(Please note that this newsletter is also available in printed format. Please send a request to this effect to Christo - bigfish@iafrica.com You can also send him an e-mail to add your name to the list. Future issues will then be e-mailed to you.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
We are confident everyone enjoyed the June 10 meeting at St. Georges’Grammar School. We would like to thank all the vendors, all the helpers and all the members and guests for making this a very successful day.
I am very happy to report that more and more people are turning to e-mail as a means of communication. Because of the ease of use and the cost-effectiveness we are posting this edition of the newsletter electronically to those homeschoolers that have e-mail.
And talking about things electronic - what a wonderful tool the internet can be. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at places like crayola.com and yahooligans.com to find a multitude of free games, educational stuff, info and lots more. In the same breath I must also warn that the www (world wide web) can be a dangerous thing. Extreme parental guidance is required and software is available to “protect” our children from the darker side of the web. I want to encourage parents to use computers and the www as an extention of books and “schooling aids”, a helpful tool and not a glorified babysitter.
Should you have any problems or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our updated website: http://www.grobler.co.za/wchsa
Chairman of the WCHSA, Brian Goemans: briangoemans@e3mil.com
PRO of the WCHSA, Christo Visser: bigfish@iafrica.com
To meet, to learn from, to encourage, to interact with ..... others from all walks of life who have at least one common interest - the desire to homeschool our children !! We all know that homeschooling takes dedication, commitment and much more - and interaction with others has many benefits. We can meet other homeschoolers (who may live around the corner) by joining a common organisation. BUT - very importantly - the organisation does not exist to satisfy itself !!! - it must serve its members - and it is up to the members to be sure that it does !!!
To stand as a group - both for social and educational events (outings), and for regulatory issues to be addressed effectively.
Homeschooling in SA is growing - but we don't know how fast, nor do we know how successful we are as a community. We urgently need to start research into the extent and successes of homeschooling - but for this we need to establish contact with homeschoolers. Such research would give us valuable data to answer those who see us as a threat, or a bunch of nuts from the lunatic fringe !! With backing from 1000 people, we are politely heard, with backing of 10 000 or more the authorities do not have the luxury of ignoring us !
Unfortunately, due to the history of homeschooling, many have been reticent to make themselves known as homeschoolers, and worse still, some curriculum providers have actively discouraged their users from joining associations. We are now in a period where we recommend that homeschoolers do register with the education department - but conditionally, so as to give ourselves the moral high ground. Further, we need to stand united as a body of people to show that we are organised, and cannot be ignored. No individual will ever be required by the association to make themselves known - all our data is held in confidence, but unless we know of your existence, we cannot act in your interests. Note that there are no paid employees or office bearers - your contributions of time and money benefit all homeschoolers directly. Office bearers are elected at the AGM annually.
We need your ongoing involvement and support - to enable us to serve YOU. We have all taken a conscious decision in favour of our children by homeschooling, lets take a conscious step to build homeschooling in SA. If we promote homeschooling, there are probably many others who would join us if they knew the benefits - and in the long run we all benefit from the strength of the homeschooling community.
Make the WCHSA YOUR association.
YES, its that time again!!! Spring is in the air and its time for the Spring Fair. This year promises to be something really special as the focus will be on children and childrenšs activities.
Hout Bay Christian School Saturday 16 September 2000 10h00 -
17h00
Map to Hout Bay Christian School
If you want to exhibit something or sell something please do not
hesitate to contact us before 21 August.
The day’s activities will include the following:
* Vendors and exhibitors
* Sellers of products
* Paper Jet competition
* Exhibit of children’s projects
* Prizes for projects
* 2nd time round material table
* Workshops by various vendors
* Family & Team Sports
* Kite Flying Competition
* Martie du Plessis from Dynamis
Anyone interested in Homeschooling is welcome, homeschoolers will be available to answer any questions. Please bring your family and friends, come and make a day of it and enjoy the day with us.
VENDORS & EXHIBITORS All vendors and other exhibitors are invited. If you have not been contacted, please contact one of the committee members to book your place. If you should know someone that you think should exhibit, please ask them to contact us in order to book a table.
SELLERS OF PRODUCTS Anyone can come along and sell stuff, and we want to encourage childern to use their entrepeneural skills and come and make some pocketmoney for themselves. If you want to set up a stall and sell something, please inform a committee member before 21 August so that we do not end up with a mutitude of hotdog stands.
PAPER JET COMPETITION Prizes will be awarded to contestants, ranging from original design and best decorations right up to best flyer and furthest flight. Children may enter in different catagories and different agegroups. 2ND TIME ROUND TABLE Anyone may bring anything of educational nature to sell at this table. Items will be marked and owners will receive a receipt. 10% of money raised by the sales off this table will be paid to the WCHSA.
WORKSHOPS BY VENDORS Vendors will have an opportunity to run short workshops. Topics must be something of value, and not a sales pitch. Vendors who want to run a workshop must please inform the committee before 21 August as to the topic of the proposed workshop.
FAMILY AND TEAM SPORT All the families will have an opportunity
to take part in various team sports. One month to get fit!!!
CHILDREN’S PROJECTS All children are invited to come and exhibit projects of
any kind. Children must be ready to answer questions about their projects.
Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories.
KITE FLYING COMPETITION Weather permitting we plan to judge kites on design, craftsmanship, flying ability, originality and more. Only home- made kites will be accepted into this competition.
MARTIE DU PLESSIS Dynamis is the One Stop Help Centre for Home Educators. They offer help and advice on a variety of topics ranging from getting started right through to weekend camps etc. Come and listen to Martie du Plessis, a remedial therapist, who heads up the Dynamis Information Centre for Home Educators. Take this opportunity to get your questions answered and your concerns heard. Martie is currently traveling through the country, and we will be very privileged to have her with us at the Spring Fair.
For those of you who want to make any deposits of gifts or membership fees, we now have a new bank account...
Western Cape Home Schooling Association Standard Bank - Blue Route Branch Branch code: 02560920 Acc no: 276306880 and a new telephone number: 0881274484. This is simply an information service.
Our e-mail is: wchsa@e3mil.com Visit our website: http://www.grobler.co.za/wchsa
Again I am finding this space a bit small for all we have to say. So much is coming and so much is happening. Once again let me encourage you out there. There are more than 10 000 other families going through similar things countrywide. Take heart, your rewards will be great.
We want to encourage homeschoolers, and even those that are looking into homeschooling, to contact us at the addresses mentioned in this newsletter. More and more people are contacting us in this manner. Keep those e-mails coming!
Prizegiving We are planning our annual prizegiving for 2 December this year. This evening will also include the End of Year Concert. If you have any contributions or you need more details, please contact us.
Newsletter This quarterly newsletter is happening, but we want more input from the homeschoolers out there. Please drop me a note at bigfish@iafrica.com or you can phone me on (021) 7970694 (oh). You may remain totally anonymous, but any submissions will be screened by the committe before publishing.
With that we sign off... see you16 September. If you are not yet a member of the Trust, do so.
Greetings WCHSA