KiDS Body Shop and
ESTHERS NEWSLETTER FOR SEPTEMBER 2002 SCHOOLYEAR
 
"It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him!." - John Steinbeck
 
 
ESTHERS Calendar
  1. WHEN: 
    1. Our regular meetings will be held the first Thursday of each month
    2. at 7:30 p.m. : 
  2. WHERE:
    1. at Northwest bible Fellowship,
    2. 96th & Grand Ave.
DATES OF MEETINGS FOR 2002/2003 SCHOOLYEAR-
  • EACH MEETING IS ON THU. EVENING
  • Sept. 5,
  • Oct. 3,
  • Nov. 7, Dec. 5,
  • Jan. 2,
  • Feb. 6,
  • Mar. 6,
  • Apr. 3,
  • May 1. 
 
We will also be meeting informally for discussion and fellowship at KiDS bodyshop
the third Friday of each month.
 
 
I'm getting together info for our October newsletter.  Please contact me with any info you have to share.   The best way to contact me is by email.  If you'd place on the subject line what you are sending-like items to sell; funny story; great lesson; great website...that would be very helpful.  This newsletter is put together with input from ESTHERS & KiDS families.  Your insights are invaluable to the rest of us, because you are the moms on the home front making things happen! 
  • new babies
  • looking for items to buy & sell-please keep your requests short & to the point!
  • other opportunities that would be of interest to home schoolers
  • prayer requests
  • good web sites
  • good lesson ideas
  • good family activities
  • something funny that happened
  • questions & specific challenges you're facing with schooling
  • good advice
  • memorable summer activities
  • goals for the next year
  • you can remain anonymous if you'd like!
QUESTION OF THE MONTH:  We all home school in different ways.  There are quite a few families that use both the school systems and home school to educate their children.  What do you advise a family who's thinking of putting one of their school age children into public school and keeping one out and home schooling them? -please send your answers...
 
 
HOMESCHOOL LIBRARY
Our grand opening was a big success and many thanks to all who participated!
 
The homeschool library is back in business in its new location at Omaha Christian Academy.  The library is open from noon to 4:30 the 2nd Thursday of each month. 
 
Please follow these guidelines when visiting the library:
  •  Park in the south lot, as far southeast as you can.
  •  Don't drive through parking lot areas marked by cones
  • Enter through the door on south wall with Homeschool Library sign.
  • Avoid coming and going from 3:00-3:30
This month, on September 12, the library will have various items for sale including tables and curriculum.  There will also be some free items.  Come "check it out"!
 
Contact Tina Lassek, 291-4939, with questions.    Thanks, Tina, for all you've done to get the library up and going again!
 
 
KALEIDOSCOPE
We'll be starting a new educational co-op this fall, meeting once a month and covering a wide variety of topics and interests.  Each family involved will be responsible for one class, and can choose the subject matter for that class.  It could be anything from Scrapbooking to Physics Experiments, or Spelling Bee to Sewing.  The ages and size of the group will depend on those who sign up.  If enough people sign up, we may divide Kaleidoscope into 2 groups, separated by age.  It's all up to you.  If you are interested, sign up with Pat Graves by Sept. 23, and you will be contacted about a planning meeting.
 
 
FIELD TRIPS
ESTHERS depends completely on its members to plan and execute field trips.  We like to offer at least one a month. If you have an idea for a field trip, talk to Pat about scheduling it.  If you don't have an idea, but would be willing to plan one, talk to Pat about possibilities.
 
 
MEMBERSHIP
Sandy Hawes has a membership form for you to fill out if you want to join ESTHERS.  The dues for the year are $5, payable to ESTHERS.
 
 
 
Grandparents day is Sunday September 8th.  Check out www.igrandparents.com  for things to do.  They have some neat bookmarks to print and then let your children decorate and put a picture on.
submitted by Sandy Hawes
 
Here are some home school rules for moms
from a Sonlight (SL) forum posting
-submitted by Kathy Kernodle...

1. No yelling

2. No crying

3. No calling the ps to find out where you are on the school bus route.

4. No SL forums during school time.

5. No hiding in the next room eating chocolate because your kids can't
remember ANYTHING you have ever taught them.

If you break these rules send yourself to your room immediately for a time
out!

How many three letter words
can your child make from the following?-
 "oh, yes, it can" 
 
The answer is below.  We enjoy these little brain stretchers. This one is from this weeks e-mail "The Paw Print"  the weekly lesson plan that goes with Between the Lions Web site at http://pbskids.org/lions  Like a library, it's all free.

The Paw Print is sponsored by the Krueger
Charitable Foundation of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Thirst for Knowledge, Read for Success!
-submitted by Sandy Hawes


Here are 44 of the three-letter words
made from the letters in
 "oh, yes,it can."
How many did you find?

ace, act, ant, any, ash, ate, can, cat, cot, eat, has, hat, hay, hen,
hey, his, hit, hot, ice, icy, net, not, oat, one, sat, say, sea, set,
she, shy, sit, son, soy, tan, tea, ten, the, tie, tin, toe, ton, toy,
yes, yet

The following websites are lots of fun.

Krampf Science www.krampf.com   has a lot of information, you can sign-up for a weekly experiment to be sent to your e-mail address, these
experiments use things you have at home,
last year the only thing we had to buy to complete and experiment was a quart of ice cream(the kids wanted to do that one about three times that week!)

At Science Nasa.com tou can sign-up for several we like NASA Kids age appropriate information and Thursday's Clasasroom this is a complete lesson plan information, worksheets, instructions.
 http://science.nasa.gov/news/subscribe.asp 
 this one we enjoy a lot.-submitted by Sandy Hawes
 
 
KiDS body shop is ready for another fun year-
in September we'll be doing...
  • teen volleyball with skill drills at 10:00am every Friday
  • tap for 7 & older at 10:00am
  • tap for 6 & younger at 11:00am
  • obstacle courses for 3-4 year olds at 11 & 12
  • swimming for 5-6 & 7-8year olds at 11 & 12
  • softball for kids 7&older from 1130-1230
  • flag football for kids 12& older from 1230-130-must qualify to register
in October we'll be doing...
  • teen volleyball with skill drills at 10:00am
  • both tap classes will possibly continue in October
  • swimming for 3-4 year olds at 11 & 12
  • obstacle courses for 5-6 year olds at 11 & 12
  • volleyball for 7&older at 11 & 12
  • President's Fitness Club accelerated course for ages 12 & older-must qualify to register
SOMETHING NEW AT KiDS body shop...
12&OLDER CLASSES-COMPETITIVE CLASSES-
 
THESE CLASSES WILL BE GREAT FOR KIDS
  • ARE 12 YEARS OLD OR OLDER
  • HAVE LEARNED BASIC P.E. SKILLS
  • LOVE TO PLAY COMPETITVE SPORTS
  • ARE WILLING TO RUN DRILLS HARD
  • ARE UNDER TIME RESTRAINTS AND NEED A TEAM THAT WOULD MEET ONCE A WEEK...
OTHER RULES...
  • MUST QUALIFY TO REGISTER...
  • MUST SHOW GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
  • CLASSES WILL BE SMALL
  • ONCE CLASSES ARE FILLED WE'LL USE A WAITING LIST
  • SEPTEMBER-COMPETITIVE-FLAG FOOTBALL
  • OCTOBER-PRESIDENT'S FITNESS CLUB
  • NOVEMBER-COMPETITIVE WEIGHT LIFTING
  • ANY OTHER IDEAS FOR THESE CLASSES?-PLEASE LET ME KNOW!-GRETCHEN WARD
 
PLEASE CONTACT GRETCHEN ASAP IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
-402-451-8932 or wards@5pillars.com
 
 
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Please pray for Josiah Ward (5 years old)-Mike & Gretchen's  youngest son.   He was born with one of his ear's deformed.  He's having surgery to reconstruct an ear canal & an ear drum on Sept. 16.  Please pray for full recovery of his hearing in that ear; that the Lord would guide Dr. Harker's hands as he does this reconstruction; and that none of the nerves on his face would be affected.
 
Please pray for Gretchen Stevens-not to be confused with Gretchen Ward-who is undergoing treatment for a serious form of brain cancer.  Her faith and her Christian witness are strong & she's finding God's faithfulness in many ways; yet it is all difficult for the family.-if you'd like to be on her email list and get updates concerning her health & treatment-just email Gretchen Ward at wards@5pillars.com 
 
 
BABY UPDATES:
(We havn't done a newsletter since spring...)
 
THE BARTSCH FAMILY IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF Sarah Dawn Bartsch was born on April 7 and weighed 9 pounds & 8oz. and measured 22 1/2 inches long!  CONGRATULATIONS WHAT A BLESSING!
 
THE KLEIN FAMILY HAS BEEN RECENTLY BLESSED WITH:  Caleb Nathaniel Klein who was born on August 6th.  He weighed 7 pounds & 9 ounces and measured 22 1/2 inches long!  CONGRATULATIONS YOUR CUP IS OVERFLOWING!
 
 
 
"I believe in work, for dicontent and labor are not often companions.

I believe in thrift, for to store up a little regularly is to store up character as well.

I believe in simple living, for simplicity means health and health means happiness.

I believe in loyalty, for if I am not true to others, I cannot be true to myself.

I believe in a cheerful countenance, for a sour face is always grouchy.

I believe in holding up my chin, for self respect commands respect from others.

I believe in bracing up my brother, for an encouraging word may save the day for him.

I believe in living up to the best that is in me, for to lower the standard is to give up the fight."

              -Calvin Coolidge
 
CONTACT PEOPLE:
Pat Graves
551-3120
 
Sandy Hawes - Treasurer/Phone Tree/E-mail
455-6595
 
Gretchen Ward - Newsletter
451-8932
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