May 17, 2013

Moms' Time Notes - May 17, 2013


Kristen H.
·       If you are a current member of HSLDA, make sure you filled out the form which places you in the new group.
·       If you are not currently a member of Home School Legal Defense Association, please note that enrollment is a requirement for PSP, BUT do NOT join HSLDA until Kristen has the new group code number. The group number will save you $20 on your enrollment.
·       Everyone should have filled out a records form during moms’ time.
o   There were separate forms for families returning and families leaving PSP.
o   Those not returning are filling out a request so that they can have their students' cumulative file.
Classes for next year (teacher sharing)
·       Teachers for next year’s classes shared information about curriculum, supply fees, homework.
·       See the other attached document regarding next year’s tentative classes.  This document includes text books, supply fees, and teachers.
·       Brian R. discussed the 7-8th grade world view class.
o   This class will have about an hour of homework per week.
o   The homework will involve reading the texts and answering discussion questions.
o   The main text Thinking Like a Christian will need to be purchased before the start of school.  Make sure you get the edition that includes the student journal.
o   There is a reading book that goes with this text that parents may want to purchase so they can read it over.
·       Brian R. also discussed the afternoon game strategies class.
o   This class will be a class that uses games to teach thinking logically, critically and strategically.
o   This class will be open to 7th grade and above. It will be geared toward the older students, but some kids in 4-6th grades may be able to take it, as room permits.
o   There will be no homework.
·       Karitza G. discussed the 50 states class
o   It will be very similar to this year’s class.
o   There will be some more crafts to help the younger students learn the geography.
·       Karitza also discussed photography.
o   The students will be working on taking pictures, how to store pictures, how to use the pictures they take, and digital editing.
o   They will be putting together a portfolio of their work.
·       Lisa A. discussed the 3-D art class.
o   This class will be one semester.
o   There will be no homework.
o   It will be a fun time for students to feel inspired and creative, using a wide variety of mediums.
·       Angela d. discussed the afternoon Apologia class.
o   This class will be open to students in grades 2-6.
o   The homework will involve reading the chapters and completing the notebook pages that correspond.
o   Homework will be 1-1 ½ hours per week.
·       Angela d. also discussed the missions/missionary class.
o   This class will involve reading missionary biographies.
o   It will focus on the history of missions.
o   Homework will be about one hour per week.
·       Susan O. discussed the IEW writing class, which she will be teaching with Kristen Harper
o   It is for grades 4-6.
o   They will be using the writing based on ancient civilizations: Sumer, Ancient Egypt, Babylon, Greece and Rome.
o   Homework will take up to four hours a week. Assignments will need to be typed.
o   Moms will need to be involved and helping with the writing throughout the week.
·       Sarah D. discussed the pre-writing class for 2-3 grades.
o   This class will start with basic concepts like parts of speech, strong verbs, sentence combining, and basic dress-up techniques.
o   It will move into basic key-word outlining and writing with basic dress-up techniques.
o   Homework will be about 1-1 ½ hours per week.
·       Sarah D. also discussed the 7-8 grade writing class.
o   It will use IEW’s U.S. History, Volume 2.  The history includes Civil War to the present.
o   Homework will be at least 3 hours per week.
o   Parents will need to be involved helping their children, especially if a student has never taken an IEW class.
·       Armine D. discussed the Latin roots class.
o   This class will cover both Greek and Latin roots.
o   Homework will be 1-1 ½ hours per week.
·       Cinnamon C. discussed the afternoon sibling class for ages four and up. Moms will be signing up to teach this class for a month at a time.

Other Announcements—Susan O.
·       There should have been a flyer regarding advancement night in your mailbox outlining all the details. It is attached.  Please see for your service assignment for 5/28.
·       The end of the year celebration is on Saturday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Everyone should have received an e-vite. If you have not RSVP’d, please do so.  Remember to sign up for food when you RSVP. 
Char M.
·       Next Friday, is the last day to fill out cards for the graduates. Take a look to see if anyone is short on cards.
Other Announcements
·       There are still a few spots to sell curriculum for the Used Curriculum Sale.
·       Christine could use one more worker for the sale.
·       Christine could also use  dads who are available to help with the set up on Friday.
·       Megan Brown will not be here next week (5/24).
o   The 7-8th grade students can join the PE class.
o   The 5-6th grade students will be having a pizza party with the government class.
o   The 3-4th grade class will be watching a video in the room adjacent to the mom’s room.
·       Rene W. is putting together a power point for advancement night. If you are a graduate family and would like to order a copy of the power point, you can do so for $4. Payment due to Rene by 5/24.
·       Teachers having parties next week, please make sure to thoroughly clean up. If possible, have your party at the outdoor tables.
Choosing Gratitude—Armine
Even having studied this book all year, we still need to remind ourselves to have gratitude. It is something we have to keep working at. It is an exercise; it is a discipline.
The book states, “The pathway to personal fulfillment requires a change in perspective.”
Chapter nine gave several recommendations for “going gratitudinal.”
1)     Surrender your rights to God.
When we go through a trial, we can see it as blessing and a lesson. This involves surrendering our lives to God and seeing everything we have as His. Our foundation is that everything we have is all God’s anyway.
When we are tempted to grumble, we can ask ourselves, “What do I already have?” We can also ask, “What do I deserve?”
1)      Commit to a set season of gratitude.
This involves taking note of our blessings.
2)     Take stock of your gratitude accounts. Write thank you notes.
We should be physically writing out notes to people we are thankful for. We should be expressing our thanks to godly examples in our lives.
3)     Finally, we should exercise being grateful as a corporate body. “If your family, group, or church were to develop a corporate sense of gratitude, how many petty squabbles would disappear? How many people, who at odds with each other, would find a reason to put an end to their selfishness and strife? How many ministries would be revived into true usefulness, simply be being populated with grace-filled men and women growing ever more grateful for the privilege of serving Him-together?” (DeMoss 155).
Have gratitude become your default setting.

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