star 14 8275 Amarillo Blvd West Amarillo ,TX 79124 806-468-6506
06/09/2009-06/10/2009	Everyone’s Hero (G)
	Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)
06/16/2009-06/17/2009	Charlotte’s Web (G)
	Igor (PG)
06/23/2009-06/24/2009	Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
	Nim’s Island (PG)
06/30/2009-07/01/2009	Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
	Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)
07/07/2009-07/08/2009	Horton Hears A Who (G)
	Inkheart (PG)
07/14/2009-07/15/2009	Space Chimps (G)
	Hotel For Dogs (PG)
07/21/2009-07/22/2009	Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G)
	Bee Movie (PG)
07/28/2009-07/29/2009	Curious George (G)
	City Of Ember (PG)
08/04/2009-08/05/2009	The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
	Kung Fu Panda (PG)
Check for regular Movies and Showtimes
Arbor Cinema @ Great Hills 9828 Great Hills Trail Austin ,TX 78759 512-231-9742
06/09/2009-06/11/2009	Curious George (G)
	City Of Ember (PG)
06/16/2009-06/18/2009	The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
	Kung Fu Panda (PG)
06/23/2009-06/25/2009	Everyone’s Hero (G)
	Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)
06/30/2009-07/02/2009	Charlotte’s Web (G)
	Igor (PG)
07/07/2009-07/09/2009	Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
	Nim’s Island (PG)
07/14/2009-07/16/2009	Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
	Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)
07/21/2009-07/23/2009	Horton Hears A Who (G)
	Inkheart (PG)
07/28/2009-07/30/2009	Space Chimps (G)
	Hotel For Dogs (PG)
08/04/2009-08/07/2009	Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G)
	Bee Movie (PG)
Check for regular Movies and Showtimes
Westgate Stadium 11 4477 South Lamar Blvd. Austin ,TX 78745 512-899-2013
06/09/2009-06/11/2009	The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
	Kung Fu Panda (PG)
06/16/2009-06/18/2009	Everyone’s Hero (G)
	Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)
06/23/2009-06/25/2009	Charlotte’s Web (G)
	Igor (PG)
06/30/2009-07/02/2009	Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
	Nim’s Island (PG)
07/07/2009-07/09/2009	Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
	Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)
07/14/2009-07/16/2009	Horton Hears A Who (G)
	Inkheart (PG)
07/21/2009-07/23/2009	Space Chimps (G)
	Hotel For Dogs (PG)
07/28/2009-07/30/2009	Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G)
	Bee Movie (PG)
08/04/2009-08/07/2009	Curious George (G)
	City Of Ember (PG)
Check for regular Movies and Showtimes