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Messages from PA Homescschoolers:

  • Fall Testing with PA Homeschoolers-- Registration Open! - Susan Richman 9/1/2010 (0)

    New Posts Start Here

  • Private Violin Lessons - Hiroko Matsukawa 9/2/2010 (0)
  • Moving Dring School Year - Josh Brown 9/2/2010 (0)
  • Pediatric Home Health Care and Respite - Jenea Schmidt 9/2/2010 (0)
  • Geography--Why Public Schools Ignore It - Bruce Deitrick Price 9/2/2010 (0)
  • Special Evening Program at Valley Forge 9/3/2010 - KT 9/1/2010 (0)
  • Daily Subjects - Becky 9/1/2010 (1)
  • New to the idea of homeschooling - Marcia 9/1/2010 (1)
  • Fall testing - Sandy 8/31/2010 (1)
  • Free Harrisburg area local history museum - Kathy McCorkle 8/31/2010 (0)
  • Used Book Sale - M.L.Pacella 8/30/2010 (0)
  • PHAA school code for SAT test - Denise Howland 8/30/2010 (1)
  • filing affidavit - Cathy 8/28/2010 (2)
  • Music Lessons Enhance Education - Chris Chandler 8/27/2010 (0)
  • Homeschooling friends - Kelly Hartman 8/25/2010 (0)
  • Preparing for the SAT Essay Class - Karen Boyd 8/25/2010 (1)
  • rivate Homeschool Art Classes in Elkins Park - Sue Puchowitz 8/23/2010 (0)
  • Pennsylvania Law - Beth Bittner 8/23/2010 (1)
  • free textbooks in Philadelphia Area - Jessica Kahn 8/23/2010 (0)
  • Need school space? - Pam 8/22/2010 (0)
  • New to Center Valley, PA - Cathy Costabile 8/22/2010 (0)
  • moving to another district help please - jodi 8/21/2010 (1)
  • Special Needs - Learning Support - Sue 8/20/2010 (0)
  • Volleyball - Jennifer 8/20/2010 (1)
  • Programs for Homeschoolers at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts! - Claire Marcus 8/20/2010 (0)
  • Homeschoolers Volleyball Tournament Series - Scott Zeigler 8/19/2010 (0)
  • online math tutoring - larry 8/19/2010 (0)
  • Nanticoke Area School District - Brenda 8/17/2010 (2)
  • dental hygentist - wendy 8/14/2010 (1)
  • Fall Ballet Classes - Lexington Christian Academy (Bucks/Mont) - Janice Firth 8/13/2010 (0)
  • Why consider musicFUNdamentals for your 3-7 year old children? (Bucks/Mont) - Janice Firth 8/13/2010 (0)
  • math program - Sherry 8/12/2010 (1)
  • Free upright piano - Happymainemom 8/12/2010 (0)
  • Indiana County homeschoolers - Paula 8/12/2010 (0)
  • Mathcounts says Homeschoolers can no longer compete as teams - Christine Pritt 8/11/2010 (8)
  • very active first grader - need additional ideas - Brenda 8/10/2010 (1)
  • Barnes & Noble @ School Open House - Colleen Ryan 8/10/2010 (1)
  • home school ballet classes - Lisa Koncsics 8/9/2010 (0)
  • sign language - Beth Mellott 8/6/2010 (1)
  • some great, FREE resources for high school - Amy 8/6/2010 (0)
  • Annual vision, height, weight screening? - Jane 8/5/2010 (0)
  • math tutor - Pam 8/5/2010 (0)
  • Homeschool Tutor Option - Courtney 8/4/2010 (1)
  • High School English class, taught at instructor's Philadelphia home, close to the northern suburbs - Roseann Trott 8/3/2010 (0)
  • stopping affadavits - stephanie 8/2/2010 (1)
  • Missouri curriculum - Heidi 8/2/2010 (0)
  • Facebook Group with Secular Focus - Jessica 8/2/2010 (0)
  • Anatomy and Physiology course - Mary Wakefield 8/2/2010 (0)
  • Fall Testing - Joanne 8/2/2010 (3)
  • English Requirements - Umm Amber 8/1/2010 (2)
  • Anyone know of a good, but inexpensive kind of microscope to buy? - Amy 8/1/2010 (3)
  • HSLDA - Julie 8/1/2010 (0)
  • Criminal Background check - Chris 7/29/2010 (12)
  • Arts & Humanities - Wendy 7/29/2010 (0)
  • Music Lessons in BuxMont Area - Holly Hageman 7/28/2010 (0)
  • cyber teaching and homeschooling - Jen 7/27/2010 (1)
  • California Public School to PA homeschool - Danielle 7/26/2010 (3)
  • Does an evaluator have to provide their credentials with their eval. letter? - Amy 7/24/2010 (2)
  • Fayette co. homeschool group - Cara 7/24/2010 (0)
  • B&N@School Open House - MartyMcGuire 7/23/2010 (0)
  • Excellent ballet classes for 2010-2011 in SE PA - Janice Firth 7/23/2010 (0)
  • getting started - Melissa 7/21/2010 (3)
  • Affidavit - Matt S 7/21/2010 (1)
  • Transcipt for Macro and Micro - Cathy Creed 7/20/2010 (2)
  • transcript question - Vicki 7/20/2010 (0)
  • First Form Latin - Sheri 7/19/2010 (1)
  • Diploma Guide - Julie Woodring 7/19/2010 (4)
  • First time for reporting - I have questions - Sherrie 7/19/2010 (5)
  • Apologia Explorers Astronomy and Zoology 1 books/kits - Prudence Perkins 7/18/2010 (0)
  • driver's ed - lynn 7/18/2010 (3)
  • PHAA High School at Home conference - Karen Brown 7/17/2010 (1)
  • re: reading AP student scores - Kathie Davis 7/16/2010 (1)
  • Community College versus CLEP exams - Sarah Brown 7/15/2010 (1)
  • Where is everyone? - Medja I. 7/15/2010 (1)
  • "36 Important Books About Education" - Bruce Deitrick Price 7/15/2010 (0)
  • support group in Fayette - Cara 7/15/2010 (1)
  • Can some of the books from the 25-book list be used as the basis for a lit credit? - Ann 7/14/2010 (2)
  • Starting Out - Yvonne 7/13/2010 (1)
  • FREE Homeschooling Magazines - Karen Doll 7/9/2010 (4)
  • 6th grade- elem or secondary?? - Kristin G. Burke 7/8/2010 (2)
  • In Home Art Teacher - Noelle 7/8/2010 (1)
  • jr high/high school - heidi 7/8/2010 (2)
  • Recording doubled up days? - Becky 7/8/2010 (1)
  • WORD POPPERS - Dr. Jay 7/7/2010 (1)
  • picked up ports today - Lwalters 7/6/2010 (3)
  • Do missionaries need to file an affidavit? - Carrie 7/5/2010 (2)
  • Transcripts - Robin 6/30/2010 (2)
  • Great opportunity for young people in high school! - Chris Miranda 6/30/2010 (0)
  • high school world history - Lindsey 6/30/2010 (2)
  • authors, please! - Ellie Weaver 6/29/2010 (1)
  • Military Family Thinking about Homeschooling - Brandon Ulasiewicz 6/28/2010 (3)
  • What constitutes a day of school? - Nan 6/28/2010 (4)
  • Local Book Expo/Author Event for Writers - Laurel Wilczek 6/28/2010 (0)
  • beascout.org - Naudain Radcliff 6/25/2010 (0)
  • Philadelphia School District: where to bring portfolios/affidavits - Annette 6/25/2010 (5)
  • Plymouth Meeting Classical Conversations/Middle Schoolers! - Holly Schrock 6/25/2010 (0)
  • public school to homeschool - Kristen 6/23/2010 (4)
  • beginning HS as a 4th grader - Angela 6/22/2010 (2)
  • graduation ceremony questions - Pam 6/22/2010 (1)
  • ESL - Beth Spahn 6/22/2010 (0)
  • Tickets for Central PA Graduation - Barb Vogelgesang 6/21/2010 (2)
  • High school requirements for school district - NANCY I. SMITH 6/19/2010 (7)
  • Affadavit question.... - Mistey 6/17/2010 (4)
  • Do you have to join? - Sekeena Rivers 6/16/2010 (1)
  • gifted child - Kathy Dumas 6/16/2010 (1)
  • Moving out of PA and confused - Theresa 6/16/2010 (9)
  • Abby Sunderland is part of a family of homeschooled adventurers - Howard Richman 6/15/2010 (0)
  • Moving to PA from IL - Deborah 6/15/2010 (2)
  • Old-Fashioned Homeschooling (links for free HS curriculums, etc) - Annette 6/14/2010 (0)
  • Portfolio ?s - Judy 6/14/2010 (9)
  • graduation - Sharon Wilbers 6/14/2010 (1)
  • Dental - Stephanie 6/13/2010 (1)
  • Is it legal for Pa. school districts to request the following info? - Nan 6/12/2010 (4)
  • Cyber Schools - Alicia 6/11/2010 (0)
  • Boys & Books -- of interest to parents with a boy in school - Bruce Deitrick Price 6/10/2010 (0)
  • School Sucks Podcast - Ofer Nave 6/10/2010 (0)
  • Writing Project - Michael Dolan 6/9/2010 (0)
  • Geometry - Cynthia 6/9/2010 (1)
  • Chicken Pox Vacc. Health Requirement - Karen Doll 6/8/2010 (0)
  • State Standardized Test - Danielle Tate 6/8/2010 (2)
  • extending deadline for evaluations - victoria 6/8/2010 (1)
  • evaluations of a 4th grader - Michelle 6/8/2010 (3)
  • PHAA eligible evaluator - Tracy 6/8/2010 (1)
  • new homeschooler - cindy 6/7/2010 (0)
  • 7th Grade Science - Susan 6/7/2010 (0)
  • Cyber-school grad Dustin Holub of Sunbury riding amateur rodeo circuit - Howard Richman 6/6/2010 (0)
  • "Avoiding the College Trap" (article) - Annette 6/5/2010 (1)
  • Submitting Paperwork to Philly school district - Anna Bateman 6/4/2010 (3)
  • PA State Approved Online Driver Education available this summer! - Luann Dunkerley 6/4/2010 (2)
  • Help with Challenging - Jenna 6/4/2010 (2)
  • graduation ceremony - Crystal Pasquarello 6/4/2010 (0)
  • Diploma ~ Howard or Susan - Jennifer 6/4/2010 (0)
  • Movies as Literature question - Sheri 6/4/2010 (1)
  • reluctant homeschooler - Sherry Williams-Gonzalez 6/3/2010 (2)
  • Text books needed!! - Loretta 6/3/2010 (4)
  • requirements for special education students. - Jim and Jennifer 6/2/2010 (1)
  • High School Curriculum - Becky 6/2/2010 (1)
  • first visit to Pittsburgh - school district question - PGR 6/2/2010 (4)
  • Your event - Diana Raab 6/2/2010 (0)
  • Evaluators - Melinda 6/1/2010 (1)
  • Elementary Curriculum Help - susan 6/1/2010 (1)
  • NEW: BORDERS TEEN TALK PROGRAM JUNE 8, 7PM-8PM - Laurel Wilczek 6/1/2010 (0)
  • Writing Event for Writers at Stroudsburg Borders Store - Laurel Wilczek 6/1/2010 (0)
  • Central PA graduation ceremony BIO and PERFORMANCE AUDITION - Amy Duffy 6/1/2010 (0)
  • homeschooling in a different state - Mary Ann Miller 5/31/2010 (0)
  • Teaching reading by sight - arlene 5/29/2010 (2)
  • How to get article on PA Homeschoolers on-line Magazine - Marcy 5/29/2010 (0)
  • curriculum - susan 5/28/2010 (0)
  • Square Dance 5/29 - Abby 5/28/2010 (0)
  • Number of HS students in PA - Amy 5/28/2010 (2)
  • Starting School - Becky 5/27/2010 (2)
  • Pleae pray for my cousin --- Terrible car crash - Brenda 5/27/2010 (1)
  • CHRISTIAN PROM - Lindy 5/27/2010 (0)
  • Free evaluations - Michelle Isaak 5/26/2010 (2)
  • Required Subjects - Becky 5/26/2010 (3)
  • Help!!!! French - Karen Haines 5/21/2010 (0)
  • Question: portfolio for student who started homeschooling mid-year - Cynthia 5/21/2010 (1)
  • Foreign Language Requirement - Margaret Rineer 5/21/2010 (2)
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers will have a free hands-on workship for teachers on June 5 - Howard Richman 5/20/2010 (0)
  • What to do when School district asks for more info that law? - Barb Vogelgesang 5/19/2010 (4)
  • Penn State Conservation Leadership School - Mike Powell 5/19/2010 (0)
  • Subjects on transcript - TZ 5/18/2010 (0)
  • Summer Opportunities - Gina Curry 5/18/2010 (0)
  • Diploma - Matt Walker 5/17/2010 (2)
  • Summer Fun with The Fresh Air Fund - Cuthbert A. Onikute 5/17/2010 (0)
  • evaluators - Karen Haines 5/16/2010 (1)
  • course credit questions - Marcy 5/15/2010 (0)
  • Teaching Textbooks and Rosetta Stone Spanish - Lisa Funk 5/15/2010 (2)
  • Math 4 Homeschoolers Online - Dennis Smalley 5/14/2010 (0)
  • locating spec ed supevisor - Cynthia 5/13/2010 (1)
  • Need a course to fulfill your technology graduation requirement? - Derek Otieno 5/13/2010 (0)
  • Prof. Otieno's on-line students shine at Web Design competition - Derek Otieno 5/13/2010 (1)
  • testing - Cindy Wilson 5/13/2010 (1)
  • moving out of state - responsibility to Pa school district - Tracy Deakyne 5/12/2010 (1)
  • Drop-outs masquerading as homeschoolers in Texas - Howard Richman 5/11/2010 (0)
  • Christian Home Daycare - Jessica 5/11/2010 (0)
  • Looking for Son Light Core 1& 2 : World History - Jessica Falco 5/11/2010 (0)
  • Looking for Math-U-See manipulative blocks - Jessica Falco 5/11/2010 (1)
  • TerraNova - SAH 5/11/2010 (0)
  • Signing up to evaluate for PHAA - Susan C. 5/11/2010 (0)
  • missed spring test - michael 5/11/2010 (1)
  • SHORT STORY CONTEST & WRITING EVENTS AT PEARL S BUCK - Cynthia L Louden 5/10/2010 (1)
  • EMT Basic Class... how many credits - Margarete 5/10/2010 (1)
  • Home school evaluations - debbie 5/9/2010 (0)

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    PA Homeschoolers

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    		•

    Magazine

    Homeschoolers and Community Service-- the Hands and Feet Ministry, in central PA
    Erika Norton, 2/5/2010

    Erika Norton homeschooled her four children through high school graduation with PHAA (Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency)-- that's 20 years of homeschooling! She wrote this article originally for our print publication, in fall of 2008 (issue #104), which focused on all the many ways that homeschoolers were finding to give back to their wider communities. Many of the ideas tie in well with Dr. Gary Welton's research on socialization of homeschoolers and their development as good and caring people. I hope this wonderful idea spreads to other homeschoolers! In the comments section, do share what *your* homeschooling family has done to encourage meaningful community service. 

    Serving as the Hands and Feet of Christ

    The Hands and Feet Ministry is a group of mostly teens and some adults who make weekly visits to a high-rise income- based government -subsidized apartment building in Hershey, PA, called The Hershey Plaza.

    This building is home to mostly widows, some couples, and the disabled. There are 200 apartments and everyone is attempting to live independently. This is where we come in. We visit for about an hour and offer to do anything that they are unable to do; clean the bathroom, wash the floors, vacuum, flip the bed mattress, wash windows, take out the trash, sweep the balcony, etc. This all sounds so simple, but it has had an amazing effect on both the elderly and the teens.

    How did all this get started? Seven years ago as part of a home schooling co-op one of the teens, an eleventh grader, specifically asked for a ministry class. We were offering all sorts of fun and academic classes, but she remembered having ministry as a young child and asked again that we would provide a class for the older students.

    I was designated to be the teacher and questioned her about any ideas that she might have. She said that her mom had been doing some cleaning at Hershey Plaza and she thought it would be a good place to go and help. I was able to make some contacts to offer our services. It was apparent as soon as we arrived that God had opened the door for a ministry to be born. One elderly lady shared that she had been fervently praying for someone to come and help. She remarked that God works in mysterious ways, but she had no idea that God would send a group of teenagers.

    The first year was filled with unbelievable experiences. We met the most interesting elderly and disabled people. Some of the apartments were in desperate need of some good cleaning while others were spotless. The teens learned how to clean disgustingly dirty bathrooms and kitchens, how to carefully water plants, and also how to dust when you cannot even see any dust, and that when someone asks for help it is not always that they really need help, it could be that they are lonely and need a friend. We all learned about life through the eyes of the aging and those with disabilities, how to be respectful, and about how getting older or suffering with a disability is not always a pretty picture.

    The residents immediately fell in love with the students and would say things like, “I look forward to when you come. It makes my week.” They would talk around and tell each other about us and by word of mouth we now have a list of names so lengthy that we cannot even begin to reach them all.

    At one point we needed a name for this blossoming ministry so I asked the student who had proposed this whole amazing idea and she immediately said that we should call this project The Hands and Feet Ministry, meaning we are the hands and feet of Christ to our hurting world.

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    The students’ lives have been changed as well, as they have learned to step outside of the world of Ipods and cell phones and enter the slower-paced life of the elderly. And they love it- amazingly! We have continued this ministry and are now in our 7th year because they talk about it at home to their siblings and the younger students are asking to join us! The kids who have gone on to college come back and help out on their breaks and the ones who do college at home are planning their schedule to have Thursdays available for ministry. This is life-changing! Through serving the disadvantaged they have seen that there is a reward when you step outside your own world and help another person. They know it goes beyond the mere cleaning job. It’s an act of mercy and compassion. The students have mentioned how they have seen the face of Christ in those they minister to and that by serving the disadvantaged they are serving Christ. Somehow they have grasped that this act of love has eternal value.

    100_4907.JPG

    I could write a book about all the lives we have touched, all the people we have met, the experiences…..the man we met in the elevator who had lost almost his entire family and his wife lay dying and the young junior high student who prayed that she would get better and she did! How we learned to know this couple and ended up singing at their funerals. And how this same student gave her a bouquet of flowers and wept when her husband died…….or the look on the face of a black woman when one student thought to take his saxophone and play for her and he reminded her of her deceased husband…….or the look on a student’s face when one old lady grabbed him and went for a hug and said that she had not been hugged for forty years and that it felt so good……or the paraplegic who said with tears in his eyes that we give him a reason to get up and shave in the morning…..

    And I have learned as a mom in the final year of homeschooling, 20 years later and ready to graduate our son and work my way out of this daunting job, that there was way more than math, and spelling, and English grammar and literature and science to teach. Thankfully God stepped in and taught us moms how to really teach the important stuff and how to be humbled and see that learning goes way beyond the textbooks.

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