Volume 3 - Edition 6 - March 2007
Re-Enrollments Now Open!!!
by Ted Gerk
That's right, HCOS families can now re-enroll for the 2007/08 school year!!
What are the benefits of re-enrolling early?
Once proper documentation is received in our office, the new Purchase Order Number (PO) will be issued. HCOS families have the opportunity to start their curriculum purchases for the upcoming school year at our annual convention in Kelowna, April 20 and 21st. 1/2 of the curriculum budget is available before November 1st. You can beat the rush, plus get organized for the new school year!! Last year, many of our families took advantage of this great opportunity...so we look forward to hearing from you!!
We had a number of our teachers go through training in Structures in Intellect testing this fall. I was intrigued by the idea of the tests. They test for ability in many different areas; the test is much more broad than an IQ test. SOI looks at things like visual tracking, auditory processing, memory and comprehension. The tests pinpoint specific areas that need to be developed and let you know how those areas may be affecting the student’s work. The biggest advantage with SOI is that it doesn’t just give you the test results and then leave you to figure out how to develop a program to address learning needs. SOI provides booklets with specific exercises in them to address each developmental process that the tests pinpoint. So, if the child had trouble with short term memory, that child would complete the memory modules that would strengthen his memory. SOI also includes in the test results a list of games, activities, and exercises that the child can do for fun and for further development. I made up a list for my daughter to do during quiet time from the SOI suggestions and now she looks forward to quiet time each day.
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I am slowly going crazy…123456..SWITCH!! Crazy going slowly am I..654321 SWITCH!
by Aneta Coulter
Ever feel like that could be your homeschool theme song? Well, you’ve probably heard the definition of insanity…doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Let’s relate this to curriculum choices or homeschooling approaches/styles. Perhaps it really is time for a change.
So, what keeps us repeating actions/decisions over and over, knowing they’re not working? We wouldn’t be doing something over and over if we weren’t getting ‘rewarded’ somehow. After all, no one you know would, in her right mind, want to drive herself crazy, right? Unless there was a payoff. Mmmmmm…so, what’s the payoff?
Perhaps it’s comfort. The curriculum or style of homeschooling you know is comfortable to you. You’ve used it for so long, it must be right for you. It doesn’t scare you, it’s like an old sweater that’s been yours forever…except that it no longer keeps you warm because it’s threadbare, and besides, you’ve outgrown it (or it’s shrunk)..it really doesn’t fit anymore.
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Success vs. Obedience or is Obedience Success?
by Chris McGrath
After my first years as an administrator in school, I didn’t find it difficult to look back over the past year to wonder how successful I’ve been. This year, being my 16th year teaching year, has also helped to contribute to this inward and external reflection. As I ponder the previous years, I’m reminded of how various authorities, worldly or Christian, have brought to my attention my ‘accomplishments,’ or more often ‘failures’ and yet as I measure ‘these suggestions’, I usually find myself looking at how do my colleagues, parents, students, family view what I’ve done. Depending on the moment of my reflection, I can end up depressed or excited. What have I failed to do? I’ve forgotten that success is not measured by any standards the world, myself, or the school provides but the standard I must repeatedly remind myself of is “have I been faithful and obedient to what the LORD has asked of me”?
We, as a school, in a larger context, must ask ourselves the same thing. We have, by all the world’s standards, ‘arrived’ in that we have a very large student body compared to our government school counterparts, we have some of the best written online course, we by-and-large do well in province wide testing and so on and what is astonishing is that we have only been in operation four years! Then to a larger greater degree, we are faithful to the vision and mission- something to be proud of - right or….
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PO's and Internet Reimbursements
by Ted Gerk
With the changes to government policy last May, all Distant Learning (DL) schools still have one option open to them to provide a form of reimbursement to families enrolled in their institution.
Government was specific that DL schools could indeed provide a reimbursement for partial internet costs only.
To that end, HCOS has designed a form that any family wishing this reimbursement must fill out and return to us. Attached with the form must be at least one copy of an internet bill, made out to the family, dated between September 2006 and June 2007. The amount we are providng will be up to $300 PER FAMILY, based on what is left in the curriculum budget for that family.
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ANNOUNCING CHEC 2007!!!
Whether you’re just thinking about home schooling, or are already fully entrenched, this weekend will provide you with the information, inspiration and encouragement you need. From keynote speakers who understand the issues and challenges facing today’s home schooling family, to workshops assisting you with the nuts and bolts of home schooling mechanics, to a vast supply of the latest and greatest curricula and resources available, we’ve got what you’re looking for.
Online registration form is OPEN!!!!
1491 Verses have been memorized by the HCOS Community!! Bravo – Verses that 6 months ago were script in the Bible are now in emblazoned on individual’s minds! Keep it up! There may be more that have been conquered by our students and parents. If you haven’t reported your progress to your teacher, please do, so that your achievements also recorded on the ‘Philippians Challenge Master List’!
I am sure that each one who has memorized would be able to claim it has enriched their lives, I know it has mine. Gwen Koop, a teacher with HCOS wrote of her memorizing experience:
Learning Phil. has been an absolutely wonderful experience this year. I almost feel like I know Paul and I appreciate his mentorship. There have been verses that I have considered Paul as being rather conceited, but as I meditate on the surrounding verses, they fall into place and I see a man who delights in his great and mighty God. He doesn’t have it all together, but he is striving to do so and is encouraging us to grow in our walk, our faith and in our relationship with Christ. I thank God for Paul’s testimony and encouragement to believers, whatever the century! There are many times that I have used the words of Paul in my Sunday School class, in my counseling office and just in passing conversation. It seems to consume much of my thoughts. I do believe that is not so bad.
One memorization tip that has been passed on to me is to draw symbols to represent key ideas to aid in memorization. As you look at the symbol it triggers the concept it represents. Use actions, say some verses in a rhythm – even bounce a ball and say the verse by - keeping - in time - with the - bounce!
When a chunk of verses are memorized it is valuable to write or type the verses out – you are then able to discover little errors you are making, and can ‘fine-tune’ your recitation.
Committing Scripture to memory is so important! Quoting from Bold Believer’s magazine:
‘Romanian Christians are thankful for their freedom to honor God’s Word. About 10 years after Communist rule ended in their country, more than 4500 Romanian youth together wrote down the entire Bible in less than 30 minutes. Each had memorized a different part of the Bible. They wrote their parts on a scroll that was three-fourths of a mile long. The youth held the event in a public park to show how much the Bible meant to them.’ (Source: Religion Today)
Amazing! Wherever you and your children are in your memorization pursuits – keep on going! Some may not reach their original goals, but you will end up knowing more than you did this time last year and the process is so worthwhile! Keep on (or get back on) track!
Remember you will receive a tax deductible receipt from HCOS for donating $ to the Phil Challenge for prizes! (And the school will match it up to $500!) God bless!
Join the 
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