BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

REACH is changing back to meeting on Tuesdays!

Classes start August 13.

We have listened to you, our co-op families, and have heard what you said. Don't you love the flexibility of homeschooling!? We received overwhelming feedback that Tuesdays worked better than Thursdays and we are happy and blessed to say that all of our teachers and the building are able to make the switch.

Part of our goals are to build relationships, encourage and help and we figured we weren't accomplishing that mission if Thursdays was a hard day to meet. So effective this fall semester we will convene on Tuesdays and help kick start everyone's week.

The first day of class will be Tuesday, August 13.

Registration is now open.

Please submit registration forms by July 31.

Registration for the Fall Semester 2013 is open!!!  So excited about our classes this year! Some highlights are the new Cooking class, new Kindergarten Prep, and Writing class, and PE starting off with a 5th degree blackbelt to teach us various aspects of physical education!

We are happy to announce that Mr. McClellan, a fifth degree blackbelt and co-owner of ATA Martial Arts Academy, will be the PE instructor for the first 8 weeks of Fall Semester 2013.  

Not only will he incorporate a unique perspective of martial arts, his 19 years of teaching various forms of physical education will make this a challenging and informative class.

A Sneak Peak at 2013-2014 School Year

 In looking at our core group it seems that having a preschool class instead of Kindergarten class this next year will best serve the current needs. This will represent a change from the 2012-2013 year.

 Below is a sneak peak at the schedule of classes for next school year. More details will be coming but we wanted to give you some general information.

School calendar for 2013-2014:
The 2013 Fall Semester will be Thursdays, August 15 through December 5. Thanksgiving break: November 28. There are classes to choose from between the hours of 9:00am through 1:55pm.

Spring 2014 Semester will be Thursdays, January 9 through April 24.

A year-end celebration will be held, date to be determined.

Registration for the Fall Semester:

Registration will open as soon as the schedule is set and posted on its own tab, and will continue as space allows. Watch for the Fall Semester 2013 tab.

Fees:

Tuition fees are per student, per class/per semester and are non refundable after the 2nd week of the semester. There is also a minor registration fee per family each semester.

       

Fall Semester Class Schedule:

Each of the Fall classes (except Cooking and Sewing) are full year classes, continuing into Spring semester. However, you will need to register for the Spring Semester separately. 

Classes are for 1st through 6th grade unless otherwise noted.

   9:00 – 9:55am:       World Geography Through Missions, Tuition $30

                                  I am so excited about this class. We will be traveling around the World pulling from My Father's World curriculum:  Exploring Countries and Cultures. We won't just be learning geography, we will learn about the people, the food, the cultures and God's heart for people as your kids hear amazing missionary stories. They will learn about topography with our class project of a huge 3-D map. There is no text book to purchase. Each student will need a 3-ring binder with dividers and colored pencils.

 10:00 – 10:55am:     Science, Tuition $30

                                                To match up nicely with our geography class we will be doing Answers in Genesis, Properties of Ecosystems.   I will be pulling from some other sources as well, but the only text book to purchase for science is this one. Each student will need a 3-ring binder with dividers for their own personalized notebook. The text book lends itself to a choice of shorter or longer homework based on the student and the rest of your school work load. As always there will be hands on experiments! I am already looking up extra ones!

 9:00 – 11:30am:    Kindergarten Preparation, Tuition $120 (3-5 years of age)

After lunch, parents may take preschoolers to the designated playroom if they would like to stay on campus while waiting for an older sibling to finish class.

11:00 – 11:30am:    PE, Tuition $20

11:30 – 11:55am:    Lunch

                               This is an opportunity for some social time. All classrooms and nursery are closed.                       

                               You are invited to bring your lunch and eat in the gym with your friends.

12:00 – 12:55pm:   Cooking, Tuition $25 includes kitchen use and food fees. (Third graders thru 6th graders: This is an 8 week only class.  Note: Spring Semester will be Beginning Sewing

The opportunity to explore the world of food can be a lifetime adventure. Students will learn how to read and follow recipes, practice kitchen safety and read food labels for nutrition. Some of the foods cooked will coincide with new cultures the students learn about in world geography class. As new cooking terms are learned, we will be on the way to becoming junior chefs!

12:00 – 12:55pm:    Writing Class, Tuition $30

                       Emily Buller will be leading your children into story land. Their stories. She hopes to encourage both your child's love of writing and ability to do so. She is currently reviewing a couple of curriculum choices. 

For those students who want to take the cooking class, they may join in the Writing Class for the second half of the semester for a fee of $15.

1:00 – 1:55pm:    Latin, Tuition $30 (Third graders thru 6th graders, talk to the instructor if you feel a younger student would be ready)

                                       Text needed: Latina Christiana I student book, from Memoria Press

Latina Christiana was designed as a beginning course for students of all ages. If you have not started Latin before, this would be a great time to join in. 

Year End Celebration

Emily and I have so enjoyed the families of REACH and have been blessed to be a part of your educational journey. It is time to celebrate our year together!

Mark your calendars for a year end celebration to be held in the gym on Saturday, April 27! The doors will open at 5:30pm and we will start eating at 6:00pm. (Not including the taste tests as we set up!) Please bring one main dish plus one side dish (or dessert) to share. If you know anyone who would like to meet other homeschoolers, or may be interested in REACH, they are welcome to come enjoy the evening with us. Of course guests do not need to bring any food. The science class will have some items on display and would love for any grandparents or other special guests to come.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone again in the new year!!! As we discussed with the Fall Semester families, we will be meeting on Thursdays instead of Tuesdays. This gives families the first 3 days of the week at home and the end of the week for co-op days. So the first day of the Spring Semester will be Thursday, January 10 instead of Tuesday the 8th.

Parents, remember if you need to leave while a student is in class, make sure we have a current Emergency Medical Form on file for your child(ren).

What a wonderful season! I have been enjoying listening to how different families have been celebrating Jesus' birthday. There are many similar traditions as well as some very special family, and unique customs all centering on Christ. Some of the favorites I have heard about are the mystery love baskets full of various goodies left on doorsteps, family Christmas plays written and performed by all the kids, special candle lighting ceremonies with scripture and singing and gift boxes under the tree for Jesus. What a great thought. What gift can I give to Jesus?

When our son was a toddler and preschooler we took him to the Dollar Store to pick out a gift for all the extended family members that would be at the family Christmas party. Knowing that as the youngest child he was bound to receive quite a bit, I wanted to impress on him giving over receiving. I wanted him to think about each person and what he knew about them to pick out their gift; and I wanted to have him pass out his gifts before he got all of his. This became one of the funnest things about present time and a source of many treasured memories for me. It usually took over an hour for him to choose about 20 gifts because he really thought about them. Everyone enjoyed how our son expressed his knowledge or view of a person through the gifts he chose. Many of those little dollar gifts are still around years later, not obviously because of the dollar behind it, but because of a little boys thoughts. As with many things concerning children, the adults got a lesson too. How did God express his view of us, with the gift of His son?

Whatever special memories or traditions your family has,  I pray that they pull you into a greater relationship with each other and especially with our greatest CHRISTmas gift ever.
Robin

I can't believe we only have a couple of weeks left of this semester. We have had so much fun and I have thoroughly enjoyed the students and families.

Science class is one of my favorites. My husband teases me about all the weird things I pack up to take, and our son's pet population grew by a crab and some shrimp, but I love having hands on examples for demonstrations and experiments almost every week. And my husband will admit that he has enjoyed testing a few of those experiments! The kids' favorites seem to be anything using test tubes, the glow in the dark goop we made, digging for fossils, and blowing a candle out with sound waves. Hmm...I wonder what I will be packing for next semester....

I also have the privilege of helping to teach the Kindergarteners. What fun! We have quite a diverse little group. It is so fun watching their talents and skills come out. Love, love, love that spark in their eye when they figure something out!

I wind up my teaching day with Latin class. I am so proud of these kids, and it is sooo cool to hear them. One of the activities they have enjoyed is translating the Latin parts of a story written by another classmate. I am looking forward to sharing a Roman meal with them next semester, as I already know these kids respond well to food!

Thanks again, Emily for your wonderful teaching in Art and PE, and to the moms who care for the nursery and toddler kids!

Emily and I are working on information for next semester. It will be on the website soon. Current students will be able to enroll for Spring Semester the last day of this semester (Dec 11), so you won't have to wait and then mail your form in.

We will also be posting some information for future year classes.

See you on Tuesday! I've got to go start packing my science kit....
Robin