Go Play Weekday/Florida Parks

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service has launched a new promotion, Go Play Weekday, which allows visitors pay 75¢ admission Monday through Thursday at featured state parks during promotional months. Throughout the year, Go Play Weekday specials will highlight parks in each region of the state.

The Panhandle is the first area to be highlighted in the Go Play Weekday promotion. The six featured state parks offer bluffs, beaches, trails, rivers and lakes that provide ideal locations to hike, camp, fish, ride bicycles and enjoy the cool weather.
Parks offering entrance for 75 cents through February 25, 2010, include:
Blackwater River State Park, Holt
Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach
Grayton Beach State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
Falling Waters State Park, Chipley
Three Rivers State Park, Sneads
Torreya State Park, Bristol
How it works: Mention ‘Go Play Weekday’ at the ranger station to get the special price. If the park has an honor box, just write ‘Go Play Weekday’ on the envelope and put in 75¢ instead of the full fee.
Promotions will change throughout the year, so check for updates on the Florida State Parks Web site at www.FloridaStateParks.org

Classical Coversations Open House

Classical Conversations of Panama City invites you to attend an Open House, February 11, 2010 to see the campus in action. Learn how a Classical Conversations community can help equip, encourage, and support parents in their homeschooling endeavors.

Please join us to observe our classes and classically trained tutors. We begin at 9:00 am with a general greeting and break for classes at 9:15 through 12:00. During our morning class time we learn & review information from English Grammar, Geography, History, Latin, Science and Math and an entire history timeline from a Biblical perspective. Enjoy watching the class presentations, hands-on science experiments, and Fine Arts sessions of our Foundations programs.

Hear/observe our Essentials class in the afternoon 1:00-3:00; this is where 3rd through 6th graders participate in a grammar and writing program.

Pack a lunch and stay to hear veteran and new homeschooling moms share of how CC has been a blessing to them and their children, in their family's homeschool journey.

Challenge classes run from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with an hour break for lunch.

Reservations are required! Questions will be gladly answered at Information Meetings or via email or phone. The Open House opportunity is for observation and to witness CC in action. Your children are welcome.
Join us to see how CC can help you provide quality, classical, Christian education for your family!

Foundations and Essentials Director : Shonda Bush, ccpcmom@gmail.com
Challenge Directors: Helen Holmes, Hholmes40@aol.com and Johnny Gonzales, jgonzales96@gmail.com

Homeschooling 101

FCTH (Fellowship of Christian Teaching Homes) and THF (The Homeschooler's Friend) are teaming up to offer the first session, in a series of homeschooling orientations.

Date: Thursday, February 18
Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm (childcare will not be provided for this session)
Location: Heritage Bible Church, 3380 State Ave, Panama City, FL

Speaker Details: Homeschooling 101-

• Helen Holmes is a certified Florida teacher, evaluator, and a veteran homeschooler. Helen will be discussing topics such as: how to begin homeschooling, Florida state homeschooling laws, curriculum styles, organization, and finding support.

• Brenda Dickinson is the lobbyist for the Home Education Foundation (HEF) and a vigilant defender of Florida home education rights. Brenda will speak on Florida Virtual School options and umbrella schools. Brenda will also be available following the orientation for any other questions regarding homeschoolers rights.

Separate Session: Politics of Homeschooling- Brenda Dickinson will also hold a separate session from 2:00pm-3:30pm (at Heritage Bible Church on Feb.18th) to discuss the political threats that are eroding our parental rights to homeschool and how we can ensure that we do not lose these rights. Childcare will be provided for this session only.

RSVPs: Not necessary, both sessions are open to the public and would be beneficial to all homeschoolers or those considering homeschooling. This is not a mom's only event, fathers and families are welcome to come. Childcare will not be provided for the evening session, please make your own arrangements if your child is too young to sit with you quietly.

Contact: Orientation@fcthpc.com with any questions.

We hope to see you there!

Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Iowa Test of Basic Skills (grades 1-12) Test with Helen Holmes at the Rock
Tuesday May 18 through Thursday May 20, 2010 See note below on high school dates.
Location: The Rock, 2413 N. Harris Ave. (a block behind IHOP on 23rd and Highway 231)
Tentative arrival time on Wednesday is 8:30 AM
Pick-up time is approximately 11 AM-12 Noon each day.

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (grades 1-8) and the Iowa Test of Educational Development (grades 9-11/12) will be given on May 18, 19, 20, 2010 at the Rock. Testing will be ONLY in the morning, with students to be picked up around 12 noon each of the 3 days. Any home school student is eligible to register.

!! Note this is a separate testing from Cathy Pascoe (Sue Alford) and ithinkers, which tests over 2 days elsewhere on different dates!!

This is accepted by the Bay District Schools and state of Florida as one option for your required annual evaluation. No scores will be sent to them, the scores will be sent to you. You will send in a form stating that your child has been tested.

Registration is now being accepted. Testing will be over a 3 day period only in the morning, allowing students to go home for lunch. A short break will be offered each morning. High school students will be tested over 2 days, May 18-19.

Registrations are being taken now till March 31st. I will order April 1st and cannot guarantee being able to take late registrations. Also, some grade levels may fill up.

Costs:
$43 per test if postmarked in January or February

$53 per test if postmarked in March

Send:
1--a check made out to Helen Holmes
2--a stamped (liberty bell preferred) self addressed business envelope (one envelope for up to 3 children; no 8 x 11 manilla envelopes!)
3--a 3 X 5 card with:
Child's Name
Parents' names and cell numbers, and email address for communication and updates.
Address
Home phone number
Reading ability: high or low or average.
Any environmental or testing needs you may be aware of.

Send registration to:
Helen Holmes
927 Huntingdon Rd.
Panama City, FL 32405

Questions may be answered by emailing Helen Holmes: hholmes40@aol.com or calling 785-9099.

Baseball Registrations

Hiland Park Baseball sign ups: January 27, 30, February 3, 6
See Hiland Park Baseball's website for more information.

R.L Turner Baseball registration January 30 from 10am- 3pm at Chapman Park, Rollins Avenue and Cornell Drive, Panama City, Florida, 32405.
Visit their website.

The City of Lynn Haven Baseball & Softball Registrations:
Please register at the Community Center at the end of Hilltop Lane until January 30th. Register children ages 5-18 for T-ball, Softball or Baseball. The season begins March 15 and will end around May 15. Tournaments may extend the season slightly for the older children.

-Monday -Friday 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
-Saturdays 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Lynn Haven Residents : $45.00; Non-residents $54.00 Cash or check only.

For more information, visit the City of Lynn Haven website.

Central Dixie Youth Baseball is holding registration this Saturday at Sudduth Field in the Cove. Registration is $60.00 which includes a shirt, hat, baseball insurance, trophy/medallion and umpires. All you need is a glove and batting helmet. Coaches/teams have bats and balls. Registration is between 10 and noon Saturday 23, 2010!!!! ! Ball players should be between the ages of 4 and 14.

Let's Play Ball!!!!!!

For more information, please e-mail Lee Scott at nscott0418@aol. com.

Balloon Zoo

Amazing Balloon Creations Presents: A Day At the Zoo!

January 25-30, 2010

Monday- Thursday: 4PM - 9PM
Friday and Saturday: Noon - 9PM

This will be a fully viewable, to scale and beyond Balloon Zoo for people of all ages to view at there leisure. The goal is to bring the guests imaginations to life!

This event will be produced by Northwest Florida’s premier entertainers and balloon artists. Fantastic balloon animal creations and scenery will be the focus of this event and it will all be open to the public! This event will be like none other that has ever been produced in our area, so you will most certainly want to be a part of this ground breaking phenomena!

As an added plus for our community 100% of the gate proceeds will be donated to local veteran’s organizations.

Cost: $5 Adults $3 Children
at the Bay County Fair Grounds
2230 E 15th Street Panama City, FL 32405

Classical Conversations Information Meeting

Classical Conversations, Panama City will be having an information meeting Monday, January 25, 2010 from 6:30 -8:30pm at Heritage Bible Church. Join us for an evening of discussion to see if Classical education is the right fit for your family.

We will discuss the 3 basic steps of learning, and focus on how Classical Conversations equips parents to teach their children these lifetime learning skills. We will demonstrate aspects of our Foundations, Essentials, and Challenge programs, and discover easy-to-use resources that develop life-long learners. Registration of new families begins in February, 2010.

For more information contact Shonda Bush or Helen Holmes or visit our website at www.ccpcfl.com.