NWACHEA

Although previously we believed it would not take place this year, NWACHEA is very happy to announce that we will be holding our annual Science & Education Fair on Friday, May 2nd. The NWACHEA Administration Committee would like to thank Kristin Butler, who very generously volunteered to coordinate this event for the benefit of the NWA home school community.

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It’s time to start planning for NWACHEA’s 2014 Science and Education Fair. The Fair is a great chance for students to work on an educational project and be able to share it with other students and home school families in and around Northwest Arkansas.

Who can participate?
Although this event is hosted by NWACHEA, it is open to all home school students, Pre-K (age 3 & 4 years) through 12th grades.

Date and Time
Friday, May 2nd from 12:30-3:30pm (for participants)
Those who may just want to come experience all the projects can drop in from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Location
Community Meeting Room at the Rogers Public Library, 711 S. Dixieland Rd. in Rogers

Cost
FREE for current members of Rogers or Fayetteville NWACHEA
Non-members: $5/competing student (non-refundable after the registration deadline)

Registration
Begins March 3rd and ends on April 18th (no exceptions or flexibility, as preparations and supplies must be purchased in advance)

To register, please email the following information to the coordinator, Kristin Butler:
– Student’s name
– Student’s grade (or age if under 5 years old)
– Parent name
– Parent phone number
– Current NWACHEA member (and if so, which branch) or non-member

After we receive your registration information, you will receive a confirmation email.

Non-members: when you sign up, you will receive confirmation with instructions for mailing your student’s registration fee. The fee must also be received by April 18th.

Exhibits and Guidelines
Exhibits may be about ANY topic appropriate for the classroom: Science, Math, Sewing, Music, Sports, Cooking, History, Art, etc.

Example Projects: 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. (Because we are hosting it at the library, no live animals or insects are allowed)

1) All exhibits should have a display board that explains your student’s topic. You can purchase a display board from Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart.

2) All display boards should not be larger than 3 ft. wide and 4 ft. tall when assembled. The exhibits will be lined up along six foot tables side by side. Each student will have about two feet of space in front of the display board for models, examples, etc.

3) All display boards should have a title

4) If your student’s exhibit requires electricity, you are responsible for bringing an extension cord

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

Awards and Judging
Students will give a presentation to our volunteer judges. Judges will evaluate exhibits only within a particular age group (no-crossover of ages).

Every student will receive a certificate of participation.

The participation certificates and ribbons for those placing in 1st-5th place in every age category will be presented at the end of the event.

This event is designed to encourage creativity and practice the skill of sharing learned information in a concise, enthusiastic manner. Parents and students may view the judges’ scoring sheet online.

Parent Involvement
Parents, you will be a part of your student’s project as you encourage, provide ideas, materials, and sometimes even direct your student on the track to complete their project, BUT parents should NOT do the work of the actual projects.

A criterion during judging is, “Does the project reflect the student’s own work at their appropriate level of understanding and expertise?” Judges will give higher marks to projects which reflect a student’s own work.

Parents are definitely encouraged to teach their students how to use the tools needed for their projects (computer, rulers, calculators, stencils, etc), but, please, do not do the actual work of the project.

On the day of the event: For students not old enough or not driving themselves to the event, we ask that you stay on location at the library. It is NOT the responsibility of the volunteers to supervise your student(s). If you need to leave (even for a brief time), please have another parent be responsible for the supervision of your student(s)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Other ways to be involved (please let Kristin know if you’d like to help out in any of the ways below when you register your student, or as soon as possible):

1) A Plate of Cookies: As a “thank you” to our volunteers, we will be assembling plates of delicious goodies for them to take home. If you would like to bake or bring a dozen (or two) of your favorite cookies or bars, it will be greatly appreciated

2) Recommend Volunteer Judges: We will be looking for volunteer judges, so if you know of someone who would be great with interacting with the students, please let Kristin know so she can contact them soon

3) Help will be needed on the day of the event: set-up, scorers of the judging sheets, other administrative tasks, and tear-down/clean-up. If you are available and willing to help out, let Kristin know how you would like to serve!

Using the Rogers Library
The Community Room is a great resource for our community, and we would hope to be respectful of the opportunities it allows for NWA. Participants are expected to keep their areas clean, as we will be returning the space as we found it (and hopefully better). These notes are a part of the library policy that allows our group to use the Community Room.

1) No food or drink is allowed in the actual library. “Light Refreshments” are allowed ONLY in the Community room, so if you bring a snack, keep it simple and easy.

2) As stated before, no live animals or insects as a part of your student’s project

3) Please use discretion (not necessarily forbidden) for any part of your student’s display that could cause a big mess (glitter, liquid, etc). Also know that the Community Room is carpeted. Please understand that you and/or your child are responsible for cleaning the area around the display if anything remains after your student’s project is taken down.

4) During the event, in the community room, or as your family chooses to go into other parts of the library (which is definitely encouraged!), make sure to follow library etiquette (no running, loud talking, etc).

5) If you need to use your cell phone to talk, please go outside (per library rules)

*NEW* THIS YEAR!! – Local Business Partners
We are inviting local businesses with products or services directly related and encouraging to the local home school community to showcase their business at the Science and Education Fair.

Cost per “booth/display space:” $10

There will be 16 spaces available, as the focus of the event is not local businesses, but students’ projects.

Business owners may view the guidelines for participation online.

Through Wednesday, March 5, we are inviting NWACHEA members to reserve their display space. On Thursday, March 6, non-members are invited to contact the coordinator to reserve any available spaces.

Email the information listed in the “Business Partners Guidelines” (link above) to Kristin Butler to reserve your space.

Thank you for considering being a partner for this great event for local students!

One Last Note
We hope your family will be able to join us at this event as we encourage one another with the amazing creativity, talents, and diverse interests that are nestled in every student!