Hello all,
Just a remind that our next classes at Cedar Run will be held on Thursday, February 9th. Here are the topics:

Ages 6+: (1-3 p.m.) The Chill of Snow & Ice: Brrr…it’s cold outside! Learn about the formation of snow, who lives under the ice, and even try to make your own snowshoes on this chilly winter adventure. We will be outside for most of this class--remember to dress for the weather!

Ages 3-5: (1-2:30 p.m.) Oh, Those Crazy Squirrels!: Squirrels, squirrels, and more squirrels. Learn about these misunderstood critters and how they aren’t as bad as we make them out to be! An adult MUST remain with the child during the class. If you have children in both groups, you are welcome to explore the refuge, use our play room, etc. will you are waiting for the older class to finish.
 
Prices remain the same at $7.00 per child. Please let me know if you have any questions or to sign-up. Remember you must e-mail or call to sign-up in advance--no walk-ins please. Thanks! Hope to see you soon!

--
Erin Kiefer, Naturalist-Camp Coordinator
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge
4 Sawmill Road
Medford, NJ 08055
(856) 983-3329 ext103
www.cedarrun.org
erin.kiefer@cedarrun.org

Hi everyone!
 
IOWA Standardized Testing is being offered to homeschoolers this spring! 
 
**This is open to any local homeschoolers who wish to participate.  Please feel free to share this notice on other non-Living Water sites.**
 
WHERE: Easton Bible Church, 2407 Fostertown Road, Hainesport, NJ
WHEN: May 15th-May 17th (Tuesday through Thursday) from 9:00am - 12:00pm

The 8th grade graduation is closing to new participants.  Below is the list of our 2012 8th grade grads.  If your student’s name is not on here but  you had planned to do the 8th grade graduation, you must take action today!  Email Loretta Ash at syncdram@verizon.net

The Garden State Homeschool High School Graduation (a LWHE event) will be held:

PLACE: Columbus Baptist Church
DATE: Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

Do you have a 12th grader?  Join us for this exciting day – you’ve earned it, Mom!  Email Ro Laberee at gardenstatehomeschoolgraduation@verizon.net for details.

The Garden State Homeschool Science Fair (an LWHE event) will be held:

PLACE: Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 550 Union Mill Road, Mt. Laurel, NJ
DATE: Saturday, February 18th
TIME: 11am to 1pm

You may come view the projects from Noon to 1 pm !!  Email Ro Laberee at gardentstatesciencefair@verizon.net for more details!

Living Water Home Educators has scheduled a meeting for "New to Homeschooling" families!

PLACE: Calvary Chapel of Marlton, 55 East Main Street, Marlton, NJ
DATE: Thursday, March 1st
TIME: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
RSVP: To Judie Renaud at jlrladybug@yahoo.com

Please use google map for directions.

Sorry, no childcare is available.

The SJ Homeschool Choir under the direction of Mrs. Renee Bussey will resume for the spring semester on Tuesday, February 7th! New members are welcome, and it is not too late to register.

Students will enjoy 15 weeks of vocal training followed by a concert on May 22nd.

TIME: Tuesday Evenings 6:00 - 8:30pm
PLACE: Wiley Church, 99 Main Street, Marlton, NJ
COST: $100 per student, $50 for siblings, not more than $200 per family

DETAILS: For further information, check out our website!  http://southjerseyhomeschoolchoir.webs.com/

Moms!  Click here for all on the details on the upcoming Mom's Retreat presented by Living Water!  There are already 55 moms registered for this all-star event!  Don't delay! You don't want to miss this special event!  Email lwheretreat@verizon.net to reserve your spot.  SPREAD THE WORD!

Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford is excited to announce that registration for our third season of UPWARD Flag Football and Cheerleading is now open!

• FLAG FOOTBALL for boys and girls in grades K-8th.
• CHEERLEADING for girls in grades K-5th.

Boys and girls learn basic skills and Christ-like character, and every child plays every week! The season runs from mid-March through the end of June. There is an end-of-season banquet on June 22nd. There is one practice per week and games are held on Saturday mornings or early afternoons.

PLACE: Burlington County Library, Pinelands Branch, 39 Allen Avenue, Medford, NJ
DATE: Friday, February 17, 2012
TIME: 1pm
RSVP: Brook Gall at rivergirl72@comcast.net

Danielle Behmke, Youth Services Librarian at the Pinelands Branch, will be showing our students how to use the library to best serve them.

The students will be broken down into 3 age appropriate groups:  K-2nd, 3rd-5th & 6th-8th

Each tour will last approximately 30 minutes.  There is a limit of 15 kids in the youngest group and 10 in each of the older two groups.

Send your RSVP email with the name of your child and what group he or she will be in.

PLACE: Easton Bible Church, 2407 Fostertown Road, Hainesport, NJ
DATE: Monday, February 13, 2012
TIME: 1:00pm-3:00pm
RSVP: Jeanette Saville at wayneandjeanette@comcast.net
 
Join us for Living Water's Annual Valentine's Party! We will be doing a craft, exchanging Valentine's Cards, playing games, and having snacks.
 
Your reply RSVP email should include:

• Family name
• Email address
• number people attending
• Name and age of children doing craft
• Name and age of children exchanging cards
• Type of snack food/drink/supplies you are bringing (see below for the food choices and supply needs)
• Whether you can assist with setup or cleanup

Food Choices:

• cupcakes
• small appetizers
• cookies
• chips
• pretzels
• cheese & pepperoni
• fruit and veg trays
• crackers
• water
• soda
• juice
• either regular plates or Valentine plates
• cups
• napkins
• forks

Hope you can all attend!

If you  have an 8th grader and plan to participate in the LWHE 8th Grade Graduation please be sure to get onto the Yahoo Loop for this event very, very soon.   Time is running out!   If you don't indicate interest by joining the loop, we won't know that you hope to participate and you might miss out.  Email Ro Laberee at labereeland@verizon.net or just join the loop by emailing LWHE8thgraders2012-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

LWHE will host Dr. Susan Wise Bauer at Come Alive church on March 3rd!  Get your calendars our, moms, and clear that day!

When: Monday, January 30th @ 6:30pm

Where: Ellen MacMichael's home, 38 Main St., Vincentown

What To Bring: If your last name begins with
A-H please bring a dessert,
I-P please bring a cold drink,
Q-Z please bring an appetizer or dinner to share.

Everyone bring along an unwanted WRAPPED gift item for our white elephant exchange (this
should be something you already own!!!)

Parking information: Pull into the driveway and head straight
back to the barn and park head on, on either side.  There is also
parking in front on the street.

RSVP: To Ellen at el@macmichael.com or 609-410-9163 by January 25th.

HELLO EVERYONE! 

It is almost time to sign up for LWHE's 2nd ANNUAL TALENT SHOW.

Last year's show was a smashing success!  If you missed it, you missed a great show.

The show is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 14th.  Now is the time to start thinking about your talent - it will be here before you know it. 

All acts must be pre-screened for time and content.  This takes place at Monday co-op during and after lunch.  The date for this (in March) will be announced in the near future.

Thank you!  We look forward to seeing your talent!

Rebecca Minnix & Angie Taylor
LWHE Talent Show Co-Chairs

You are cordially invited to participate in the Garden State Homeschool High School Graduation brought to you by LWHE, Inc., a non-profit NJ corporation.

This high school graduation will be offered annually by LWHE.

Date: June 2, 2012
Place: Columbus Baptist Church, 24260 West Main Street Columbus, NJ 08022
Cost: $60 per student (approx)

To participate please email GardenState2012SeniorGrads@verizon.net by March 1, 2012.  We hope you join the fun!

General Info:
This graduation is a turnkey event.   Help will be needed with set-up, break-down and clean-up of the church and attendance at 2 meetings is required.  That's it!  It will be an overtly Christian ceremony but open to all.  After the graduation ceremony families are welcome to come together for a meal at Mastoris. http://mastoris.com/

Next Meeting: January 19th, 7pm, at Labereeland!

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends:

Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker (District 28-Essex) has filed a bill, A1375, that would require any parent intending to homeschool a child in New Jersey to file a notice with the local public school superintendent by August 15 containing the child's name, age and residence.

Her bill would result in the filing of 44,000 pieces of needless paperwork every year one for every homeschooled child in the state. Under her bill, parents could lose the right to homeschool their child merely because they miss the deadline. If the parents tried to homeschool anyway, they could be taken to court or investigated by DYFS.

New Jersey already has a sensible legal framework for homeschooling that has worked for over 40 years. It requires parents to provide an education equivalent to what public schools provide. No changes are needed.

Action Requested
If you live in Assemblywoman Tucker's district, please call her at (973) 926-4320 and ask her to withdraw A1375. Your courteous message can be as simple as:

"Please withdraw A1375. New Jersey has a sensible legal framework for homeschooling right now. No changes are necessary."
Use this link to see if you live in Tucker's district.

Background
A task force composed of HSLDA, Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers, Catholic Homeschoolers of New Jersey, New Jersey Homeschool Association, and National Black Home Educators, and others, opposes A1375.

I was recently asked: "What's wrong with adding a requirement that homeschoolers file a simple notice each year?" I responded: "Would this improve any child's education?" The candid answer I received was "No."

Both nationally and looking at New Jersey by itself, homeschoolers score at least 30 percentile points higher on standardized tests than others. Homeschool students receive an outstanding education and are courted by many colleges.

We greatly value you and your support it is a privilege to serve you! If you or someone you know is not a member of HSLDA, will you consider taking a moment today to join or recommend us and support our work defending individual families threatened by government officials and protecting homeschooling freedom for all? Join now at www.hslda.org.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom!

Sincerely,

Scott Woodruff
HSLDA Senior Counsel

If you have an 8th grader and want to celebrate the end of their middle school years (and the beginning of those high school years!) then jump in on the LWHE 8th Grade Graduation. There are already over 30 grads!!

This promises to be a heart-warming evening. There will be the traditional rose/diploma exchange, a powerpoint presentation featuring photos of your grad, wonderful music and refreshments afterward, too!

The date: Friday night, June 8th, 2012

To jump in (better do it fast!) contact Loretta Ash at syndram@verizon.net or Ro Laberee at labereeland@verizon.net.

LWHE will run its first science fair for students K to 12 on Saturday, February 18th at Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Mark your calendar!

It would be great to have member families come to view the work that the participating students have done in the pursuit of excellence in science. You won’t be disappointed.

Much work has been done and much remains to be done to deliver a great menu of classes for our students on Mondays at Easton Bible Church.

If you participate in co-op, be on the lookout for your volunteer assignment email from Tracy Apple.

Do you remember what classes you put your kids in? Study the grid before contacting Brook Gall...she is working ‘round the clock these days to be ready for another great semester.

We are half way through another great year!