NWACHEA

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 NWACHEA K – 3rd Spelling Bee!

Kindergarten:
1st place – Toshiro Hunt
2nd place – Elli Grassle
3rd place – Sophia Hyatt

1st Grade:
1st place – Raynie Smith
2nd place – Dakota Holloway
3rd place – Elliot Ledbetter

2nd Grade:
1st place – Seamus Keith
2nd place – Johanna Whisenhunt
3rd place – Hannah McKinney

Start planning now for NWACHEA’s Science and Education Fair on Friday, March 22nd from 1-4 p.m. It will be held in the sanctuary of Grace Church of NWA in Fayetteville (where the Fayetteville co-op currently meets). Judging will begin at 1:00, so exhibitors may begin setting up their displays around 12:30. There will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place ribbons awarded for each grade, preK-12th. All home educated students in the area are invited to take part in the fair.

Parents, please e-mail Amy Calhoun to register, and be sure to include each child’s full name and grade. DEADLINE TO SIGN UP is March 8th. There will be NO exceptions (as ribbons must be purchased and other preparations completed in advance).

This event is free to NWACHEA members. You do not have to be a member to participate, but there is a non-refundable $5 entry fee (per student) for non-members. The fee must be received by Amy Calhoun no later than the sign-up deadline, March 8th.

Exhibits may be about ANY topic appropriate for the classroom: Science, Math, Sewing, Music, Sports, Cooking, History, Art, etc. Students may draw their own pictures (at a past fair, one student drew small portraits of all the presidents) or create their own exhibits from scratch. They may use material purchased at educational stores, such as bulletin board cut outs or models. For example, a student once brought a 3-D puzzle of the U.S. Capitol – he assembled it, and explained on his display board how a bill becomes a law. Another student bought a bridges kit, and had models of three types of bridges and a written report.

Guidelines

1.Exhibits should have a display board that explains the display.You can purchase a display board from Hobby Lobby or WalMart. (Even a decorated cake should have a board discussing steps of making the cake, baking, cooling, decorating, etc.)

2. Display board should not be larger than 3 ft. high by 4 ft. wide. You may use about two feet of space in front of your display board for items exhibited, as exhibits will be lined up along six foot tables side by side.

3. Display board should have a title.

4. The parents should NOT do the work. Of course parents will have to encourage, provide ideas and materials and direct. A judge can tell if the exhibit is age appropriate. The exhibits will receive higher marks if the student did it himself. Parents can teach a child how to use a computer, a ruler, or stencils but not do the work.

5. Students should be prepared to tell the judges about what they learned by making their exhibit. They should be able to pronounce the words on their display board, and demonstrate that they understand the material presented.

As in past years, there will be several judges, and the same ones will judge all exhibits within a particular age group. Projects are scored on the following: Creativity, Thought, Thoroughness, Skill/Age Appropriateness, and Clarity/Neatness

Have fun and get those projects going!!!

Please contact Amy Calhoun with questions, or to register any child(ren) who would like to participate in the fair.

This year’s 4th-8th grade spelling bee included a large group – 19 students in all!

Congratulations to the winners:

First place: Heidi Hendrix, grade 7
Second place: Ethan Martinez, grade 6
Third place: Hayley Calhoun, grade 8