Fwd: Pearl Fincher MFA 2012 Student Art Contest

Artistic students are invited to submit one of their works of art to the Pearl Fincher Art Museum Contest.
See details, rules and contest dates at the museum website:
http://www.pearlmfa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=73&Itemid=105

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Pearl Fincher MFA 2012 Student Art Contest
Date:	Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:24:30 -0800 (PST)
From:	Howard Barousse <hbarousse@yahoo.com>

Dear Private School Educators,

The Pearl's 2012 Student Art Contest is rapidly approaching. (Where did January go?) This is just a reminder that your entries (no more than 25) should be submitted March 26-28 by an appointment with me. No entry fees are required this year.

Please do not submit more than one entry per student; no electronically altered works; no collage extending more than 1/2 inch. All works should be matted, and no larger than 18x24 (not including matting). It's disappointing for us to reject entries once they reach the Pearl. There is a handy entry checklist for you on the website. For more information, contact me or consult the website www.pearlmfa.org

I'm looking forward to seeing your students' remarkable art work!

Best regards,

Laura Barousse

Chair, Pearl 2012 Student Art Contest

281-880-7728

PSIA Competition - LAST CALL for contestants! Grades 1-8

PSIA Competition - LAST CALL for contestants!
Sign up for the TEAM at this link: http://extraed.net/psia_2012
(This is a homeschool team. You do not have to attend Extraordinary Education classes to participate on the team.)

Private Schools Interscholastic Association
Academic Contests for  Private Schools and Homeschoolers
www.psiaacademics.org

• District 12 AA Competition Date - Saturday, March 24, 2012
  District Meet Location: Trinity Lutheran School (SPRING)
• "AA" State Meet Date - April 28, 2012
  State Meet Location: Texas Christian University in Fort Worth (tentative until late January)

Extraordinary Education's group membership allows us to send up to 3 students per grade level per event to the local district competition. Students who do well at the District level may go on to the State tournament. Some students are already registered for our EE team, but we have room for lots more! Please check out the contest descriptions below and on the PSIA website and let us know ASAP if your student is interested in filling any slots on our team.
Use this link to register for a spot on the team: http://extraed.net/psia_2012

With 19 contest categories covering a wide range of disciplines, Private Schools Interscholastic Association (PSIA) is an exciting opportunity for students to engage in academic competition with their peers throughout the state of Texas. PSIA contests span all levels from Grade 1 to Grade 8 —and PSIA is open to homeschoolers, too!
 
PSIA programs are designed to support the basic academic curriculum. Contest preparation is easily implemented into daily studies, and participation in academic meets serves to enrich skills. PSIA academic competitive contests are designed to motivate students to find new excitement in learning, achieve a higher mastery level, know the satisfaction of their best performance, and receive recognition /awards for academic excellence.
 
Practice materials are kept on site at the EE campus for parents to make copies as needed throughout the school year.  We only ask for a donation to our office supply fund to cover the cost of copies. Prep materials must remain on campus so that they are available to everyone. (Please note that we have very limited office staff. We cannot make copies for you or mail them.)
You can also purchase your own prep materials directly from PSIA. Details are on the PSIA website.

Sign up for the TEAM at this link:  http://extraed.net/psia_2012
 
=====================================
PSIA EVENTS & CONTEST INFORMATION
=====================================
 
LANGUAGE ARTS EVENTS:

• Creative Writing: Using a prompt of several pictures, students have 30 minutes to create an original story based on the pictures.
• Ready Writing: Students are given a choice between two prompts. Each prompt defines the audience and provides or implies the purpose for writing. Time limits vary by grade level.
• Spelling: As spelling words are pronounced contestants may either write or print each word. Test words come from the current PSIA Spelling List (80%) and from outside sources (20%).
• Dictionary Skills: Students use all elements of the dictionary as they learn practical techniques for extracting and applying resource information.
• Vocabulary: SAT preparation skills, including word usage, reading comprehension, and analogies, are honed through this challenging multiple choice, 30-minute contest.
• Listening Skills: Contestants may take notes as they listen to the contest script on CD, and then use these notes as they answer objective test questions in 10 minutes.

MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE EVENTS:

• Mathematics: In a multiple choice 30-minute math test students are challenged beyond their grade levels in a variety of general math questions including algebraic equations.
• Number Sense: Contestants find high-speed solutions to math problems in this exciting and challenging 10-minute contest in mental mathematics.
• Calculator Applications: This 30-minute contest develops mathematical reasoning and knowledge and requires application of problem solving skills toward realistic problems.
• Maps, Graphs & Charts: Students are challenged to obtain information from visual sources. Tests include maps, graphs & charts needed to answer multiple choice questions derived from the 2003 or newer editions of the Nystrom Desk Atlas.
• Science: Earth, Life and Physical Science information are tested in this 30-minute, multiple choice contest, which usually consists of 50 test questions.

FINE ARTS EVENTS:

• Music Memory: Students identify composers and selections from some of the world’s best known classics. Contestants write answers as they hear 15-second segments of the music and also take a 20-item test over information found in the current PSIA Music Memory Student Handbook.
• Art Memory: Students are challenged to identify the artist and the work and answer questions about the art and the artists found in the current Art Smart Bulletin (paintings are from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C. and museum in Texas.)
• On-Site Drawing: Using a display still life model consisting of from 4 to 7 objects, contestants produce a rendering on regular drawing paper using any drawing media. Contestants have 45 minutes at the contest site to produce their work of art.

SPEECH EVENTS:

• Storytelling: Contestants hear a story that they retell before an audience. Contestants will have approximately 6 minutes to retell the story in their own words.
• Poetry Interpretation: Students select, prepare and read a literary poetry selection, with introduction, within a six-minute time limit.
• Impromptu Speaking: Students are challenged to organize their thoughts on a topic for three minutes, then speak for five or fewer minutes without notes.
• Modern Oratory: A challenge in writing and speaking, students prepare a short speech to examine the pros and cons of an issue (choice of 5) and defend their points of view. Contestants take a convincing stand on only one side of the issue.
• Impromptu Speaking: Students are challenged to think quickly and communicate effectively. They organize their thoughts on a topic for three minutes, then speak for five or fewer minutes without notes.

For more details and rules about specific contests and events, please refer to the PSIA website:
http://www.psiaacademics.org/index.html
 
Registration Information:

• Families who are currently enrolled in EE classes are considered "members" and may register to participate in any of the PSIA events (appropriate for their grade level) for a fee of $15 per student per event.
• Non-member families will need to join as an Affiliate Family ($15 per student/$30 Family max)
• Registrations (and fees) must be received in the EE office at least 4 weeks prior to the contest date.
• Students are allowed to compete UP TO TWO GRADE LEVELS ABOVE their current grade level. Students may NOT compete below their current grade level. Homeschooled students' grade placement is determined according to their age on September 1st (the grade they would be in public school.)
• We can enter up to 3 students per grade level per event. Some events have combined grades, and we may only enter 3 students in those grades combined. If we have more than 3 students in a level who wish to compete it may be necessary to have a school level run-off competition.
• Students may only compete in non-conflicting events. There are special rules for double-entry that only apply to specific events. Please refer to the PSIA Conflict Pattern Schedule for more information. http://www.psiaacademics.org/pdfs/misc/psia-conflict.pdf
• Families who participate are expected to fill volunteer slots at the competition on the day of the tournament. Our group is required to provide one volunteer contest director, judge or grader for every 2.5 entries. Your family should plan to fill one slot for each 2.5 contests in which your own students compete. Volunteer slots may be filled by either or both parents, another family member, friend, neighbor or sometimes even a high school or college student. Our team will be penalized if we do not fill our assigned slots, so volunteers must be reliable.

Contest Preparation:

• Paid contestants are welcome to make use of our study materials that we have available. Study materials may not leave the EE campus, but parents are welcome to make copies for a small copy fee. We have invested many dollars in purchasing prior years' tests and other materials. We are thrilled to share them with our contestants! Parents will need to MAKE AN APPOINTMENT with the Director if they plan to come make copies or view PSIA materials. Make your appointment online by going to the EE website. Look in the Resources section of the site for Office Appointments.
• PSIA Study Groups may be formed and may meet in homes or at EE on a space available basis for no charge. Parents of students in the contest will be expected to volunteer as Study Group leaders.
  

FAQs
 
Q: Why should my child participate in contests like these?
A: Testing, contests and competitions aren't for everyone. But they can benefit most kids in one way or another.

• Some students are more highly motivated to reach their full potential through competitions rather than through individual, classroom or textbook studies.
• Students and parents are given the opportunity to see how the student compares to others and whether their current plan of study is achieving their goals.
• Students can earn recognition for their abilities and efforts as well as possible outside awards, scholarships and other opportunities.
• Testing situations like these allow students to prepare for more crucial tests like those they must take prior to college entrance. Experience can lead to better performance on these tests - which can lead to greater college admissions opportunities and possible scholarship offers.
• Students often learn things through preparation for contests that they never would have learned in their regular curriculum.

Q: Can't individual homeschool families participate in PSIA?
A: Yes and no.

• Individual homeschools are allowed to compete in PSIA, however, registration of new "schools" closes in December. Individual families must register by the deadline or wait until the next year to compete if they miss the deadline. Families who are not registered individually may compete with homeschool co-ops or groups like Extraordinary Education, Austin Area Homeschoolers, etc.
• Our family has participated both ways, and it was far more fun on competition day to be part of a group than an individual family.
• It may not be as cost effective to compete as an individual family unless you have several children and they compete in several events

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

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

Calling all teachers!!!

CALLING ALL TEACHERS!
CLASS PROPOSALS NEEDED NOW!

We are currently in the process of planning our FALL 2012 class schedule.
If you are considering teaching a class next fall, please complete our online class proposal form at the link below.

http://extraed.net/class_proposal_form

WE NEED CLASS PROPOSALS BY FEBRUARY 1ST IN ORDER TO PLAN THE SCHEDULE!
We are especially looking for challenging and/or unique "outside the box" type classes, clubs and/or teams to enhance our basic core program.

Please note: We have many new teachers seeking to join our program for next year. Our goal is to select the very best classes and teachers as well as those classes that are most in demand. Completion of a proposal does not guarantee that your class will be placed on the schedule, and placement on the schedule does not guarantee that students will sign-up to take the class.

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

High School Semi-Formal Event

Note: This event is not an official EE event. It is open to all homeschoolers. Please contact Billie jo Craig with any questions or to register. Contact info is given at the end of the message.
 
Conroe Area High School Homeschool
Semi-Formal Event

It's another year, and time for the dance.  I hear this year will involve a red carpet! Sign up before the March dealine for a discounted rate.

Who: Homeschool High School Students (grades 9-12, 14 yrs old by day of dance) and their guest.

What: Semi-formal private party including dinner followed by dancing and music.  This event is not a "couples" event.  Join other homeschool high school students for a very special evening of fellowship and fun. 

When: Saturday, May 5, 2012.  6:30-11 pm

Where: The Lone Star Convention and Expo Center, 9055 Airport Road (Fm1484), Conroe, Texas 77303

Mandatory Dress Guidelines:  You must dress appropriately or you will not be permitted entry into this event.

Guys: Either (1) dress slacks and/or a traditional coat and tie.  (2) Tux or (3) "cowboy" tux.
Gals: Modest, no shorter than 4 inches above top of knee-cap - to floor-length dresses. (Modest means: No cleavage and No backless gowns.) Every dress shorter than the knee will be measured before entering.  Failure to comply with dress code, students will not be allowed in and money will not be returned.
Parents/Chaperones: Your choice of semi-formal/formal dress (please observe the same guidelines set forth above) or church attire.

Conduct: Keep your dress, dance, and attitude respectful. Remember who you represent! If your behavior is inappropriate, you will be asked to leave the event and you will not be allowed to re-enter.

Smoke-free and alcohol-free event! No Public Display of Affection!

Cost: (includes dinner)  Early Bird by March 16: $50 per person including alumni.;  March 17- April18 $70 per person including Alumni.  NO Registrations will be accepted after April 18. No WALK INS!

Adults parents wanting to eat 30.00. Adults not eating are welcome to attend or drop in free of charge, however, we will have a limited number of extra chairs.

You do not need to be a member of any support group to attend.

Checks payable to: Billie jo Craig

Send the following information to:
Billie jo Craig
9613 Crystal Springs Dr.
Conroe, Texas 77303

Name
Address
Email – this is how we will send out information
ADULT contact phone number
Age as of May 5, 2012
Grade
Chaperone?

Questions: 936-203-2866
billiejocr@yahoo.com

Middle school students gather at San Jac for Future City region finals - Your Houston News: News:

Middle school students gather at San Jac for Future City region finals - Your Houston News: News:
Can local middle schoolers do a better job of solving our nation’s energy crisis than our world leaders?
Photo of Extraordinary Education students accompanies article in local newspaper

Weather Closure Info - PLEASE READ

Dear parents,
This is a reminder about our EE school closure policies. Due to the limited number of class days we have with our students, we make every effort to hold classes when at all possible. Nevertheless, we do have to close the facility from time to time due to weather and other circumstances beyond our control.

Our road, Carraway, has been known to flood during very heavy rains. In addition, Dobbin Hufsmith Road has also been known to flood. If Carraway appears to be flooding, you will be called to come pick up your child. We will need you to come as soon as possible so that our staff can leave the property before the water gets too high.

When bad weather appears to be imminent, please keep the following guideline in mind:

• PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL IN THE MORNING BEFORE LEAVING AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY IN CASE OF CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
• If you can't login to your email, you can also check our announcement blog at Blogspot. We will post all closure announcements to the blog.
  http://extraordinaryed.blogspot.com/
• PLEASE BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR PHONE HANDY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND INSURE THAT YOUR PHONE NUMBERS ARE UP TO DATE IN YOUR CLASSJUGGLER ACCOUNT.
• When any of the nearby school districts are closed, we will evaluate the situation and consider closing as well. Due to the fact that our campus is very near the boundaries of several different school districts, and because not all closures are related to the same concerns or areas, closure of our campus will be on a case by case basis.
  
•  Parents are strongly encouraged to follow the situation by checking email and the EE website for closure announcements when any of the following districts are listed as closed:
• Conroe ISD
• Tomball ISD
• Magnolia ISD
• Klein ISD

Have a blessed day!
-- Elise Eaton
Director, Extraordinary Education
www.extraed.net

Extraordinary Students at Future City Competition!

EE students Jacob Johnson, Madison West and Jason Eaton presented their team project, "Evergreen Village", along with 28 other teams at today's FUTURE CITY regional competition. The team advanced to the final round of 5 teams, placing 4th overall! As a requirement of the final round, the students had to present their project on stage with microphones in front of all the other participants. Even though they were nervous, they did a GREAT JOB!

This was the students' first time to participate in an event like this, so they are very excited! Be sure to congratulate these Jacob, Madison and Jason along with the other members of the team who were unable to be part of the presentation team. (We were limited to only three presenters.) Other team members and EE students who helped with the project include: Joshua Johnson, Carter Smith, Ion Powell, Simon Wilson, Katelyn West, Zoe Carroll, and several others I can't remember... (sorry!)

The Future City Competition is a national, project-based learning experience where students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade imagine, design, and build cities of the future. Students work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using SimCity™ 4 Deluxe software; research and write solutions to an engineering problem; build tabletop scale models with recycled materials; and present their ideas before judges at Regional Competitions in January. Regional winners represent their region at the National Finals in Washington, DC in February.
Find out more about at: www.futurecity.org

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

CYT's Annie field trip - deadline extended!!

Hi EE families – we still have a few seats available for the 12:15 show of CYT’s Annie, Jr. on Friday, January 27^th playing at Conroe’s historic Crighton Theatre. This field trip also includes a brief intermission “theater talk” by the director, Eric Miller, and curtains will remain open during this big set change to allow the student audience members a glance into the behind-the-scenes activities.

I have extended the deadline to reserve tickets for this show through Monday, January 23^rd.  As a reminder, all tickets for this show are $5.  If you would like tickets for this show, please do one of the following:
 

• Sign up at EE on the sign-up form in the entryway and leave a check, made payable to CYT Houston, in the envelope next to the sign-up form
• Email me at Cyndie@cythouston.org and I will further instruct you on payment, etc.

Thank you.  I hope many of you can come out and support this cast, including EE’s own, Emily Schoen, who is starring as “Duffy”, one of Annie’s orphan friends Another EE student, Karoline Pfeil, is also part of the cast.
 

Yours Truly,
 
Cyndie Phillips
PR Group Sales
Christian Youth Theater Houston
cyndie@cythouston.org
www.cythouston.org
832-487-8770 ext. 104
281-787-2115 (cell)

Extraordinary Education Winter Chess Tournament - 1/27

Extraordinary Education Chess Tournament
Friday January 27th
OPEN to all Homeschoolers

• FREE to all Current EE Chess Club Members!
  a(Please e-mail Coach Jon Santos: jonsantos83@gmail.com to let him know that you are coming.)
• $10.00 for EE students who are not Chess Club members
• $20.00 for Non E.E. Students

Lunch is included!

Sign-Up Online here:
exedchesstournament.eventbrite.com
We are accepting only 50 Entries; First come first served.
We will not be able to accept at-the-door-entries at this time.

Friday January 27th;
CHECK-IN is at 8-AM!
9:00 AM (First Round Begins) You are considered late!
***You will receive a lunch ticket at Check-In***
 5 Rounds, Game-30mins/30mins
 Multiple Sections, Combined for Team Trophies
Trophies to the top 3 players in each Section

Schedule (approximate)
·         Check-In Time: 8:00am (Sharp)
·         First Round as close to 9:00 a.m. as possible
·         Lunch between rounds about 11:30 am
·         Last Round starts about 3 pm, Awards end about 5 pm
Sections:
o    Section A: Advanced Level (Generally for Grades 6th-12th)
o    Section B: Beginner Level (Generally for Grades 1st-5th)

Players may play up into any higher section they desire but are not allowed to enter in lower sections.

Jon Santos
(832) 654-4688
www.mrjonsantos.com

Extraordinary Education
www.extraed.net

Spring Drama class

It has come to our attention that there have been some issues with the
Drama class enrollment for this semester. The class had been set in the
system to expire in December so enrollments were not carried over to the
spring semester. The spring semester class was also not showing up in
the ClassJuggler shopping cart area, so it was not possible to register
for the spring semester class. This problem now appears to be fixed.

If you would like to be part of the spring show, please register your
students by logging into your ClassJuggler account. Go to the "Shop for
Classes" screen and search for this class title:
"Drama Production (Spring semester)"

Fees are all the same as the fall semester.
We need a minimum of 6 students for this class to make. Tell your friends!
Registration will be held open for 2 weeks since it was not possible to
register before now.

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

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