July_2019

Coordinator News

Seasons
I am so glad that the weather has distinct seasons around here – even if they do tend to bleed over into one another. I am not sure I would like to live somewhere that has similar weather all year long. In the same way, our family lives look and feel different from one “season” to the next. For instance, two different homeschool years in a row we moved in October. That meant that we started school, got into a good routine, then lost it while packing and transitioning to the new place, tried to get a routine going, had holidays, visits with family and breaks, then FINALLY got some school going again in January! January!! Part of my brain wanted to make me feel guilty for all that we had lost, missed or otherwise skipped in our schooling while in the season of change. However, that is simply not sound reasoning.
I did a little bit of math this morning for comparison’s sake. Having taught in public schools I have had to work with these numbers before. We had about 1,260 hours in the school year (that is 180 days of ~7 hours each). That is 420 minutes per day. From that we had to subtract recesses (30 min), lunch (~40 min), and our prep time (30 min). That leaves us with 320 minutes of instructional time. Each subject change or transition takes about 2-3 minutes to complete (another ~20 minutes), leaving us with only about 300 minutes of actual instructional time. If I had a class with 22 students (and I did), this gives me 13.6 minutes of one-on-one time with each child each day. Of course, that assumes that I can equally divide my time, which is ridiculous.
Compare that with the opportunity we have in homeschool of any time and any day teaching. If we only used a 40-hour workweek for numbers, that is 2,080 hours per year (more than 820 hours per year MORE) and with far fewer numbers in the teacher-to-student ratio, we are doing great! In fact, you could miss an entire year of school and be able to make it up (using public school learning hours) in just a few months. Also, the one-to-one (or two- or three- or four-to-one) ratios make it MUCH easier to get concepts taught and learned well.
If you are in a season where “school work” has to take a backseat, embrace it. Know that you will be able to make up the time and work, if you need to, and that your children are still learning. They are learning that life doesn’t always go the way we plan it or that moving is hard work. They are learning how to help care for a loved one, or even just everyday life skills that are often not addressed in schools today. All of it is learning, and how often do you really use Algebra 2 anyway? (I say this because I used to teach this class and heard that question A LOT!) *The answer, BTW, is that while you may not run across these specific types of problems in the future, you are building higher-level problem-solving skills that you will need in life. Enjoy the season that you are in, knowing that eventually school will come back around, just like summer.
Melissa Creech

2019-2020 Board Officers

Coordinator
Melissa Creech
coordinator@rsvlreach.org
Membership Director
Kathy Chauffe
membership@rsvlreach.org
Activities Director
Velvet Sperry
activities@rsvlreach.org
Secretary
Michelle Green
secretary@rsvlreach.org
Treasurer
Jana Olson
treasurer@rsvlreach.org


To email the Board: board@rsvlreach.org
To email the REACH group: mail@rsvlreach.org

Board News

The next board meeting is July 1.

This summer we will continue to work on our yearly budget, updates to committee/board guidelines, the member handbook, 2019-2020 calendar, updates to the website, etc. Please be aware when using the website that updates are worked on all summer.

Just a reminder: There is PE equipment available for check-out and use for REACH activities. We have various balls, frisbees, cones, jumping ropes, hula hoops, parachutes, and flag football equipment. Please contact board@rsvlreach.org if you would like to check any of it out.

Below is an important board decision made this last year that opens up opportunities for sports for any age, explains how ministry opportunities can be organized, and covers how field trips, clubs, and intensives are done in REACH:
Committee Changes/Reminders for 2019-2020: We have exciting changes in our REACH clubs. See the clubs section of the April 2019 newsletter for details. In addition, instead of having a sports committee, all sports activities will run as a club or intensive through those committees. This can be for any age, but volunteers must step up to plan these. If you want an ongoing …
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Meetings

We are currently working on meetings for the coming year. Dates for these will be announced in the August newsletter.

If your daughter, aged 13 or older would enjoy babysitting at REACH meetings, please contact JoLeah Payton at jpayton_99@yahoo.com. You can get a copy of the childcare worker application form HERE. The childcare worker guidelines are HERE.

Membership News

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

James(Ty) and Kayla Osborne live in Dardanelle and have two children: James Isaac, age 4; and Liam,age 2. Kayla will serve on the Discovery Fair Committee.

John and Katie Kuretch live in Briggsville and have four children: Aidan, age 14; Emory, age 12; Bree, age 7;and Ellie,age 5. Katie will serve on the Book Sale Committee.

Ken and Donna Worthen live in Russellville and have one child: Shawn Caleb, age 14. Ken will serve on the Intensives Committee.

Committee Heads 2019-2020

Thank you to those who have stepped up to head a committee. The following committees are still available: Field Day and Kindergarten Graduation.
Administration-Kathy Chauffe
Banquet-Jackie Richardson
Book Sale-Molly Miller
Childcare-JoLeah Payton
Clubs-Suzanne Sweet
Discovery Fair-Emily Nealy
Field Trips-Velvet Sperry
Intensives-Melissa Hefley
Library-Velvet Sperry
Mentoring-Keri Bucci
PSP (Parks/Skating/Parties)-Coralin Davelaar
Senior Graduation-Tracy Johnson
Teen Activities-Erin Aylor
Testing-Melissa Creech
Yearbook-Leslie Conditt

Summer Skating-July 18

Come and join us! We are meeting at the skating rink to have some summertime fun! All ages are welcome. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks for your family. I will provide the bottled water. If you’d like to bring something to share with everyone, like cookies, that would be great too! Please sign up by July 15th. We need …
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Field Trips

There are so many great opportunities in our community as well as surrounding areas for field trips! If there's somewhere fun and/or educational you've been wanting to go perhaps you'd like to organize a field trip so other homeschool families could join in! Anyone in REACH can plan a field trip. Here are some ideas of potential field trips: Little …
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Fall 2019 Intensives

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer making lasting memories. We all love making memories, right? I am looking for parent volunteers to conduct an intensive for this coming school year to help make lasting school memories for our kids. I am looking forward to getting with the parents who have already signed up for the intensive committee to see …
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How to Homeschool Intensive for Moms

Date: August 16 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Date: August 17 Time: 8:45-11:30 a.m.
Are you a new homeschool mom who is just getting started? Are you in those middle years where “burnout” sometimes begins? Are you nearing the end and just need a push to finish and would be happy to share from your homeschool life lessons? If you answered yes, then this 2-day intensive is for you: “How to Homeschool with Stunning …
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Fall 2019 Clubs

Clubs are an amazing opportunity for our kids to get together with others of like interests or to learn something new. Each semester everyone has an opportunity to offer a club to the REACH community. What skills or interests does your family have that you would like to share? Clubs can meet at any time and for as often as …
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Nursing Home Ministry Club-August 2

This ministry club meets at Stella Manor every other month and is for all ages.  It is a great opportunity for our kids to gain experience playing and singing in front of others, but the greatest experience is being around older people who just need someone to show them love.  The residents so enjoy people coming to spend time with …
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High School Chemistry Lab

This lab covers atoms, the periodic table, molecular bonds, formulas, reactions, solutions, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, kinetics, acids and bases, molecular orbitals, molecular geometry, chemical equilibrium, and various specialized topics. The student must be able to compute simple algebraic equations and will need to bring a calculator. Labs will require students to read and be mentally prepared before coming to class.  Some topics …
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GIVE TO REACH

PayPal
Amazon Smile
FlipGive - To become a team member, use code C339UZ when prompted.
Giving Bean
Kroger Rewards - NPO number XE621
Box Tops 4 Education and Tyson A+
Labels are collected at each REACH Meeting. A collection box is also located in the REACH Library.

Fresh Roasted Coffee and Artisan Tea

Giving Bean roasts to order and ships coffee directly to your home or office so you'll enjoy the fresh-roasted difference, but...the difference isn't only in the taste....each bag helps the funding efforts of REACH.
Please consider using our unique charity link so that REACH receives a donation each time you shop.
Go to: Giving Bean

REACH Library Information

Please note that this information is for current REACH members only.
REACH Library Code: 1219

A few reminders:
  • Secure the library by locking the door behind you.
  • Place the key in the lockbox, and mess up the code to keep it secure.
  • Sign in upon arriving and sign out upon leaving.
  • No food or drink allowed in the library.
  • Follow displayed instructions for checking out and returning books
  • Use the 2,900+ items REACH Library Database
Contact Velvet with any questions (activities@rsvlreach.org or 223-2255).

Local Events

**The following are not REACH sponsored events but are provided for informational purposes only.**

City of Dardanelle 4th of July Celebration--Hosted by The Beards and The Bees
8 PM – 9 PM We are excited to announce that we will be headlining the City of Dardanelle's 4th of July celebration. Come out and celebrate the birth our our nation and let us serenade you under the stars. We'll see you there!

Pope County Library has lots of events planned for the summer for all ages! Check out their events at: http://popelibrary.org/events/home/. There is something going on nearly every day in July.

This year, the City of Russellville will present a free community fireworks display at a new location. The display is set for July 4 at the Russellville Aquatic Center. North Phoenix Avenue will be closed. Parking will not be allowed at the Aquatic Center but will be available on the Arkansas Tech University campus. Hog Wild Pyrotechnics will light up the sky at dark from the field adjacent to the center. For more information, call the Hughes Community Center at (479) 968-1272.

Arkansas Tech University, the Arkansas Governor’s School and the Center for the Arts at Russellville High School will present a special performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre at 7 p.m., July 8, at The Center for the Arts, 2209 S. Knoxville Ave. Tickets are available for $15 at the center’s box office from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.weekdays or online at bit.ly/2I9nyzN. Proceeds from the public performance will benefit the Arkansas Governor’s School and the Center for the Arts. For more information, visit www.russellvillecenter.net, www.arkshakes.com or www.atu.edu/ags.

Lake Dardanelle State Park hosts events for children and adults all the time. They have something going on nearly every day. Check out their events at: LDSP Events.
The events are listed by date. Get outside and have some fun – or inside to enjoy the cool of the visitors’ center!

Art of the Valley, 118 S. Commerce Ave., Rsvl is hosting art camps July 8-11, at either 9:30-noon or 1-3:30, children 5-12 can come and create. July 22-25 from 9-noon is art camp for teens 13+. $95 per child for all camps. Price includes 4 days, 4 fun art projects (supplies are provided), snacks every day of camp, and an Art of the Valley camp T-shirt! We ask that your child bring a water bottle every day of camp. Call 479.439.1010 or message FB to reserve your child’s seat.
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