October 2014 Newsletter

October Events:

Eagle Library Homeschool Adventures:

Thanks to all the homeschoolers who have been supporting Eagle Library’s effort to recognize and offer services for homeschoolers in their “Homeschooling Adventures” each Thursday afternoon. They have continued to improve each week with interactive (including using a microphone to improve hearing capabilities :) If you have enjoyed it and/or want to send along your positive input, please email Janice at jcampbell@cityofeagle.org.

They will not be meeting on October 9th but will resume the following week. Here’s the upcoming schedule:

Thursdays 2:00 p.m.

October 9 – No Program

October 16 - All About Germany

October 23 - All About Sweden

October 30 – Shakespeare’s England

November 6 – All About Spain

November 13 – All About Ireland

November 20 – All About Italy

Programs will resume in January

Family Field Trip: The Farmstead Corn Maze: Oct. 10th, Noon to 4 PM.

 Please note if you have RSVPed to this field trip, you have committed to attend.  The venue is staffed based on the numbers we provide. Cancellations and No-Shows reflect badly on DHSA and on the homeschooling community in general. Please be courteous to the businesses that provide homeschool rates and services.  If you have not already RSVPed through our field trip coordinator, Kimberly Wing, but would still like to attend, please contact the Farmstead directly at 922-5678 and give them your headcount.  All families will pay individually, at the gates. ($4.95 per person—children under 2 are free.)

Homeschool Curriculum Swap, hosted by Jennifer Sundquist

Monday, October 13th, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 4099 W. Angelica Dr. in Meridian.

Included in the swap will be any curricula, art and craft supplies (for kids), parenting books, kids books & any religion teaching supplies for kids. Please feel free to drop them off any time between now and then to get them out of your way and so I can have it all set up and sorted before hand (I will have it all sorted according to what it is so it's easy to look for what you need). You can also bring it with you the morning of if you can't drop it off before hand. Feel free to just set it by the front door and go. I am often times nursing and don't answer the door because of that. I hope a lot of you can make it, it should be fun and beneficial to all of us If you have any questions, let me know! I will either ship the leftovers to the Books Samaritan, donate them to the DI, or post them on Facebook for anyone that couldn't make it. Thanks!

Mothers’ Meeting: Favorite Curriculum Q&A and Ice Cream Social

Thursday, October 16th
7 p.m.
at Janet Cox’s home
1300 Lake Lowell Avenue
Nampa, Idaho 

What math curriculum do you use for your non-math-loving kids? What’s the best spelling program? Bob Books? Life of Fred? Easy Peasy? Which foreign language program is best? How do you teach history? Come join us for ice cream sundaes (bring your favorite topping to share!) and weigh in on your favorite curriculum choices and listen to others as they share what they’re using! 

 

Teen Activity: The Farmstead Corn Maze!

Thursday October 23rd from 6:30-9pm.

Meet us at The Farmstead:1020 S. Rackham Way, Meridian

  Cost is $4.25 per person and we have to meet and pay as a group. We will meet up front and have a sign so you can find us. Check out the website for more info on the activities offered. http://www.farmsteadfestival.com/

DHSA’s Third Annual Man Feast: Couples’ Costume Party!

Saturday, October 25th, 6:30 PM at the Lytle’s home

1298 N. Cambrick Dr. in Kuna

Why should the kids have all the autumn-time fun? Dress up as your favorite superhero, bad guy, fairy princess, cartoon character, or whatever strikes your fancy and join us for a casual night of fun and amazing food! For more information on the menu, cost per couple, or to RSVP please contact Stacey Lytle at 453-2945.

 

DHSA Halloween Party!

Friday, October 31, 1:30-3:00 PM

Come join us for fun games, crafts and more!

Where: Lake Hazel Library
10489 Lake Hazel Rd.

Boise

When: Friday Oct. 31^st 1:30-3:00 Wear your costumes! (No full masks, or gore, please!)

Cost: $1.00 per child over 3 years of age (to cover costs)

How you can help: We need your help to make the party a success!
Moms and Teens can help!

Please sign up at http://is.gd/dhsahalloween2014 to
run an activity, game, or bring food.

(Or contact Kami Hymas to volunteer at kami@hymasfamily.org or 957-7048).

Happy October and we’ll see you on Halloween!

Coming in November:

Field Trip: The Idaho State Capitol Building

Friday, November 14th at 12:45 PM

Mark your calendars for Friday, November 14th for a State Capitol Field trip!  There will be a one hour guided tour for 3rd grade and up, and a self guided tour for 2nd grade and younger.  This field trip is free.  The tour for both groups will start at 12:45 with a film about the Capitol, followed by the tours. Please RSVP by October 30th, to Kimberly Wing at sosiouxmeto@msn.com as this field trip will be staffed specifically for DHSA. 

President’s Message:

My hope is that you have each been enjoying some magical moments with your families during this past month.  We've had some great DHSA activities so far this year and I am so excited about all that are coming up. 
During our Mothers' Meeting in September, I challenged each mom to spend a little time considering or reconsidering (if she had been homeschooling for a good period of time) their "WHY"...I believe this gives us strength during difficult times and helps to define the path we are walking in our homeschool journey. 

Janet Cox jumped right on board and sent her WHY in for our enjoyment...I would love to see additional entries coming in.  Our why's will likely not look the same as another, but may have a few similarities.  I can't wait to see what YOU have to share!

Enjoy this wonderful month of October!  Hope to see you at our upcoming meeting for moms on Thursday evening, the 16th.  During November, we'll throw our hubbies in the mix and have a great date night!

Why I Homeschool (According to those who think I will ruin my kids) by Janet Cox

I'm too lazy to get out of bed and get my kids up in the morning or have a regular bedtime.

I don't want to have to clean my house all by myself.

So I have built in babysitters for the younger kids during the day.

So I don't have to cook dinner or bake treats.

So I can brainwash my kids about religion.

So I don't have to fight the nightly homework battle.

To have control over my kids.

So my kids don't have to use textbooks and can just read all day.

To make my kids be geeks and nerds.

To not worry about grade levels.

To shelter my kids.

Guess what, they are right!

I homeschool because I'm too lazy to get out of bed and get my kids up in the morning or have a regular bedtime. TRUE: I enjoy our late night talks when my kids open up and the early morning cuddles when they all come lay on my bed and talk.

I homeschool because I don't want to have to clean my house all by myself. TRUE: I want my children to learn the skills needed to run a household, to work hard, and to work together.

I homeschool so I have built in babysitters for the younger kids during the day. TRUE: I want my children to have relationships with each other. The older kids get to be a hero and role model while learning how to work with and take care of younger children. They can still play make believe and other childish games because they are playing with a younger sibling. They also learn responsibility and leadership skills.

I homeschool so I don't have to cook dinner or bake treats. TRUE: My kids are becoming great cooks and won't have to survive on ramen noodles in college or on their missions.

I homeschool so I can brainwash my kids about religion. TRUE: If my kids are going to be “brainwashed” into learning a specific world view/political view, I want it to be what I think is important! And, because I feel that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most essential knowledge, I am able to focus on that and incorporate it into our daily learning.

I homeschool so I don't have to fight the nightly homework battle. TRUE: I want to preserve our evenings for family time whenever possible, so I structure our days so that most school work is completed earlier in the day. I can also cut out a great deal of busywork and review of mastered concepts.

I homeschool for control over my kids. TRUE: I am able to better control the media and books they are assigned and exposed to. They will have plenty of time in life to read or watch whatever they want, but while they are in my home, I can introduce them to good literature and media and help develop an appetite for things that are virtuous and praiseworthy. I can also “control” who they become friends with by introducing them to other good kids who have similar values instead of just the kids who happen to live nearby.

I homeschool so my kids don't have to use boring textbooks and can just read all day. TRUE: If a textbook is boring and dry, we can find a better way to learn the information. I read all day in public school, I just had to hide it. And most of the stuff I remember didn't come from fill in the blank worksheets and textbooks, but from real book and things I found interesting.

I homeschool so my kids can be geeks and nerds. TRUE: If a geek is someone who is not afraid to be smart and a nerd is someone passionate about something, that is exactly what I want for my kids. Whether their passion is math or running or coins or famous people, I want them to be able to explore and be excited about that. I want them to know that being smart is good and that it's okay to have different interests then their friends. They don't have to be on the soccer team just because the other kids in their class are if their passion is math not sports.

I homeschool because I don't want to worry about grade levels. TRUE: I want my kids to learn and master the material. If that is faster than public school in one subject, great. If it is slower than public school in a subject, that's fine too. We can keep working on something until they understand it instead of just moving on. We can also cover what they are interested in (and will actually remember) regardless of which grade level they are supposed to learn it in.

I homeschool to shelter my kids. TRUE: I want to build their flicker of a testimony into a bonfire before sending them out into the world where Satan will use every possibly means to extinguish it. This doesn't mean that they never interact with any one and never get to share their testimony or the gospel. It does mean they don't have to fight a battle with the world before they have time to put on their armor and learn how to fight for truth.