The Homeschool Roster blog will be back to normal on Monday, November 2. The event notices for all of the field trips will again be available. Feel free to e-mail me at homeschoolroster@gmail.com if you need to contact me before Monday.
UT Martin Offers ACT Prep in West Tennessee AreasOLD
It is test taking season and many of your children are preparing to take the ACT for their first, second or more time. The score your child earns on the ACT can make the difference between what school they attend to the amount of scholarship money they are offered. If you want to prepare your child to achieve their best score, an ACT prep class or workshop may be the answer. UT Martin is offering high school juniors and seniors several ACT prep classes on their satellite campuses in Jackson and Somerville. The one-day workshops are geared towards helping them prepare for taking the ACT test. It will cover all three subjects to help students prepare for the exam.
If your student has already taken the ACT, they can still benefit from both of these instructional events. Students are able to take the ACT exam more than once and may choose which score in each subject they want to use when applying for scholarships and college admission (see other benefits of taking the ACT). Attending the workshop could lead to your child scoring higher on the exam.
Although calculator use is not necessary, if your child wants to use one, it must be an approved ACT calculator.
The ACT test will be offered again this year on Saturday, December 10. The registration deadline is Friday, November 4, and late registration is November 5-18, 2016. Find a test center near you.
UT Martin Somerville
One-day Workshop
Dates: Monday, October 17, 2016
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Registration Fee: $45
Location: UT Martin Operations- Somerville/Fayette County, 121 West Court Square, Somerville, 38068
UT Martin Jackson
One-day Workshop
Date: Saturday, October 1, October 15, November 19 and December 1, 2016
Time: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: UT Martin Jackson Center, 3031 U.S. 45 Bypass, Jackson, 38305
Registration Fee: $45 per student
You may register online.
Call (731) 881-3510 (800) 482-5199 for more information.
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©2016 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
Don’t Miss the Teen Dress Giveaway
It is prom season and we are looking forward to the Homeschool Prom 2020: “Moonlight Masquerade”. Excitement is building as many teen girls have already started shopping for that special prom dress. With prom being a formal event, attire to fit the occasion is required. Unfortunately, personal style often surpasses the amount one can afford for a dress that will be worn for just one evening. Glamour Our Dress’ Teen Dress Giveaway invites young girls into its closet to “shop” and choose a prom dress that will become their own, for free.
The Teen Dress Giveaway is being held on Saturday, March 14, at the Victory Worship Center of Jackson (VWC). Dresses are being given away to girls shopping for prom.
“Our mission is to ensure young women are able to attend their formal event (prom),” said ministry director Stephanie Reasons. “Prom is often a very important milestone in a young girl’s life.”
Prom expenses go beyond the price of the prom ticket. There are shoes, accessories, and of course, the dress. Finding an affordable dress can sometimes be difficult. The Teen Dress Giveaway eliminates that concern by opening its “closet doors” to young girls who may not be able to otherwise purchase a dress.
This is the second year the giveaway, an outreach project of the church’s Glamour Our Dress (GOD) ministry, has been held. Last year, it was well received by young girls and their parents.
“We met mothers of these young women who were devastated they could not afford to provide a dress for their daughters,” said Stephanie. “The Teen Dress Giveaway made a real difference for their daughters.”
Stephanie, a transplant from Ohio, participated in a similar outreach before moving to Tennessee. She went on to share that some of the women who serve with the giveaway have personal experience with the mission.
“Many of us had to miss our proms because we just could not afford to spend money on what is likely a single use gown,“ said Stephanie.
The Glamour Our Dress ministry is providing girls a unique and personalized shopping experience. All attending will receive a personal shopper who will show them dresses of interest and help the girls select that special prom dress. Appointments are encouraged and will take priority but are not necessary. Walk-ins are welcome.
Currently, there are almost 300 dresses from which to choose. Most of the dresses were donated and include formal gowns. All are in good condition – gently used or brand new – with sizes ranging from zero to 30. There are a variety of styles and colors of dresses. A seamstress will be available to make minor adjustments, if necessary. Between the personalized service and dress selection, attending the Teen Dress Giveaway will be a wonderful beginning to any girl’s prom experience.
The hope is to continue the outreach that has filled a need in the community. The ministry outreach will be held every year if it has dresses to give away. Those attending the Teen Dress Giveaway are encouraged to donate the dresses back to Glamour Our Dress if they no longer need them.
“The girls are able to keep the dresses they get at the giveaway,” said Stephanie, who noted, “We would also be happy to take the dresses back into inventory to be given away to another girl.”
Along with regularly accepting dress donations, the ministry also accepts cash donations. Those funds are used to purchase additional dresses, shoes, accessories, and food for the day of the event. All cash donations may be sent to the Victory Worship Center of Jackson to be directed to the Glamour Our Dress ministry.
Stephanie has some tips for your day of shopping.
“Come early! We have a good selection, but be open to options, “said Stephanie. “We may not have that specific dress in a specific color and size, but we have a good selection.”
Glamour Our Dress Teen Dress Giveaway – Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 10 a.m.
Victory Worship Center
333 Old Humboldt Road
Jackson, Tennessee 38305
www.victoryjackson.com
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE HOMESCHOOL PROM 2020
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©2020 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
Field Trip and Event Recap: February
February was, well, a lot of a bit busy. If it was happening, Homeschool Roster was there.
Since the weather has been cold, it was extremely play-heavy, which kept us indoors and warm. Some of the theatre we enjoyed included The Miraculously Journey of Edward Tulane. I never read the book, but will now. It is an emotional story, but has a wonderful ending. A school year would not be one without seeing Junie B. Jones. The precocious little girl entertained as usual. Anything Shakespeare by the Tennessee Shakespeare Company (TSC) is always Shakespeare at its best. TSC productions are a delight for the lover of Shakespeare and a relief for those bored with the thought of his plays. They make sitting in the audience fun and we always leave with smiles on our faces after an enjoyable performance. Along with Edward Tulane, TSC presented Twelfth Night. Cinderella the Musical and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare are a couple of other performances we saw in February.
Two productions I really enjoyed were Disney’s Aladdin The Musical and Grease. We headed to the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis to see Aladdin. I love it when performances are offered during the week and daytime. Apparently, I am not alone. Along with the Homeschool Roster members sitting in the audience, the Orpheum was packed with other theatre goers. I love the movie Grease and the University School of Jackson brought it to the stage. The singing was wonderful and you could tell those kids had a blast on the stage acting, singing, and dancing.
We did some fine arts appreciation with and an art tour and a symphony rehearsal. Some other things we did were toured Whole Foods Market, the Lane Motor Museum, the Nissan Factory, a Memphis Police station, and the FedEx Forum. We will repeat some of those tours again in the upcoming months.
We continued with the ASL and ukulele classes. Brittany has done a wonderful job as an instructor and all of the students have learned a lot. The ASL may be a beginning class, but many of the students are ready to advance in the language. My children can hold regular conversations using ASL.
March will bring warmer weather and we will soon be heading outdoors. I am looking forward to that with nature/historical hikes, horseback riding and hot air balloon fun.
You may still register to become a Homeschool Roster member.
You take care of Homeschooling and Homeschool Roster will take care of the field trips.
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE HOMESCHOOL PROM 2020
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©2020 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
Searching for that Special Prom Dress?
The date for Homeschool Prom 2020: “Moonlight Masquerade“ has been set (Friday, May 1) and now it is time to find that special prom dress to make the evening just right. Should you go short or long . . . A-Line or shift . . . strapless or sleeves . . . ballgown flowing or wrap . . . floral or solid, there are so many choices to make. Fortunately, there are many options from which to choose when searching for that special prom dress.
The first year my daughter attended prom, just like a homeschool mom, I decided to make her dress. It seemed like a good idea, especially since sewing is second nature to me. Although her dress turned out just fine, I found myself making final stitches only moments before she had to leave out the door on prom night.
I am a bit wiser now. Homeschoolers can do a lot, but that does not mean we have to do everything. So, my daughter gets the pleasure of searching and finding that special prom dress and I don’t have to worry about meeting a sewing deadline.
Although prom is more than two months away, starting the prom dress search now is a good idea. There is time to try out dresses and change minds about style; order a dress early enough for it to arrive on time; choose the perfect accessories and hairstyle that goes with the dress; find the shoes that fit just right, and spend the days before prom calmly prepared for the evening. That is how I like to get ready for prom.
Below are some locations you may want to check to find that special prom dress for the Homeschool Prom 2020. Just a tip, if you find the dress in a brick-and-mortar store, check its website, because sometimes, better pricing on the same dress is offered online. I saved almost $50 on the same in-store dress when I purchased it online from the same store.
Shop for Prom Dresses
Amazon: Shop Now
David’s Bridal: Shop Now
Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee
Offers a homeschool discount.
{1495 Vann Drive, Jackson, 38305} – (731) 410-4030
Dillard’s: Shop Now
Jackson Christian School: Shop Finders Keepers Consignment Sale – March 7 – 8, 2020
{832 Country Club Lane, Jackson, 38305}
LD² Consignment & Jewelry Boutique: Shop Now
{100 Vann Drive, Suite A, Jackson, 38305}
Macy’s: Shop Now
Noel’s Closet {Fayette County}: Shop Now
Open by appointment only, but she will pull dress sizes and styles (if she has them) before you arrive.
Prom Closet: Shop March 14
(301 Westside Drive, Humboldt, 38343}
Prom Girl: Shop Now
Rina’s Bridal: Shop Now
{2665 North Highland Avenue Jackson, 38305}
Many of these locations also have tuxes, suits, etc. for teen boys. If you know of any other locations for prom attire that should be added to the list, let me know.
If you need a reminder of the dress code for the Homeschool Prom 2020, please read the code of conduct. If you are wondering if a dress meets the prom dress code, feel free to e-mail Homeschool Roster.
Purchase your tickets now to Homeschool Prom 2020: “Moonlight Masquerade“!
TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR THE HOMESCHOOL PROM 2020
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©2020 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
Express Yourself Through The Color of Music Art Contest
When listening to music, several pictures may come to mind depending upon the tune, the instruments used in the music and the personal experiences of the listener. The interpretation of a piece of music is not the same from one person to another. Through the annual The Color of Music art contest, students are able to express themselves using artwork as their voice to share their interpretation of a piece of music.
The Color of Music is presented by the Jackson Symphony League for students in kindergarten through the eighth grade. It is in its twenty-second year with the goals of:
• Providing an opportunity for listening to and visually interpreting classical music.
• Increasing awareness of The Jackson Symphony and familiarize students with repertoires presented by The Jackson Symphony.
• Encouraging a lifelong appreciation of symphonic music by young people.
See the 2018-2019 homeschool winners.
See the 2017-2018 homeschool winners.
See the 2016-2017 homeschool winners.
Each year, students across West Tennessee have shared their artistic talent and creativity producing beautiful artwork that has brought to life the number of music selections chosen over the years for the contest. The music selections for this year are “What is Life”, by George Harrison and “Imagine” by John Lennon. Students are to listen to the music and choose one piece to interpret through art.
Students do not have to be skilled or trained artists to participate in the competition. The student is challenged to share his interpretation, which alone is art.
There are a number of categories for which students will be recognized with prizes including cash, T-shirts, art supplies and symphony tickets. Student winners will be presented at the awards ceremony on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. Finalist entries will be on display at the center in the lobby. The winning pieces of The Jackson Symphony League Bravo Award; the Conductor Awards; Blue Ribbon and Honorable Mention Awards will be displayed at the Le Bonheur Hospital in Jackson. All prize-winning artwork will also be available online for viewing.
If your homeschool student would like to participate, please contact Jennifer Smeltser to receive the contest packet. All art submissions must be submitted to Jennifer Smeltser by Wednesday, January 29, 2020. Read the rules, so you may learn how your student may participate. The contest is open to students in Madison County and its surrounding counties (i.e.: Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Gibson, Hardeman, Haywood, Madison, McNairy and Weakley) only.
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©2019 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
Learn How to Apply Now for the TN Promise
The clock is ticking towards the last day to complete the TN Promise scholarship application for students entering college in the fall of 2020. November 1 at 11:59 p.m. are the date and time deadlines. Has your graduating high school senior completed the application? If not, get it done!
The TN Promise scholarship (last-dollar scholarship) provides students with free tuition to attend more than 40 community and technical colleges, and some four-year institutions that offer associates degrees in Tennessee. Thousands of students have taken advantage of this opportunity of “free college” since the scholarship was introduced for the fall class of 2015.
My Child Isn’t Going to College!
If you have a child with plans other than college, still complete the application. Applying does not obligate a student to attend college, but does ensure they do not miss the opportunity for free tuition if they later change their mind and want to attend. College is expensive. Don’t leave money on the table.
Eligibility requirements to apply for the scholarship are the following:
- TN resident
- A student graduating from an eligible homeschool, high school or has earned a GED/HISET (prior to their 19th birthday).
- Complete the TN Promise application by Friday, November 1, 2019.
Eligibility requirements to receive the scholarship are the following:
- Attend mandatory team meetings (usually two).
- Complete and report eight community service hours by Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
- Complete the FAFSA application by Saturday, February 1, 2020.
Apply now for the TN Promise.
Do You Need Help?
Online: Live Chat
Telephone: Call (800) 342-1663
E-mail: write now
College Campus Tours
If college or attending a trade school is a plan for your high school student, join Homeschool Roster on one of its Discovering Your Destiny college campus tours. There are tours planned to several schools in West Tennessee that include Christian Brothers University, Freed-Hardeman University, Jackson State Community College, Lane College, Rhodes College, Southwest Tennessee Community College, TCAT-Jackson and the University of Memphis.
Join the Homeschool Roster – Get Out of the House group for college campus tour updates and to learn about other field trips and events for homeschoolers.
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©2019 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
NaNoWriMo Young Writers Will Encourage Your Future Author
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the organization’s annual writers program will begin on Friday, November 1. Did you know the program is not just for adults? Really, there is a Young Writers Program for children, ages 17 and younger. The program is one that is described as a “fun, seat-of-your-pants” creative writing event where participants attempt to write a novel in 30 days. The event is less of a competition and more of a challenge of one’s ability to accomplish a goal. Can you do it in 30 days (or less)?
The young writers and adult writers participate in two different manners. Young writers set their own word-count goal. They are able to re-evaluate their word-count goal through 20 days of writing. During that time, they may make adjustments to their word-count to accommodate their writing pace. The start date is Friday, November 1 and writers work on their novel through 11:59 p.m. (your local time) on Saturdya, November 30. If you reach your writing goal, you are a “winner”.
There are several free resources for young writers to use during the month that may help them accomplish their goal. NaNoWriMo also has created free workbooks, available as free PDF downloads or to purchase, for elementary, middle and high school children. There were more than 90,000 young writers and educators who participated last year.
Your child does not have to love writing to participate. They just have to write and they get to set their own goal. It does not get any easier. Let your child have fun with this one. Let them write as much or as little as they like. Just get them writing. My daughter loves to write, so I know she will participate.
The established goal for adults is 50,000 words in 30 days. Yes! You can do it! There is absolutely no pressure. More than 300,000 adults participated last year and I would imagine there will be more this year. Hey, you even get trophy badges along the way to mark your progress.
What do you really win for writing? You receive a winner or participant certificate and gain a sense of accomplish just for taking the challenge. Who knows? The novel you start could lead to a later publication (self or paid).
Learn more about how your young writer may participate. If you are game, take the adult challenge. Come back on Saturday, December 1 and let us know how your family did if someone participates in the event.
Learn more about the NaNoWriMo and how to support the non-profit.
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©2015 – 2019 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
STEM Day at Union University
Union University is hosting STEM Day for high school students on Friday, November 15, to learn more about the programs it offers. Students will visit different academic departments that include Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics. It will be a day of hands-on activities providing your student an excellent opportunity to learn more about studies and careers in STEM.
Some facts about Union University, which was founded in 1823:
- The Student body is less than 3,500 students.
- There are more than 100 programs of study.
- The ratio of student to faculty is 10:1.
- One hundred percent of the incoming freshmen are financial aid recipients.
Another fact to consider is more than 80 percent of the faculty has earned the highest degree that is possible in their field.
Participants will meet faculty and students in the different departments as well as staff at the school. If your child knows they want to follow a STEM path, meeting faculty and students in each department may help them determine which specific area they would like to pursue.
While on campus, students will attend two breakout sessions in departments of interest. When registering, they may choose their top two areas of STEM. Lunch will be served and a campus tour is available after STEM Day for those who would like to see more of the Union University campus.
STEM Day Schedule
9 a.m. Check-in begins
9:30 a.m. Welcome Session
10 a.m. Breakout 1
11:30 a.m. Lunch
12:15 p.m. Breakout 2
2 p.m. Dismiss and Optional Campus Tour
The event is free to attend, but you must register. You may register online, call (800) 33-UNION or e-mail Fran Thomas. Parents and/or guardians are invited to attend too.
If you are unable to attend STEM Day, there are other opportunities like Personal Campus Visits and Day at the U, which will be held on Friday, November 8, Monday, February 17, and Friday, March 13.
Union University is a homeschool friendly campus and just may be the right school for your child.
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©2019 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
Write It Right for National Punctuation Day
On Tuesday, September 24, Jeff Rubin and his wife, Norma, will celebrate National Punctuation Day (NPD), which is an event they created more than 10 years ago. You may wonder why they would create such an event, and the logical explanation is because “Punctuation counts. A misplaced comma can alter the meaning of a message.”
As homeschoolers, we do understand the importance of punctuation and it’s proper use. There is nothing worse than reading a sentence with punctuation gone haywire.
How many of you just cringed while reading the previous paragraph? Believe me; it was just as difficult for me to write as it was for you to read.
Let us try that again.
As homeschoolers, we do understand the importance of punctuation and its proper use. Is that better?
The Rubins, also known as Mr. and Mrs. Punctuation, have gone all out for this event by even creating an official dish, Punctuation Meat Loaf. To further highlight the importance of punctuation, Mr. and Mrs. Punctuation take the fun to schools making guest appearances in classrooms and assemblies sharing through their program Punctuation Playtime. The 45-minute program is geared toward children in first through sixth grades and makes an otherwise boring subject fun and entertaining, and has been a great way to promote literacy in children.
I must admit I never realized brackets [ ] or { } were punctuation marks. I just never thought about it, because I do not use them often unless I am using them for personal work to make notes. They are neat looking symbols on my keyboard that I thought I should use for something. Instead of using them, I have been using the dash – when I should have been using brackets and using a comma , when I should have been using a dash – . Oh my goodness! What did they teach me in that school?
Along with the correct usage for brackets, the Rubins include an explanation of the proper use of 13 of the 14 commonly used punctuation marks. In fact, all of the symbols have a specific purpose. Are you using them correctly?
What are you teaching your children in school about punctuation? Jeff has quite a few valuable resources that may be helpful with teaching punctuation to your children as well as offering a quick refresher for you. If you need a refresher before the annual day of celebration, visit the National Punctuation Day website and brush up on a few punctuation marks, write a few sentences and make the teacher in you proud.
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©2019 Homeschool Roster. Article by Jennifer Smeltser. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the publisher http://www.homeschoolroster.com/.
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