Conference Planning Meeting

ARC Helpful Links:

If you have links, newsletter notices or events for the calendar, contact me at kelsben@myexcel.com. The next newsletter will be sent by email on March1^st.

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Conference Planning Meeting

10:00am

Feb. 7th

Just a reminder about the upcoming ARC Conference planning meeting on Feb. 7th at Barb Martin's house. Anyone who would like to help, please contact Barb Martin at Mar10x6@peoplepc.com. We hope to have a great conference on April 9, 2005

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Pottery By Me Field Trip

Monday February 28th (sorry to Jason folks). We're doing a drop in
session from 10-3; this means you can come by any time during those five hours
and get the ARC discount (50% off firing fee) by mentioning you are part of the
homeschool group. Your total cost will depend on what piece(s) you choose to
paint, but many pieces are under $5.

Pottery by Me is located at 1201 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, MD in the Always
Building next to Higher Ground coffee shop.

Any items painted on the 28th will be fired and ready for take-home within one
week of that date, probably less time. You can get exact directions or more
info about Pottery By Me at http://www.potterybyme.net

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Zoom into Engineering Family Festival - 19 February 2005

The National Building Museum and the Engineers Week Foundation welcome
families, groups, and young guests to the Zoom into Engineering Family
Festival. During this fun-filled day, meet cast members of the hit
PBS television series ZOOM and discover how engineers affect everyday life.
Future engineers will participate in many hands-on activities including
solving design challenges, building bridges, creating skyscrapers in a
LEGO construction zone, meting real engineers, and much more.

Where: National Building Museum, Washington, DC (Rain or Shine)
When: Saturday, 19 February 2005, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

This program is hosted by the National Free! Program and activities are
most appropriate for children ages 6-13. Registration not
required. Scout groups, however, should call 202-272-2448 or em-mail
scout@nbm.org to register.

Download a colorful Zoom in to Engineering Family Festival postcard at:
http://www.ieeeusa.org/communications/eweek/files/Zoom-Postcard-2005.pdf

National Building Museum
401 F Street NW,
Washington, DC 2001
Directions: Red Line Metro, Judiciary Square Station
+1 202 272 2448
http://www.nbm.org

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Horseback Riding Lessons

Frankie Carper of Homestead Farms is willing to provide a group riding
lesson for homeschoolers, providing there is enough interest. Homestead
Farms is located just West of Martinsburg on Thatcher Road which is just off Tuscarora Pike (on the way to Poor House Farm Park) and has both indoor and outdoor riding arenas. This group lesson would be for 5 or 6 kids, ages 8 and up and would include 1 hour of actual riding plus ½ hour of grooming/tacking up and 1/2 hour of grooming/untacking. The cost would be $20.00 per student. Tentative day and time would be Thursdays at 2pm. If we get enough interest I will set a starting date.
You can also get experience in shows if that is an interest. I
personally give high recommendations to Frankie as an instructor, my
daughter has ridden at Homestead for the last 5 years and loves it
there. This past year at the West Virginia State Fair, both the Junior
English Grand Champion and Junior Western Grand Champion were girls from Homestead. If your interested or have any questions please email me at
ziggyandguin@earthlink.net

Guin

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Valentine Play Day

Preteens and teens are invited to the Whalley’s house on MONDAY the 14th
of Feb.

This is Valentine’s Day obviously, though this isn't the major emphasis, but will be incorporated in the activities, we are thinking, board games, video games, hanging out and time to talk, an art area is available to make cards or art to give to friends. In an effort to reduce embarrassment or discomfort, each child will have an envelope with their name on for themselves, hanging in the hallway out of full view, and will not be allowed to be messed with by others.The envelope must be taken home before opening and looking at the contents.
I thought this might be a fun way to approach this topic, donations of
snacks, drinks, or art supplies are appreciated. I was thinking of doing pasta with spaghetti sauce for lunch, or pizza can be ordered a little cash donation would suffice for this.

TIME 11am ish to 4pm ish
drop off pick up at your convenience.

If the weather is nice, outside play is an option, so dress appropriately, the fields could be muddy, I am thinking age 11 and up, but, younger siblings are welcome, if you and they are comfortable.

Video gamers are welcome to bring their games,and controllers, we have PS2, Xbox, Gamecube, and have just discovered the joys of Dance Dance Revolution.

Any questions please email Lesley at lwhall01@aol.com, I look forward this fun day,

Lesley,
Dani and Charlotte

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Potomac Home Learning Circle (PHLiC) Hagerstown Playgroup

Tuesday January 25, 2005
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
This event repeats every week, but day/time will be changing in February.
Event Location: 19110 Silver Maple Court, Hagerstown, MD
Street: 19110 Silver Maple Court
City, State, Zip: Hagerstown, MD 21742
Phone: 301-393-8874
Notes:
Exit 9 (Maugans Ave) off 81
You'll go towards Hagerstown getting off the exit
You'll see Pizza Hut & Gold's Gym on your right and CVS on your left after
about two lights

Go straight through the intersection
Go about a quarter of a mile and you'll see Martin's Furniture on the right
- I'm the immediate left after that store.

It's Corello Drive (Maple Valley Estates)
Take the second right off Corello Drive, which is Silver Maple Court (I'm
19110 - stone on the front)

Potomac Home Learning Circle - http://www.PHLiC.org <http://www.phlic.org/> =====================================================

Mom’s Creativity Group

Meetings will be held at Lesley’s home on
FEB 21st
MARCH 21st
APRIL 18th
MAY 16th
We will do a group collage while we are all arriving, work on our own collages, and do a new technique at each meeting. Bring a canvas if attending February’s meeting. We will begin at approx. 10:30am, lunch will be potluck, and each person will provide their own spiral bound book for their own creations. Need more information? Contact Lesley at lwhall01@aol.com.

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Fencing and Stage Combat

The Frederick County Performing Arts Company is going to be offering a class in fencing and stage combat. This is the stuff that the children in Jan Shole's class at FCC get gently chided for as being "hollywood." It is NOT sport fencing. But it sure sounds fun! :-)

Here's the link to FCPAP: http://www.fcpac.com/home.html

The class will be Fridays from 6:00 to 7:00 (elementary ages) and from 7:00 to 8:00 (middle/high ages). The instructor is David Dossey, who has a great deal of theater experience, including Broadway experience. The class has openings, and it's not too late to join.

In addition, FCPAP has many different sorts of performing arts classes,
including a Homeschool Day on Tuesdays from 11-12 (all ages). The Homeschool Day class includes development of a variety of theater skills, and they put on a little show or play every three months. The FCPAP also puts on big shows, which involve auditions and months of rehearsals.

Costs are by class, by child (and regardless of which class): $45/month for one class, with discounts as additional classes are added. Costs are laid out in detail at their website.

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Music Class

http://cvsmusic.org.mysecurewwwserver.com/2004_05/classesfall04.htm

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Kings Dominion

King's Dominion Home School Day will be Thursday, March 31,2005. They plan on having museums, vendors, and colleges on display in addition to all the rides, attractions, and shows normally at Kings Dominion (except pay
per attraction). The hours of operation that day will be 10:00-6:00.
The price per person is $22.00(for all). If you are interested, please email Pebs at: pebs@atlanticbb.net with your name, head count and email
address. Please put Kings Dominion as the subject.

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Fridays at the Library

The next "Fridays at the Library" for HomeSchoolers will be entitled My
Family Tree and will be held on Friday, February 11, in the Central
Library. Due to overwhelming response, there will be two classes:
kindergarten through 8th grade from 1:00-2:00pm and high schoolers from
2:00-3:00pm. (Middle school students have the option of attending either
class.)

Participants are asked to bring the name of a family member who was born
before 1930, and the full names of their parents and grandparents (don't
forget maiden names). They will learn online census research techniques
and desktop publishing to construct their family tree. Their trees will
be printed out to take home.

Programs are free, no registration is required. If you have any
questions, you can contact Marsha Fuller at mfuller@washcolibrary.org or at
301-739-3250 ext. 176

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Games in Brunswick

Beans in the Belfrey in Brunswick at 1pm Friday afternoons. Please feel free to join for board games. Bring your favorite games. They have 1 complete chess set and an extra table without pieces. If you need directions, please call Connie
at 301-834-3389.

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Carnegie Hall WV http://www.carnegiehallwv.com/, located in Lewisburg,
offers Arts in Education programming: Creative Classrooms, Teach SmART
(Kennedy Center's Partners in Education program), Carnegie Kids' College,
StarLab, Pottery Studio. Check Spotlight on Schools to sample one of their
offerings at a school near you.

"The workshops can inspire fresh ideas for teaching in, through and about
the arts."

Upcoming Teach SmART workshops:

MatheMagic! with Bradley Fields. For teachers of K-9th grade. March 17, 2005
4-6:30 pm. Tuition: $10. Registration deadline: March 3, 2005.

Create-a-Story with Ilene Evans. For teachers of all grade levels. April 6,
2005. 4-630 pm. Tuition $10. Registration deadline: March 23, 2005.

Rebekah Foster foster@carnegiehallwv.com (645-7917) encourages home
educators to contact her for more information and be placed on the mailing
list for arts in education information.

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15th Annual Homeschool Day at the Capitol
March 18, 2005

All Home Educators Welcome!

Co-sponsored by West Virginia Home Educators
and
Christian Home Educators of West Virginia

Capitol Tour
Mansion Tour
Paging Opportunity
Performance Opportunity
Scavenger Hunt
Kids' Table
Project Display Space
Attend Legislative Floor Session
Discount Admission for Avampato Discovery Center

Schedule of Events

8:45 Check-in at registration table; set up displays in 2nd floor
Rotunda area
9:30 Visit Representatives
10:00 Governor's Mansion Tour (space limited, please pre-register)
10:30 Opening Ceremony in Lower Rotunda
11:00 Attend Legislature Floor Session
12:00 Performance Opportunity (as space is available; registration
required!)
1:00 Capitol Tour (space limited; please pre-register)
1:30 Lunch
2:00 Free time
3:00 Departure

Homeschool Day at the Capitol is an excellent way to learn how the
legislature works and find out about other offices of the executive
and judicial branches of our state government. Table space will be
provided for families, individuals, and support group displays for
the public and our elected officials to view.
The performance opportunity is limited to vocalists and
instrumentalists due to restrictions enforced by Capitol employees.
Time slots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.
Questions may be directed to Kathy Heflin 304-422-7088,
kathyheflin@hotmail.com. Please call or email to reserve your
display space, tour or performance time: 1-800 736-9843 or
kathyheflin@hotmail.com.

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Art Class

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is hosting a free art class on
printmaking in connection with their exhibit of etchings by Mary Cassatt and
James McNeill Whistler. Call Linda at 301-739-5727 to register. Space is
limited.

I'm teaching. E-mail me if you have questions.

2005 homeschooler printmaking class:
Make your prints charming
Homeschoolers 10 to 16 on Friday, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (45-minute break
for lunch; bring a brown bag lunch)
Making prints is a classic way to make more than one copy of an original
piece of art. With etchings by Mary Cassatt and James McNeill Whistler as
examples, students will learn how to use blocks of linoleum and plastic,
even yarn and potatos to make multiple copies of artwork. Students will make
greeting cards, a self portrait and a poster.

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Stamp Club

Anyone interested in a stamp club? I have a long history and 'glam'
status in the hobby and related organizations, and really want to get
back to it!

Children - probably 5 and up interested in a stamp club, let's get
together! Would love to have adults too. I have pretty much everything
for startup either available to me or the resources to acquire it. I am
willing to donate my time and supplies and experience just to get back
into this awesome way to learn.

Email me at

thatcomputerchick@direcway.com

and I can start a mailing list for discussion if need
be. Also, anyone doing specific country studies I can probably assist
with a small package of postage. I'll just arrange a SASE with you.

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Used Curriculum Sale

Broadfording Christian Academy Homeschool Used Curriculum Sale
and Indoor Yard Sale

Broadfording Christian Academy homeschool families and parents invite you to come to the BCA gymnasium on Saturday, April 2 from 8:00AM-2:00PM for their Homeschool Used Curriculum Sale and Indoor Yard Sale. Lots of bargains for everyone! BCA is located at 13535 Broadfording Church Road, Hagerstown, MD.

From the Huyett exit off I-70 travel approximately 4 miles north on Route 63.
Make a left onto Broadfording Road and then take the first right onto the campus of BCA. =============================================================

Monthly Teen Movie Night.

Please join Ben Sade the first Friday of every month at his home for movie
night. This is for every teen or almost teen, 12-18, from 7 until 10:30pm
at the Sade residence in Shepherdstown WV. This has been a well attended
event with as many as fifteen children present. The teens watch all kinds of
movies and if time permits play rousing card games and weather permitting
play games outside. Please contribute a snack and or beverage. Please call
304-876-1023 or email queenesil@hotmail.com for directions to the Sade's house.
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Parent Homeschooling Support Group

On the second Thursday of every month Lise Sade hosts a parent homeschooling support group at her home in Shepherdstown WV. from 7 until 9 pm. This is an eclectic parent support group which understands that homeschooling approaches vary as much as individual families do. We talk about a range of topics including how and whether to homeschool, how to homeschool one child while another child attends school, how to homeschool multiple age range children, homeschooling special needs children, what to do if both parents don't agree to homeschool, or both parents need to work, unschooling vs. schooling at home and everything in between, sibling issues, ethics, are we parents doing enough, and how we feel if our children don't seem to be doing enough or too much, etc. Teens and almost teens are welcome to come and hang out with Ben and Skylar. Although this is a parent only support group, if younger children need to attend please notify the Sade family prior to attendance to see if we have childcare support available. Nursing babies are always welcome. Please call Lise at 304-876-1023 or email queenesil@hotmail.com for directions to her home.

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Roller Skating

Starland offers a homeschool skating time on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of each month from 1-3:30pm. The skating rink is located at 800 Park Rd in Hagerstown.

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Roller Skating

Meet at 6:30pm on the 1^st Tuesday of every month at Starland for family skating. The skating rink is located at 800 Park Rd in Hagerstown. Contact Julie at ebaith@yahoo.com for further information.

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Free Online Classes

Barnes and Noble offers free classes and reading groups. You can register by going to http://educate.barnesandnoble.com.

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Unschooling Support Group

(WV Unschooling Family Connection)

LAST Monday of each month

7:30 pm

Mountain View Diner - Charles Town (until a permanent place can be determined, probably in Martinsburg) Contact Earthmomma67@aol.com for further information.

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Poor House Farm Playgroup

Thursdays at 3pm we meet at Poor House Farm Park in Martinsburg for play/talk/fun. All are welcome.

The 2nd Thursday of each month this group meets at Williamsport park and some of the older kids participate in the book group that meets at 5:30 at the Williamsport Library.

All other Thursdays are at Poor House Farm Park. Contact

ebaith@yahoo.com for further information

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Frederick Sportsplex

The Sportplex will be reserved for the exclusive use of homeschoolers from 1pm to 4pm on the following dates

- February 9
- March 9

Contact person is Jean at kreigh@zubee.com. This is a terrific way for the kids to run around and be active during cold weather. It's also a wonderful way to connect with other homeschoolers and meet new friends. I hope to see you there!

There is a full-sized soccer field, a full-sized roller rink, a half court basketball area and snack bar. Skate rental is included in the price. There are balls of various sorts available.
- $4 per child...and no charge for adults!
- In an attempt to meet the desires of our wide age range of children, the field will be open for a "real game" from 1:00 - 1:45 All comers can join
the game until teams are full--this is not an age-based situation.
Parents, please be aware that this game is most likely going to have hard
kicking and fast running. Roller-skating, snacks, basketball,and cheering the game are available to those who aren't on the field.
1:45 - 2:30 : Field open for gentler play. Everyone can be on the field.
2:30 - 4:00 Field divided down the middle, with hard kickers and fast movers at the far end.
FYI: The SportsPlex does not provide any safety gear for skating. You can bring your own skates, including inline/rollerblades. (No skateboards, though.)

- Directions:
>From Route 15, take Rt. 26 (Walkersville Exit)
At the first light, turn right onto Routzahn Way
Turn right at the stop sign onto Market St. / Rt. 355
Turn right onto Wormans Mill Court
Turn left onto Brookfield Court
SportsPlex is on the right

- The SportsPlex telephone number is 301-662-6866

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November 4th thru February 13th at the National Building Museum.

The National Children's Museum in partnership with the National
Building Museum is having an exhibit entitled "Five Friends from
Japan: Children in Japan Today".

Activities involve: Sakiko's Bedroom where you can play dress up,
check out comics, and try creating your own comics.

Ken's tatami room: experiment with Japanese writing, try out futon
beds, and learn about architecture.

Aisa's kitchen and tofu shop: role-playing with Japanese cuisine,
learning about variety of foods, eating habits, and traditional
festivals.

Yusuke's Yard: practice aikido with an instructor, search for bugs.
Shoko's living room: listen to and create Japanese music.

Go to www.nbm.org for more information.

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Homeschool/Lecture Programs

The National Museum of Civil War Medicine Homeschool Lecture Series this fall follows monthly theme blocks that explore in-depth life during the Civil War for soldiers and their families. Lectures are held the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of every month, through June. The lectures are given by Museum staff members and are open to homeschool students of all grade levels. Topics include the following: The Legacy of Civil War Medicine (Battlefield Care, Prosthetics & Plastic Surgery); Daily Life at Home (An 1860s School Day; Polite Society) Giving Thanks During Wartime and Holiday Traditions.

For more information:

education@civilwarmed.org
www.civilwarmed.org

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