CONGRATULATIONS to our own Joey Goulart - he has been selected as one 100 finalists to compete for the State Geography Bee! Joey was SMHSA's finalist. The State competition will take place on April 9th at Towson University. GO JOEY!!!

SCIENCE FAIR: FRIDAY, 6pm, MARCH 19th at Jesus the Good Shepherd. Please bring a snack to share. Display set-up time will be from 5-6 pm, and the Science Fair will begin at 6pm. Students must stand with their displays until the judges have evaluated their projects. Judges will present a written evaluation to the student, outlining the project's strengths and weaknesses. We are hopeful that these evaluations will provide a more meaningful assessment than the traditional 1st, 2nd and 3rd-place ribbons. Nonetheless, students demonstrating an outstanding effort will be acknowledged to all.  Science Fair Guidelines can be found here.

Presentation Day    April 23

Future Graphic Designers Wanted: Show off your artistic talents by designing a program cover for Presentation Day. Please limit your artwork to 5" x 8" plain white paper. Black and white designs will photocopy the best. We will use the first 10 designs submitted as program covers. All designs submitted will be on display along with each artist's name.   Important info to include: Southern Maryland Homeschool Association Presentation Day April 23, 1999

Jesus the Good Shepherd Church GET CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN!

Interplanetary Jammin' - A Kid's-Eye View of the Solar System - Beginning on March 9 and continuing thru April 20, rehearsals will be held at Fairview Library on Tuesdays from 3 to 4 PM (after the Geography Club meeting - see below) for the performance of this exciting collection of songs at Presentation Day . Reproducible student pages and suggestions from the Teacher's Handbook are available to enhance your own schooling.

FIELD DAY - May 23 - mark your calendars and look for more details coming soon!

graduation - Certificates will be presented to those children graduation from grades K, 5, and 8, on Field Day.   Even if you don't plan to attend Field Day - your child is still entitled to a Certificate.

JUNE - we have traditionally held a curriculum sharing at our regular June meeting - last year you may remember our holding an event at Calvert High School together with southern CHEN. We will not be doing this again this year, but we will have something fun nevertheless! Look for details coming soon!

GEOGRAPHY CLUB meets on Tuesdays at the Fairview Library from 1 to 2:30. Children attending so far are up to grade 7. This Club grew out of the practice sessions for the National Geography Bee. The kids just didn't want to stop!

ICE SKATING SESSIONS:

Two left, they are FRIDAY, MARCH 5 AND MONDAY, APRIL 5 at the Bowie Ice Arena at Allen Pond Park, Mitchellville Road, Bowie. TIME 12-2 PM. COST $5 per skater includes rental.

1999 HOME EDUCATORS' WEEK at COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG --Go to http://www.history.org/ for more information on their Home Educators' programs and registration form. To locate the details and registration form from the Colonial Williamsburg home page use their SEARCH function and enter: home educators week.

Maryland Home Education Association Conference and Resource Fair Saturday, March 27 8AM to 5:15 PM featuring DAVID COLFAX "Avoiding Homeschooling Pitfalls & Groundswells". homebase@erols.com.

13TH ANNUAL CHAP CONVENTION (Christian Homeschoolers Association of Pennsylvania) Friday and Saturday May 7 and 8. Mike Farris of HSLDA is one of the keynote speakers. For info call CHAP voice mail (717) 661-2428.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS ALERT:

TAKE CREDIT FOR LEARNING: HB 564 includes a tax credit wherein families earning under $35,000 would be entitled to up to $3,000 per child for educational expenses and those earning over $35,000 would be entitled to write off that amount. View online at http://mlis.state.md.us Contact Legislator Stocksdale.

OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE:

Maryland Science Center   Calendar of Events

"AMAZON" IN IMAX: Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St., Balto. A new film documenting the river's wonders, inhabitants and healing powers. The film centers on Mark Plotkin, a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution, and Julio Mamani, a Bolivian Callawaya shaman, as they tap into the medicinal qualities of the Amazon's native plants. Runs through May 20. Info: 410-685-2370.

From the Discovery Channel school :  ASSIGNMENT DISCOVERY The new season began on Feb. 1st. Programs are on Discovery Channel 9-10am, M-F. This season's series includes:  Planet of Life: Weeks of 2-1, 3-8, 4-12, 5-17; World Empires: Weeks of 2-8, 4-19, 5-24; Amazing Earth: Weeks of 2-15, 3-22,n 4-26, 5-31; Great Books: Weeks of 2-22, 3-29, 5-3, 6-7; and Systems and Structures: Weeks of 3-1, 4-5, 5-10, 6-14

The LEARNING CHANNEL Elementary School Programs air Fridays, 11-12: Habitats of the World, Air dates: 2-5, 3-12, 4-16, 5-21 Stories from Around the World (Antarctica; Australia; Tibet; Chinese New Year; Moslem tradition, Air dates: 2-12, 3-19, 4-23, 5-28 Dynamic Earth (Tidal Wave, Hurricane, Tornado, Lightning, Air dates: 2-19, 3-26, 4-30, 6-4 Tales from the Brothers Grimm, Air dates: 2-26, 4-2, 5-7, 6-11 Understanding Volcanoes, Viruses, Television, Computers, Magnetism, Air dates: 3-5, 4-9, 5-14, 6-18    SPECIAL: Cleopatra's Palace, March 14, 9PM and Monday, March 15, 9AM.

HOME SCHOOL SCIENCE: Mondays, 2:30-4:30PM at the Watkins Nature Center in Upper Marlboro (near Adventure World). Nature study and investigations for ages 9-14. Nature Walk: 3/15, Spring Wildflowers, 4/12 and 4/19, What is Water?: 5/3 and 5/17, Weather: 6/7 and 6/21. Choose one of two dates offered. Also, offered one morning a month from 10a - 11:30a is a science class for ages 6-8yrs. The first class is on Feb. 4th and continues on March 4th, April 1st, and May 6th.

The first class is animals defenses. Fee is $12 for non-PG county residents. Call 301-249-6202 for more info. and to make a reservation for your children. Classes fill up quickly! Sign up your older homeschooler and take younger children to enjoy the wonderful trails and playgrounds. Farm is closed during these hours.

COLLEGE PARK AVIATION MUSEUM: New museum now open to the public, offering interactive and educational activities, including military, civilian and experimental aviation. In the spotlight are aircraft, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits. An animatronic Wilbur Wright at work in a replica 1909 hanger brings the airport's early history to life. Located at 1909 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD 20740, 301-864-6029, Open 10-5 Daily, $4 Adult, $2 18 and under, $2 Groups of 10 or more, $1 School groups.

OPPORTUNITIES IN HISTORY:

DARNALL'S CHANCE in Upper Marlboro, MD offers free admission on Sat., May 8, 10-5PM and has house tours hourly has part of "Marlborough Days." This is the oldest house in Upper Marlboro and the residence of notable Marylanders Colonel Henry Darnall and his great-grandsons, Archbishop John Carroll and Daniel Carroll II. Fee is normally $3 adults and $1 students, usually open drop-in 12-4PM on Sundays and weekdays, 9-1PM by appt. It is located at 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive right behind St. Mary of the Assumption Church. Call 301-952-8010 for more information.