October 12, 2012

Mom's Time Notes - October 12, 2012

General Announcements

·         Who to contact when you are going to be absent:

o   For nursery duty, please contact Alenosh C.

o   For coordinators, teachers,class assistants, please contact Susan O.

o   When you know of your absence in advance, please find a replacement and let Alenosh or Susan know.

o   If it is after 8:30 on a Thursday night, please e-mail them. If something comes up Friday morning, please e-mail Alenosh by 7:45 or call Susan’s cell.

o   Unless it is a last minute emergency, please decide by 6:00 p.m.on Thursday night if you are going to need to look for a sub for your position or not, so as to avoid late night phone calls and emails. 

·         There are children in PSP who have peanut allergies. Please do not have your children, including nursery children, bring any peanut products to PSP.

·         When dropping off your nursery children for PSP, please provide them with a change of clothes, diapers, water, and a snack. Make sure they are fed prior to PSP. They will be able to take finger foods for a snack time at the nursery, but please do not pack any peanut or milk products for the nursery. Also, make sure that your older nursery children know that their lunches are not for the nursery.

·         When you have the 8:30 nursery shift, make sure you leave home early, so that you can have the nursery ready for drop off.

·         Next week, we will be having another craft time with Lisa. Any moms who are in the moms’ room when Lisa is setting up please assist Lisa with the set-up and clean up.  You won’t want to miss it!

·         You can still order the all PSP picture for $10 on picture make-up day.

·         The Legoland field trip was cancelled. The new date will be either November 8, or 12th. New tickets should arrive in the next couple of weeks.  

·         There are still some Grace School sweatshirts available. You can pay Julie S. if you would like to purchase one.

Speaker: Polonia H. —Educating with Excellence

Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines education as:

“The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.”

We begin educating as soon as we bring our baby home from the hospital.  Homeschooling is a ministry that God put in our hearts. 

Noah Webster’s dictionary defines excellence as, “The quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue.”

Whatever you do around your home, do with excellence. Excellence is something attainable. It is not perfection. Excellence is an attitude, a direction.

1.       We pursue excellence because the Lord commands it.  God has loaned us these children. They are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord. Our children belong to the Lord, and we only have them for a little while. It is an immense responsibility. Always remember, you are training a man or a woman. The responsibility is immense but not impossible. We have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. Some people think that education is math, reading, and writing. This is not true; we teach and train our children in every area. Education includes growing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. The work the Lord has given us should be done with excellence and joy. Biblical excellence is doing your best with what God has given you. Whatever amount of work God has given you, you can handle it. The parable of the talents is a tragedy of wasted opportunity. All who are faithful will be fruitful to some degree. Take advantage of the time you have. Impact their lives for the kingdom. Our commitment is to the Lord and not our children. Our commitment is to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 8:7).

2.       We pursue excellence because the nature of the assignment requires it. We are training a man or woman for the future. To educate with excellence means you do not grow weary. It requires your devotion, requires effort, requires money and requires consistency. Study your children and see how they function. Sit down and plan your day. Be intentional and purposeful. Be persistent until the task is done. Educating with excellence requires a heart totally devoted to the Lord. Do what you do for the Lord; otherwise, you are wasting your time. Your children will catch more from what you do than what you say.  The reward in the parable of the talents is based upon faithfulness not on results.

3.       We pursue excellence because the daily task requires it. The day in and day out can be taxing. It requires us to give our children a strong foundation. We need to teach them the basics: memorizing math facts, diagramming sentences, reading well, and writing well. Be a detective of your children. Know what they like. The early years are the foundation for all future learning. If you are homeschooling, do it with all your might. Teach them diligently; it requires maximum effort. Your labor is not in vain.

Speaker's Notes: Polonia Herrera - Educating with Excellence - October 12, 2012


Speaker: Polonia H.—Educating with Excellence
October 12, 2012

Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines education as:

“The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.”

We begin educating as soon as we bring our baby home from the hospital.  Homeschooling is a ministry that God put in our hearts. 

Noah Webster’s dictionary defines excellence as, “The quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue.”

Whatever you do around your home, do with excellence. Excellence is something attainable. It is not perfection. Excellence is an attitude, a direction.

1.       We pursue excellence because the Lord commands it.  God has loaned us these children. They are a blessing and a heritage from the Lord. Our children belong to the Lord, and we only have them for a little while. It is an immense responsibility. Always remember, you are training a man or a woman. The responsibility is immense but not impossible. We have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. Some people think that education is math, reading, and writing. This is not true; we teach and train our children in every area. Education includes growing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. The work the Lord has given us should be done with excellence and joy. Biblical excellence is doing your best with what God has given you. Whatever amount of work God has given you, you can handle it. The parable of the talents is a tragedy of wasted opportunity. All who are faithful will be fruitful to some degree. Take advantage of the time you have. Impact their lives for the kingdom. Our commitment is to the Lord and not our children. Our commitment is to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 8:7).

2.       We pursue excellence because the nature of the assignment requires it. We are training a man or woman for the future. To educate with excellence means you do not grow weary. It requires your devotion, requires effort, requires money and requires consistency. Study your children and see how they function. Sit down and plan your day. Be intentional and purposeful. Be persistent until the task is done. Educating with excellence requires a heart totally devoted to the Lord. Do what you do for the Lord; otherwise, you are wasting your time. Your children will catch more from what you do than what you say.  The reward in the parable of the talents is based upon faithfulness not on results.

3.       We pursue excellence because the daily task requires it. The day in and day out can be taxing. It requires us to give our children a strong foundation. We need to teach them the basics: memorizing math facts, diagramming sentences, reading well, and writing well. Be a detective of your children. Know what they like. The early years are the foundation for all future learning. If you are homeschooling, do it with all your might. Teach them diligently; it requires maximum effort. Your labor is not in vain.

October 5, 2012

Moms' Time Notes - October 5, 2012


General Announcements

DO YOU WANT A BABY HAMSTER?  LET CHRISTINE KNOW ASAP IF YOU DO!  PLEASEEEE J

·         School pictures were in your mailboxes this week (October 5,)

o   If you would like to order more pictures, they are still available to order. The large group, all PSP picture is still available for $10.

o   If you would like to order an ID, you may still do so  if you bring $5 on Oct. 26.

o   Picture retakes and make-ups will be on October 26.

·         Next Friday (10/12), we will be meeting in the basement instead of our normal moms’ time room.

o   There will be a speaker, Polonia Herrera, during moms’ time on educating with excellence.

·         There will be no Grace Grill next week. Be sure to pack a lunch.

·         Dad’s day (this Saturday, October 13, park day) sign-ups are in the moms’ time room.

                If he didn’t sign up, he still can just show up.

Bring either SNACKS or DRINKS (in an ice chest in cans, individual bottles or boxes:  NO 2 LITER BOTTLES)

·         Women’s Conference (this Saturday) You may pay $15 at the door to register if you don’t already have a ticket.

o    A group of women from PSP will be meeting at 8:00 AM that morning near the welcome center

·         For the writing classes, please make sure you are working with your students and helping them throughout the week. They are graded on the check-list, so make sure they are following directions. Make sure you are sitting with them and helping them. Have them go over the check list with you.  Check with Megan B. if you do not know how your child is doing in writing.

·         Also, remind your students that they need to be writing down homework assignments and that they know when they are having a test. Do not leave homework and studying until the night before PSP.

Announcements for American Heritage Day (All dressing up is optional, but encouraged.  Do not spend a lot of money on a costume.  Borrow something or go to a thrift shop!) 

·         Kim D. (50 States Class)

o   Each student will be choosing a state and researching a historical figure from that state. They will be writing some basic information about the historical figure on a sheet of paper and should include a picture of the historical figure on the sheet.

§  Include information like when the person was born, when the person died, and how the person was important to the history of that state.

§  This sheet will be their museum plaque for American Heritage Day. The students should dress in character and will hold up their plaque for this part of American Heritage Day.

§  Bring the plaque with you on that day. It does not need to be handed in early.

·         Konni T. (Business Class)

o   The students are completing reports on famous entrepreneurs and everyday entrepreneurs. 

§  The famous entrepreneurs will be highlighted for American Heritage Day. Students can dress in character. 

§  They will be serving food related to the entrepreneur.  

§  We will be going up to the business room.

§  The library class will also have art work on display that ties into two books they have been reading.  Make sure to walk through the library.

·         Ross H. (Music Class)

o   The students will be singing two songs, “God Bless America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” They will be singing in the chapel. You can have your students practice singing these songs at home. They can dress in red, white and blue for this part of American Heritage Day.

·         Brian R. (Government Class)

o   The students will be researching a president and making a poster about that president.

§  They may dress as the president or the first lady and will stand by their poster.

§  Students will answer questions about their president and will be in character.

·         Char M. (CA History)

o   The students will be displaying some of the maps, projects, and maybe some of the book reports they have completed.

o   They will also be serving some California inspired food.

o   Students can dress in red, white, and blue for this part of the day.

o   Any 3rd-4th grade students not participating in American Heritage Day may be able to help out with the food in CA History.

·         Joy C. (Cooking)

o   The students will be signing up for a food to bring on American Heritage Day.  Joy will be sending out an e-mail with more details.

·         All of the younger students are involved in some way. If you have an older student who is not in any of the classes that are participating in American Heritage Day, they will be able to help out in some way. If your student would like to research a president, he can. Talk to Brian R. for details. If you would like your student to help in some other way, talk to Brian or Christine R.

·         On American Heritage Day, there will be no lunch or hospitality table. 

·         The day will be a museum style and set up will be in different rooms.

·         The day will start in the chapel at 9:00.  It will most likely end around 12:30. Please feel free to invite dads and grandparents to this event.

September 28, 2012

Moms’ Time Notes - September 28, 2012


Announcements: 
·         Susan R. came to moms’ time to have everyone fill out a page for the homeschool heritage book.

o    If you did not get a form, Christine R. will have extra forms for you to fill out.

o    Please put them in Christine R’s mailbox, when they are complete, within the next 2 weeks.

o   If you did not bring a family photo to moms’ time for Susan, please e-mail one to her.

·         There will be a nursery substitute sign-up sheet, so that we can give some of the moms in the nursery a break.  If you are not overwhelmed and may be able to help in this way, please consider signing up.

·         Our Spanish teacher is in need of someone musically inclined (piano or guitar) to help out within the next few weeks by videoing five songs for the Spanish class.

·         On October 13, for the Ladies’ Fall Event, PSP moms will be meeting outside at the welcome center. You can sign-up in moms’ time to go with our group. However, you still need to pay and register on-line or at church (Grace Walk).

·         American Heritage Day will be the Friday before Thanksgiving break.

o   Next Friday, October 5, we will be discussing.

o   The government class students will be dressing up like different presidents. 

o   Business class students will be researching famous entrepreneurs.

o   The 5o States students will be choosing someone famous from one state.

o   The day will be set up like a museum. There will be no classes.

o   Everyone will be leaving at lunch time.

o    If you have any thoughts/ideas regarding Heritage Day, you can e-mail them to Christine Rush.

·         When the doors are shut during moms’ time, you can still enter.

o   To minimize distractions, come around to the side.  Don’t use the large doors in front.

o   Remember, even if it is prayer time, you can still come in.  Moms’ time is for your benefit so you can always enter. Even if you have a younger child with you, you can come in (unless there is a speaker, in which case you’d need to leave if your child started making noise).

Table Time

·         We had our first table time. We discussed chapter one of Choosing Gratitude. Before our discussion, Julie S. shared some thoughts on chapter one.

1)      Gratitude is a significant attribute. Having a thankful heart is an internal attitude. Thanklessness is often the characteristic of an unbeliever.

2)      Gratitude is a choice. It is hard work. We must strive to please God. Worship is also hard work and is Christ-focused. Whining is self-focused. Whining is not attractive to anyone. You cannot encourage each other if you are complaining. Thankfulness is contentment in God’s plan.  Complaining is our emotional rejection of God’s plan.

3)      Having a thankful heart is not dependent on our circumstances. It is something that we need to cultivate. Everything we have is a gift from the Lord.

·         Do not forget to work on Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall praise your works to another, And shall declare your mighty acts.”