THESIS Registration This Tuesday!

Hello Homeschooling Families!

If you are planning to attend THESIS classes this year, please be sure to come to the registration meeting this coming Tuesday, August 12th, in the cafe at Trinity Assembly of God, Fairmont, WV.

• Returning members (those who participated in classes last year) should be there at noon.
• New members (those who were not part of classes last year) should be there at 2:00 p.m.

During this time we will hand out packets with registration info, including and class and calendar details.

Please see the membership tab for advance info, if you are new to our co-op.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

THESIS Field Day

THESIS FIELD DAY!

FRIDAY, APRIL 25TH

         

     TRINITY OUTDOORS

 (OR GYM IN CASE OF RAIN)

11:30 - 2 PM

We will be serving up hotdogs from the grill at 11:30.  

Please bring a side dish to share!

Activity stations will follow and include:              

• Potato Hockey
• 50 Yard Dash
• Obstacle Course
• Golf Ball Balance
• Standing Long Jump
• Ball Hug
• Javelin Throw
• Shoe Kick

We will wrap up with ice cream treats and say good-byes till fall!

If you have not yet RSVP'd please contact Liz so we can plan for you!

Warmly,

Liz, for THESIS

THESIS Players Presents: After Hours

CHEWV - Capitol Update

In light of the legislative threats to home schooling freedoms this year, please consider attending the home school day at the Capitol on February 20th, 2014. It is time once again that legislators understand that our freedoms are very precious to us and that we will not hesitate to defend them.

Update on HB 4005
HB 4005, as reported previously has been placed in a subcommittee, the members of the subcommittee have met and are continuing to meet to attempt to amend this bill so that it can be brought before the full House Judiciary Committee for consideration. It is not known when HB 4005 will be voted on in the subcommittee and passed on to the full committee.

By attempting to make a crime of neglect which causes the risk of bodily harm,bill sponsors have created a piece of legislation that is overly broad and open to interpretation. Those on, the subcommittee have been put in the position of trying to determine what practices in life, which could create a risk of harm, should be protected from prosecution. Some exemptions being considered to protect people from prosecution are:

1. An exemption for failure to immunize.
2. An exemption for making reasonable medical decisions
3. An exemption for reasonable disciplinary action
4. An exemption from getting hurt playing sports
5. An exemption from being charged for being involved in a lawful activity.

 It is also becoming apparent that HB 4005 not only effects parents but anyone who works with children such as teachers or day care workers.

Background
Prior to the introduction of HB 4005 in the House Judiciary committee last week. Much time and energy was put into trying to change the language of the bill so that it would not pose a risk to parents. It appeared that a compromise had been struck, yet when HB 4005 was presented in committee none of the compromises suggested by HSLDA and others were included in the language of the bill. While efforts to strike a compromise are continuing , it seems apparent that there is a determined contingent on the committee that still wants to create legislation that simply gives to much power to the government. This would be a good time to take a closer look at the kind of legislation individual members of the committee typically introduce. Does it take away freedoms or defend freedoms? This situation highlights the need to support good candidates for office and work to remove those who do not have your same values.

I would like to repeat what I said last week.
This kind of bill is advanced by those who believe that government and its agencies are innately good, and, as such, should gain power over the people unhindered. It takes President John Adams's axiom, "A Nation of Laws and Not of Men," and stands it on its head. Instead, we become "A Nation of Men and Not of Laws."

This bill is not needed because children are already protected under the civil code. Based on an analysis by HSLDA
1.        Simple risk of simple neglect shouldn't be criminalized if the feared harm is “only” substantial physical pain, illness or impairment of physical condition”
2.       The State already has Chapter 49-1-3 the abuse and neglect code to go after neglectful parents
a.       49-1-3(7)(H) defines imminent danger to physical well-being of a child if parents use of drugs/alcohol or controlled substance has impaired parenting skills to pose an imminent risk to child’s health or safety.
b.  It appears the only circumstances in which law enforcement can take a child is if they are abandoned or emergency medical help is needed.  Courts are authorized to order the department to take children if imminent danger presents.  This suggests that law enforcement might need to work more closely with social services, if there are such situations that  they might envision needing their help.  Sounds like they want the authority to intimidate people with criminal prosecution rather than refer the matter to the department. By adding this new section people are put at risk of criminal and civil prosecution for the same activity..
3 .Police and law enforcement are mandatory reporters under 49-6A-2.
4. The definitions of bodily injury are being taken from the sexual offenses section of the code.
 
Our Message
Please let your Delegate know that you oppose HB 4005. Particularly the members of the Subcommittee -  Delegate Ellem Delegate Shott Delegate Marcum Delegate Sponaugle Delegate Fleischauer. Their contact information can be found below.
Please contact your Delegate on the House Judiciary Committee and tell them you oppose HB 4005. Let them know you do not think laws should be made which are based on the risk of bodily injury. “I am calling to oppose HB 4005 which creates new and unnecessary misdemeanor criminal charges if a parent or guardian creates a ‘risk’ of bodily injury. Bodily injury means the potential for "pain, illness or impairment of physical condition." Here is an excerpt from HB 4005: (d) If a parent, guardian or custodian neglects a child and by that neglect creates a substantial risk of bodily injury, as defined in section one, article eight-b of this chapter, to the child, then that parent, guardian or custodian, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, for a first offense, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both fined and confined.

So what about the HB 4134 the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act or RFRA?
 As reported earlier, it was converted to the West Virginia Religious Freedom and Liberty Restoration Act. A provision was inserted by a member or members of the Judiciary Committee which mandated that anytime someone felt that they did not agree with a government regulation, for example putting the trash out on the curb on Thursdays as one of our delegates pointed out, that that person could file a suit in court and demand that their liberty not be infringed upon. Not only would this create chaos because no government regulation could be enforced; but it would, I am being told, create the foundation for special rights for homosexuals. What this provision has done is hijack a perfectly good bill whose only purpose was to protect the God-given right to religious liberty.
Some have been working to get the provision removed and have been met with counter proposals that are unacceptable. It would appear likely that the same members of the committee who are supporting HB 4005 are also working to either kill the RFRA or convert it into a bill which departs from its original purpose. 

Background on the RFRA
HB 4134 - The West Virginia Religious Liberty Restoration Act (RFRA)
The RFRA is a bill concerned with ensuring that individuals who believe that a governmental regulation is unfairly burdening their practice of religion can be assured that they will have the right to have their claim heard in a court of law. The RFRA then requires the courts to use the “compelling interest test” to determine if the governmental regulation is valid. If the government regulation is allowed to stand then the government must apply the “least restrict means” when it apply the regulation to a person of faith.

HB 2452 – Requiring parents to allow their children to spend time with their extended family.
It is likely that HB 2452 will be taken up by the House Judiciary Committee.
House Bill (“HB”) 2452 establishes procedures for extended family to be granted visitation rights. The bill requires courts to grant visitation rights upon finding that “visitation would be in the best interest of the child and would not substantially interfere with the parent-child relationship.” This bill would allow courts to override legitimate parental decisions without any determination of parental fitness.  But the United States Supreme Court has said that fit parents are deemed to make decisions in their children’s best interests.
Please contact the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to uphold this important principle that parents know what is best for their children – including issues like family visitation.  

Action Requested
Please contact the House Judiciary Committee and give them the following messages in your own words:
“I am calling to oppose HB 2452 which threatens a parent’s right to decide who can spend time with their children. HB 2452 would authorize courts to override the legitimate decisions of fit parents to determine whether visits from extended family are appropriate. If a parent is not abusing or neglecting their children, courts should not substitute their judgment of what is “best” for children over the parent’s decision. Please oppose HB 2452 and others like it, including HB 2110.”

A report on efforts by legislators to confront the Common Core will be in the next Capitol Report!


 

House Judiciary Committee

 

Tim Manchin 

tmanchin@manchininjurylaw.com

(304) 340-3252

 

Mark Hunt 

mhunt@markahunt.com

(304) 340-3392

 

John Ellem 

john.ellem@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3394

 

Patrick Lane 

patrick.lane@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3275

 

Michael Ferro

mike.ferro@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3111

 

Barbara Fleischauer

barbaraf@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3169

 

Dana Lynch

dana.lynch@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3916

 

Linda Longstreth

linda.longstreth@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3124

 

Mike Manypenny

mike.manypenny@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3139

 

Justin Marcum

 justin.marcum@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3126

 

Clif Moore

clif.moore@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3189

 

John Pino

john.pino@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3170

 

Meshea Poore

meshea.poore@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3106

 

Stephen Skinner

stephen.skinner@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3248

 

Isaac Sponaugle

isaac.sponaugle@wvhouse.gov

 (304) 340-3154

 

Danny Wells

danny.wells@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3287

 

Cindy Frich

cindy.frich@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3125

 

Bill Hamilton

bill.hamilton@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3167

 

Eric Householder

eric.householder@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3274

 

Lynwood Ireland

woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3195

 

John McCuskey

john.mccuskey@wvhouse.gov

 (304) 340-3183

 

John O'Neal

john.oneal@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3164

 

John Overington

john@overington.com

(304) 340-3148

 

John Shott

 john.shott@wvhouse.gov

 (304) 340-3187

 

Kelli Sobonya

kelli.sobonya@wvhouse.gov

(304) 340-3175

THESIS Achievement Testing Reminder

 




Hope you are warm and snug on this snowy Tuesday!

Just a quick reminder that the deadline to register for testing with CHEWV, via THESIS as a test center, is Saturday, January 25th. 

**Please note that there is no guarantee of test availability if you do not register on time!**

Click here for FAQ about testing.


To register online for private or test-center testing, or to print out a form for registering via mail, click here.

Liz DeRoos is the Marion County test coordinator, so please contact her with any testing questions.

Thanks!

Do You Ever Lose It With Your Kids?

Of course, I'm not asking anyone to admit in the comment section that they've lost it with their kids.

But, let's be honest—we all do it. And so, I offer you grace, dear homeschooling moms. It is not easy to live 24/7 with your little sinners. And some days you just want to scream. Or have your head checked for ever deciding to homeschool in the first place. 

One of the biggest challenges to homeschooling is being a nice mom. Especially when you have little (or not so little) children giving you grief for having to "do school," even after a holiday week off (that maybe was not a planned week off, but happened because you got sick).

This is a big job we have, teaching our children. Not just because we are educating them in math and science, etc., but because we are trying to instruct them in righteousness. And that means we need to watch our walk.

Because our kids are sponges, and we've all probably seen the lovely poster hanging somewhere (in your own home, maybe?) that tells how kids learn what they live. (No pressure there.)

My dear friend and fellow homeschooling mom told me once that someone is always in emotional control of a situation. When you lose it, you give the control to your kids.

"Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a [homeschooling mom] who has no control over [her] spirit," (Proverbs 25:28 NASB, brackets mine).

Like the cities in biblical times, we need strong walls to protect our emotional state, or our kids will break us down and wear us out. Next thing we know, we are screaming and yelling. And maybe throwing or slamming things. Then the tears come and guilt sets in and everything is a mess.

What makes for strong walls? Time with the Lord. If you are jumping into your school day and not making time to sit with Jesus before you get going, then you are not prepared for your day. Even if things go "as planned," your homeschool journey is more than ticking off the lessons on your daily to-do list.

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps," (Proverbs 16:9, NASB).

 This can be an especially difficult time of year, with the busyness of the holidays and the rush to finish first semester lesson plans. But time with the Lord will help us to have balance, and more importantly, to keep our cool.

"She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue," (Proverbs 31:26 NASB).

And remember, even "bad" days with your kids are opportunities for learning (for your kids and you!).


Linking up with others at

Meadowbrook Mall Events this Weekend

In case you are looking for something fun to do this weekend, here are some things scheduled at the Bridgeport Mall:

10:30 am Today, Sat., 11/16 -- String Ensemble

3:00 pm Today, Sat., 11/16 -- Caricature Artist

3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Today, Sat., 11/16 -- magic show

9:00 pm  Today, Sat., 11/16 -- Fireworks

2:00 pm - 4:30 pm  Tomorrow, Sun., 11/17 -- Landau Murphy, Winner of America's Got Talent (free concert)

2:30 pm - 6:30 pm Tomorrow, Sun., 11/17 --  Musical Performance by youth choir

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tomorrow, Sun., 11/17 -- Grand Piano concert by Mel Olman