T3: Talent, Taters & Treats at EE 4/5/2013

You won’t want to miss EE’s first ever TALENT SHOW and DINNER fundraiser event!
It’s coming up NEXT WEEK on FRIDAY, APRIL 5th!

Get your Baked Potato Supper tickets from the House Manger in the Library when you sign in. You must have a pre-purchased ticket to guarantee a dinner on April 5th!
Please reserve your dinner by buying tickets before April 2, 2013. Thank you!

Tickets are $7.00 per individual ticket or $25.00 for a packet of four tickets. Special child-sized potato dinners are available for children aged ten and under for $4.00 each.
Dinner includes a large potato (small for children aged ten and under) with all the "fixings", a drink and a bakery dessert. Yum!

Talent Show

With 37 students in this year’s talent show, it is sure to be a lot of fun and very entertaining. Even if your child isn’t in the show, their friends probably are. Please plan to come out to the show and support our extraordinary kids!

Silent Auction

Don’t forget your check book when you come to the show. We have some amazing silent auction items that folks can bid on to help raise money for EE’s facility and program needs.

Additional details about the Cake Decorating Contest and Heads or Tails Game can be found at the link below.

http://extraordinaryed.blogspot.com/2013/03/t3-talent-taters-and-treatstickets-etc.html

EE Registration Events in April & May

New Family Overview / Information Meeting
Monday, April 1st @ 1:00-2:00pm

Meet the Teacher & Open House
Tuesday, April 16th @ 6:30-8:30pm
Tuesday, May 21st @ 6:30-8:30pm

New Family Overview / Information Meeting
Monday, April 1st @ 1:00-2:00pm
RSPV: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5722297546
This meeting is designed to provide an overview of the Extraordinary Education program for families who are new to EE. Families who plan to enroll in the CORE program are asked to attend a New Family Overview.

Meet the Teacher & Open House
Tuesday, April 16th
Tuesday, May 21st
6:30-8:30pm
All families both old and new are invited to come out and talk with teachers about their fall classes and summer camps. Find out about curriculum, workload expectations, course objectives and more. Registration will be available during Meet the Teacher Nights.
This is a come and go style event. Teachers will have tables set up with information about their classes, and parents can walk around and talk with teachers one on one. Children are welcome, but they must stay with a parent at all times.
A New Family Overview presentation will be offered during Meet The Teacher Night from7:00-8:00pm. Families who plan to enroll in the CORE program are asked to attend a New Family Overview.

EE Easter Celebration Seder Dinner

On Friday, March 29, 2013 we will be celebrating Easter with a  Seder  Dinner at Extraordinary Education from 10:00am-12:00pm. 
Tammy Trapp will lead us through a typical  Seder  Dinner and our children will get to learn all about this wonderful celebration. 

Tammy will be cooking the meal and it will cost $1.00 per person to cover the meal. We will need everyone to RSVP for how many meals you and your family will be eating.  In addition to this we want to provide snacks and treats so we are looking for people to sign up to donate from the following list.  We will also need volunteers to help, setup, tear down and monitor the children.

Please RSVP and sign up to help or bring goodies here:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0548ACA82DA64-easter

Please note that children may not be left unattended at EE during this celebration so please make sure that you stay and participate unless you have previously made arrangements with another adult to be responsible for your child on that day.
CONTACT Linda Crank with any questions. epcwork@hotmail.com

Stage Construction Project at EE - 3/30/13

Dear members of EE,

My name is Michael Eaton, I am a Boy Scout, and I am on my way to becoming an Eagle rank. I am pleased to announce that I am beginning an Eagle Scout project that will enrich the quality of the facilities at Extraordinary Education Center (EE), and invite you all to join me in the construction of this project. We will be building an adaptable stage for group meetings and presentations for use in EE's new(ish) portable buildings.

The project will take place on Saturday, March 30 at EE from 10 am to sometime in the afternoon (it's hard to determine how long it will take to complete), likely between 2 and 4 pm. Volunteers of all ages are invited to come participate, and lunch will be provided free of charge.

We will be assembling pieces of wood together to form platforms of various sizes to be used as a versatile stage/risers. If there is time, we will also prime and paint the platforms. Please bring work gloves and any power screwdrivers you may have. Please also wear close-toe shoes and painting clothes.

The address for EE is 9522 Carraway Lane, Magnolia, TX, 77354. Lunch will be provided for volunteers. Please RSVP at my e-mail, michael.eaton779@gmail.com to insure that we have enough lunch for everyone. (Please include "RSVP" or "Eagle Project" in the subject line). You can also ask any questions you may have by e-mail as well.

Thank you, and I hope to see many of you at the project!

-Michael Eaton, ASPL for BSA Troop 1945

Extraordinary Results at PSIA Contest!

Extraordinary Education students really showed their stuff at today’s PSIA District 10A academic contest held at San Jacinto College North. 18 EE homeschoolers competed in over 50 events and won over 25 awards. EE students qualified for State in at least 8 events. Placing in the top 6 at Region contest is quite an accomplishment, and qualifying for State is a real honor.
Be sure to congratulate these extraordinary students when you see them!

For more information about the Private Schools Interscholastic Association, please see their website at www.psiaacademics.org

PSIA Award Winners!

Lydia Derksen

• On-site Drawing 7 - 1st PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED

Makenzie Lewis

• Listening Skills 8 - 1st PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED

Jason Eaton

• Prose Interpretation 7/8 - 2nd PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED
• Science 7 – 2nd PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED
• Vocabulary 7 – 4th Place

Luke H. Miller

• Maps, Graphs, Charts 4 – 2nd PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED

Johanna Kloesel

• Dictionary Skills 8 – 2nd PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED
• Ready Writing 8 – 4th Place
• Vocabulary 8 – 5th Place

Catherine Salinas

• Dictionary Skills 5 – 2nd PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED
  Music Memory 5/6 – 6th Place

Kiki Vorderbruggen

• Music Memory 3/4 – 2nd PLACE, STATE QUALIFIED
• Mathematics 4 – 6th Place

Andrew OBrien

• Vocabulary 5 – 2nd PLACE, STATE ALTERNATE

Grace Anne Kloesel

• Ready Writing 5 – 3rd PLACE, STATE ALTERNATE
• Vocabulary 5 – 3rd Place
• Spelling 5 – 4th Place
• Listening Skills 5 – 5th Place

Kessa Vorderbruggen   

• Mathematics 2 – 3rd Place
• Music Memory 3 – 4th Place

Joseph Kloesel

• Mathematics 3 – 4th Place
• Number Sense 3 – 6th Place

Grace Ann Kowalski

• Creative Writing 1 – 6th Place

Lauren Holley

• Prose Interpretation 6 – 6th Place

Olivia Salinas

• Storytelling 2 – Finals

Note: I may have missed a few awards especially late in the day. Please let me know if you won a ribbon or medal so I can add you to the list!
Also - I am also sorry to those who missed getting in the photos. It was difficult getting everyone together for a photo with all the events going on. Send me a photo with your ribbons and medals so I can add them to the EE website!

T3: Talent, Taters, and Treats–Tickets, etc.

"Tater Tickets", Heads or Tails entries, and Cake Decorating Contest registration are available at the EE sign in desk beginning this Thursday -- just ask the  House Mom to help you out, please.

Baked Potato Supper tickets can be purchased at a cost of $7.00 per individual ticket or $25.00 for a packet of four tickets.  Special child-sized potato dinners are available for children aged ten and under for $4.00 each.  
Dinner includes a large potato (small for children aged ten and under) with all the "fixings", a drink and a bakery dessert.  Yum!  You must have a pre-purchased ticket to guarantee a dinner on April 5th!  Please reserve your dinner by buying tickets before April 2, 2013. Thank you!

Cake Decorating Contest:  Entry forms for the cake decorating contest will be available at the sign in desk beginning Thursday -- just ask the House Mom to help you out, please!  The theme for the contest is "You Can't Stop the Beat" and you may interpret that in any creative way that ties in with those words or the idea those words provoke.  We will have great prizes for "The Best of Show" and "Fan Favorite" cakes so be sure to register to compete  -- and come out and vote for your favorite cake on April 5th at the fundraiser.  Entries cost $5.00 per cake and you may enter as many cakes as you like!

Heads or Tails Game: This fun game is open to all interested players at the fundraiser on April 5th.  All you have to do is choose heads or tails each time the coin is flipped and the final standing player will win $50.00!  Yes, that's right --we will have a $50.00 prize winner for this simple game!!!  Cost per entrant is $5.00.  You may prepay for your spot in the game when you buy your dinner tickets or when you sign up for the cake decorating contest if you would like to!  You may also purchase a spot while at the fundraiser if you prefer.

Please contact Renee Campbell or Linda Tindall if you would like to donate cash or prizes for the fundraiser or if you are available to help with various activities on April 5th.  Thank you!

See you at T3: Talent, Taters, and Treats on Friday, April 5, 2013 beginning at 5:00 p.m.!

Young Scientist Challenge for 5th-8th Graders

Open to students in grades 5-8, the Young Scientist Challenge asks entrants to create a 1-2 minute video showcasing their great idea to solve a real-world problem. Videos will not be judged on production skills and may be recorded on cell phones or basic digital cameras.

Students have the chance to win:
- $25,000
- An exclusive mentorship with 3M scientists
- A trip to Costa Rica with Discovery Student Adventures

Encourage the students in your life to enter today!
- The first 50 students to submit a video will receive a Young ScientistChallenge prize pack!
All videos must be submitted online no later than April 23, 2013

Questions? Review the FAQs at YoungScientistChallenge.com

Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo 3/23

Please join us for the 2013 Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo on March 23 from 10 am – 4 pm at Lone Star College – Montgomery on College Park Drive in The Woodlands.

This is a FREE family event with something for everyone. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can also work on their merit badge requirements by visiting several or the education stations at the Expo. There will be kayak tanks, Smokey Bear, Chikawa dancers, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas A&M Forest Service, Junior Master Gardeners & 4-H Shooting Sports, archery, live demonstrations and animals, rock climbing, live music, inflatables, educational clinics, a tree give-a-way, and much more!

Tell us about your experiences at Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo and Spring Fling 2013 and you could be entered in a drawing to win a BMW X5 or a MINI Cooper Countryman for the weekend. That's right. Come to Expo & Spring Fling, tell us what you thought, and you could win a car for the weekend!
http://expo.tamu.edu/

TX Regional Robofest Events

For our robotics enthusiasts, there are three regional Robofest events taking place in the next two weeks.
These events are free to the public to watch.

Galveston at Austin Middle School
March 23, 2013.  9:00 AM -  1:00 PM
Jr and Sr Exhibition and Game  Divisions

Lake Jackson at Brazosport Christian School
March 23, 2013.  9:00AM -  1:00 PM
Jr and Sr  Exhibition and Game  Divisions

Sugarland at Techno Chaos
April 4, 2013, 5:00 PM -  9:00 PM
Jr and Sr  Game Divisions

Winners of these regional events are eligible for the World Robofest Championship on May 18, 2013 at Lawrence Tech in Southfield, Michigan
Find out more about Robofest at www.robofest.net

Lone Star College - Homeschool Campus Visit

REMINDER…SPECIAL HOME SCHOOL VISIT TO LONE STAR COLLEGE-TOMBALL!!

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY AT LSCTomballDC.EventBrite.com

You’re Invited: Dual Credit Homeschool Lone Star College-Tomball Campus Visit

March 22^nd, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Lone Star College-Tomball invites you to an informational Open Door visit just for Homeschool students and families interested in our Dual Credit program. 

Please join us to learn more about opportunities available through Dual Credit for high school juniors and seniors to begin earning college credit. Lone Star College-Tomball administrators, faculty, and advisors will be available to help you understand what Dual Credit is all about and how to get started. This is your chance to visit with other homeschool families, gain a glimpse of college life at Lone Star College-Tomball, and begin the Dual Credit enrollment process! Even if you have been part of the Dual Credit program previously, you are encouraged to attend and learn about important updates and procedures.

*Important Note: Registration for the Fall semester begins April 10, 2013 and closes for Dual Credit students on June 15, 2013.

Please follow the link below to RSVP for the March 22^nd Open Door Visit designed especially for you!

RSVP at: lsctomballdc.eventbrite.com

Who: Prospective and Current Homeschool Dual Credit Students and Families

What: Become familiar with the policies and procedures related to the LSCS Dual Credit program and learn about college life at LSC-Tomball

When: Friday, March 22^nd 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Check-In: Begins at 8:30 a.m.

Optional Extras: Campus tour; LSC Application assistance; Placement testing sign-up

Save the Date: Dual Credit Homeschool Registration Days - April 26 (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) or June 4 (4 p.m.-7 p.m.)! Invitation to follow.
Students will have the opportunity on one of these days to visit with a LSC-Tomball advisor, visit with other Dual Credit Homeschool students, and register for Fall semester classes.

Bring your Friends! Feel free to share this invite with friends or family who might be interested!

Don’t Forget! RSVP for your Dual Credit Homeschool visit: lsctomballdc.eventbrite.com

Questions? Contact ROaDI@lonestar.edu or 281-357-3782

We appreciate your interest in making Lone Star College-Tomball the foundation of your college journey and look forward to seeing you March 22^nd!

Extraordinary Results at State Mock Trial Competition

The EXCEED Academy Mock Trial team from Extraordinary Education competed at the Texas Mock Trial State Competition on March 8-9, 2013.

Team members included: Karina Brisack (lead attorney), Jacob Johnson (attorney), Michael Eaton (attorney/witness), Michael Strack (attorney/witness), Hayden Burger (witness), Sharon Collins (witness) and Fabian Fernandez-Han (witness). The team's sponsor is Maureen Ball and the team's attorney/adviser is Kevin Forsberg.

Although the team did not break to finals, the team performed very well and several team members were honored for their contributions to the team. Karina Brisack was named a Finalist for the Outstanding Advocate Award and Michael Eaton was named a Finalist for the Outstanding Witness Award. A student must be nominated by all three judges in a single round to be considered a Finalist, so this is quite an accomplishment for these students. It is also unusual to have two students from the same team nominated for these awards. This indicates a high level of talent on the EE team.

In addition to the students named as finalists, two other team members were nominated for Outstanding Witness. Hayden Burger received a total of five nominations and Michael Strack was nominated as well. Michael Eaton received a total of five nominations for Outstanding Witness and also received two nominations for Outstanding Advocate.

In the first round of competition, the EE team was matched against last year's 1st Place team, Prestonwood Christian Academy. The EE team only lost this round by a total of 9 points out of a possible 330 per team. It was a very close match. In addition, the team took all three nominations for Outstanding Witness and one of three nominations for Outstanding Advocate.

In the second round of competition, the team was again matched against a top team from last year, Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School. This team had placed 6th in 2012. Once again, the ballots were very close, and the EE team took two out of three Outstanding Witness nominations and one out of three Outstanding Advocate nominations.

In round three, the team was matched against PSJA North and lost with a split ballot. There was one win, one loss and a third ballot with a difference of only a single point. As in earlier matches, the team took all three nominations for Outstanding Witness and one of three nominations for Outstanding Advocate.

The EE team swept round four against Brownsboro by winning all three ballots. In addition, the EE team took all three nominations for Outstanding Witness and all three nominations for Outstanding Advocate.

This was the second year for EXCEED Academy to represent Region VI at state competition, and the team is only two years old. EXCEED Academy is the college preparatory program at Extraordinary Education Center in Magnolia.

Reminder: BEST Robotics Event for Youth and Parents on Saturday, March 16th at EE

Please join us this Saturday for the second Robotics Team meeting of the season. New families are also invited to attend and find out what the team is all about.

Youth

The youth will participate in another educational and fun workshop lead by Mr. Bill Lane according to this schedule:

9:00 to 10:00 - Classroom instruction: review of forces, design of counterbalances 
10:00 to 10:15 - Break
10:15 to 11:15 - Hands on instruction in the barn: modification of the gripper, creation of a counterbalance, a continuing discussion of the importance of precision and stiffness in construction.

Those youth who who wish to run for one of the five leadership roles can prepare to make their presentations from 11:15 to 11:30.

From 11:30 to noon, we will conduct the student elections

Parents

The parents will participate in the adult committee meeting in the library from 9:00 am until 11:30 am. We will discuss continue our planning discussions from our first meeting and explore an interesting new strategic opportunity for our team. Please join us.

Best regards,

Peter Han 

Adviser, The Woodlands Homeschoolers BEST Robotics Team

Stanford Testing at EE–Register NOW!

Extraordinary Education will again be hosting standardized testing for those families who choose to test. Stanford Testing at EE is open to all area homeschoolers. See below for costs and co-op expectations.

STANFORD Achievement Test (SAT)
MAY 14, 15 & 16 (TUES, WED, THUR)
Daily test period: 9:00 am-noon
(Exact times will vary by day & grade level.)

The Stanford Test will be ordered by families individually and administered as a group at the EE campus. The test results will be delivered directly to each family privately. Stacy Shelton is coordinating Stanford testing at EE this year.

Please register for the Stanford Test at the link below:
http://www.extraed.net/stanford_testing_may_2013
NOTE: Tests will be ordered by parents in April. This portion of registration is for space and personnel planning only.

Please take some time to look over information about the Stanford test before registering. Basic testing information can be found on the BJU Press website: http://www.bjupress.com/testing/stanford.php

COSTS

• There is no Facility Fee for current EE students to take the Stanford test.
• There is a Facility Fee of $10 per student for non-members to help cover utilities, paper goods and other expenses. Priority will be given to current EE students if space becomes an issue.
• This test is being offered as a "co-op" activity. This means that the test administrators are NOT paid for their time and all testing families are expected to volunteer.
• In order to provide this opportunity for our students we need parents to serve as testers and also fill other volunteer jobs. Please indicate your volunteer preferences when you complete the registration form. (Note: To be a tester you must have a college degree in any field and register with BJU as a tester. They also have a short video to watch that EE can provide.)

A separate email will be sent out to registered families with further information about the Stanford Test procedures and how to order the test for your child/children.

THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MARCH 31.
Tests will be ordered in April.
(Please do not order any tests until you receive instructions!)

It is important to point out that standardized testing is NOT required in Texas. We offer testing to families as a way to help parents assess their child's progress and assist them in making curriculum and course choices.

It is also important to note that the "SAT" test we will be administering is NOT the same "SAT" test that students take for college entrance. That test is administered by the College Board, and it is only for high school students who are preparing for college entrance.

Please contact Extraordinary Education by email with any questions you may have about SAT testing. (extraed@att.net)

-- Elise Eaton
Director, Extraordinary Education
www.extraed.net

Fall 2013 Pre-Registration NOW OPEN!

Pre-registration for Fall 2013 is NOW OPEN for currently enrolled families.

PRELIMINARY FALL 2013 SCHEDULE
FALL 2013 PRE-REGISTRATION PAGE

Pre-registration for HBU Academy Satellite classes is NOW OPEN for ALL FAMILIES!
Please register for HBU Academy Satellite classes on the form below rather than on the general EE Pre-registration form above.

HBU ACADEMY FALL 2013 PRE-REGISTRATION

Registration for all other EE classes will open to NEW families on April 1st, 2013.

ASTROS HOME SCHOOL NIGHT! 4/23

Aren't you glad you know someone in The Woodlands Home School Choirs?! You get first dibs on ASTROS Home School Night tickets because the choir is hosting!!!
(EE students Michael Eaton and Fabian Fernandez-Han are in the choir.)

Home School Night is Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00PM

ANYONE CAN ORDER discounted tickets anytime by the FLYER phone, fax or mail by April 16 . Choose from 4 level prices of seating on the flyer. You can use a credit card or check.

PLEASE SEND this link to ALL the homeschool groups, friends, and family you can. They do not need to homeschool to get the rate.

FLYER:  http://singandrejoice.com/Astro_Tickets.html

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER! CALL THE NUMBER or print and fax/mail it w/ your info. DO NOT ORDER through the Astros website. It will not count and you will not get the discount.

Let's show our support for Astros and home schooling!
It's going to be a great night!

Batter up!
Bari Brumfield
www.singandrejoice.com