March Co-op

This is just an update from Thursday's homeschool meeting. Three main issues were discussed with all who attended on February 12th:

Any child is welcomed to come to coop without Mom, if Mom has had an emergency come up. We would like the Moms to come as often as possible so they can be actively involved in their child’s homeschool coop. However, we all have doctor appointments, work, or many unexplained events that sometimes get in the way of the coop meetings. Even if another child in the family is sick, but the other siblings would like to come, send them. Each Mom knows their child best and knows if they are able to behave if Mom isn’t there for 2-3 hours. We would love as many of our homeschool children to come as possible each month. There are only 9 meetings per year and this is a wonderful opportunity to break the monotony of our daily homeschool routine.

Any child who wants to sing, quote a verse, etc. can do so on any month even if he/she isn’t listed on the schedule. If you have a child who wants to do something every month, great! Encourage them. This is a great opportunity for each child to get some public speaking experience no matter how small it may seem. It will benefit them greatly in the future.

Next month’s coop craft is for all homeschoolers big and small. We will use a small terra cotta flower pot. We will turn the pot upside down and paint something spring related on it. We then will spray paint an outdoor clear spray, run a cord threw it, tie a bell and bead inside and a bead on the outside, and then bring the cord up to a shower curtain ring and tie it off. These are meant to be hung outside and the bell jingle when the wind blows.

PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING TO NEXT CLASS
§ One small terra cotta flower pot for each child
§ Some kind of big shirt or smock for painting
§ Mrs. Tammy will bring the paints, brushes, and clear spray paint.
§ Mrs. Kim will bring the cording, bells, beads and shower rings.

Next month’s lunch is brown bag.

January 2009 co-op

The craft for the 2nd-5th grade group is prepared. They will be making a kaleidoscope. Mrs. Kim Howell has everything prepared BUT if some of the parents have any small sequins, small beads, or other small items that could be used in the end of the kaleidoscope, please bring them on Thursday. We don’t need much. Semitransparent would work best because this would allow some light to travel through and give a better pattern in the kaleidoscope.

If anyone else has an announcement for the blog for the upcoming co-op day, please email or call Kristi with your information and I'll get it on here for you.

~Thanks~

Christmas Ornaments

For those of you in our co-op, please have your dough ready to roll out when you arrive at co-op, Thursday, December 11. The children will be rolling out their dough, cutting their shapes, and baking them for craft time. Please have the dough ready when you get there! It can be made a day or two in advance and should be properly sealed from air until you are ready to use it at co-op. This is a time consuming craft and will take a couple of hours, therefore, we will not be having gym time. We will need EVERY mother's hands and eyes. If you are unable to stay for this craft time, you will be asked to take your children with you, as to cut down on chaos, confusion, and time.

To make your dough, you will need:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup of salt

1 cup of water

Mix all ingredients well, roll into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator. If you make the dough that morning, you need only place it in the fridge until you are ready to leave for co-op. There is no specific time of keeping it in the fridge before cutting the dough.

Please bring with you to co-op:

PRE-MADE DOUGH (set in fridge as soon as you get to co-op)

COOKIE CUTTERS

A SPOOL OF RIBBON

SCISSORS

PENCIL

AT LEAST TWO COOKIE SHEETS

ROLLING PIN

SOMETHING TO CARRY YOUR ORNAMENTS HOME IN

If for some reason your child will not be at co-op or unable to participate in this craft for whatever reason, or if you are not a member of our co-op and would like to try this craft at home, here is what to do:

After rolling out your dough, use the cookie cutters to cut your favorite Christmas shapes. Using the tip of the pencil, make a hole large enough for your ribbon to go through after the baking process. Keep in mind that the dough will rise slightly, closing off the hole just a little. Bake the ornaments in the oven at 300 for thirty minutes. Turn the ornaments over with a spatula and bake for another thirty minutes. Once the ornaments have completely cooled, paint them! When they have dried, tie ribbon through the holes and hang them on your tree or give them as gifts.

Please remember to be at co-op at 10:00 am sharp! Our schedule for this day will be hectic and as follows:

Pledges: 10:00

Followed by songs and verses.

A time for reports and projects will be given after verses.

Lord willing, Brother RJ and Brother Lewis will deliver some messages to us, beginning at 10:30.

We will begin our craft as soon as chapel is completed. Please help to get the smaller children into the kitchen and seated properly so that we can begin our craft time. The older children will be in the main room. We will break for lunch and birthday cake between 12:15 and 12:30. If you must leave, you are welcome to finish your craft at home.

Jamie C will open in prayer.

Gary Philbeck will be leading our pledges.

Flag and Bible holders will be: Haili, Caleb R, and Isaac

Special music will be given by: Justin C, Alanna, Deborah, and Naomi

Verses will be said by: Cheyenne, Jamie, Hannah, Malachi, Caleb, and Laurel

Birthday dessert will be brought by: Kristi

Candles by: Mrs. Diane

Lunch is a brown bag!

Hope to see you there!!

6th Grade and Up Craft for November Co-op

If your child is in this sixth grade and up arts and crafts class, they will need a terra cota pot, ONLY large enough to be a candy dish, and one dollar for paint supplies. These are not too difficult to find. You SHOULD be able to find one at Wal Mart or Lowes. You may even have one around the house. Plastic is not recommended.

Questions? See Kristi!

If you are in charge of an Arts and Crafts class, please send me your information, if any, ASAP so that moms know what they need to bring, if anything. Thanks!

Dinner Cancelled

I've spoken with a couple of other moms this evening, and under the circumstances, we think it would be best to cancel our Thanksgiving dinner for another time. Our family will most likely not be in attendance because of mom's surgery, a couple of our children have Thursday commitments and will miss, and several of our dads will not be able to attend. The whole point of the dinner was for our families to get together and for our dads to have fellowship with one another.

Lord willing, we'll be able to have a dinner together after the new year.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Hey y'all! Don't forget we'll be having a Thanksgiving dinner, Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 pm. We'll be meeting at the Fellowship building. If anyone can help decorate around 12:30 that WEDNESDAY afternoon, please let me know.

AND! If you have any fall decorations you wouldn't mind sharing for the tables that would also be great! This also includes fall tablecloths if you have one you wouldn't mind sharing for the night. I'll ask Mrs. Janet if we can use the kerosene lamps

Don't forget that we are all to bring a main dish, side dish, bread, dessert, and drink to be shared by all. Also, remind your children to be ready to provide entertainment for the evening. Verses, Thanksgiving poems, songs, jokes, etc!

Thanks!
~Kristi

October Co-op

Thursday is our October co-op. I'm looking forward to it. Are you? Remember, we will be starting promptly at 10:00 am! There are a few announcements you need to know before Thursday. Please make note!

Lunch:
Brown bag...don't forget your drink!

Birthday cake:
Kim Howell is bringing the birthday cake.
Diane Philbeck will be bringing matches and candles.
We'll be singing happy birthday to Haili!

Chapel:
Flag and Bible holders will be Malachi, Benjamin, and Hannah.

Jamie C will be leading in prayer.

Music will be by Cheyenne, Harrison, Isaac, Elizabeth, and Nicole.

Verses will be said by Gary, Nicole, Alanna, Benjamin, and Deborah.

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ARTS & CRAFTS:
Preschoolers - 1st grade will need a smock or old shirt to cover up with. Their craft involves painting! Direct any questions you may have to Tammy C.

2nd grade to 5th grade will also need a smock or cover up. Their craft will involve painting as well. Direct any questions you may have to Kim H.

6th grade and up will be making fall place mats. Please bring a pair of good scissors. Also a fee of 50 cents will be needed to cover the lamination. Direct any questions you may have to Rebecca C.

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If you have ordered a year book, but have not yet purchased it, please be ready to do that Thursday, or at least tell Tammy when you will be able to do that. Thank you!