February 7, 2020

First, read through the general Homeschool Connections news!
Then, each campus' announcements are listed.

Please read thoroughly every Friday!
Self-Pay Families
Don't wait until the last minute!
Balances for Winter 2020 Semester are due April 3, 2020
Payments received after April 3rd may be subject to a late fee and your account will be locked for our Fall 2020 registration until it is paid in full. Please make sure you are in the correct semester when making payments - Winter 2020.
If you have any questions please email me at accounting@mihomeschoolconnections.com. 
Thank you - Pam Koskinen 
Funded Families
  • Remember that the districts do not pay for registration fees, lunch, study hall, certain science lecture classes and any other class that they have told you they will not cover. When you are in Orbund, double check that you are in the correct semester.
  • You MUST satisfactorily complete any requirements as specified by the district in order to be eligible for district funding. Count requirements are listed below.
  • If you have questions about what they will pay for, please reach out to Ken Janczarek, Clarkston representative at: kpjanczarek@clarkston.k12.mi.us 
  • Verified and approved district funding credits will be applied to your account once count is complete, usually by mid March. 
  • If balances are not paid in full by registration for the following semester your account will be blocked from being able to register until the balance is paid in full.
  • If you do not complete your Fast Five Feedbacks, you are jeopardizing your district funding.
If you have any questions please email me at accounting@mihomeschoolconnections.com. 
Thank you - Pam Koskinen 
Winter Count Reminder!
If you are receiving funding from CCS you should have received an email from them explaining the next count window.

There are three main points to remember with this count period due to our mid-winter break (Feb. 16-22) and CCS employees being off work Feb 17-18.

  1. Week One (Feb. 12-18): Try to get your count done on-campus. Otherwise, you will need to utilize email or plan a phone call. 
  2. Week Two (Feb. 19-25): Please use any of the options outlined in the email from CCS linked below. These will occur on February 19, 20, or 21. The options include Google Hangouts, email, or in-person meetings at designated locations.
  3. Week Three (Feb. 26-March 3): We will be back to normal with on-campus count.
  4. Week Four (March 4-10): Normal on-campus count.

Read the email here .
State Testing
Please read the important information in the link below related to state testing if you have a student in grades 3 through 12 .
In the letter, there is a State Testing RSVP survey to fill out for each one of your students.  Please be sure to complete this by February 25th, 2020.
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to a mentor or Ken Janczarek.

Read the letter here .
General Announcements!
Do your Fast Fives!
This is Homeschool Connections’ online, weekly component that has been implemented in every class as a type of “homework.”
  • It will be 5 questions that teachers have created based on the weekly lesson. The questions/answers are related specifically to that particular week’s topic/lesson. It can be thought of as a review-at-home exercise for the students.
  • Questions will be in the format of (a) Yes/No, (b) True/False, and (c) Multiple Choice.
  • Weaving together different parts of the course and approaching content with varied tools helps students integrate what they learn and develop a deeper understanding of the material.
  • Teachers will be able to use the information gathered from students to affirm that what they are teaching is reaching your students’ minds. It will also reveal any students who are struggling and perhaps need a little more differentiation in the classroom.
  • “Bridging” and “Reviewing” are powerful teaching strategies and FAST FIVE FEEDBACKS help develop specific skills being taught in the classroom.
  • This is a self-assessment for students to discover if they are actually “plugged in” to the class lesson.
  • When parents are with students when doing a FAST FIVE FEEDBACK, you will see more exactly what your child is learning in their classes and then perhaps reiterate those lessons in creative ways at home.
  • This is an objective piece in all of our courses that will be entered into the grade book.

Every student is expected to do their fast five questions!
You're invited: 2020-2021 Planning Meetings!
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  • Feb. 11: 10 am at Rochester Campus -or-
  • Feb. 14: 10 am at Shelby Campus.

We are planning our schedule for the Fall 20/21 year and would like your help.

All parents are welcome to come from any of our 6 campuses to give input about our Fall schedule and to receive information about what we have planned.

Whether you can come to a meeting or not, please take 5-15 minutes to fill out this survey:
Behavior Reminders - Please read these with your children!
Pick up your children and teens on time. You will be charged $1 per minute per student for which you are late after 3:45 pm.

Read the full agreement here: form link
Midwinter Break is February 17 - 21
Clarkston-funded families must read the notes about Count above.

Be safe and have fun!
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Parent Talk Presented by Brain Balance
Do you ever wonder about the root cause of your child's symptoms/behaviors?
Do you struggle with the negative sides effects or lack of effectiveness of medications designed to manage symptoms?
Learn what the latest research says about natural, whole-child approaches that overcome the symptoms of some common diagnoses, and how to develop a reasonable and realistic approach to protecting our children and their development.
Job Opportunity
SpringHill is hiring day camp counselors for this summer who are passionate about their relationship with Christ and eager to reach kids with the gospel! We are hiring students who are at least 16 years old for a full or half summer. Pay is $175-$200/week depending on position, with meals and housing provided. Our Day Camp teams travel to different churches in East Michigan, setting up an amazing portable camp experience each week. Counselors can live at home when close by, or stay in groups with trusted host families that we arrange.

During the summer, counselors experience incredible community and are challenged to deepen their faith while growing in leadership, communication and problem-solving. If your student is interested, visit  SpringhillLeaders.com  for more information!
Auburn Hills Campus - Enter/exit through NORTH doors.
February 3 is Session 4 - February 10 is Session 5
Please park in a parking space, not at the door or in front of the mailbox!

Midwinter Break: No class on February 17.

Homeschool Connections t-shirts are available for purchase at your campus! $10 each.
Request from Kathryn Williams:
I'm in need of carpool/transport for my 13 yr old to and from Auburn Hills campus on Mondays. We live on John R 1/2 mile north of Avon in Rochester Hills.
I'm available to drop off/pick up at any location on Tuesdays and/or babysitting, after school care, and activities, etc.
If interested, please contact me. My phone is 248-320-4888. Email is KLW7602@hotmail.com.
Your Campus Supervisors are:
  • Vickie Turner - 248-807-4147
  • Michelle McCoy - 248-710-0360 ext. 1001
Clarkston Campus - Enter/exit at door #7
February 7 is Session 4 - February 14 is Session 5
Please dress warmly to play outside after lunch!

Pizza Day is February 7! Options are cheese or pepperoni. Pay $1 per slice to your campus supervisor.

Midwinter Break: No class on February 21.

Homeschool Connections t-shirts are available for purchase at your campus! $10 each.
Your Campus Supervisors are:
  • Michelle McCoy - 248-710-0360 ext. 1003 or 248-840-5626
  • Lora Vogler - 248-765-1221
Rochester Hills Campus - Enter/exit through BACK doors.
February 4 is Session 4 - February 11 is Session 5
Valentine's Dress Up Day is February 11th!

Pizza Day is February 11th! Prepay your campus supervisor $1 per slice. Options are cheese and pepperoni.

Midwinter Break: No class on February 18.

NO CLASSES at Rochester (ONLY) on MARCH 10 (there is a local election). Rochester Hills WILL have classes on May 12 to make up this day of classes.

Homeschool Connections t-shirts are available for purchase at your campus! $10 each.
Your Campus Supervisors are:
  • Katie Vallus - 248-710-0360 ext. 1004
  • Stephanie Caira - 248-710-0360 ext. 1004
Romeo Campus - Enter/exit through NORTH doors.
February 6 is Session 4 - February 13 is Session 5
Check lost & found! The collection is growing!

Midwinter Break: No class on February 20.

Pizza Day is March 5! Options are cheese or pepperoni. Pay $1 per slice to your campus supervisor.

Homeschool Connections t-shirts are available for purchase at your campus! $10 each.
Your Campus Supervisors are:
  • Jodi Kloock - 248-710-0360 ext. 1005
  • Erika Bowers - 248-710-0360 ext. 1005
Shelby Township Campus - Enter/exit through the SOUTH doors.
February 7 is Session 4 - February 14 is Session 5
ï»żPicture Retakes are February 7th! More information is given above in the general announcements.

February 14th is Valentine's Dress Up Day AND Pizza Day! Prepay your campus supervisor $1 per pizza slice. Pizza options are cheese and pepperoni.

Midwinter Break: No class on February 21.

SPRING BREAK CLARIFICATION:  Due to a scheduling conflict the Shelby Twp. campus WILL MEET on Friday, April 17, but WILL NOT on Friday, April 24.   

Homeschool Connections t-shirts are available for purchase at your campus! $10 each.
Your Campus Supervisors are:
  • Katie Vallus - 248-710-0360 ext. 1004
  • Stephanie Caira - 248-710-0360 ext. 1004
Troy Campus - Enter/exit through the EAST doors.
February 6 is Session 4 - February 13 is Session 5
February 13: Wear your favorite Valentine’s Day gear and let’s play Valentine’s Day bingo at lunch. Prizes for the best outfit and bingo winners!

Midwinter Break: No class on February 20.

Homeschool Connections t-shirts are available for purchase at your campus! $10 each.
Your Campus Supervisors are:
  • Michelle Davis-Poeder - 248-710-0360 ext. 2016
  • Shelly McMahon - 248-710-0360 ext. 2016
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