College Courses for High School Students

Photo credit: Maranatha Advantage

Maranatha is offering a 50% off scholarship for juniors and seniors. Classes will run for eight weeks and are taught from a Christian worldview, these classes are transferable. Students can choose from over fifty subjects including basic classes such as English or Biblical studies.

While this is a great opportunity be aware that some colleges will treat students as transfer students if they have to many credits. Students also may not qualify for other scholarships due to, to many credits. If your student already knows where they want to attend college I would urge you to talk to them concerning this topic

The up point is that you can save a lot money utilizing this opportunity. Even if your student is not sure about their major kicking out the basics such as English, which can also be used as a high school credit. I mean really 50% off of online classes to count as either a single credit or dual credit, wish mine qualified.

Patriot Academy

Photo credit: Patriot Academy

Rick Green started the Patriot Academy as a means of educating our youth to be leaders and further the kingdom of God. After his freshman year as a state Representative it became clear to Rick that there were more politicians than patriots in government positions. 

Patriot Academy is not just for those seeking government positions, but for everyone. This program was originally set up for sixteen through twenty five years, but due to popular demand for classes for those over twenty five, Rick has obliged them. Currently registration is open for the upcoming session which begins July 30, 2012 through August 4, 2012 at the Texas State Capital in Austin Texas.

"Students will participate in fast-paced, interactive workshops on media relations, public speaking, campaigning techniques and the Founding Fathers’ philosophy of government. Current and former elected officials and experts share their personal experience in government and discuss today’s most relevant issues."

 There are forty seats available at this time. An application must be sent in and the individual accepted, there is no payment until after acceptance. Once accepted you have two weeks to send in the $50 deposit, if not received within the time frame your position will be given to someone else. However, you can reply going through the whole application process again. The total amount of $900 is due by May 15, 2012 after that payment must be made by July 1, 2012 at $995.

I know it seems like a lot of money, but I had the opportunity to speak with a rep at a local homeschool conference and this is what she said. They encourage the individuals to make the money and give them suggestions on how to do it.

Mission Trip

Mission trips are a great way for our youth to learn service along with learning about how others live. The Landry Academy is offering students three different mission trips, France, Spain and Germany. While all three of these are great opportunities,

Youth with a Mission Head Quarters

I want to talk about the one to Germany. Yes, I am being partial, but only because I love castles and the students will be adding in the cleaning up and maintenance of one which is 400 years old. Not only that, but they will be staying there also, how exciting. The castle is located in Hurlach, but the main focus will include youth evangelism in the nearby town of Landsberg. The castle is the head quarters of Youth with a Mission whom the group will be working with.  I also love architecture and the fact that the students will also be visiting Munich to view the Gothic architecture of the town hall makes me want to go. Oh! But that is not all they will be viewing.

Neuschwanstein Castle

One morning they will be heading to the Alps to view two legendary castles, Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau along with the Museum of Bavarian Kings. Not long after Adolf Hitler was appointed to the position of Reich Chancellor he set up a camp in Dachur for political prisoners. This became the model for the concentration camps which came later, students will receive a private tour of this memorial.

There will also be plenty of time for worship and fellowship through out the days. The dates for this trip are July 5-July 16, 2012, cost is $880 or $704 before February 17, this does not include the air fare which is $1330 round trip and must be purchased through Landry Academy. Students must be 13 years old before the trip date and with both written and verbal permission may go without a parent however, parents are welcome to go.

For more information on this trip along with the others please visit The Landry Academy. Because all of the trips the academy offers are on one page you will have to scroll to find it. Be sure to read the cancellation policy along with other information concerning the cost of the flight.





YWAM Germany from YWAM Germany on Vimeo.

Scholarships

Here are some scholarships being offered that came in Jane Burk, College Prep Genius, newsletter.

The 2012 scholarship contest is open to students attending a US college or university full time for the 2012-2013 academic year (community college, undergraduate or graduate school). Entrants must also be a legal US resident. Please read the Official Rules.

 Entry Period: October 18, 2011 - March 6, 2012
To enter this contest, create an original entry piece that shares with us what you want to achieve in your personal and professional life after college. Follow the theme: This is how I “Frame My Future.” Your creation must be submitted through the online entry form, within one image, in a .JPG or .PNG format, and must be fully viewable and/or readable online. The entry form also includes a section to submit a short accompanying description of your entry piece (maximum of 500 characters). Some example entry piece ideas:

photograph collage poem drawing painting

graphic design short, typed explanation scrapbook style page anything you can create within one image

Please Note: The complete and overall entry piece must be original and the entrant's own work. For example, do not submit a company advertisement, photo you found online, or stock art as your sole and final entry piece. You may incorporate these elements within your creative entry. Submission of an entry piece that is not the entrant’s own original work, may result in disqualification. A professional portrait, such as a senior photo, will not be accepted as an entry. These are owned by the photographer.

 The Odenza Marketing Scholarship is available to students in the U.S. and Canada who are between the ages of 16 and 25. You must submit two 500 - word essays to be considered for this award. A minimum 2.5 GPA is also required.

Award Amount: $500

Deadline: March 30, 2012

 The ALA Viral Video Scholarship Contest is open to high school and college students. To enter, you must create and submit a viral video / public service announcement, of up to 240 seconds, on any topic covering public safety.

Award Amount: $1,500

Deadline: March 31, 2012

The Castle Ink Paperless Scholarship is available to students who are currently enrolled in college or planning to attend college in 2012 or 2013. You must be a resident of the U.S. to be eligible for this award. To be considered, you must submit a short essay, YouTube video, tweet, or Facebook status that explains how you "reduce, reuse, and recycle."

Award Amount: $1000

Deadline: March 31, 2012

Deadline: March 30, 2012
Award Value: $500

To be considered eligible for the Odenza Marketing Scholarship you must:

A) Be between the ages of 16 and 25 on March 30, 2012

B) Submit answers to the essay questions, which can be found on the application page, prior to the March 30, 2012 deadline.

C) Have at least one full year of post secondary studies remaining at the time of the award

D) Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

E) Be a citizen of the United States or Canada

The scholarship winner will be announced on or around June 1, 2012 and will be posted on this website immediately after. All applications must be received by 11:59pm ET on March 30, 2012. No late applications will be reviewed.

Deadline: March 30, 2012
Award Value: $500

To be considered eligible for the Odenza Marketing Scholarship you must:

A) Be between the ages of 16 and 25 on March 30, 2012

B) Submit answers to the essay questions, which can be found on the application page, prior to the March 30, 2012 deadline.

C) Have at least one full year of post secondary studies remaining at the time of the award

D) Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

E) Be a citizen of the United States or Canada

The scholarship winner will be announced on or around June 1, 2012 and will be posted on this website immediately after. All applications must be received by 11:59pm ET on March 30, 2012. No late applications will be reviewed.

Read more about Eligibility: Odenza Marketing Scholarship by www.odenzascholarships.com

Deadline: March 30, 2012
Award Value: $500

To be considered eligible for the Odenza Marketing Scholarship you must:

A) Be between the ages of 16 and 25 on March 30, 2012

B) Submit answers to the essay questions, which can be found on the application page, prior to the March 30, 2012 deadline.

C) Have at least one full year of post secondary studies remaining at the time of the award

D) Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

E) Be a citizen of the United States or Canada

The scholarship winner will be announced on or around June 1, 2012 and will be posted on this website immediately after. All applications must be received by 11:59pm ET on March 30, 2012. No late applications will be reviewed.

Read more about Eligibility: Odenza Marketing Scholarship by www.odenzascholarships.com

Guest Blogger Answers

Kim Hall is a retired homeschool mom of 3 who delights in aiding others with her knowledge and wisdom of homeschooling. While Kim's answers are not necessarily the only answers, they are very uplifting and encouraging. Which for new homeschoolers starting out in the high school years will help ease some of their fears. Please feel free to leave a comment to aid others during this new adventure.

What is enough, especially for the high school years? Each state has different requirements. Following closely to what your state requires is a suggestion from HSLDA that we followed. That just keeps you in the safe area if ever audited so to speak. That said, in high school is a time when students can develop strengths that will be their gifted areas. While it is, in my opinion, a good idea to keep them well-rounded (that is why schools teach such a broad scope of subjects) be understanding in areas where they are not as gifted and help them expand their knowledge in areas that they are. For instance: My daughter was NOT gifted in math so we did the basics that were required if she went to school. Yet, we made sure she understood why. That this would give her a foundation of understanding in that subject. She was gifted in writing. So we allowed her to soar in this subject, challenging her along the way to work toward excellence. Today she balances her checkbook to the penny but still loves writing and journaling and has started on a book. 

 How do you know what you’re selecting for them to study is the right thing or is it just a waste of their time? A great question from a caring parent who knows the value of time. First, may I share with you a little query: What would you do... IF you were given 86,400? Can you imagine what you would be able to do with that? But, while this amount would be given to you daily, it would all expire at the end of the day to zero. So, you will want to use it all... now, what would you do with it? In actuality you ARE given that amount each day... in seconds. So, a wise person realizing that they do not compound but go away at the end of each day will choose to use them efficiently and well to make the more of them. So, good job! Now, when students are in their teens it is not a bad idea for them to try many different things to see where they are strong and where they are weak. Funny thing, our one son was weak in math to begin with BUT he determined to learn it and now has a degree in Finance. You never know which way they will go. Again, following state guidelines is important and really not so bad for the students. Learning the basics of all subjects is never a waste of time. While I hated history in high school I went on to find an appreciation in grown up life and even wrote a history/geography curriculum for home schoolers and taught it at a co-op. I did change from making the students memorize dates to understanding the time-line of history and the cause and effect. 

Guest Blogger

You may have noticed that I do not blog on a regular basis. Not because I do not want to just because I do not always have something to blog on. So, due to lack of new information on an ongoing basis I have asked for others homeschooling high school to be guest bloggers.

Our first guest blogger is a lounge sister of mine from The Homeschool Lounge, Latrice. Latrice is the homeschool mom of three and writes a blog of her own called, Raising Chefs.

 Raising Chefs is all about starting early with children and getting them more involved in the whole cooking process.  It's about bringing them into the kitchen at an early age and teaching them how to make healthy choices when it comes to how we prepare our meals, from the shopping to recipe development to entertaining in a healthful kitchen.  Teaching them how to shop for fresh ingredients as well as how to clean and store food.  Raising Chefs is also very big on family bonding.  We stress then importance in bringing back that family bonding around the dinner table.  Lets face it, we are so busy and not only the adults but the kids also with their sports, working after school and other commitments we all have.  Its very refreshing to be able to sit down at the table together and bond over great food and the love of FAMILY!

Latice's blog is different from the traditional blog, she had some questions. So, I asked one of my friends on Linkedin, a veteran homeschool mom Kim Hall, if she would answers Latrice's questions. To lighten the reading I will post her answers tomorrow, however if you have any advice for Latrice please feel free to post your comments. Also if you would like to participate here the way in which Latrice has please send me an email.

     Alice Coffer Academy - What's a Homeschooling HS Mom to do?

Trying to find the right studies for my 9th and 10th grader everyday hasn’t
been an easy task to say the least.  Because we’re more of an eclectic
homeschooling family when I do find something I tend to question if its
enough.  As a homeschooling Mom I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels
this way.  There are so many of us that go through this because we want to
make sure we’re giving them the very best education possible.  And we must
not forget this will help to shape the people they're suppose to become.

What is enough, especially for the high school years?  How do you know what
you’re selecting for them to study is the right thing or is it just a waste
of their time?  How do you know for sure if you’re choices will be enough
to prepare them for the rest of their lives?  Whether they attend college, start a business or find a career/job?  *What’s a homeschooling HS Mom to
do?

Going Green

Photo credit: Guide Book Gallery dot org

Brandon does not like to write, but has no problem typing. So, what I am doing is having him type up what would normally be written then send to me via email. I have a folder entitled homeschool which holds another folder titled high school, within that there is one simply titled Brandon and one more 9th grade 2011 2012. It is in this folder where I organize all of his work by subject.

He is required to use Word for his work, he uses one document for each subject for a weeks worth of work. He needs to date each individual assignment, so Monday will include the date at the beginning of the assignment. On Tuesday he will continue with the same document for say science and at the beginning include the date. This not only cuts back on paper, but allows me to easily organize his work. For work which is deemed excellent I put into another folder, excellent, to use for college interviews.

This system came about because he has his own lap top. At first I had him create a folder for his work on his lap top, but it was difficult for me to remember to check his work. So, I came up this system and it is a lot harder to ignore an email from son knowing it contains his school work.