CHECK HIGHLIGHTS

Good Evening Everyone!

I'm not sure what you're weekend entailed, but I had the honour of attending my first ever CHEK conference. I had such a fantastic weekend!  I returned home (a bit weary) but very inspired.

Since many of you were not able to make the weekend, I want to introduce you to the key note speakers Jenni & Jody.  These two wonderful women hail from Florida and have a combined 24 years of experience in homeschooling their kids.  The great thing about these ladies is that they make a lot of their resources, including podcasts, available online.  Jenniandjody.com is where you can check them out.


HCOS NEWS

Re-Enrolling
HCOS in encouraging all parents to let us know your plans for next year as soon as possible.  We know that some of you may still be deciding, but if you've come to a decision about next year's plan please let us know (even if that means you're not returning).

Here are instructions for re-enrolling your child:

• Log in to your Encom account (http://encom.onlineschool.ca/)
• If you do not know your log in information or need to reset your password, please email our office (office@onlineschool.ca)
• Click the re-enrolling link 
• Read through the options at the top and click “Re-enroll (student name)”?
•  Follow instructions on screen to complete re-enrollment

Learning Camps
Don't forget that there are still many great learning camps happening from now until June!
https://sites.google.com/site/hcoslearningcamps/

                                                       HCOS invites you to join us at

Charis Camp

 

Camp description:

Day Camp from 9am-3pm, enabling students to develop physical skills on a climbing wall, in archery and on an obstacle course as well as team building activities to develop good sportsmanship and communication skills.  They will also be taught the safety rules associated with these activities.  Learning Outcomes for active living, movement skills and safety, fair play and leadership for various grades of PE will be partially covered as will communication and collaboration learning outcomes in language arts.   Cost includes lunch, snack and safety and skills teaching, as well as coffee for the adults.  https://fluidsurveys.com/s/charis-camp-2015/






HCOS Drama Production

Please consider supporting this great HCOS event.

Tickets available at House of James in Abbotsford or Eventbrite.

theatre.onlineschool.ca

News From Around HCOS

Food for Thought

I am actually borrowing the thought this week from Bruce Hildebrandt, Director at HCOS, as he importantly reminded me of how important it is to take a break from all the busyness.

It seems like everyone you talk to is BUSY BUSY BUSY. We are all busy with the demands of work, of family, of relationships, of church responsibilities. We run around like heads with our chickens cut off, driving kids to activities, getting groceries, trying to keep up with life.  Then along comes something like an audit, or a health issue, or …. and we crumble. And it seems like a little something dies inside of us as we wonder how we be able to deal with that on top of everything else.

            It never hurts in those times (or any time) to stop and quiet our hearts and minds and refocus. I love this song as it reminds me of the amazingness of God. God who is creator and sustainer, yet God who is completely aware of us and our situations. 

            It’s easy to “busy” God out of our lives. We have to intentionally pause to make room in our lives and our day for Him.

Here’s a 4 minute video to remind us of the indescribable God we serve.

 https://youtu.be/VmTxZAl7ceU

HCOS NEWS

Looking for a great all around resource site?
Check out: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/



HCOS invites you to join us at the
Vancouver Aquarium for an Overnight Adventure!
After the Aquarium has closed its doors for the night, we invite you to join us for an exciting night of exploration. You’ll have the chance to explore the Aquarium through a variety of special activities and head into our behind-the-scenes marine lab, where you can touch local invertebrates including live sea stars, sea urchins, anemones and more. Bed down in front of one of the Aquarium's spectacular marine galleries, and receive a continental breakfast when you wake up. 

For more information: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/VancouverAquariumOvernight/



Step into My Shoes is a flexible, immersive experience and devotional for families and small groups. Each step helps families walk in the shoes of Ugandan family Pastor Tom, his wife Nancy and their children and then invites us to follow Jesus' footsteps—caring for children and for those in need. The experience invites us to choose one, practical way we as families can invest in children locally or globally, and to continue the journey by receiving a blog with prayer ideas and fun family ideas to live compassionately, together.

http://stepintomyshoes.ca/

Hello all poets and creative writers at HCS Learning Commons. Coming up in April we are having an HCS Commons  Writing and Poetry Contest!  We hope you enjoyed the recent writing workshop with Sigmund Brouwer to get you engaged in the JOY of writing!   

We would love to invite you to join in our poetry/creative writing competition and share your gifts. This can be a poem, part of a story (or a full short story, 1000 words or less) or even song lyrics that you have written yourself. You can share it written out, or in a video of you reciting or singing your piece.

It would be great to have you join us here on the  Ning for this exciting event!  Should you have any further questions or need an invite to the Ning, please contact pdavies@onlineschool.ca

IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Just a quick 3  minute IMT video update for families with students entering grades 5 to 8. http://safeshare.tv/w/SspjDmtzIk

IMT added 3D interactive classroom/fieldtrips and DimensionU to our mix this year. The students are pumped and it’s not unusual to find them in class an hour before starting time. It’s hoped that next year will see further integration of Unity3D environments, including the opportunity for all teachers to use them for instructional/learning experiences. 

If you're wanting a broader view of the IMT program you can simply search for Gord Holden on YouTube. 

HCOS NOTEWORTHY DATES

April 24,25 CHEC

May 15 Final day for credit card spending
May 20, 22, 23    Pinocchio Musical: *Abbotsford*: mysonpinocchiojr.eventbrite.ca
June 12 HCOS Grad at Trinity Western University
June 26 Final report cards due

Easter Week and Such...

This week, I'm including an article by well known blogger Jen Hatmaker.  

Maybe, just maybe, some of you can identify with some of the stress that Jen identifies in modern day parenting?  But also, I trust that you will find hope in what she says.

If you enjoyed the article or have a comment about this article, please feel free to leave a comment below. It might be fun to get a bit of discussion going from within our group.

Have a great rest of the week!  Happy Easter to your families!
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What Would My Mom Do? (Drink Tab and Lock Us Outside)

I’m about to tell you the truth: parenting has become very precious in our generation.

This very morning, a mom posted how on her son’s birthday, she assembles a comprehensive “time capsule” including items, photos, and products related to that particular year, stores it in a set of antique trunks, and plans to present them all to him on his 18^th birthday as a tribute to his entire life.

Jen Hatmaker

Holy. Crap.

Cannot. Deal.

When I think about upping the joy in parenting and diminishing the stress, I propose that much of our anxiety stems from this notion that our kids’ childhood must be Utterly Magical; a beautifully documented fairytale in which they reside as center of the universe, their success is manufactured (or guaranteed), and we over-attend to every detail of their lives until we send them off to college after writing their entrance essays.

To read more of Jen's article...click here.
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HCOS NEWS

IMPORTANT DATES

*Please note that you can re-enrol your children for next year at HCOS.

There are over 550 children that have already registered to be part of HCOS next year!

March 30       Term 2 Report Cards Due
April 24/25    CHEC Conference in Kelowna
May 15           Last Day for Purchasing Curriuclum


LEARNING CAMPS

PRIMARY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

Bring your young scientists out to participate in a six week Primary Physical Science learning camp.  Topics covered include: sound, light, forces, magnetism,  materials and structures, and states of matter. (See attached outcomes and overviews).  The focus will be on "being a scientist" through hands on experimentation.  Students will be encouraged to use the Scientific Method as they investigate and record their findings.  As well, a handout of a few ideas/websites for them to do at home will be 

provided to help with extending their learning.

For more information: https://fluidsurveys.com/s/surrey-primary-science-experiments-2015/

BIBLE

In the area of Bible there are three areas to encourage your children's learning:

• Bible Doctrine (growing in their relationship and understanding of who God is and how much Jesus loves each one of them through engaging with the Bible and with stories)
• Personal Devotions and Discipleship (communicating through prayer; engaging in a faith community either at home with family or in a community place)
• Service (prayer, acts of kindness towards others)

So when you're celebrating your children's learning, remember it doesn't have to come just in the form of Bible memorization or reading scripture (although those are fantastic and definitely encouraged), but can also come from simple everyday things like acts of service they are doing around the home, or a time of prayer you share with them.

Still thinking of how to keep Bible engaging for your child?

Right now Media (a resource you can subscribe to through HCOS) has had some great videos out recently as well.

• How to teach your kids the Gospel
• Experience Easter Like Never Before

Upcoming Drama Details

  

Tarzan: The Stage Musical Based on the Disney Film!   Xtreme Theatre : Maple Ridge
Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. (Cast 1)
Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. (Cast 2)
Friday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. (Cast 1)
Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 p.m. (Matinee, Cast 1)
Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. (Cast 2)
This show is approximately 120 minutes with one intermission.
This is Xtreme Theatre's 16th year of performing musical theatre in our community. A number of our students are participating in this production.
Tickets: $16

Go to website for more information and ticket purchasing options: xtremetheatre.ca

Disney's My Son Pinocchio JR. Drama Production: AbbotsfordDirector: Allana Lemke

Wednesday, May 20 @ 7pm, *Special School Showing*  Thursday, May 21 @ 10:30am...Tickets are $5!  Friday, May 22 @ 7pm,  Saturday, May 23 @ 2pm & 7pm

Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door.
Tickets may be purchased through Eventbrite  mysonpinocchiojr.eventbrite.ca

Matsqui Centennial Auditorium 
32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford