Inspire Insider

Bringing families together, one newsletter at a time!

Monday, March 4, 2019

Quote of the Week

Big picture

School News and Important Dates

Big picture

Senior Grad Night!

We would like to invite all Inspire Seniors to Inspire’s Grad Nite at Disney California Adventure on June 11, 2019! Your ticket includes access to Grad Nite festivities like dance parties and California Adventure rides and attractions from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Instructional Funds cannot be used as payment for this event, only credit card payments will be accepted. When buying your ticket, please select credit card from the payment options and not the student fund option.

Contact your HST for the link!

Big picture

Inspiring Talks with Julie Bogart

Inspire is launching a new series for our homeschooling community called Inspiring Talks. We know you know the value of attending homeschool conferences where you would have met Julie at the HomeSchool Association of California (HSC) conference last August, but it is not practical for everyone to attend these events.


Our solution? Inspire will bring the best speakers to you with a mission to lift you up, share ideas, and fill your bag of teaching tips and tricks. Some speakers will enlighten you about trends in homeschooling while others are experts in subject areas and may offer workshops to engage you as you learn about novel ways to teach your children reading, writing, math, and more!


Our first in-person Inspiring Talks is with Julie Bogart. Julie is a former homeschool mom, creative genius behind Brave Writer, and international speaker.


“Parents want their children to have academic success. Children want to be happy. Can’t we get these two desires together: learning that develops skill and creates joy? How do parents nurture a love of learning amid childish chaos, parental self-doubt, the flu, and state academic standards?” - Julie Bogart


Please join us as Julie discusses these issues and her new book, The Braver Learner.


Julie will be available for a book signing following the talk!


You may order a copy of Julie's new book, The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life through the Enrichment Ordering System ahead of the event. Or, books will be available for purchase on the day of the event for $12 per book (Enrichment staff will be on-site to process orders for those who would like to use their Instructional Funds).


This is a FREE event, but due to limited space, reservations are required.


Reserve your spot for Irvine here!


Reserve your spot for Long Beach here!

Big picture

Celebrate Pi Day with Us!

March 14th is the international day of Pi! Come to Living Spring Church to celebrate with our Inspire teachers from 1 to 3pm. There will be activities for all ages! Click on the flyer to RSVP!

Tell everyone about Inspire!

Enrollment for the 2019-2020 year has opened! Tell all of your friends and family about us, and encourage them to join too! Inspire's OSP opt-out amount has increased to $400!


Current parents do not need to re-enroll, your HST will send you a Master Agreement at the end of the year to sign for 2019-2020.

Big picture
Big picture

College & Career Fair

Orange County will be hosting a College & Career Fair on April 16, from 12:30-2:30pm at Urban Workshop. We will have local colleges available to talk to students and parents. There will also be representatives from different professions and trades available to share their experiences with students. This is a great place to have all your high school questions answered!
Big picture

Testing Resources

Testing dates are nearly upon us! Our wonderful teachers have complied a list of resources and links to practice tests to help your student feel comfortable with the testing process.


CAST Resources

SBAC Resources

À la Carte OSP Subscription Options

We’re excited to begin offering our remaining available OSP subscriptions à la carte! Families may begin submitting requests via the À la Carte OSP Subscription Order Request Form.


The available subscriptions and prorated cost (Instructional Funds only) are listed on the order request form. All subscriptions are valid through September 1, 2019 (unless otherwise noted) and are subject to availability.


Funds will be manually deducted from the student’s Enrichment account and the subscriptions created within 1-2 weeks of the request submission.


If you have any further questions, please contact the OSP Team -- osp@inspireschools.org

More High School Info Sessions!

Amy Edwards, Inspire teacher and homeschooling parent, held an amazing High School Information Session on Friday. If you were not able to attend, here are the upcoming dates in which she will hosting more sessions.


If you have a student approaching the High School years, or have a friend that is considering options for High School, this would be a great place to start! Everyone is invited!

Big picture

Special Education Newsletter

From our wonderful department of Special Education:


"The month of February is upon us and that means we are comfortably into the second semester and are moving right along with teaching and learning. We appreciate all your feedback and support and encourage you to write to us if you have a particular topic you wish us to cover."


Read the full newsletter here.

Big picture

Coolest Projects at Discovery Cube OC

Coolest Projects is a world-leading showcase that empowers and inspires the next generation of digital creators, innovators, change makers, and entrepreneurs! The event is both a competition and an exhibition to inspire and enable innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and technology skills in young coders ages 7 to 17.


Do you have an idea for a creative tech project you’d like to showcase? Register now to participate in the coolest event in North America happening at the Cube on March 23, 2019!


In addition, adults and kids of all ages are welcome to attend this free event at the Cube to support hundreds of young innovators and celebrate them in their accomplishments. Attendees will hear from inspirational speakers, leading educational technology experts, and get the chance to join a global community of digital makers.


*Activities, times and dates subject to change without notice.



Click here for more information.

Enter Imaginology's Student Competitions!

Imaginology at the OC Fair and Event Center is a huge STEAM event that families and schools love! This year, it will be on Friday April 12th to Sunday April 14th and Inspire will be there! At Imaginology, kids and their families will not only see a world of wonder, but can participate in a wide range of fun and educational hands-on activities designed to inspire and encourage academic and career exploration.


Did you know that Imaginology holds competitions for children that have a $50 cash reward? This is the time for your child's creativity to shine!


There are 19 different project divisions, and they are:


Fiber Art

Fashionista!

Upcycle It

Cardboard Engineering

Wood & Metal Arts

Digital Art

Make It With Clay

Jewelry

Drawing

Read & Draw

Painting

Photography

Manipulated Photography

Poetry

Farmology

Lights, Camera, Action

Mobiles

3D-Printed Art


The full details are available here. The project registration deadline is March 22nd, so start thinking about what you might be interested in building!

Big picture

Imaginology Project Build Sessions

Your student's project build session will include materials and assistance with Imaginology project registration! Click on the flyers to reserve your student's spot!

Field Trips

There are many incredible field trip opportunities! Click on the flyers to go straight to the booking page.

Park Days

Big picture
Big picture

Educational Tools

Create a Chain Reaction

Kids set off a chain reaction of fun! These sets let pre-k through second-grade students set up a course of ramps, pendulums, hammers, switches and more…then drop a ball onto the tracks and go for the goal box! After each test run, kids will fine-tune the placement, distance and angle of each piece—getting firsthand practice with STEM concepts such as gravity, force and momentum! Packed with super-durable plastic pieces, the set is perfect for open-ended building—or kids can use the leveled challenge cards to create a variety of different courses from scratch! Set comes with 37 pieces, plus 4 balls, 6 challenge cards and a guide. The tracks measure 12" in length.


Price? $49.99 for the starter set or $79.99 for the master set

Can funds be used? Yes

Consumable? No

Vendor Spotlight: Moxie Box Art

MoxieBox Art Inc. is a family run business dedicated to nurturing creativity in all children! We accomplish this mission by creating our art box subscriptions and sharing content with teachers as well as parents about the importance of the Arts and Creativity through seminars and email.


We create each art box on a monthly basis with a detailed lesson plan and all materials included for any student to successfully create a masterpiece you will be proud to display in your home for all to see. Proudly displaying your child’s artwork will boost their confidence which will spill-over into other areas of their studies and lives. Our art box levels are currently created for K-2 nd , 3-5 th and 6-8 th grades. The monthly lesson plan for each level is on the same general subject

but varies in complexity depending on the desired challenge. The images below show a visual for the three levels.


We create a new lesson each and every month so, if MoxieBox Art becomes your Art Class, you will never receive an art box that you have already completed.

Big picture
Big picture
Big picture

Homeschooling Advice

5 Things I Hate About Homeschooling (And How I Deal With Them)

"The educational component of homeschooling fades at times when dealing with daily sibling bickering, “no fair’s!”, messes and squabbles. I find the slow character growth of children, which is a developmentally normal and necessary process, challenging on good days and discouraging on bad ones.

Potential Solutions I Use

  • increase my understanding of child development (these books help)
  • one day at a time – a homeschooling mother’s best strategy on most issues, really
  • remind myself that this is one of the reasons we homeschool–to be a part of the character growth process instead of outsourcing it to others
  • set my kids up to shine–Home is where we let it all hang out, isn’t it? So I look for ways to get in environments where my kids’ growth is more evident. After a recent challenging day, I got the kids showered, dressed in their finest, and met Steve at a nice restaurant after his day at the office. Watching Trishna, Jonathan, and Elijah use excellent restaurant manners while munching on fancy salad greens and salmon reminded me of just how far we’ve come."


Read the full article here.

Local Events

Vendor Fair at The American Academy of Strategic Education

One of our wonderful Preferred Vendors is having a Vendor Fair! Check out all of the details in the flyer!
Big picture

Dr. Entomo's Palace of Exotic Wonders

Freakish, bewildering marvels of the insect world are on display in Dr. Entomo's Palace of Exotic Wonders. Resembling an old-fashioned circus sideshow, this exhibit explores the truth, myths and mysteries surrounding some of nature's most curious creatures - many of them alive and on view. This exhibit recalls an old-school sideshow, except it’s all about insects. Visitors can view a wild array of creepy creeping creatures and other bizarre bugs. The show also examines some of the facts, myths and mysteries involving these oddities of the earth. For more details, click here.


When: On display through April 14, 2019

Where: Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Avenue | Fullerton, CA 92832

The Great Train Show

The Great Train Show is the nation's only coast-to-coast model train show. The show is designed for the general public, modelers, hobbyists, families, and the just plain curious. Each show features hundreds of tables of trains and accessories for sale, huge operating exhibits, activities for kids, and more. All aboard!


When: March 2-3, 2019 - 10am-4pm

Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (enter at gate 3)

Cost: Onsite Adult Admission is $11.00 on Saturday - Good for BOTH DAYS!


Onsite Admission is $10.00 on Sunday


Kids 11 and under are admitted free and do NOT need a ticket.


On site admission is CASH only.


For more information, view their website here.

The 11th Annual World Dance Celebration

Big picture

Community and Connection

Big picture

Facebook Page

Did you know we have an Orange County Facebook page? We have new parents in the group who would love to hear from you! We also advertise our field trips here, and upload the newsletter there every week.

Instagram Page

If you are on instagram, we'd love to hear from you! Join our page, learn about our upcoming events and field trips, and tag us in your homeschooling photos!

Orange County Parent Resource Site

Have you visited Inspire's Orange County Parent Resource Site yet? If not, head on over to meet our regional team, stay current on school events, and find general school information. This website is a great resource and one you'll want to bookmark!

Ladan Rashidi - OC Family Liaison

I have three children who are 2, 6 and 8 years old, and I was previously a high school math teacher. Four years ago, our family chose the path of homeschooling and we have enjoyed it ever since! I am passionate about helping families navigate their way on their exciting homeschooling journey, and connecting individuals to build a community!


ladan@inspireschools.org

Shaemanique King - OC Family Liaison

I am a mom of four children, ranging in ages from 8 years to 6 months, and have homeschooled for the past four years. I consider my homeschooling style to be “eclectic” as I draw from many sources and philosophies. I have a background in Project Management Support and enjoy planning and hosting activities and events. I look forward to interacting with and supporting homeschooling families!


shaemanique@inspireschools.org

Feedback

We would like this newsletter to best reflect the needs of our community! If you have any suggestions or input, please complete this survey. We appreciate your feedback!

Big picture