• HSLDA New Jersey Update: Stop Calls on Homeschool Bill
• HSLDA E-lert: New Jersey--Your Vote Crucial in Preserving Homeschool Freedom
• High School Harvest Party
• 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony
• Science Fair Workshop
• Sign Up for Box Tops 4 Education Newsletter and Earn $$$ for Living Water
• Ice Harvesting Field Trip - LW MEMBERS ONLY
• Another Apple-Picking Field Trip Scheduled
• Three Spanish Classes Offered
• National Christian College Fair at King's Christian School
• Cross Country's Final Fall Schedule
• Snowflake Ski Club's Open Registration Information
• Master's Slope Masters Ski Group Registration Deadline Approaching
• REMINDER: Mom's Time Out Toy & Clothing Exchange
• Community Service Watch Dogs on the Water
• Volunteers Needed for ENOCH Exhibitor Mailing
• Civil War Day - Open Registration
• Providers' Fair for Developmental Disabilities

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
 
Your message has come through loud and clear! 
 
Lawmakers are standing up and taking note that there is powerful opposition to A. 3123, the homeschool restriction bill. We have also heard a remark that your calls were amazingly courteous.  This has helped to increase their impact.
 
It is now time to stop the phone calls.  We are entering a new phase, but the fight is definitely not over. The task force will work through individual meetings with lawmakers and their staff to continue to drive the point home.  We hope to get more commitments from lawmakers to oppose the bill. It is currently not set for a hearing, but if it is, we will let you know immediately.
 
You may hear a rumor that there will be a rally for homeschoolers in Trenton to oppose the bill.  The task force has not recommended any rally, and we do not believe it would be appropriate at this time.  If you hear a rumor of a rally, you can be certain it has nothing to do with the New Jersey homeschool task force.
 
The organizations of the New Jersey homeschool task force are firmly united for the full and final defeat of A. 3123: HSLDA, Catholic Homeschoolers of New Jersey (Kevin Kiernan), Eagle Forum of New Jersey (Carolee Adams), Education Network Of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey (Mark August), New Jersey Homeschool Association (Nan McVicker), and Unschoolers Network (Nancy Plent).
 
Thank you for standing with us for freedom!
 
Scott A. Woodruff

======================================================================
The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of:

Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, Virginia 20134
Phone: (540) 338-5600
Fax: (540) 338-2733
Email: info@hslda.org
Web: http://www.hslda.org

======================================================================
From the HSLDA E-lert Service...
======================================================================

Dear New Jersey HSLDA Members and Friends,

Election time is fast approaching. This November 4 many state and federal officials are up for re-election.

The winners of this coming election will play a big part in determining what freedoms you will keep and what freedoms you will lose.

Exercising your right to vote is crucial. The voter guide below will help you make informed decisions as you cast your vote.

Remember, statistics show approximately only 50% of eligible adults actually register to vote. In any given election only about 50% of registered voters vote (that is 25% of adults)!

That means it only takes about 13% of adults to elect any given candidate. Your vote counts!

ACTION:

To find the Family Research Council's Election Guide for New Jersey containing information on candidates in your district please go to: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=5658 .

Family Research Council is an organization dedicated to the promotion of marriage and family and the sanctity of human life in national policy.

To view FRC Action and Focus on the Family's Vote Scorecard please go to: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=5609 .

Focus on the Family's mission is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible by nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide.

FRC Action is the legislative arm of the Family Research Council.

To find additional information about local candidates in New Jersey go to Project Vote Smart at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=5610 and insert your ZIP code.

Please help spread the word about these resources for responsible citizenship! Forward this message to your family and friends in New Jersey so they can also use this information.

Thanks for caring!

Sincerely,

Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney

======================================================================
The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of:

Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, Virginia 20134
Phone: (540) 338-5600
Fax: (540) 338-2733
Email: info@hslda.org
Web: http://www.hslda.org

Who: Homeschool High Schoolers ages 14-18
Where: Tabernacle Church of Christ
Date:  Tuesday, October 28th
Time:  6:30pm - 9:00pm
 
Can you say old fashioned, knee-slapping good time?  Some of the fun things included in this night include a baking contest, musical chairs, modern square dancing (no partners; Mr. Hurst has invited his Christian friend to be our square dance instructor to make it a fun event) and, of course, what would a Harvest Party be without bobbing for apples and yummy home-made freshly baked cider donuts?  And...there will be a few fun surprises to boot! 

This is "Bring a Homeschool Friend Night" limited to 25 attendees...so sign up soon!   A crock-pot dinner will be provided.

Bring the following:

• A home-made baked yummy*.  Have fun with this (pies, cookies, candy, cakes, pumpkin treats,  anything edible, well except for edible bugs....yuck), put your name on it and bring!  Simple huh?
• $2.00 to cover cost of drinks, and other foods

* There will be two categories for the baking contest: (1) parent help and (2) no parent help.  Just indicate which category when you come.
           
Should be a hoot!!!  Attendance is limited so RSVP ASAP!  Contact Sue and Dan Hurst at hurstnj@comcast.net to let them know if you can join in (deadline is October 27th). 

Chaperones will be needed...so parents please contact the Hursts if you can assist! 

Are you graduating an 8th grade student this year?   Then you should be thinking about the ceremony!   You have worked for years and now is the time to organize a memorable event to honor this milestone in your homeschool career!   Living Water has samples of the programs that have been put together in the past and would gladly pass along the wisdom and experience of others who have run 8th grade graduations.

The graduations that Living Water has offered in the past several years (for both 8th graders and 12th graders) have always been open to other homeschoolers - not just Living Water families.   But a family with a graduate has to offer to organize it.  The 12th grade graduation is all squared away, but (at least to my knowledge) no one has stepped forward to pull together something for the 8th grade grads.

If you are interested in getting involved, please let us know who you are!   We will point you in the right direction!

Ro Laberee
labereeland@verizon.net

If you live in Burlington, Camden or Gloucester counties, the the NJ Tricounty Home Educators Science Fair is for you.  The dates are February 4th and 5th, 2009.  But it is not too early to begin planning.

On Monday October 27th, I am doing a brief presentation on the virtues of doing a science fair and climbing the ladder of science fair success!

This will begin about 12:15pm at Easton Bible Church in Hainsport.  I hope you consider coming to hear how you can participate in this worthy education investment.  Below is a brief summary of why I believe everyone should think about this.

Feel free to email me at labereeland@verizon.net with questions or Cindy Finter the director of the homeschool science fair in our area at cindyfinter@verizon.net.  To download the registration forms go to http://www.lwhe.org/?q=content/registration-forms-available-nj-home-educators-science-fair.

Rosemary Laberee

*************************************************************************
SCIENCE  FAIR  TIME???  OH, SAY IT ISN’T SO!

Now, now, don’t make yourself a wreck over it.  Science is fun.  Ask any kid.  They love to make big messes and learn stuff, right?   The bigger the mess, in fact, the more they’ll remember it.

But, look at the bright side.  Science Fair is a great opportunity to turn your home school into a unit study...at least until the projects are done.   Where else will you find the following disciplines combined into one topic?

• Creativity – Kids have got to come up with an idea in the first place.
• Decisiveness - Of the many, many topics that may interest them, they have to pick one on which they will focus.
• Research Skills - They will learn how to dig up information on their topic.
• Risk Taking -   Your children will need to take an educated guess about what’s going to happen when they test their ideas.  They’ll hypothesize.
• Record Keeping - - She will have to watch closely and make many notes about her results.
• Typing - This may be when she finally decides that it is time to learn how to type.
• Time Management - Your child will discover that doing an experiment and testing a hypothesis is fun.  She will also discover just how much time it takes to bring all of what was witnessed together into good order so someone else can make sense of it.
• Art - If putting together those backboards isn’t an art project … what is?
• Public Speaking – When your child meets with judges, he will get superb experience in relating to and conversing with grown ups that he does not know.  He will be able to practice that fine art of persuasiveness, convincing the judges of the vitality of his subject material and validity of his results.

Science is used in every little thing that we do in our lives.  It has been used as far back as history goes and it will be used until the end of time.

Science fairs help a child develop an interest in the biological, mechanical, chemical, astronomical AND the practical world.  This will be especially true if the topic they select is of true interest to them.  

Thanks to the fact that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’, our curious minds use science, and we are constantly discovering.  What could be more fun?

In addition to clipping Box Top 4 Education emblems, Living Water could earn some easy points (which translates into $$$) if all members signed up for the Box Tops for Education Newsletter.  They don't email frequently so it's not a nuisance.  Your friends and extended family members are also encouraged to join to help our fundraising efforts!  For more information on how to sign up visit our website at http://www.lwhe.org/?q=content/fundraisers.  Thanks for your help in earning money for Living Water!  For more information, email Pamela Jones at nathansmommy@comcast.net or Jeanette Saville at wayneandjeanette@comcast.net.

Place: Howell Living History Farm
Date: Friday, January 30th
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Cost: $3.60 per person ages 3 and older
Maximum: 25 including adults

Money is due by December 19th.  Make checks out to Kelly Linhart and mail them to directly to her (refer to the member directory for the mailing address).

Ice Harvesting: Work with farmers on the frozen pond, where volunteers from your group will help to score, cut and float ice. Everyone will help when it is time to pull the ice blocks up a wooden track to the icehouse. Blocks are lowered into the icehouse via a chute, and then packed in layers of sawdust. (If there is no ice on the pond, your group will work with commercial ice just as farmers did in 1900 if winters were mild.)

Ice Cream Making: Find out why neighbors once called Howell Farm “The Ice Farm”. Volunteers from your group will use ice tongs to carry ice to the circa 1900 farmhouse kitchen where they will meet the predecessor of the modern refrigerator--the icebox. You will learn how to tend to the box by emptying the drip pan and replacing the ice. Everyone will use a hand-cranked “ice cracker” to chip ice. Then, using this “home grown” ice and other products, you will make a batch of hand-cranked ice cream. Tasting is encouraged!

Winter Farmhouse Activities: Gather in the farmhouse parlor among colorful quilts, and learn what makes those quilts so warm as everyone participates in a quilting bee. Learn the origin of the quilt pattern names derived from farm life, such as sawtooth and churndash, as you hear the story of quilting. Everyone will reach into the farm scrapbag to choose their own fabric and then sew and autograph it before it is sewn into a “friendship” square for the teacher. While making this square, volunteers from your group will use a flatiron to press the seams and try their skill on a treadle sewing machine.

Winter Animal Care: Special care and equipment is needed for the horses that are used in ice cutting operations. You will learn about horses’ “winterwear” - ice shoes, safety ropes, and wooden traces. You will also learn how barns, bedding and special feeds are used to keep horses and other animals warm.

For more information email Kelly Linhart at plinhart1@yahoo.com or visit Howell Living History Farm's website at www.howellfarm.com.

Another day of apple picking is scheduled since we all enjoyed the first trip so much!

DATE: Thursday, October 30th
TIME: 1:30pm
PLACE: Strawberry Hill Farm (www.strawberryhillfarm.org)

Please email Kelly Linhart at plinhart1@yahoo.com if you are interested in participating.  The farm's website gives directions and prices.

Beginner's Spanish for Adults:  Due to illness, work commitments and illness, class has been rescheduled to start a bit later.  We're shooting for October 31st.  Class meets Friday mornings at Mount Laurel Borders.  Cost for the class is only $25 (per person per hour).  The very first class meeting will cost a mere $15 (per person) or only $10 per person if you bring someone with you!  We'll start out using hand-outs and will purchase books at some point.  (Cost for books will be reasonable and attainable at Borders.)  Let me know if you're interested.  We'd love to have you join us!
 
Spanish for Young Children:   We've set the schedule up for this class in somewhat of a unique way in order to accommodate people's schedules.  We have six children taking this class (from two families).  All the children attend class on Monday afternoons in Mount Laurel.  One family meets a second time on Wednesday afternoons at their home in Mount Holly; the other family meets a second time on Friday afternoons in Mount Laurel.  Since we have three class meetings, you're welcome to choose the two that work best for your schedule.
 
Cost for the class is $15 per child (per hour); a third sibling is free !   We're using a lot of hand-outs right now.  (We may purchase books at a reasonable cost down the road, but we have plenty of hand-outs for now.)
 
We're learning pronunciation, vocabulary, phrases for conversation and a bit of grammar.  We also have a great time playing some games and singing lots of songs (in Spanish, of course).  This is a beginner's class, and we do lots of review to allow things to sink in.  So, it's not too late if you're interested in having your children take the class.
 
Spanish II (H.S.):  Class meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and we still have room.  Inquire for more details.
 
I hope some of you can join us!  Let me know if you have any questions for me!
 
Valerie "Ana" Handleton
thepianoladie@hotmail.com

The King’s Christian School in Cherry Hill is hosting a National Christian College Fair on October 28th from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.  Representatives from over 30 Christian colleges will be present and there’s a free financial aid workshop.  For more information visit the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP) website at http://www.naccap.org/fairs.asp?mod=event&id=23.

Below is the schedule for the final five weeks of cross country running this fall.  The new starting time is 2:00pm:

Oct. 21: Freedom Park, Medford
Oct. 28: Laurel Acres, Mt. Laurel
Nov. 4: Hainesport Municipal, Hainesport
Nov. 11: Pricketts Mill, Tabernacle
Nov. 18 Smithville, Mt. Holly/Eastampton

For more information contact Andrea Gindhart at basketbusiness@yahoo.com or Kelly Linhart at plinhart1@yahoo.com.

The Snowflake Ski Club is a homeschool ski club meeting at Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos on Tuesdays beginning in January.  Contact Ana and Tim Williams at williamsville@comcast.net for information and details for the 2009 ski season.   Registrations begin October 30th through November 15th.

The great benefits of skiing Shawnee include:

• Vouchers for EVERY missed ski day
• Babysitting on the premises
• Ski all day/all night
• Lift badge system means no waiting each week for sticky tags
• Bring a Friend Days at group rates
• Pre-set rentals means no waiting in lines

It's hard to think about skiing when the temperature is still hovering in the 70's, but the registration deadline is fast approaching.  If you would like to ski with the Master's Slope Masters Ski Group this year, your registration and payment must be received by November 1st.  Please click on the links below for detailed information.  If you have any questions, email Kathi Baillie at bailliemk@yahoo.com.

Camelback Brochure

Camelback Registration Form

Camelback Quiz

Parent Release Form

Helmet Bargain

Please be reminded that the Mom's Time Out Toy & Clothing Exchange is right around the corner (Monday, October 20th)!  For details refer to the original article at http://www.lwhe.org/?q=content/moms-time-out-toy-clothing-exchange. 

DATE: Monday, October 27th
TIME: 7:30pm - 8:30pm
PLACE: Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Burlington County 4-H Office, 49 Rancocas Road, Mt. Holly (near the Main branch library on Woodlane Road in the building left of the Special Services building)

The Active Citizenship Club is hosting an informational night about the Adopt-a-Stream program in the 4-H auditorium.

The current AmeriCorp Watershed ambassador will present a youth friendly visual in a fun model form which he takes into school systems showing the effects of our water ways.

Tony Tancini, attorney and former AmeriCorp Watershed Ambassador, will present an interesting Adopt-a-Stream power point with trained our 4-H club students sharing what they have also learned from this program.

The Mayor of Westampton and some of his contacts working with environmental grants will also be joining us.  I asked him to invite Freeholder Bill Haines for more coverage into our county.

Please feel free to invite anyone, 4th grade & up, you know who may have an interest in this environmental community service project to come join in this educational experience.  Invite the Mayors of your community!

Deborah Ryder
Active Citizenship Club leader
deborahlryder@yahoo.com
609-304-5417

*** Club members: We will still have our meeting at 7:00 pm. New members welcomed!

Ladies!  Do you feel guilty about spending an evening out JUST for fellowship?  We've got the solution!  Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of NJ (ENOCH) needs to get a large mailing out to potential exhibitors for the annual homeschool convention (about 500 pieces).  We need your help!  If you'd like to spend an evening fellowshipping AND stuffing envelopes, contact Sue August at mark.august@verizon.net.  We'll meet at the Laberee's house in Medford on Wednesday, November 12th at 7:00pm.

Hi Friends,

It's time to register for Civil War Day!  Please go to the following link and download the registration and permission/release forms.

Click here and then click on the registration form.  Also there are great links for clothing ideas ,too, so don't forget to poke around her site.  If you want to order guns, caps, etc. (totally optional) you can do so through Kathy and she will bring your items to the event.

The completed forms need to be sent via snail mail to Kathy Matson at Historical Happenings as soon as possible. To avoid paying a late fee all registrations must be received by Kathy no later than 10/25/08. This will serve the Matson family and our group as she will have more time to prepare for our day's events.  Remember you only need to pay for children ages 6 and up. Adults are free.

There are actually 2 steps to registration this year.  The first step I outlined above.  The 2nd step is as follows:

You need to email me directly and give me the names of those participating (adults included).  I also will need to collect a $10 fee per family to cover the cost of renting a portable toilet and the non-refundable deposit that I have already sent to Kathy.  Your spot is not reserved until I receive your email and your $10 fee. Please send it directly to me at the address noted below or if we'll see each other you can give it to me in an envelope with your name on it so that I can keep track of everything.

Please completely read the documents attached to the permission/registration forms on the Historical happenings site as they are full of great and necessary information. Also,  there are practical and creative suggestions for uniforms/costumes. Parents are encouraged to come dressed as well but this is not required. While it takes some effort to put these outfits together you will be so glad that you did. (A visit to the thrift store usually proves to be profitable in getting costumes together!) Seeing everyone dressed is part of the fun of the day and really adds to the memory!

Please contact me if you have any questions at all. Let's start praying now for good weather as this is a rain or shine event! I'm looking forward to seeing you all on the 8th!

Warmly,
Kathi Baillie
325 Windsor Ct
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-2422
bailliemk@yahoo.com

DATE: Saturday, November 1st
TIME: 9:00am - 12:00pm
PLACE: Bancroft School, 425 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield

You and your family are invited by Regional Family Support Planning Council #7 and Bancroft Neurohealth who are sponsors of this event and supports people and families who have developmental disabilities in Camden County.  Click here for their brochure which has detailed information.