Otherways: Home Education Network

Kids Cardio/Sports Class in Doncaster for home educating families

Classes will be $6.50 each ($65 for the term) commencing on 18 July 2008.

They will be held on Fridays from 1:30-2:30pm.

Classes are non-competitive and cover a range of skills dependent on the needs of the children.  The teacher is very energising, with years of experience working in this area and is very respectful of the children.

Contact Lee Attalla at latalla@gmail.com

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Elijah’s story has prompted a family whose bullied son committed suicide to tell their story:

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/06/14/15041_news.html

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There is a possibility of a Deakin science session being run in Warrnambool for home ed families if there is enough interest.

Spectroscopes and Freezer Alarms
Cost $10 per student, cash on the night
Ages: 10 - 16

The School of Engineering and Information Technology offers a 3-hour evening session in basic spectroscopy and electronic sensors. Students (and accompanying parents) must wear close-toed shoes for lab safety. Sneakers are okay, but not Ugg boots.

Queries Sue Wight robwight@optusnet.com.au or phone 5439 5134

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A 12 year old Geelong boy with Asperger’s and Tourettes Syndrome has made a public plea hoping to stem the tide of bullying he has suffered from for years at school.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/06/07/14799_news.html 
The newspaper story contains a link to Elijah’s video message.

Elijah’s letter was discussed on the Sunrise show
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=1341467&cl=8244876&src=y7lifestyle&ch=

Michael Carr-Gregg, psychologist and expert on bullying, was interviewed for the segment and talked about bullying as a major public health problem in Australia and suggests homeschooling as one possible solution. He states that 42% of Australian Year 7 students feel unsafe at school.

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Looking for an excuse to read lots of great books this winter? Well, here it is!

We’re  inviting home educated people of all ages to participate in a read-a-thon organised by one of our members to help raise funds for TEAR Australia (see below).

If you’re home educated, and would like to be part of the read-a-thon, all you have to do is register, find at least one sponsor, and start reading. The read-a-thon will run from June 1 to August 31, and you can register at any time during these three months .

If you would like to register, please send Grace an email with your name and email address.  She will then send you a sponsorship form. Grace’s email address is vampir12@bigpond.net.au. If you don’t have access to email, or if you would like more information, you can phone her on (03) 9557 8262.

P.S. Everyone who participates in the read-a-thon will receive a certificate from TEAR Australia. The person who raises the most money will receive a $30.00 gift card from book sellers, Angus & Robertson.

TEAR Australia works in Australia and overseas to create opportunities for people living in poverty to change their lives and their circumstances.
TEAR is involved with development, relief and advocacy projects which focus on the poorest and most  marginalised people, and give priority to their rights, interests, needs and capacities.
TEAR seeks to address both the symptoms and the causes of poverty through projects that produce tangible, lasting improvement in the lives of the people they serve.
TEAR hopes to strengthen individuals and communities in their efforts to address their own development priorities into the future.
For more information visit   www.tear.org.au or phone 1800 244 986.

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Each year the Mathematics Association of Victoria gives a series of fun, interesting and free lectures.

VENUE: The Age Theatre, Melbourne Museum
Carlton Gardens, Carlton, Melbourne
Melway reference: 2B J10
TIME: 11:30am to 12:30pm on Sundays as listed
COST: Free! Note: teachers and students attending the public lectures can also visit the rest of the museum free-of-charge

As a general guide Burkard’s sessions are more suitable for primary students and Marty’s are more suitable for secondary students and adults.

MATHEMAGICAL TRICKERY
Presented by Dr Burkard Polster
DATE: Sunday, 10 August 2008  

In this special performance, the Mysterious Masked Mathemagician will amaze you with ingenious mathematical tricks used by conmen, fraudsters, and world-famous illusionists such as David Copperfield. This is a once-in a lifetime opportunity to find out some of the most closely guarded secrets of the art of mathemagical trickery. Don’t miss it!

CHEATING LIKE A MATHEMATICIAN: A HISTORY
Presented by Dr Marty Ross 
DATE: Sunday, 14 September 2008

What is the key to success in mathematics? Cheating! When confronted with an unsolvable problem, mathematicians have simply change the rules, and “solved” the problem according to their new rules. Amazingly, this underhanded technique has proved to be incredibly successful, not just for the sneaky mathematicians, but for mathematics itself. In this talk we’ll give a capsule history of mathematics, as two thousand years of such cheating.
 
THE SECRET LIFE OF SOAP BUBBLES
Presented by Dr Burkard Polster
DATE: Sunday, 12 October 2008  

Kids love blowing bubbles: you can pop them, and you can make a mess! Mathematicians love bubbles too, because they are mathematical oracles: they are guides to beautiful solutions of many tricky problems. Come and discover the best-kept secrets of soap bubble maths. Learn how to use these secrets to your own evil ends, and get some practical advice on doing the impossible: blowing bubbles in bubbles, making cubical bubbles, exploding dodecahedral bubbles, and more.
 
MARTY - POKER, NUCLEAR WAR AND OTHER FUN GAMES
Presented by Dr Marty Ross
DATE: Sunday, 9 November 2008  

Games are not just games anymore. Now that mathematicians are playing, “games” are everywhere, used to analyse anything and everything. This idea of was made famous by the mathematician John Nash (Russell Crowe), propositioning girls in A Beautiful Mind. In the real world, it led to Nash’s Nobel Prize for Economics. Beyond this, game theory has been applied to biology, to politics and war, and to much, much more. In our talk will describe how mathematicians think about games. We’ll show how game theory can provide insight whenever there is the possibility of conflict or competition, or even of cooperation.

Bookings are required.

For more information and bookings see the Maths Association of Victoria website http://www.mav.vic.edu.au/public-lectures/2008/index.html 

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Practical Sessions for Home-ed students

Venue: Deakin University (Waurn Ponds campus: Melways ref: Edition 35, Map 464)

Session 1: Chemistry: The Forensic Detective
Start time: 9.15 a.m.
Finish time: Noon
Cost: Nil (this session has a sponsor and there is therefore no cost to participants)
Ages: 14-18. The minimum age of 14 strictly applies.

The School of Life and Environmental Sciences offers a 2.5-3 hour chemistry session with a focus on forensic science (plus a lab tour afterwards).
Lab coats and goggles will be provided. Students must wear closed-toed shoes for lab safety. Sneakers are OK, but not Ugg boots.

Cost: $10 per student, cash on the day. 
Ages: 10-16. 

To make travel more convenient for families, one session will run in the morning and the other will run in the afternoon. These sessions are repeats from previous years. 

Bookings Sue Wight robwight@optusnet.com.au or phone 5439 5134

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Venue: Mount Waverley Guide Hall, Fairway Reserve, Fairway Avenue (just off Forster Road exit on SE Freeway) Melways Map 70E5. There is ample free off-street parking and a kitchen available for parents to have a cuppa during the session. Parents are also welcome to sit in on the session but asked to keep off-topic noise to a minimum.

Session Levels: There are three levels of sessions, but ages are just indicative. Parents should decide which they think their child will enjoy.

• YA: Hands on sessions for young children 4-6
• J: Sessions for Juniors between 7 and 10
• S: Sessions for Seniors - Ages 10 and up

(sometimes sessions cater for two agegroups e.g. YJ indicates suitable for ages 4 - 10)

24th June with Anatoli from CRAFTPower
CRAFTPower have many years experience working in over 600 schools, running after-school programs and holiday programs. Anatoli will be familiar to many as he is a popular presenter around Melbourne. As these are hands-on activities parental assistance is required at all times. Limited numbers.
$10 Member / $12 non-member

Bookings: Use our online booking form

WOOD MAGIC
Young Children & Junior (Code YJ4) 10am-11.15am  
Introduction to the safe use of tools. Children will trace, cut, sand and then take home their finished models for painting. Children will have a selection of 10 – 15 designs from which to choose. Tools and equipment used include junior coping saws, goggles, stencils, pencils and sandpaper. Prior to attending the student should be able to trace around a stencil cutout. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

MINI HANDYPERSON
Young Children & Junior (Code YJ5) 11.30am-12.45am 
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Children select a pre-cut template and using hammers, glue & nails construct a 3D take-home model. Highly recommended for younger and less dexterous children. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

WOOD MAGIC
Junior & Senior (Code JS4) 1pm-2.30pm
Bookings: Use our online booking form 
  
As above but model designs are more complicated and therefore take longer. Will use additional equipment such as hammers, nails, and PVA glue. Suitable for children aged 8-13 years.

22nd July with Anatoli from CRAFTPower
$15 Member / $17 non-member
SUNJET
Young Children & Junior (Code YJ6) 10am-11.30am  
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Invent, design and build a solar-driven car. Each child receives a kit containing a solar cell, 3-volt motor, 4 wheels, metal axle & guide tubes. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

JETRANGER
Junior (Code YJ7) 11.45am-1.15pm 
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Explore solar energy in the air. Build an aeroplane or helicopter with a solar cell & a motor. Each child receives a kit containing a solar cell, 3-volt motor, propeller & wire. Suitable for children aged 4-8 years.

SOLAR BUGGY
Junior & Senior (Code JS5) 1.30pm-2.45pm  
Bookings: Use our online booking form

Invent, design and build a solar-buggy with gears, wheels, axels and a solar cell. Convert the sun’s energy to electricity using photovoltaic cells. Each child receives a kit containing a solar cell, 3-volt motor, 4 wheels, metal axle & guide tubes. Suitable for children aged 8-15 years.

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We are planning a fortnightly friendly soccer match and kick to kick for parents and kids of all ages.

It’s pure magic and mayhem - without too much planning or competition.

Time: 9am to 11 amish

Where: Hurstbridge Primary School Oval (behind CFA)

Bring: Water, oranges, hats, silliness, sun protection, lots of chocolates, minimal coordination skills, soccer balls and excited kids 

Caution:    Kids and dads seem to love it

Time of Year:  April to August on dates as listed.

Please bring a friend/s, or send the details on to them or send us their email address and we’ll aim to send a note out fortnightly … thankyou,

Abe and Lachlan (soccer nuts) Contact: heidihoney@netspace.net.au

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5 nights - 6 days

2008 prices per night - Adults $34.50, Teens $17, Children 6 - 12 $11.50, Children 5 and under free

$50 deposit required for securing cabin.

Accommodation: All ensuite cabins: 3, 4, 6 & 8 bedrooms available

For bookings and further information:
Contact: Carol Vanderbilt
Ph: 9850 2318
Mobile: 0421 499 373
Email: earthangelcarole@hotmail.com

The Portsea Camp is at 3704 Point Nepean Road, Portsea Melway Map 156 F2

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