Welcome to 2014-15!

Photo by Marianna Spiritakis

What a pleasure to find ourselves again at the beginning of a new HIS year. Isn't there something particularly delicious about the crisp days of autumn with their long, golden shadows, and a new school year bursting with promise and possibility? Repeat after me: I will NOT eat all the candy corn. I will NOT eat all the candy corn. 

We're going to be giving the blog a fresh look in the coming days. We hope you'll find it informational and helpful where group events and details are concerned. Let this also be your blog, a place to show off your students' work. And do you have a topic you'd like to post about? Let us know! Together we can make this our zany little home on the Internet.

For now, we'll leave you with the year's calendar (current as of 9/17/14), and we look forward to seeing you at our next event!

* Regular meetings are 9:45a - 2p @ Wakemans Grove Church in Edinburg.
* PE is 1-2:30p @ Liberty Baptist in Strasburg.

September 15 Eyes & Ears Screening

September 18 Picnic - Edinburg Park

September 24 Monticello field trip

September 25 Walk for Life setup 8am, Woodstock fairgrounds
October 3 Winchester airport field trip

October 16 Meeting - Africa

October 17 Belle Grove field trip

October 17 P.E.

November 20 Meeting - Asia

December 12 P.E.

December 18 Christmas party (regular meeting time/place)

January 9 P.E.

January 15 Meeting - Australia

February TBD Share Your Gift night 

February 13 P.E.

February 19 Meeting - Europe

March 6 Field trip - Amazon facility field trip

March 19 Meeting – North America

March 20 P.E.

April TBD X-Fair

April 16 Meeting – South America

April 17 P.E.

May 15 P.E.

May 21 End of year picnic

June 18 Summer potluck party/games 

July 16 Summer potluck party/games 

August TBD Planning meeting for 2015-16

February Announcements

I know it seems sudden, since we just had a meeting three months ago, but here we are anyway. :) I trust you all weathered the snowstorms all right and are in good form to join us Thursday at 9:45 at Wakemans Grove. (If you're not in good form, will you please let us know? We'd like to pray for you and help if we can.)

A few items:

  

* First, a policy thing: kids need to be accompanied by their parents. In special circumstances a parent may fill out a waiver giving another HIS member permission to bring their child(ren). Thank you for understanding.

* Second, and this is a fun one: a reminder we've got a Facebook group. It's a kid-free, judgment-free space for encouraging each other & asking questions, getting advice, sharing ideas, or even scheduling get-togethers between our monthly meetings. If you're not already a member, I encourage you to join! We'd love to have you. Ask another member (including me) to add you if you like, or the link is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/144600135585835/. 

* Our meeting is 9:45am - 2pm at Wakemans Grove. Potluck lunch as usual. The theme is respect/compassion/empathy. A prize to the first family to arrive and solve the puzzle!

* Barby Hobcroft from Classical Conversations will be making a presentation at 12:45pm in the lunchroom.

* It's going to be muddy out there, so please make sure the kids are dressed for that (whatever that means to you, haha!). For Indoor/Outdoor games, you'll be inside--bring fun games, or Mrs. Woods will make you play hopscotch for an hour.

* Needs: 

1) Staci Woods has graciously agreed to take this week's jr high class (can anyone help her?)--but we still need teachers to take the class for March & April. Please email me asap if you're willing.

2) Playground supervisors. Morning & lunchtime, for the wee tots AND big kids. 

3) Nursery help if the Browns are still sick and unable to attend.

4) Lynn Rhodes needs pinking shears for the handicrafts club. So if you have a pair you can bring, she will be the only one using them and will return them at the March meeting.

* Signups: You'll have the opportunity to sign up for the April 3rd X-Fair (I'm SO excited about this--and I expect a big turnout this year. Did I mention there will be prizes??). We'll also have a signup for our soup/sandwich themed lunch in March.

* Service: Lisa Copp-Croft & Holly Neff have set up an opportunity to serve the veterans again by passing out Easter cards, April 15 @ 6:30pm. More details at Thursday's meeting.

I think those are the biggies. Please keep lifting each other up in prayer. Looking forward to seeing everyone shortly!

 

Rebekah

Important Announcements--Meeting is This Week!!!

I cannot believe this. It seems like we just had a meeting. Where does the time fly to???

Here are a few announcements:

Don't forget about the First Family Challenge: There will be a challenge for the family arriving first to complete; if they can do so, they'll go first in line at lunch AND get to blow the crazy loud whistle at club time. (Remember, we are supposed to start getting there at 9:45. Meeting starts PROMPTLY at 10 a.m.)

Lunch: Thanksgiving themed! Please bring your favorite Thanksgiving dish (plus a pie or other dessert if you'd like!).

County Library presentation: At 12:45, some folks from the library will make a quick presentation in the lunch room on the myriad resources offered by the county library system. This is always SUCH an interesting & informative presentation. 

HIS Jr Encouragers. Our poor Jr Encouragers are still partnerless. Please let me know if your child would like to sign up for this wonderful service opportunity.

Share Your Gift night: Yes! already! Tues, Dec 3, 7pm @ First Baptist in Woodstock. Signups will be out next week, Talent of every form is welcome!

Unattended Child Policy: Since HIS was established as a ministry to families, and to relieve the organization and any individuals the responsibility and liability of caring for children not their own, it is our policy to prohibit the leaving of children at the meetings without a parent or legal guardian, unless a signed permission slip with emergency contact information is on file with the leadership team.

Registration: If you have not yet turned in your registration form, please do so asap. 

 

Horse Crazy Field Trip

The Horse Crazy club will be taking a field trip to Sunset Willow Stables next Thursday during club time.  They will leave the church around 12:50 and be back to the church around 2:00.  

 

They will have a tour of the stables, meet their horses, and spend time with the stable owner and riding instructor.  

 

Please wear clothing appropriate for the weather and boots or tennis shoes.  

 

Nita Sudlow has offered her 16 passenger van to get us to and from the stables.  Lisa Schroeder also has a vehicle that will carry seven additional passengers.  

 

Parents are welcome to come along, too.

 

Waivers for the stable and Anne Morrison, the riding instructor must be signed before attending.  Please have them signed and ready to turn in on Thursday morning at the greeting table. You were sent waivers via email yesterday, 11/14, so if you don't have one, check your email inbox.

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email the Schroeder's.

Opportunities this Week!

We have a few opportunities for our kids this week:

Homeschool PE Day: This Friday, Nov 15, from 1-2:30 p.m. at Liberty Baptist in Strasburg.

Free. All kids welcome!

Girls' Club: We are kicking off this year in high style with outdoor games! This Saturday, Nov 16, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Sloans' home in New Market. Please contact Margaret Sloan with any questions/help with directions. Email Rebekah if you need her number.

October Meeting Review

If you missed the October meeting, this is what you missed:

 Awesome food. Did you get the pumpkin soup recipe? If not, look below.

 

GAMES!

 

SCIENCE!

 HORSE ANATOMY

AND TRAFFIC JAMS!!!

I have never, in 16 years, seen so many strollers at HIS Meeting. Praise God for all our future homeschoolers. Of course you also missed the Knock-Knock Jokes, too. But you can't take a picture of a Knock-Knock Joke. ;)

Our next meeting, our Thanksgiving to God for all His Many Blessings, meeting, is Thursday, November 21. Don't forget to bring Thanksgiving food (turkey if you signed up), and a blessing to share.

Now, as promised, here is the recipe for the Amazing Pumpkin Soup from Katie Brown:

Pumpkin Soup with Sausage and Greens

1/2 to 1 lb sausage spicy or mild, browned and sliced/crumbled

1c onion, chopped

1/2c red bell pepper, finely chopped

4-6 cloves garlic, minced

 

1-2 tsp each fresh thyme and sage, minced (or 1/2 to 1 tsp each if dried)

2c tomato, chopped (or may use canned diced tomatoes)

2-3c greens chopped (spinach, beet or turnip greens, kale – if tougher greens and/or stems, may saute with the onions)

2-3c chicken broth

 

4c pumpkin or winter squash puree (may use canned, but freshly baked and pureed is better)

1-2 TB lemon juice, to taste

salt, pepper, and hot sauce, to taste

 

Brown the sausage, remove and drain (if needed).  Saute chopped/minced vegetables.  Add herbs, tomatoes, broth and greens.  Simmer until greens are tender, 5-15min.  Stir in pumpkin puree and sausage, lemon juice and additional seasonings.  May add more broth/water to thin if desired.  Heat thoroughly.  Serve garnished with dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt and hot fresh bread or muffins.  Enjoy!

 

Blessings to your family,

~The Senior Advisor~

Teacher Needed for 4th/5th Grade

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, we find ourselves in need of a teacher for the 4th/5th grade class beginning next week. New HIS member Dawn Schauer is prepared to teach the class next week, but could really use some help.

For more information, or to volunteer for this position, please email Rebekah at ShenCoHis@gmail.com or call her number in the directory.

Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity,
~~The Senior Advisor