Keeping It In The Family

Charlotte Homeschooler Wins $10K Prize One Year After His Sister

Tucker Haas, 11, of Charlotte, has won the grand prize of a $10K savings bond in the Third Annual Bubble Wrap For Young Inventors Competition. Haas designed a portable swing with Bubble Wrap padding to help his younger sister, who has cerebral palsy, enjoy playground outings.

Tucker's older sister, Hannah, created a "sensory wallpaper" for autistic children, to win the same prize in last year's competition.

Sealed Air Corporation's press release carries the full story.

Clemmons homeschooler named Explorer of the Year

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that homeschooler David Simpson shared the 2008 Explorer of the Year Award for Explorer Post 14 with fellow Explorer Michael King. The two were tied for the most points for "training, meeting, responses, community service and education". The Explorer post is sponsored by the Clemmons Fire Department.

WNC homeschooler wins in essay contest

Homeschooler Kayla V. Jones came in second out of 120 entries in the Vince Colan Memorial Essay Contest.

This is the second year of the contest which remembers the attack on Pearl Harbor, according to the article in the Hendersonville Times-News.

N.C. Homeschool News 9/07/08

McCain voices support for home education: Presidential candidate John McCain, speaking at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency hosted by pastor Rick Warren, interjected his support for school choice and home education into Warren's scripted question and answer session:

"Can I just say choice and competition, -- choice and competition, home schooling, charter school vouchers, all the choice competition, I want -- look, I want every American family to have the same choice that Cindy and I made and Senator Obama and Mrs. Obama made as well and that was we wanted to send our children to the school of our choice. And charter schools work, my friends, home schooling works, vouchers in our nation's capital works. We've got thousands of people in Washington D.C. that are applying for a voucher system. New York City is reforming. I go back to New Orleans. They were -- as we know, the tragedy devastated them. They now have over 30 charter schools in the city of New Orleans and guess what? It's all coming up. It's all coming up. It's a simple principle, but it's going to take dedicated men and women, particularly in the teaching profession, to make it happen. And by the way, here in -- I won't go any further, but the point is it's all based and it's being proven that choice in competition for every American family and it is the civil rights issue of the 21st century because every citizens' child now has an opportunity to go to school. But what kind of opportunity is it if you send them to a failing school? That's why we got to give everybody the same opportunity and choice."

(Forum transcript, part 5)

Although he continued the theme of education as the civil rights issue of the 21st century, his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention this week did not mention homeschooling specifically.

Injured motorcyclist credits homeschoolers' prayers for his survival: In a follow up to last week's story, the Morganton News-Herald interviewed Jamie Freeman, the 21-year-old motorcyclist who was injured while showing off in front of a crowd of homeschooled and other teenagers at a Pioneer Football League event at the School for the Deaf. While coaches checked on his injuries, 160 teenaged boys knelt on the field and prayed for his recovery. "I just wanted to come out publicly and thank them for their support," he told the News-Herald.

Person Co. homeschoolers discuss their reasons and philosophy: The Roxboro Courier-Times spoke with several families, mentioning homeschool graduates from the area that attended Cornell University and Washington University of St. Louis and those who now serve as deputy sheriff or special ed teachers. Homeschooling parents interviewed include the head of the Business Development Center at Piedmont Community College and a former teacher at Roxboro Christian Academy, the latter now leading the Home Educators Association of Roxboro (HEAR). She points out, accurately, that "homeschooling is your life" when you take on the responsibility.

The sweet smell of success: Brian, Melissa, and Owen Gold are homeschoolers in the Triad town of Whitsett, N.C. They are also entrepreneurs who have saved $2000 -- after charitable giving -- from the profits of a candy vending business they started three years ago as a school project. WFMY-TV in Greensboro reported they current service some forty vending locations from Burlington to Asheboro.

Pursuing a dream: Joey Logano of Huntersville attended traditional schools when he lived in Connecticut, but since he became a stock car driver, his mother homeschools him. When he turns 18, he'll move up to the Busch Series races. The New York Times reported the story.

Homeschooler honored for 12 years of 4-H achievement: Rebecca Craven of Asheboro was inducted into the state 4-H Honor Club, in recognition of accomplishment and service in 4-H, leadership, and high moral standards. (Courtesy Randolph County Extension Service website)

N.C. Homeschool News 6/15/08

NEWS

STATE - Bill provides tax credits for special needs students in nonpublic schools

Two bills in the N.C. General Assembly (H.388 = S.2059) would provide parents a tax credit of as much as $3000 per semester for qualified expenses to provide special educational services to their children in nonpublic schools. According to the House bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Skip Stam (R), the tax credits estimated at $18 million would cost the state about $2 million, but would save counties $6 million -- and allow parents to seek the best possible educational support for their child, if they need to look outside the public school system. Video of the press conference is available courtesy the John Locke Foundation. (The Locker Room, 6/10/08)

ACADEMICS

BURKE - Two Burke County homeschool grads appointed to service academies

The Morganton News-Herald reports that Gordon Fein has been appointed to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), while David Gillette has been appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Both had already received nominations to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy when they received word of the second appointments this week. (Morganton News-Herald, 6/10/08)

GUILFORD - Homeschool mother contemplates "mission accomplished"

Linda Vestal of Gibsonville writes for the Greensboro News & Record. Her June 11 column, which was also posted on Red Orbit under the title "Mission Accomplished", reflects on her daughter Hannah's graduation from homeschooling. (Greensboro News & Record, 6-11-08)


HAYWOOD - Local association graduates four homeschoolers

The Haywood Christian Home Educators recognized and celebrated the graduation of four seniors at a ceremony held May 9 at Dellwood Baptist Church. (Asheville Citizen-Times, 6/14/08)

JOHNSTON - Another homeschool graduate heading to West Point

David Auge of Smithfield has been appointed to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), following in the steps of his father who also graduated from the Academy. (NCHSN Exclusive)

ARTS

WARREN - Homeschooled brothers from Raleigh to perform at historic concert venue

Carter and Wyatt Coleman of Raleigh are featured violinists in the annual student concert at Cherry Hill plantation in Inez, N.C., on June 15. The two brothers have studied violin since the age of four and have won numerous awards and recognitions. (The Warren Record, 6/13/08)

AWARDS

CABARRAS - Pack 94 awards "Arrow of Light" to six scouts

Joshua Bakita, Joshua Cowles, Scott Darden, David Mason, Steven Patton and Patrick Taylor, all homeschoolers, received the Arrow of Light award at graduation ceremonies for Pack 94 last month. The award is the highest achievement in Cub Scouts. (Charlotte Observer, 6/12/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 6/1/08

NEWS

BURKE -- Seven homeschoolers graduated at commencement ceremonies of the Burke County Home Educators, held at the Old Burke County Courthouse, May 31. (Morganton News-Herald, 5/31/08)

AWARDS

JACKSON - Sylva homeschooler wins bronze in international project competition

Martha Hall of Sylva has received a bronze medal in the 1st International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environmental Project Olympiad, held in Houston, Texas, May 1-5. The competition included students from 52 countries and 38 states. (Carolina Newswire, 05-22-08)

N.C. Homeschool News 2/17/08

NEWS

NASH -- Homeschools on the topic list for Leadership N.C.'s education session
Rocky Mount Telegram, 2/14/08

POLK -- Hendersonville homeschooler kicked off Facebook - no category for "homeschoolers"
Washington Post "Off Beat" Blog, 2/11/08

PEOPLE

FORSYTH -- Winston-Salem homeschooler achieves highest honor in Royal Rangers program
Winston-Salem Journal, 2/10/08

N.C. Homeschool News 2/10/08

NEWS

BUNCOMBE -- Black Mountain Home School Math Club going to state Mathcounts competition in March
(Asheville Citizen-Times, 2/5/08)

CLEVELAND -- Public school program billed as dropout prevention wants homeschoolers, too
(Shelby Star, 2/7/08)

FORSYTH -- Virtual public schools equated with homeschooling (which they aren't)
(Winston-Salem Journal, 2/7/08)

HENDERSON -- Homeschool science fair leads school news in Hendersonville
(Hendersonville Times-News, 2/4/08)

NEW HANOVER -- Charter school failure "forced her to home-school her son"
(Wilmington Star-News, 1/31/08)

PEOPLE

GUILFORD -- Rising popularity of homeschooling in northwest Guilford County
(The Northwest (Guilford Co.) Observer, 2/8/08)

HENDERSON -- Nonagenarian was homeschooled during World War I era
(Hendersonville Times-News, 1/31/08)

IREDELL -- Homeschooled 8th grader wins pageant ad sales award
(Mooresville Tribune, 2/4/08)

N.C. Homeschool News 2/3/08

NEWS

WAKE -- Support for homeschooling is one of gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith's positions (WRAL-TV, Raleigh, 1/15/08)

MECKLENBURG -- Homeschooling family of 12 loses new home to fire
(Charlotte Observer, 1/21/08)

MECKLENBURG -- Charlotte homeschooler wins $10,000 in Bubble Wrap competition
(Press release, 1/28/08)

ALAMANCE -- Homeschooling family of 10 coping after devastating house fire
(Burlington Times-News, 1/29/08)

SPORTS

GASTON -- Gastonia homeschooler training for the Iditarod dogsled race
(Southwest Virginia Today, Wytheville, VA, 1/22/08)
(Gaston Gazette, 1/28/08)

SURRY -- Greensboro 87 - Surry Home Educators 77
(Mt. Airy News, 1/16/08)

PEOPLE

CABARRUS -- Homeschooling mom leads prayer group for local schools
(Charlotte Observer, 1/17/08)