Virginia Homeschool | May 20, 2009 HEAV Update

HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Update

May 20, 2009

CONVENTION COUNTDOWN: ONLY 22 DAYS!

Above the Fold
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Prefer a text-only page? Click Here!

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FUN FACT: Just How Big Is the HEAV Convention?
The HEAV convention is one of the largest homeschool conventions in the nation. Last year, including graduation, we had more than 10,000 participants, and we're on track to have even more this year!

Pre-registration Ends THIS Friday
If you haven't registered yet, don't delay! Pre-registration ends this Friday, May 22. Pre-registration saves you money and time, plus lets you into the Used Curriculum Sale earlier. Register today!

Want to save even more? Become an HEAV member and save $15 on a full convention pass, plus support homeschooling in Virginia! Or, become a Lifetime Member and ALL your conventions will be FREE!

NEW ON THE WEB!
See the convention section further down for another featured article, a link to workshop descriptions by category/track, and more!

Online Science Classes and Camps: Anatomy, Biology, Forensics, Pre-Biology

Anatomy & Physiology - One-Day Camp - Boone, NC
- Directed / taught by veteran homeschool dad / professor
- We use human cadavers for optimal anatomy
- Fun, instructive physiology labs

Please Visit Our Site for Details.

http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com

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HUMOR TIME!
Featured Article 1: Betty Ford Called
"...there are some books you will simply never find in a homeschool vendor hall. I offer some possible titles...22 Ways to Encourage Social Workers to Come Over for Tea, NEA's Book of 'Why YOU Should Homeschool,' Keeping Your Hired Domestic Staff Motivated and Happy, Getting Expelled From Your Support Group...and Other Ways to Liven Up Meetings..."

Get ready to laugh your socks off as you make your way through this hilarious article by Carol Barnier. Be sure to also check out her convention workshops and come to the convention prepared to laugh--and be encouraged.

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Spring Clearance Mega Sale -
Save up to 80% and Get a FREE CD!
Choose from more than 20 resources--many priced at or below our cost! Orders of $25 or more of any product(s) on this page also get a FREE 25th Anniversary CD, valued at more than $200!

Get them while you can!
Prices are good only while supplies last, and we have VERY limited quantities of many items. Each week, we've been selling out of more items...don't miss out on the ones left! Most items are ones we don't plan to restock, so now's the time to buy.

Don't miss these great deals-- take a look and save 10-80% off normal prices!

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View Convention Workshops by Category/Track
Take a look at the convention workshops...now conveniently arranged by category! Convention workshops include ones on

Children/character,
Specific teaching topics (art, history, math, reading, and other hands-on aspects of homeschooling),
College and apprentice,
Parenting preschoolers,
Parenting teens,
Struggling learners,
Starting a business,
And other relevant topics!

View convention workshops by category/track!

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Featured Convention Track: Parenting Teens and Young Adults
Wondering what to do with that teenager or young adult? Unsure how to navigate transcripts, colleges, or courtship? How do you mentor your teen? Inge Cannon, Marilyn Boyer, Robert Andrews, and others will help you navigate these crucial years, offering practical ideas and insights you won't want to miss! View track details.

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Featured Article 2: Considering College
"Acceptance into the perfect college has become the cultural standard for personal and parental success...Consequently, students and parents feel increasing pressure and stress in the college selection and admissions process...But does this view of college make sense?"

In this short article, Jonathan Brush offers some questions and points that can help you as you "consider" college and seek to determine if it's right for you or your child. Read the article, and take a look at Jonathan's convention workshops!

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Bring Your Box Tops to Convention!
New this year! There will be boxes at the convention for Box Top labels.

Although tiny, Box Top labels can support homeschooling in a BIG way! Each label can earn money both for your local support group and for HEAV, helping us to continue to support families across the state and work with the legislators to defend our freedoms.

So...before you toss that next food box or can, check to see if it has a Box Top label. Then collect the labels, trim them neatly, rubber band them in sets of 50, put them in a zip lock bag along with a completed form, and bring them with you to turn in at the convention! See www.heav.org/events/boxtops for more details.

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Volunteers Needed in the Children's Program
Volunteers 13 and up are needed to help in the Children's Program at the convention as team leaders, helpers, and runners. For more information or to volunteer, go to the CCI website.

Convention Help
We still need volunteers for the convention, including hosts and hostesses for many workshops and experienced homeschoolers to help answer questions behind the HEAV Tables. If you'd be willing to help out for two or more hours, please fill out our Volunteer Checklist.

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The Magazine Is Coming!
Check your mailboxes for the magazine later this week or next week. The spring issue features helpful articles from some of our convention speakers--you won't want to miss it! If you're not signed up to receive the magazine, subscribe for FREE today online, or by contacting contact the office at office@heav.org or 804-278-9200.

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Gloucester Used Curriculum Sale Canceled
The book sale this Saturday in Gloucester has been canceled due to lack of participation. See the previous item here.

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Phone Scam Aimed at Homeschoolers
The Home School Foundation/Home School Legal Defense Association confirms that homeschoolers have reported getting suspicious calls from someone falsely claiming to be a homeschooling mother gathering information for research on behalf of the HSF/HSLDA. "She" usually says the family or homeschool group has been nominated to receive a monetary grant. To qualify for the grant, the caller says she needs to ask some questions that start with out with general queries about homeschooling and quickly lead to questions concerning the family's disciplinary techniques.

While the Home School Foundation does offer compassion grants to homeschooling families in need, neither HSLDA nor the Home School Foundation would ever call their members and question them on discipline. Also, if you have caller ID, all calls from HSLDA read "540-338-5600," and all HSF calls read "540-338-8688." This caller showed up as a restricted or blocked number. HSLDA does not block their number from your phone.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from HSLDA or HSF and the caller's number is either blocked or doesn't match either of the numbers above, please gather as much information as possible and let HSLDA know. Contact information and details are available on the HEAV Blog.

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Congratulations - Two New Phi Beta Kappas Were Homeschooled
Two Virginia homeschooled students, now Hampden-Sydney College seniors, were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in April. Membership in the prestigious organization recognizes the highest levels of academic achievement, moral character, responsible citizenship, and broad intellectual curiosity. Congratulations to Devin Christopher Drumheller and James Andrew "Andy" Surface. Andy served as an HEAV volunteer and, as webmaster, spent countless hours upgrading and developing our website. Well done, gentlemen!

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1) Homeschool Items
View All Homeschool Items
1.1 HOPE Book Swap - Manassas - May 27
1.2 Used Curriculum Sale - Burke - May 29
1.3 Spell to Write and Read Basic Seminar - Newport News - Register by June 5
1.4 Field Trip Idea: Biblical Garden - Newport News - Open Daily

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2) General Interest Items
View All General Interest Items
2.1 Scholastic Book Sales - Multiple Locations - Starting May 19
2.2 Memorial Day Moment of Remembrance - Monday, May 25, at 3 p.m.
2.3 Top Stars Contest - First Deadline Is May 29
2.4 Free: Continental Army Encampment/Symphony Concert - Gloucester - May 30
2.5 VIMS Marine Science Day - Gloucester Point - May 30
2.6 Free Outdoor Expo - York River State Park - May 30
2.7 Kayak Kids Day Camp - Newport News - Register by June 8
2.8 Collegiate Inventors Competition - Deadline Is June 16
2.9 Celine Cousteau Lecture - Richmond - June 25
2.10 Blue Ridge Chorale Summer Youth Workshop - Culpeper - Register by June 26
2.11 NASA's INSPIRE Program - Deadline Is June 30
2.12 Civil War Day Camp - New Market - Register by July 3
2.13 Eagle Forum Collegians Leadership Summit - July 9 and 10
2.14 Read and Win a Day at the Fair - Shenandoah County - Enter Now Through August 17

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3) Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
View All Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
3.1 Day by Day: Open Doors Devotional for the Persecuted Church
3.2 "Pick Your Own" Farms in Virginia
3.3 Go Outside and Play!
3.4 The Virtual Body
3.5 Michael Farris: Video and Petition on ParentalRights.org
3.6 10 Steps to Writing an Effective Letter to Congress
3.7 Dr. John Patrick - Christian Worldview and Ethics for Pre-Medical and Medical Students

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4) Parting Thought - How's That Again?
A linguistics professor was lecturing his class one day.

"In English," he said, "A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."

A loud voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."

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5) Worth Repeating
"We have swallowed all manner of poisonous certainties fed us by our parents...The results are frustration, inferiority, neurosis and inability to...make the world fit to live in...

"It has long been generally accepted that parents have perfect right to impose any points of view, any lies or fears, superstitions, prejudices, hates, or faith on their defenseless children...These things cause neuroses...

"Surely the training of children in homes and schools should be of at least as great public concern as are their vaccination...[People with] guilts, fears, inferiorities, are certain to project their hates on to others...Such reaction now becomes a dangerous threat to the whole world...Whatever the cost, we must...[put] aside the mistaken old ways of our elders...If it cannot be done gently, it may have to be done roughly or even violently."

- Dr. Brock Chisholm, M.D., psychiatrist and head of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1946. He described the "new" attitude toward old-fashioned parents in 1946 and called for an "eradication of the concept of right and wrong." Read the article with this quote here. Be sure to see item 3.5 for a 3-minute video about the continuing attack on parental rights and what you can do.

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6) Verse of the Week
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
- Proverbs 8:17 (KJV)

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7) Homeschool Laugh of the Week

Taken from the Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons (www.familymanweb.com). Reprinted with Permission.

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Submit an Item
Know of an event, contest, or resource that would be of interest to homeschoolers? Please submit it using our online form at www.heav.org/resources/update/submit-event.html.

Note: We compile information for publication at least two weeks prior to send-out date, so please submit items as early as possible (preferably one month in advance). HEAV reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted.

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Disclaimer
The Virginia Homeschool Update is produced by Kathleen Dillie (copy editor), Chris (editor), Anna Dykhoff (graphic designer), Sarah Kohrs (manager), Katherine Loop (assistant director of publications & marketing), and Anne Miller (director of publications & marketing).

HEAV does not necessarily endorse the above-mentioned resources, nor guarantee the accuracy of information found on any external resource we may mention. If you find anything wrong on our website, please let us know so we can correct it.

HEAV diligently researches each link prior to publication. However, we recommend you, the parent, fully examine websites before allowing your children to surf them without supervision.

Copyright © 2009 by the Home Educators Association of Virginia. All rights reserved. You are free to pass along all or part of this Update, but please include the following credit line when you do: "Taken from HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Update, a free newsletter for Virginia homeschoolers. You can sign up at www.heav.org." You may modify this credit line if needed, but please credit HEAV and link to the HEAV website (www.heav.org).

Home Educators Association of Virginia

e-mail: update@heav.org

phone: 804-278-9200

web: http://www.heav.org