Spring Hill Area Parent Educators

November events

2011-11-16T15:25:00.000-06:00

Lots going on around here....October was the History/International Festival. We had a blast and Winchester was teeming with history and countries from around the world. Hope you had a chance to stop by! IF not, you missed a great day. Join us next year!

November...Alice in Wonderland, Teen TurkeyBowl, Games at the Park, and gearing up for Gingerbread decorating in December. We have 102 Gingerbread houses to decorate. If you haven't signed up, there is still time. Friday, November 18 is the deadline so email shapedirector@aol.com for more info if you need to sign up.

Hopefully, you are having a great school year. Hope to see you at one of our events!

Terry

DADS!!!

2011-08-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed on www.Springhillhomeschoolers.com that there is a group for DADS! Get your hubbies to join this group. It will be a great way for the dads to see the great community that our kids with which to homeschool. Come on Dads..come in and introduce yourself.

New Website up and running!

2011-08-08T23:38:00.000-05:00

IF you haven't heard already...SHAPE has a new networking website. Check out www.springhillhomeshoolers.com and join in the conversation.

Why a new website? We have had many complaints over the past couple of years regarding folks difficulty in recognizing other SHAPE families, navigating the yahoo group, and helping their children make friends. This new website is a great "marriage" between Facebook and Yahoo. You will have access to discussion forums where all types of conversation can happen. If you "like" a discussion, you will be notified when new topics are posted in that forum category. You will be able to fine-tune the information you follow. You won't have to clog your In-box with emails on topics you have no interest in.

The new website also has a chat function, just like Facebook. You can have chat with a friend you see in the chat room, ask the SHAPE Director a question, or participate in Live Chats with experts on various homeschool topics that will be scheduled throughout the year.

Please be patient as we fine-tune the website. Have a question or suggestion? Send it to shapedirector@aol.com. Want to start a forum topic? Great..start one! Can't wait to get this conversation started. The great thing about the forums is that you should easily be able to search for information as long as folks place pertinent tags on their posts. No more "favorite dentist" questions..just look in the Recommendations forum!

You do not have to be a paid member of SHAPE in order to participate at www.springhillhomeschoolers.com . There will be areas that will be for members only, but most of the site will be open to all who are interested. Thanks for trying something new!

Terry

Shape Parent Meeting

2011-07-30T19:55:00.000-05:00

Shape Members Meeting on Monday, August 1 at 7pm. Winchester Community Center at Evans Park. We will have field trip sign ups, announcements about special events, and a door prize or two! Leave the kiddos at home for this meeting...see you on Monday night!

Summer

2011-07-12T09:08:00.000-05:00

Summer is in full swing around here..those 100 degree days will be a faint memory before you know it, though! Just wait...we'll be enjoying the parks and playgrounds once again. The SHAPE Advisory Board has met for the first time this year and many fun activities are planned for the school year. Some of the highlights include International Festival, Literature Festival and Read-a-Thon, Kids Biz Town, Bike and Kite Flying Day, and of course some of the old favorites...Gingerbread Decorating Party, Valentine's Day Party, Curriculum Discussions, Classroom Tour and more. It is definitely going to be our best year yet!

Thankful to live in this great homeschooling community!

Stay cool....

Terry

SHAPE MEMBERSHIP 2011/2012

2011-06-19T21:45:00.001-05:00

Make sure and send in your membership form as soon as possible so that you won't miss any information about the upcoming year! This is going to be the best year yet! Carnival, International Festival, Literature Day, History Fair, Science Fair, Homeschool classrooms Open house, and of course..fieldtrips, Moms night out, holiday parties and a few more surprises!

A newsletter will be going out with details on the year ahead! Be on that mailing list!

The sidebar has information on membership...or check the files section in the yahoo group for the member form.

2011/2012 is going to be a great year!

SHAPE Pool Days!

2011-05-23T11:05:00.000-05:00

Come to the outdoor pool at Longview Rec. Center to swim with some other homeschool friends!

Every Wednesday from June 1-August 10 will be "Pool Day!"

The official time is from 2:00-4:00, but of course, feel free to come and go when it works for your family.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Amy Keys

HIGH School Seminar

2011-05-16T20:13:00.002-05:00

WHAT? Wondering how to navigate homeschooling through high school? Thinking about dual enrollment? This seminar is just for you (and your teens!)!!
We have assembled a panel of *seasoned* homeschool Moms to help you direct your home high school and answer your questions. They have experience navigating tutorials, plotting course of study plans, dual enrollment, college searches, graduations and much, much more!

Additionally, Lois Stone, dual enrollment coordinator from Columbia State Community College, will be on hand to discuss the application process as well as many changes that are underway in the state university system. Even if your child is a current dual enrollment student, you will want to hear Ms. Stone's talk. Some of these changes may impact next year.
WHO? Specifically geared for families with current and/or rising 9th-12th graders but interested middle school families are welcome, too!!

WHEN? Thursday, May 19th. 10:00am-Noon.
WHERE?Winchester Community Building- lower level. 563 Maury Hill St. (by Evans Park) in Spring Hill.

We strongly encourage you to bring your high school student with you so that he/she can begin to learn and take responsibilty for his/her future education. Space is limited to 50 people. There is no cost to attend but please register by sending your name, phone number and # of folks attending to jmhull@bellsouth.net
Hope to see you all there!!
Julie Hull and Shelley Stedman

SCIENCE and Project Fair!

2011-04-22T11:32:00.000-05:00

SCIENCE AND PROJECT FAIR
Thursday, May 5
10 am till 1 pm
Winchester Community Center at Evans Park

$5 per family (includes lunch of hot dog, chips, fruit and drink)

Let your kids choose their favorite projects/work from the year or create a science fair project to display. We will have an affirmation page at each table for the moms and the kiddos to sign with congratulations of a job well done.
This is event is typically a Science Demonstration event but we want to open it up to those who have other things they are proud of to share as well. So if you aren't sure what to do for a science project, just let you kiddos display some of their best work. They will take home the memory of lots of pats on the back! I hear that someone will even have a dissection table for the kids to explore! Should be great fun!

We will have limited table space of course...so if you want to share a table with someone or only need 1/2 space, let me know!

Reserve your spot by emailing shapedirector@aol.com. Checks made payable to SHAPE need to be received by May 1. You can also paypal your $5. Instructions on paypal are in the files section of the Yahoo group!

If you are interested in just attending and NOT displaying anything...we'd love to have you come and see the displays! If you want to eat lunch, you will need to register so that we will have plenty of food. Just email me and note that you don't want a table. Cost will be $5. Thanks!

Hope to see all of you there!

Homeschooling 101 and Beyond!

2011-04-17T21:49:00.000-05:00

SHAPE"S Homeschooling 101 and Beyond Seminar
Monday, May 2 6:00 PM -9:00 PM
Thompsons Station Baptist Church

Thinking of Homeschooling? Just getting started? What are your kids learning styles-- how do you figure that out and meet their needs? What about schooling with a baby or toddler around?
We'll go over the facts..the laws in Tennessee and how to meet the requirements. We'll talk curriculum. We'll talk about how to deal with the dreaded question of socialization. Come get the encouragement you need to begin this grand adventure.

AND then We go BEYOND beginning. We will take the 2nd hour to talk about long range planning, how to homeschool Middle School, area tutorials and classes to supplement what you are doing at home. We will also talk about time management, the "fun stuff", record keeping and long range planning.

We will also have a Curriculum Show and Tell and some of the best moms I know to share their hearts about homeschooling the next generation of leaders and world changers. You will have a chance to take a look at several different styles of learning and get tips on how to organize your day.

Let us know that you are coming so we have plenty of room! This is a FREE Seminar and open to the community.

Email shapedirector@aol.com for more information or to register. Registration is NOT required, but is very helpful. You will also have the option of ordering the resource "Homeschooling 101 and Beyond... Tennessee" , a great resource of over 100 pages of information to make homeschooling easier..a list of fieldtrips, curriculum resources, learning styles, and more. Everything to get you started and encourage you along the way. There will be a limited amount available at the meeting, so be sure and reserve a copy. Cost is $5 per book. We sold out of this resource very quickly last year!

INVITE your friends.....those neighbors who are asking questions and thinking of pulling their kids out of the local school. It's going to be a great night! Hope to see all of you there.

April School Days....

2011-04-01T16:58:00.000-05:00

Well April is here and the end of the academic school year is in sight! Around the Campbell household, we will keep schooling through the summer though...it's too hot in Tennessee in July/August! Might as well read some great Sonlight books.

I love this time of year because I get to start dreaming about what next year will hold. What curriculum changes will we make to improve on an already great experience. I have to say that I am a Sonlight fan, and will always use that as my core History...next year Part 2 of World History. Love Rod and Staff English and Bible, so that will stay as well. Although I really know that what we are using is working, there is always the temptation that there is something better out there! So I peruse catalogs, check out homeschoolreviews.com and attend homeschool conventions like the one in Memphis. It's fun. I love curriculum and love exploring the options.

I am working on an option to hold several events in the next 2 months. Homeschooling 101 Seminar for those just thinking or just getting started. We will also have a Homeschooling Beyond 101 Seminar ...a curriculum discussion and encouragement session for those of us who have been in the trenches for a while! Keep an eye out for those dates. I should have them confirmed by April 10.

We will also hold a Used Curriculum Sale, but I'm working on a bigger venue than Winchester. I hope to have the sale the 1st or 2nd week of May. Keep checking for info!

Happy Homeschooling Everyone and Dream a little about next year!

Terry

Valentine's Day Party Success!

2011-02-09T17:47:00.000-06:00

We had a great party this morning...before the snow hit! Thanks to all who came out to Winchester for bingo, crafting and cookie decorating. We had 60 kids over a three hour period come to celebrate a little Valentine fun! I saw lots of smiles and full mailboxes as the children trooped off to wait for the snow.

Thanks to our work crew....Hannah and Heidi Yancey, McKenzie and RileyGrace Abbott, Abigail and Rebecca Campbell as well as Jen Yancey and Darlene Abbott. We couldn't have parties without great volunteers!

Enjoy the snow everyone!

Welcome 2011!!!!

2011-01-02T13:49:00.000-06:00

Well, it is January 2 so I guess we should update the blog a little. First, a look back....the fall was fun! Thanks to all of you who participated in our events. We had over 200 attend a carnival, more than 300 parents and students attend 10 different fieldtrips, History Fair, and 68 families decorated 87 Gingerbread houses at the Christmas party! These events wouldn't have been possible without the many volunteers who helped plan and execute! Thanks!

I don't want to forget to mention our Teen Group...Marilyn Day and Melanie Ponton have worked very hard this year to provide great events for our growing teen group..if you have a child ages 12 and up, email shapedirector@aol.com and I'll put you in touch with these ladies. There is NO shortage of socialization opportunities around here :)

What will 2011 hold for SHAPE? We have a busy Spring with many events in the works right now. There are several fieldtrips, including a trip to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center to hear "Peter and the Wolf", a great introduction to the Symphony for our children AND a return to the newly renovated facility after the flood of 2010. We will also go back to Nashville Children's Theater and to TPAC for several wonderful performances.

February 11th will be our Valentine's Day party..I can't wait! Don't you remember Valentine's Day when you were in school? Coming home with a box full of Valentine's from friends and classmates? Our kids don't have to miss out on the fun..we will play a game or two and make some crafts, decorate a Heart Shaped cookie and enjoy some more of that socialization that homeschool kids are lacking in :)

March will hold our First track and field day. Details to be announced but start training now! And of course we will have several mom events....another Progressive Homeschool Tour, Curriculum Discussion, and our Used Curriculum Sale.

As you can see there is much going on this Spring...can't wait to get started!

Terry

Christmas Party!

2010-11-02T10:18:00.000-05:00

I know that it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but I'm beginning to have "visions" of Gingerbread...dancing in my head. I love our annual Gingerbread Party. I do hope that you will be there. These Gingerbread houses are baked with love and care, assembled by some of the moms in our group and decorated by some of the most amazing GBH designers anywhere....your kids! Make sure that you sign up by November 10.

We will do a book swap as we have done in the past. Your child will receive a name, age, and book preference of someone else attending the party.....we have a $10 limit on books, but I hope that you can do much less than that! Go to the Half Price Book Store!

Have questions? Email shapedirector@aol.com

History Fair Today!

2010-10-27T19:56:00.000-05:00

What a great day we had today...if you weren't there, you missed out. The room was filled with families exploring Time periods of History and great Countries and Cultures. We had China, Ethiopia, Guatemala, France, Haiti, Sudan, and Thailand......amazing displays and so much to learn about this great world we live in. We also had Ancient History with Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks, Bible Times, Colonial America, Pioneers and so much more. There was even a great display on the History of Halloween. We have some very talented kids and the displays were fabulous.

We really have taught our kids something...they retain more than you imagine...be enouraged!

IF you weren't there today--play to participate in the Spring Expo...a Science fair. Can't wait for that !

Happy Homeschooling!

October.....

2010-10-09T13:03:00.000-05:00

The School Year is in full swing and I smell fall in the air, although it is expected to be 90 degrees today! Those 90 degrees will be faint memories soon!

The Carnival was a huge success with over 100 families in attendance! WOW! Thank you to all those who made this carnival a possibility! Thank you to the Booth operators! You guys were great! IT was a fun event and one we will repeat.

October is a fun month full of pumpkins and family events. I hope that you are joining us next week for a trip to the pumpkin patch at Lucky Ladd Farms. This will be a great morning! I hope that the weather cools down so it will feel like fall again.

October 27 is our HISTORY Fair at Winchester Community Center. Don't miss this event! We have families signed up to display a time period in History or a favorite country. (We have a few spots left if you are interested in exhibiting.) You DO NOT have to exhibit to attend! Come get ideas of how different time periods can be explored. See the wonderful displays and take a trip through history..or a trip around the world. The exhibit opens at 10 and runs till noon. Hope to see you there!

I hope to have a Mom's Event on the books for November...another Progressive Homeschool Tour. Date to be determined!

More soon....Happy Homeschooling!

SHAPE CARNIVAL

2010-07-13T22:17:00.001-05:00

Come to the 2010/2011 School Year Kick-off Carnival!
Wednesday, August 11
10 AM - NOON
Winchester Community Center at Evans Park

Face Painting~Balloon Animals~Snow Cones~Popcorn
We will have over 12 different booths and carnival games!

Admission: FREE with a canned good donation for the WELL (local food bank)

This will be your time to sign up for fieldtrips and get information about this year's events. Remember that you will need to write post-dated checks or bring cash to pay for the fieldtrips when you sign up. I will try to send out a preview of the fieldtrips on August 9.

Hope to see you all there!!!!

SHAPE Events 2010/2011

2010-06-29T21:51:00.000-05:00

I am finalizing plans for the new year and can't wait to share it with you. Please put the following date on your calendar:

August 11: This will be our kick off carnival. Don't miss some fun games and a chance for moms to sign up for the year's events. Remember to bring your check book!

End of the year post!

2010-06-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

What a great year we have had this year! We have had many events and I hope that your year was made better by the encouragement you have received through SHAPE. That is why we are here..to provide a support avenue for moms and dads pursuing excellence in education. Let's take a brief look back at the 2009/2010 school year.

August.....kick-off party, park days and sign ups for fieldtrips. Your access to Enchantedlearning began as well. I hope this was of benefit to some of you! I know it was a help in my home!

September/October....Read-a-thon to benefit the Spring Hill Librarry concludes with a grand total of $450. 1st annual History Fair. This was by far the best event of the year~families set up tables displaying different time periods in history. It was a wonderful day of kids sharing with kids and adults alike. What fun! PLAN to participate in 2010/2011. You won't be disappointed! There were also several fieldtrips in October.

November....Jr Naturalists, park days, fieldtrips...what more could you want?

December.....Gingerbread decorating party. This is a grand event......we had 60 gingerbread houses constructed and decorating. Definitely sugar-plums dancing in our heads!

January...February...March More fieldtrips and park days. Moms night out too!

April....Curriculum sale and 1st annual Science fair. Afternoon Pillowcase sewing class with 20 cases sewed and donated to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.

May....Fieldtrips and Park days

June....Progressive Homeschool ROOM tour. This was a fun event and one that will be repeated. It was so refreshing to see how different we all do this thing....no two homeschools are alike just as no two kids are alike.

Well....now we are working on the plans for 2010/2011...interested in participating? Sign up now! Shape memberships are being accepted now for the new school year. The membership fee will give you many benefits. We will have a members meeting in early August with sign ups for fieldtrips and events. An invitation will be sent in July once dates are confirmed. Next year will be our best yet!

Christmas Festivities!

2009-11-28T15:48:00.000-06:00

There is a great smell of gingerbread wafting through my home and I have visions of Gingerbread decoraters' converging on the Winchester Community Center on Wednesday! We have a record number of participants. I can't wait to see all of you!

For those of you not able to attend this year..you will be missed. I wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas season.

History Fair

2009-10-21T21:47:00.000-05:00

Today was the 1st Annual History Fair. I say 1st annual because this is definitely an event that we will do again!

The room was filled with displays.....all different time periods. We had Early American, Egyptian, Roman, Asian, and many other times and places represented. Some of the children were dressed in costume....very cute! There was humus to try....and you can sign your name with a quill pen. The greatest part about this history fair....listening as the children very proudly explained what they had learned...sharing about a craft, talking about the conditions a settler endured, explaining the process to mummify something. It was really encouraging to see that our kids have learned a great deal...retained it and can articulate it!

We had a great lunch and then afterwards, many of our participants for the SHAPE Read-A-Thon picked up certificates and prizes. Our kids have read a lot of books, a great deal of minutes, and many, many pages! At last count, the tally was over $600 to benefit the Spring Hill Library. We hope to see many new homeschool resources on the shelf in the weeks to come!

Thanks for participating today! It was a really great homeschooling day!

Fall Activities!

2009-10-11T14:14:00.000-05:00

What period of History are you studying right now? Want to showcase your work and help the rest of us learn more about what you are learning? Sign up for the History Fair! Have the kids display some of their work....dress up as a historical character (see if we can guess who you are!). Lunch will be provided! Wednesday, October 21 10 am - Noon. Winchester Community Center at Evans Park. Need more info? email shapedirector@aol.com

Are you reading for the Read-a-Thon? Wednesday October 21 is the Celebration day! All those who participated will receive a prize! Come to Winchester Community Center at 1PM...bring your pledge sheets and your pledges! Please email the names/ages of your children to shapedirector@aol.com no later than October 16. Please put Read-a-thon in the subject line!

2009/2010 KICK-OFF Party

2009-08-11T14:20:00.000-05:00

Can you smell sharpened pencils? Hear the crisp smell of blank notebooks...yep, it's that time of year The kids are going back to school! We are beginning our school year next week and we are all excited about the fun things that await!

SHAPE school year begins next week as well. Have you sent in your membership for this year? We have some really fun events planned....History Fair, Presentation Fair, Fundraiser to benefit the library, lapbooking workshop and so much more! Come find out about all the events and how you can be involved with SHAPE this year!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
11-2pm (we will meet from 11-12 and play in the park from 12-2).

Bring a sack lunch for a picnic in the park.

Where? Winchester Community Center at Evans Park. This is the community center we held the Curriculum sale in last year. It is behind Spring Hill Elementary School. We will be in the lower portion of the building (upstairs is the Senior Center).

Sign ups for fieldtrips for the fall will be held at this meeting. We will collect post-dated checks for the fieldtrips to guarantee your spot. All TPAC and Nashville Childrens Theatre Fieldtrips are $7 for each attendee. Members get first preference for the fieldtrips.

Another great benefit of membership this year: A group membership to Enchantedlearning.com. With your paid membership to SHAPE, you will receive a personalized log in and password to allow access to www.enchantedlearning.com. What a great value!

Hope to see you next Wednesday!

Curriculum Sale

2009-05-08T09:57:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to come shop at the Curriculum Sale on Monday!

We will have lots there...SAXON,Teaching Textbooks, lots of highschool, science kits, Usborne Books, and so much more!

OVER 20 different folks have reserved tables.

Come find your bargains!

Monday, May 11, 2009
10-1pm
Winchester Community Facility at Evans Park
Spring Hill

Directions: From Thompsons Station: Hwy 31(Main Street) through downtown Spring Hill. Go past Spring Hill Elementary on your right. Take the first right into the driveway beside the school..if you get to Kedron, you have gone too far. Wind around past the school and the baseball fields. The building will be on your right. Please park down by the playground area.

KEDRON ROAD CANCELLED May 8

2009-05-08T09:55:00.000-05:00

Kedron Road Fun time this afternoon is cancelled due to expected thunderstorms. Stay in out of the rain! :( We will keep trying on this one!