Blessed and Highly Favored

Hello Everyone,

We are within two weeks of our final class for the 09-10 school year and what a wonderful year it has been!   We’ve had our largest turn out ever and what an incredible group of young people we’ve had this year.  I simply can’t say enough good things about the kids that make up our co-op!   God has continually blessed our co-op with perfect timing, great teachers and hard working students (for the most part!) LOL. 

With all that being said, it is with both joy and sadness that I announce my resignation as the director of STARS co-op.  I have had  four wonderful years to direct our co-op and watch it grow into something that I could never fully imagine it would be.  We’ve tripled in size (almost quadrupled!) and been blessed with certified teachers, women of strong, true faith and mothers who are as dedicated to their families as any I have ever seen.  I cannot tell you guys how blessed I am to have been a part of this experience.

My next journey is something that only God knows.  I’m always called to minister to youth and I love speaking events that I’m asked to participate in.  But, most importantly, it’s time for me to take a break and really focus on my own kids, and the incredible family that God has so graciously blessed me with. 

I am so pleased to announce that Denise Taylor has stepped up to direct the co-op and god has blessed her with 3 other wonderful women to share in the responsibilities of running the day in and day out operations of that.  Amy Horton will be directing the high school classes, Cynthia Parrish will be directing the pre-school and younger classes, and Shannon Russell will be your middle school and Jr. high director.  I know each of these women and I can’t tell you how blessed I know that you will be by each of them. 

I hope that you have a wonderful summer and I’m believing that next year’s co-op will be the absolute best experience we’ve ever had!   Many, many blessings to each and every one of you that participates next year!

So blessed and highly favored, Kristi 

 

Christmas Break

I am happy to say that the co-op is currently on it’s Christmas break!  This year is flying by and the classes are going wonderfully.  Thank you to each of you who have poured into the children and their classes.

We will resume on January 17th with our year long classes.  Please be looking for registration information if you are interested in participating in the 2010-11 co-op year.

Blessings, Kristi  : )

 

Parent/teacher meeting and first registration

STARS homeschool co-op’s first registration opportunity will be held on April the 30th at the Spartanburg Country Library’s main branch.  We will be meeting in the Hoechst room at precisely 6:15 p.m..   This room is located downstairs in the children’s area.  We will be finished around 7:30 p.m..  Please try to find babysitter’s for this night as we will not have a sitter present.

Please note that our nursery thru 7th grade filled completely during the first registration last year.  Once the classes reach the maximum capacity we will close that class and do not allow any more students into those classes.  If you know that you’re interested in specific courses, please make sure to attend this meeting to assure that you have the best chance of receiving a spot.

Please scroll down the website to find a list of the 09/10 class schedule.  These are the classes that will be available and I look forward to seeing you there.

Kristi Walker,  Director, STARS co-op

 

Last day of co-op!

Hello Everyone,

April the 9th is our last day of co-op!  WOW!  This year just seemed to fly by, didn’t it?  It seems like only yesterday we were all meeting for the first time and finding our way into our new classes. 

We’ve had a truly wonderful year and we’ve been blessed with so many wonderful teachers.  I’d like to thank each of you for your support, hard work and patience.   I would also like to thank each and every student who has worked hard and earned credits this year, along with our elementary kids who are such incredible, well mannered young people.  You are EACH a blessing to me and to the co-op.

I look forward to our pizza lunch on the last day of co-op!  We will have pizza at noon and no afternoon classes.  (although Ms. Ginger will be holding an art class for those that would like to attend)  I look forward to seeing you all there and getting registration started for next year.

Blessings and again, thank you so much for all that you guys did to make this year such a success! 

Kristi

 

Art show!!

I wanted to take this time to invite everyone to come and see our art show.  The homeschool co-op’s art will be displayed from March the 26th thru April 16th at Restoration Church in Spartanburg.  The church is located in the old Waccamaw Pottery building at New Cut Rd. and I-26.

Please join us on March 31st for a wonderful night with the Spartanburg Artisans.  There will be refreshments and plenty of time to view the children’s work.  All of their work, along with some artisans works, will be beautifully displayed each day.

Please note that these will be taken down on April 16th.  If your child has any art work that is being displayed, please be there between 1-3 p.m. to pick their work up and save for their portfolios.

I’d like to send out a special thank you to Mrs. Ginger Brown.  She is our art teacher at the co-op and works so hard to ensure that every child learns and truly has the opportunity to see the gifts that God has given each of them.   She really loves these kids and they, in turn, adore her!

Blessings and I hope to see you there, Kristi

 

Tentative STARS class schedule for 09/10 school year!

Hello Everyone,

Please find  the tentative class schedule for STARS co-op below, for the 09/10 year!    First, a BIG thank you to all the parents who came to the parent meeting and helped make this a possibility!   Now…the list: 

nursery:  provided from the beginning of co-op to the end for all participants.

3 and 4 yr olds:  phonics, playtime, arts and craft time, snacks and reading.  We also put in a movie sometimes, just for “fun” time.  These are Christian based movies that the kids really enjoy!

K5/1st grade: 

                  Konos:  We will be implementing this unit study and encourage each parent who participates to read up on what Konos is. It’s a truly GREAT unit studies program!!  We have the entire program along with the VHS tapes and cassettes.

                 Art:  Taught by Mrs. Ginger

                 Geography/Science/crafts:  The last class of the day will be a follow up on the subjects that correlate with the Konos lessons they have earlier in the day.  Each lesson has follow up and we’ll do that in the afternoon class.  Kids WILL have very simple homework assignments in this class. 

2nd/4th grades: 

                 Christian Kids explore Earth and Science:  This is a curriculum.  Each parent will need to purchase the inexpensive kids text to follow the teacher’s manual that we’ll have at co-op. Homework will be required in this class.
                 
                 Geography:  We’ll be using the Beautiful Feet Geography curriculum.  This is a reading based curriculum with map work and Christian principles.  They’ll be homework requirements in this class.

                  Grammar/Literature:  This is not a language arts class.  This is a grammar class with some focus on Reading Comprehension and Literature.  We’ll be studying TRUE grammar rules and helping the kids be ready to succeed at being great writers and hopefully, outstanding readers!

3-5th grades:

                  Apologia Astronomy and Botany:  We’ll do the Astronomy first semester and the Botany the second semester.  Hopefully, the weather will be warm enough to permit some outside experiments during the second semester for Botany!

                  IEW A:  The Institute for Excellence in Writing

                  Grammar/Literature/Reading Comprehension:  This will be an extension of IEW.  We will focus on proper grammar, reading skills and comprehension.  There will be homework in each of these classes and these should cover everything you’ll need for science and English for the year.

5th – 7th grades:

                   Christian Kids Exploring Chemistry:  This is an elementary introduction into Chemistry.  It’s a GREAT science curriculum.

                   IEW B:  The Institute for Excellence in Writing

                   Environmental Studies, Science:  This is an extraordinary science program that is fully approved as curricula.  It’s a hands on scientific lab.  Here is the link to check out this program!!  It’s one of the most wonderful programs I’ve seen in quite some time: 
http://www.plt.org/cms/pages/21_19_1.html

7th – 10th grades: 

                    Etiquette:   This class will be taught by a fully certified children’s Etiquette teacher from the American School of Protocol and will be good for 1/2 credit.  The class will cover, but is NOT limited to these, topics:  Posture, respect and courtesy group exercises, being a good host/hostess, dinnerware, how to tie a tie, seating a lady, job and college interviews, clothing rules, phone etiquette and safety, and of course, dining skills, to name a few!!!

                     IEW A, B or C:  Please place your student in whatever level you feel is appropriate.

                     Apologia Physical Science:  This is a lab only and DOES require homework!

                     Algebra I:  This will be using the Saxon curriculum

8th-12th grades:     

                      Spanish I and II:  These will be taught by Mrs. Angela Perry who is fluent in Spanish and a wonderfully Godly woman!!  She has been such a blessing to our co-op and my oldest LOVES this class.

                       Geometry and Algebra II:   These will both be taught by Mrs. Jennifer Carr.  Jennifer is a certified high school math teacher and a Godly woman who genuinely cares that her students understand the material she is teaching!!

                       IEW C:  You may place your students in any IEW class you think they are ready for.

                       Biology I:  We will be using the Apologia curriculum for this class.

                       Chemistry:  We will also be using the Apologia curriculum for this class.

                        English Lit:  American Literature.  We will be
following the BJU curriculum in this class.  This class is suggested for 10–12th grades only. 

                        English Lit:  The Fundamentals of Literature.  This is a 8-10th grade class level.  We will be using the BJU textbooks.

                        Debate class and club:  This class is good for 1/2 credit and students will have the opportunity to participate in local, regional and national debates if they choose and qualify. This class will extend past co-op hours and will be laid out at the parent/teacher meeting. It is a weekly 2 hour class.  I’m trying to work this so that we can get this class in and students still be able to participate in other classes that they need.

Please note that ALL high school classes WILL be good for either 1 or 1/2 credit.  Students WILL be tested and graded.  There is required homework in each of our classes and all students are required to turn in their work or receive a poor grade. 

We will also be offering Driver’s Education again next year.  I am also setting up a music teacher to be available to provide personal music lessons during our day at co-op.  If you decide to take advantage of this, it will be paid outside the co-op fees and you would schedule this with the music teacher.  This will be covered in detail at our parent/teacher meeting and first registration in April. 

Please note that last year ages nursery thru 7th grade filled almost completely during the first registration.  I can’t imagine that will change this year.  If you are interested, I would strongly suggest being at that first meeting, when I email out the date, because I cannot hold classes and once we fill, that class is closed.

Blessings, Kristi Walker
Director, STARS co-op

 

Check out our Yahoo group!!!

For those of you who are interested in our upcoming field trips, please check out our Yahoo group at Yahoo.com!!  It’s free.

All you need to do is click on yahoo.com, then look on the left hand side of the screen.  You’ll see a tab for “groups”.  Click on it.  Then you’ll be prompted to “find a group”.  Simply type in spartanburg homeschool co-op (just like that or without any spaces) and we’ll pop up!!  You just join the group and you’ll have access to our syllabus’, our field trips and upcoming events, as well as times of registration and our new class schedule!!

Hope to see you in our group,

Kristi Walker, Director STARS co-op

 

STARS co-op meeting for 09/10 school year

We will be holding a meeting at the Spartanburg County Public Library on January, 9th at 6:00  p.m.   This meeting will be to determine what classes are needed and wanted for the 09/10 school year.  We must begin planning now so that we can have all teachers in place and all classes planned.

Anyone who is interested is encouraged to attend.  We welcome any suggestions for any classes that homeschooling parents would like to see put into place. 

So far, we have these classes in mind:  Geometry and Algebra II to be taught by Jennifer Carr.  Jennifer is a certified high school math teacher and is wonderful with the students!  Apologia Science for middle school, IEW for 3rd-12th grades, Etiquette to be taught by a certified etiquette teacher and Konos for the K/5-1st graders.   We welcome ANY other suggestions that parents may have.

Please mark this date on your calendars and plan to attend.  This is the only meeting we will have about planning the STARS co-op classes.  The next time we have any info will be the parent/teacher meeting and the 1st  open registration, so if you want to be a part of planning what’s offered or know that you’d like some help with specific subjects, now’s the time!

Blessings, Kristi

Director, STARS home school co-op

 

The first semester is coming to an end…

Well, we’ve certainly had a wonderful year so far and it’s hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. 

The last day of co-op, this semester, is December the 4th and we’ll be having our annual Christmas dinner with the students.  Please remember to bring your side dish, dessert and/or drink.  Don’t for that the co-op will be providing the ham and turkey, as well as the paper products. We will have the children make their ornaments from 10-12 and then eat.  We should be finished by 1pm and on our way home for our break!!

Co-op will resume on January the 22nd and all classes will remain the same.  Please make sure that if you have any work you’d like the kids to complete over the break, that you send it home with them and with clear instructions.

Thanks to each and every one of you for all you do!  You are all such a blessing to me and the co-op. May our Season be filled with joy and the wonder of a Loving God!

Merry Christmas, Kristi

 

Our only registration coming soon

We will be having our only registration on July the 21st from 10am until noon.  This will be held at Restoration Church in the children’s areas. 

If you are interested in signing your child up for STARS co-op, please try to be there as early as possible.  We have very limited space in the younger classes, with some already being full.  Once classes reach their maximum capacity, they will no longer be available for registration.

I will leave promptly at noon, so please try to be on time.  This will be our only registration of the year and once it’s closed, all materials will be ordered and there will be NO more students excepted.  I’m sorry to be so strict, but it is simply too much work on the parents/teachers who HAVE been on time and who have been diligent about things to simply allow those who haven’t been, to burden them.

Thanks and I hope to see you there.