CAPSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AUGUST 2010 NEWSLETTER
KICK OFF MEETING - Welcome to another year (or your first year) of homeschooling! Our kick-off meeting will be held at Dayspring Baptist Church on Monday, August 9 at 6:00 pm. We will be meeting inside the main building (sanctuary) in the upstairs choir room. We will have greeters located in the main entrance to help you find your way. This is a mandatory meeting. Remember, this meeting is for parents only. Please do not bring your children to this meeting. It is NOT a gym night. If you must bring your child(ren), please bring a silent activity to keep them occupied. This meeting is to review the guidelines and make sure you receive the forms you need. I will try to make the meeting as brief as possible. If you are new to homeschooling, please make sure you are here. We will have experienced homeschool parents available to answer your questions. High school parents please make sure you are here to receive all forms and ask questions about homeschooling thru high school.
REMINDER: Gym Night – Monday, September 13 in the Shack (large brown building behind the main building at Dayspring) from 6:00-8:00pm. Bring a finger food and all your comments and questions. (Capstone will provide the paper goods and drinks.)
JR./SR MEETING: If you are the parent of a junior or senior, you MUST attend this meeting. I will be meeting with each of you to go over your files to make sure you are on track and have everything you need to graduate. We don’t want any surprises! Senior parents – we will also be going over graduation information. PLEASE BE HERE!
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES PROGRAM: The City of Mobile offers all types of classes. Look for their booklet in an upcoming Sunday paper. If you don’t receive one in your paper, you can go online to view what they have to offer. Their web address is: www.cityofmobile.org. Check it out! They offer a great variety of classes for all ages.
SPECIAL DEALS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS: Don’t forget that there are savings out there for homeschoolers.
Ask the following book stores about signing up for their Teacher Discount Program. Just fill out their form and present your HSLDA card and they will give you a Teacher Discount Card. BARNES & NOBLEBOOKS-A-MILLION
CHECK IT OUT! The Teacher’s Stop Discount School Supplies. They are located at 8465 Three Notch Road. Their number is 666-5008. It is a great source for “additional” items like flash cards, globes, activity books, paper, posters, science kits, etc. The best way I can describe it is that it is like going to Hudson’s except that it is all educational material. You never know what is going to be there, but you can get some bargains. Make sure you call first to find out their store hours.
FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR NEEDED: Do you like to go on field trips? Do you like to plan outings? Then we need your help. Sandy has been our Field Trip Coordinator for three years and needs a little help (she is a newlywed now!) If you are interested in helping, please let me or Sandy know!
CO-OPS, CLASSES & CLUBS. Mobile County has a number of co-ops and/or classes available to homeschoolers. I have listed some of them for you to check out. If I receive any additional classes, I will forward them to you. -
Christ United, go to: www.cumcha.com/clubs -----------------------------------------------------
Praise Christian Co-op: Thursdays, starting September 9 at Young Life facilities
Basic Digital Photography: Ida Thrasher, Thrasher Photography
Skills taught: how to use settings on your camera; when to use them; rules of composition; how good composition makes a better photograph; different types of photography and more… Supplies needed: digital camera, the manual for camera, three-ring notebook with pages to hold photos.Grade: Weekly assignments covering these settings. Complications of weekly assignments (1/3 of the grade), notebook (1/3), matted and framed photograph taken during the semester (1/3).Framed photography graded on these aspects for 10 points each:
1. Composition, 2. Impact, 3. Lighting, 4. Title, Name of photography, or Story Telling (refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination.), 5. Creativity, 6. Print Presentation, 7. Center of Interest, 8. Subject Matter (be appropriate to the story being told in the image.), 9. Color Balance, and 10. Technique (the approach used to create the image)
Writing classes: Bonita L. Harris, M.Ed
FYI – Bonita has a current Alabama teacher’s certificate with a master’s degree. She stays up-to-date with college classes and workshops. Just thought you would like to know! (Smile)These classes develop crucial age-appropriate writing skills. Literature is used in these classes, but for modeling of criteria taught, not for a literature credit. Writing for the Elementary Child (grades 4-6): 10:45 – 11:30 Basic writing skills: narrative, poetry, expository, persuasive, limited research.
Writing for the Middle School Student (grades 6-8): 9:30 - 10:30Genre taught: creative writing, poetry, expository, essay, persuasive, research
Writing for the High School Student (grades 9-12): 8:00 - 9:15 Higher-level skills taught: creative writing, poetry, expository, persuasive, essay, research writing. (This is an intense writing program which will ground your student in necessary high school skills and proper research writing and citation. (A must have class for research writing.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tapestry of Grace Co-Op 2010-2011
Parent-led and Teacher-led classes will meet on Fridays beginning August 13 at Christ Fellowship Church Gym445 Azalea Road, Mobile
9:00 – 11:00 20th Century Literature/Writing Class for grades 8-12. Class cost is $45/month and $20 for each additional student from the same family. Registration fee $20 per student. Teacher: Gwenda Peterson grew up in Fairhope, Alabama, and accepted Christ as her Savior in her early twenties. Mrs. Peterson earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with Secondary Education emphasis from Mississippi University for Women and a Master of Arts in English from Mississippi State University. She has taught English, history, and Bible to middle- and high-schoolers at Eastern Shore Christian Academy and Chi Alpha. Additionally, she has taught Freshman Composition at Mississippi State University and University of South Alabama, so she has first-hand experience with the writing needs of students entering college. Mrs. Peterson and her husband reside in Daphne, and together they have four children. They are active members of Church on the Eastern Shore.
9:00 – 10:00 Tapestry of Grace Parent led Craft/Activity hour. K-3rd grades in Lower Grammar and 4th-7th grades in Upper Grammar. There is no cost for the classes, but parents are required to participate in the planning and teaching. Check out http://www.tapestryofgrace.com/year4/ for more information about Tapestry of Grace Year 4.
10:00 – 10:30 Lower Grammar Spanish for grades K-3rd.
10:30 – 11:00 Upper Grammar Spanish for grades 4-7.
Cost for Spanish class is $25/month and $5 for each additional student from the same family. Registration fee is $10 per family.With a degree from Auburn University in secondary education with a double major in Spanish and English, Kellie also works as an elementary school Spanish teacher in Mobile where she lives with her husband of 17 years and their two children.
11:00 – 12:00 Tapestry of Grace Parent led History classes.
K-3rd grades in Lower Grammar, 4th-6th grades in Upper Grammar, and 7th-12th grades in Dialectic/Rhetoric level. There is no cost for these classes, but parents are required to participate. Tapestry of Grace is a classical homeschool curriculum for the whole family.
All grades will be learning geography, world history, and church history of the 20th century from a Biblical perspective.
Families are required to purchase Tapestry of Grace Year 4.
The Literature/Writing class and both Spanish classes are open to all homeschoolers regardless of whether the family participates in the parent-led portion of the Tapestry of Grace Co-op.
For more information or to register for a class, contact
Alicia Luttrell at 591-8716 or Joannie Neutze at 937-6943
CLASSICALLY HOMESCHOOLED CO-OP Nathan Fell, whom we are highlighting, is just one of our many outstanding teachers at Classically Homeschooled. He is a home-school alumni and graduate of the University of South Alabama with majors in history and English. Nathan was a consistent Dean's list and President's list student and was a top graduate. In addition to teaching a homeschool lit class last year, he has worked as a supplemental Instructor with the History Department at USA and worked as a tutor throughout college. Nathan aspires to attend graduate school and become a professor one day. Our new homeschool program, Classically Homeschooled, is offering teacher led classes and some parent classes for grades 1st-12th. Courses will be held on Fridays at Dauphin Way Baptist Church and registration is open until August 15th. Classes begin after Labor Day and conclude the third week of May. An emphasis will be placed on learning in a nurturing Christian environment with excellent and joyful instruction. Furthermore, our classes are small and will integrate a classical and Charlotte Mason approach to learning using great books, analytical discussion, and writing in the higher level courses and storytelling and hands-on learning in the grammar level. Some the courses offered this fall at Classically Homeschooled include: Grade Levels Course Instructor Dialectic Level (6-9): Literature and Writing Nathan Fell Spanish Language Melissa Turner Studio Art (grades 4-9) Penny Lewis Rhetoric Level (9-12): Honors Modern World Nathan fell Lit and Writing Honors British Lit Nathan Fell and Writing Spanish I Melissa Turner Honors Modern World Nathan Fell History College Math Prep Angie McBride and ACT Prep Grammar Level (1-6) Apologia Science Parent Led Studio Art (grades 4-6) Penny Lewis
If you would like additional information about our course offerings or if you would like to discuss your situation with an instructor please send a letter of inquiry to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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Mobile Museum of Art (Langan Park): They offer art classes to homeschoolers for various ages. Please go to www.mobilemuseumofart.com for a complete list of classes. (On the home page just select “education” then select “home school”.)
Cottage Hill Jr. Civitan: This is a community service based organization for grades 7-12. I will let you know when the first meeting is scheduled.
Robotics: Are you interested in science? This is a club for grades 6-12. Please go to their website for more info. www.MACHrobotics.com e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
RESOURCES: I am always asked about where to find curriculum. The best way is to go to websites and request catalogs or look at the catalogs on-line. Here are just a few websites: www.aceministries.com Also known as “Paces” They are workbooks that are done daily. I believe there are 10 or 12 workbooks per subject. Check their website for hotel meeting date. www.bjup.com Bob Jones University Press Full curriculum from K-12 www.abeka.com Abeka curriculum Full curriculum from K-12 www.aop.com Alpha Omega ProductsThey have the SOS (Switched on Schoolhouse) curriculum – all computer generated – all the schoolwork is done on the computerThey also have LifePacs. Entire course in a box.They have another division called Horizons for K-6 www.christianbook.com They are a warehouse for multiple brands of curriculum. They offer many with discounts www.apologia.com Science curriculums (Some of you were seeking Marine Biology – they have one for highschoolers) www.saxonhomeschool.com Saxon Math www.thephonicsroad.com Phonics, spelling and reading K-4th www.thelatinroad.com Learn Latin and English Grammar 5-12 www.areasonfor.com Science (1-8) reading (k-2) spelling (1-6) www.teachingtextbooks.com Math programs with DVD instructionNow that you are a member of HSLDA, they have a used curriculum market on their website. Check it out! These are just a few sources. You can find many more on the web and asking other homeschoolers.
CHECK IT OUT: Friday, August 6th is Mr. Bellingrath’s Birthday! In honor of his birthday, admission to Bellingrath Gardens will be free to all Mobile and Baldwin County residents! There will be an additional charge to tour the Bellingrath Museum Home. Monday, August 2nd:
Free Admission to the Mobile Museum of Art. Can’t make it in August? Don’t worry, the museum offers free admission on the 1st Monday of every month,
I know this is a brief newsletter and I am sure I will have more info for you in the next one, but I wanted to make sure to get this out to you since some of these co-ops will begin soon. Also, if you hear of anything happening around the area that you think other homeschoolers could benefit from, make sure to e-mail it to me and I will get the word out to our members! I look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, August 9 @ 6:00 for our kick-off meeting! See you then!
