Date set for opportunity to learn about homeschool band, orchestra, and choir

Encore Homeschool Fine Arts, in Lawrence, KS, will be offering an opportunity to try out various band and orchestra instruments for those wishing to join our group We offered this last year and it was a success - many students had a chance to try any instrument that was available that day. The goal was to find a good match between the student and instrument, and that was accomplished.

Mark your calendar for Friday, August 12th - from 10:00am to noon. We will meet at the Morris Baptist Center - 146 Indian Ave. - in Lawrence. Students and their families can come and meet the directors, try instruments, learn about our groups, and ask questions.

An instrument repair person will be available that day for those who already have an instrument and want it evaluated or repaired. Information regarding places to rent or purchase new or used instruments will be available as well.


The levels of band and orchestra for this year are based on enrollment but we are planning on the following:

Beginning Band - no musical experience required

Beginning Orchestra - no musical experience required

Intermediate Band - audition required

Intermediate Orchestra - audition required

Jazz Band - audition AND enrollment in an intermediate/advanced group is required.

Advanced Band - audition required

And new this year - Percussion Ensemble - no previous musical experience is required - space is limited. More information about this new group will be posted on our website in the coming weeks.

Audition info: For those students that wish to be in intermediate/advanced groups or jazz, an audition with the director will be required.(no audition is required for beginning groups) The student prepares a piece of music that demonstrates their ability and plays it for the director. Auditions will be held the same day as the instrument "try-out" day - starting at 12:30 pm - first come, first heard basis.

Basic information about our groups can be found on our website at: http://encorehomeschoolfinearts.blogspot.com/

Email contact: encorehomeschool@sbcglobal.net or hsmom@sbcglobal.net


Martha Bachert - Founder and Executive Director
Lawrence, Kansas

Tony Swisher - Band/Orchestra/Jazz director
John Gaskin - Choir Director
Emily Bachert - KU music major/student director of Advanced Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble

TEACH used curricululm sale

Each year, TEACH sponsors a used curriculum sale. This sale is for those who wish to sell curriculum or just want to purchase. We do need helpers for the sale - contact Wanda Tefft if you wish to help.

Wanda Tefft - 749-4534 or tefftera@hotmail.com

This year’s sale will be Tuesday, June 7th from 6-8 pm at Community Bible Church.

Spring Formal 2011

Announcing: Shine Like the Stars - a formal event for TEACH students in
10th - 12th grade - to be held at Community Bible Church in Lawrence.
The formal is planned for Friday evening, April 29th from 6:00pm - midnight. All
attendees must be homeschooled, in grades 10th, 11th, or 12th, and members
of TEACH. Expired TEACH memberships can be renewed in time for the formal.

TEACH alumni are welcome to attend if membership is current.

Each student will need an advanced reservation/ticket for the formal. The
ticket price is $30.00 per person. The evening will begin with a social hour
from 6:00 - 7:00. Dinner will be served at 7:00.

This formal evening is planned for the enjoyment of everyone and we ask that
each attendee plan to use modesty as a guideline for choosing formal attire.

Ladies: No cleavage, no backless dresses, no plunging necklines or short
hemlines. (no shorter than 2 inches above the knee)

Gentlemen: Long-sleeved dress shirts with ties, dark dress pants, or suit,
and dress shoes.

NO casual wear. ALL attendees MUST stay in formal attire throughout the
entire evening.

Menu: Chicken Alfredo, Caesar Salad, Fruit Medley, Garlic Bread, and Triple Chocolate Cake.

A group activity and an evening of dancing will follow the meal.

A photographer will be taking posed and random photos throughout the
evening. Each student will receive a CD with these photos.


Contact info: Mrs. Bachert - hsmom@sbcglobal.net or Mrs. Gaskin -
rhondagaskin@hotmail.com

Reservation/money deadline is April 8th. Checks can be made out and mailed
to either Rhonda or Martha.

Rhonda Gaskin
2904 Atchison Circle
Lawrence, KS 66047

Martha Bachert
3119 W. 29th Terr
Lawrence, KS 66047

February's Social Night

A TEACH Social Night has been planned for Saturday, February 19th.

Be sure to read the information regarding this event carefully, as there are some important changes and things to note.

This event includes junior high and senior high students - BUT the focus of the evening will be for the senior high (10th - 12th grade) students to learn dance steps for the upcoming formal in April. The music will be geared toward a variety of dances that will be demonstrated and practiced that evening.

The evening will not involve the typical activities the younger kids are used to - so we want everyone to know this prior to attending. The junior high kids, or senior high kids that do not wish to dance, are encouraged to bring table games to play.

Due to social night being on a Saturday evening, we will meet earlier than our usual time so the church can be prepared for Sunday services. Social night will start at 5:30pm and end at 8:30pm. We need all students picked up no later than 8:45pm that evening.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the "pot-luck" meal that was part of December's gathering, so we are going to do that again. The food was very good - we thank the moms (and dads) for providing such a nice variety.

Each student is asked to bring the following:

** A main dish OR side dish/dessert to share and a 2 liter bottle of pop or bottle or juice. Since we are holding this during the dinner hour, we want to have more of a meal than snacks.

The location is the same - The Morris Baptist Center - 146 Indian Ave. - Lawrence

TEACH social night events are for homeschooled TEACH members - 7th - 12th grade.

If you have questions, please contact Martha Bachert - hsmom@sbcglobal.net - 785-841-6308 OR Rhonda Gaskin - rhondagaskin@hotmail.com - 785-830-0377

Thanks to the Morris Center for the use of their building for our activities.

An informational email, regarding formal, will be sent out soon. In the meantime, TEACH homeschooled 10th - 12th grade students can put April 29th on the calendar as the date for the 2011 TEACH Formal. It will be held at CBC again this year. The cost will be $30.00 per student and that will include appetizers, dinner/dessert, dancing, door prizes, and photos of the evening.

December's Social Night ~ 2010~

Thanks to Marsha Knight, Wanda and Kim Tefft, Rhonda Gaskin, and the
Morris Center for their help in making December's social night a success.

Thanks to all the parents that provided all the great food - it was a fun evening!

Winner of the door prize: Andrew Currier - Chipotle Gift Card

Winner of the most creatively wrapped gift: Brandon Leite - Quick Shop Gift Card

Winner of the most creative gift brought: Emily Bachert - Quick Shop Gift Card
(Jonathan Tefft was the recipient of this gift, ask him about it :o)

G.O.L.D.S Speech and Debate Club

If you are interested in learning more about G.O.L.D.S - contact Pam Landon to find out how to help with/lead this group of homeschooling speech and debate students.

Stanford Achievement Testing - 2010-2011 - sign up

It's time to think about testing for the 2010 - 2011 school year. We will be using the same test as we have in years past, the tenth edition of the Stanford Achievement Test. This is a Christian-based academic test for grades K - 12. In addition to the core subjects, the test also includes a Bible assessment subtest and an Otis-Lennon (OLSAT) test. The OLSAT is for grades 3, 5, 7 and 10 and is an ability/reasoning type test that compares the student's results to other students in that grade. A rating will then be applied and this enables the parent to identify a skill area in need of additional attention.

We will test in April of 2011. Testing is a Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. A date and location will be decided at a later time. The cost to test is $30 per child testing and is non-refundable. Should you decide to test, please be aware that a helping parent (one required per family testing) will need to be available to work two out of the four days that we test.

Attached is the SAT order form. Please fill it out and send it to Rhonda Gaskin. Since I am sending this out later than normal, I am extending the deadline to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Because I will need to compile the orders and get them mailed in early December, I will not be able to accept orders after November 27, 2010.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Rhonda Gaskin
rhondagaskin@hotmail.com
(785) 830-0377