Child Care Obligations for New Semester (Winter 2014)

Hi everyone!

I am finally getting around to sending out next semester's child care schedule. Thanks to those who were able to attend the meeting on Dec 13th about this, and for those who were unable to make it, I completely understand :), but please review the following to make sure it makes sense.  Please reply that you got this information so I don't need to print one up for you to get to you the first week of class....thanks :)!

Those who expressed a desire to continue to participate in Vanguard Junior decided to use that class to help take care of the abundance of children present in the nursery during Journeyman on Week 1 (Leadership) and Week 3 (Science).  Thank you!   Please contact Elizabeth if somehow we missed your interest in participating in Vanguard Junior.

The rest of us will rotate through taking care of my (Biesinger) children during core class.  It will just be one lady in there per week.  Attached is a document with the schedule, along with a proposed outline for the 2 1/2 hours with my kids. You are responsible ot be there on your date and make arrangements if you cannot.  Thanks for understanding :).

Thank you so much for making this a good experience for my little ones both in the past and in the future :).

Warmly,

Mary

SCHEDULE FOR CORE CLASS BABYSITTING:

2nd SEMESTER

K2 VANGUARD 2014

Jan:

8    Sherrie Hatch

15    Angie Moore

22    Mindy Cook

29    Chanelle Jones

Feb:

5    Lisa Brower

12    Tracy Ressa

19    Mary Biesinger

26    Sherrie Hatch

Mar:

5    Angie Moore

12    Mindy Cook

19    Chanelle Jones

26    Lisa Brower

Apr:

2    Tracy Ressa

9    Lisa Brower (thanks, Lisa)

16    Sherrie Hatch

23    Mindy Cook

30    Chanelle Jones

May:

7    Tracy Ressa

*You are responsible to cover your day and make any arrangements to find a replacement or trade.  I will just be hiring someone for my week to make it more even. Thanks!

PROPOSED SCHEDULE:  times with my children are always approx….feel free to roll with the flow

10-10:30     Free play time

10:30         Snack time (snacks will be provided)

10:45    Structured activity—please come with something: coloring, reading, play-

acting, games.  My older kids normally go along with what the younger kids will do.

11:30        Educational movie (will be provided, unless you have a favorite)

12:00-12:15    (after movie) Start lunch.

       

Devotional/Thought Outline

A thought is a quote, scripture, or poem. It's a time where you can share random cool saying you like. It's very short. 2 minutes max.

A Devotional, however, is about 15 minutes. It's more interactive, with stories, videos, a discussion, a quick activity, and object lesson, ect. (not ALL of those, but they are some ideas :))

Here's a suggested outline for planning a Devotional, if you want:

1. Pick a subject. What do you feel you need to share?
2. Find a story/video/etc to go with it (again, these are just suggestions)
3. Prepare a discussion/object lesson/quick activity to go with it.
4. Present in any order you wish :)

(Yet again, that is just a suggestion if you have no clue how to start.)

Here is the sign up sheet I (Tova) will be calling/emailing to see whether you want to do a thought on your week, or a devotional.

January
Aubrey
Drew
Clancy
 Joseph B.
February
Addy
Bridger
Katrinn 
Zach
March 
Joseph R
Madeline
Kindri
April 
Maggie
Tate
Daniel 

Imaginitive Arts-Vanguard Jr.

Bring some watercolors if you have some.  I have a bunch and will bring them.

Bring a poem to share with everybody and bring your creative thinking cap so we can make up some of our own.   :)

(I don't know how to stick this in the Vanguard Jr. spot)

CORE inspirements are up!

Hi everyone!

The CORE inspirements are up for January!  See the link on the side:...

I didn't include Latin for now, as we are still figuring out if we should start mid-year or just wait until next year.

The other texts if you want to order them on your own are:
-"Just Like Jesus" by Max Lucado
-"Way to Be" by Gordon B. Hinckley (I picked up two copies at the DI for $1.50 each if anyone wants to buy them from me.)

The upcoming books that we will be reading are:
-The Last Battle, by C.S. Lewis (January)
-A Long Walk to Water (February) Master: choose between "Dragon Doom," "Ender's Game," "The Lost Prince" by Burnett.
-Star Girl by Spinelli (March) LEADERSHIP: J-Man "The Veldt" (Short story) "Lord of the Flies" (Master)
-Charlie's Monument (April); LEADERSHIP: J-Man "Jack-Rabbit Factor" or Master "The Choice"

Some of these might be a journeyman book for leadership, but I will hopefully have that all finalized as I finish reading the potential books over the next two weeks.  The one for January is official.

They all have at least 8 copies at the library or are online.  If you want to pick them up on your own, you are welcome to :).

First of all, I would like to encourage everyone to watch the short video clip: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2714780496001&cid=HPWE110613145

It was a great introduction to the discussion we had about how we need to reassess the path we chose to take and that sometimes taking a wrong road is important to understanding why and having confidence that another path is the correct one.

 

I.     The parents and the youth who attended discussed the change in the material that would covered in Core, Journeyman, and Master classes. The discussion centered on moving the material that was currently being done in Master Class will become the new Core class each. Mary mentioned that the it would be simpler, more principle centered, which is what Core class should be.  Mary will teach the Core classes. The lens mentors will be teaching the Journeyman and Master Level classes. 

 

Concerns that were discussed:

                             1) Need for more books: The only new books that would be needed would be Way to Be by Gordon B. Hinckley (which can be purchased used at the D.I.) and Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado (Can be found for $8-$10 at Amazon). The Da Vinci readings will be scanned into the computer and shared on-line.  There was discussion about including a 15 minute Latin lesson in each class. If we go ahead with this, the book for it will need to be purchased. (Getting Started with Latin: Beginning Latin for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students by William E. Linney. We would begin at the beginning of the book. It is super easy with only one word per lesson, and it is a lot like Saxon Math where they review previous lessons with the current lesson.)

 

                          2) A water downed class: We will just need to assess how easy/hard the work is as we go along. Right now, all of the youth have been doing Journeyman Level work. This may be a good way to encourage our youth to attend Journeyman/Master classes.

 

 

By unanimous vote from those who came, it was decided that we would change to this path for Core Class.

 

II.   In terms of meeting dates and times, it was decided by those who attended that for the remainder of the year Core and Journeyman classes will stay on Wednesday at Westminster Church in Fruit Heights, and Master class will beheld Fridays at the Lens mentors' home or Biesinger's home. It will be posted on the calendar where classes will be held.  However, times for the classes did change in order to meet the needs of the families involved and to reflect the changes in the course of study.

 

              Core class Wednesday 10AM -12:30 PM

 

             Journeyman class Wednesday 1-3:30 PM

     

             Master class      Friday 9:45-11:45

 

*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE CHANGES WILL TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY!*

 

III. Junior Vanguard Mentors asked that you make every effort to be there on your assigned day to help with Junior Vanguard. If you cannot be there, please find a substitute.  All the parents of Vanguard students will have a turn helping with the younger kids. Please contact the Junior Vanguard Mentors to find out when your assigned day is.

 

IV.  Calendar of Events:

 

          Nov 13 Family Social Committee Meeting after Eureka Core class

 

          December 11 Leadership Academy Journeyman Activity, 10-2 (For all those who participated in Nov. Leadership Academy Journeyman class)

 

   December 20 - Vanguard Christmas Service3:30 at Legacy Village of Layton
1205 N. Fairfield Rd.
We will be handing out a small Christmas gift to the residents and perform Christmas music and a pageant.

 

          Dec 28 Family Social Brunch, 10 AM-12 PM

 

          January 11, 2014 Parent Mentor Meeting at the Biesinger’s home, 8 AM

                        Outdoor Activity after Mentor Meeting

 

          January 17 Game/Movie Night

 

          January 18 Bountiful Temple Trip, 7 AM

 

 

 

October Mentor Meeting

I. Mentor Training

1) We discussed how the most important preparation we can do as mentors is our own personal preparation.
2) We also discussed about being open to inspiration as a mentor, really listening to the youth and answering their needs, and prayerfully seeking how to give them the attention they need...even if we don't get to everything that we, as mentors, wanted to prepare. We should always make time for sharing inspirements.

II. Calendar of Upcoming Events
October
25 10-12 Master Class for Week 1 at Johnsons
      6 PM Temple Trip to SLC Temple, meet at Biesinger’s home to carpool
26    8:30 AM Breakfast and Planning Meeting for Temple/Service    Committee at Tindall’s home
30    Week 1-Leadership Academy CORE and Journeyman

November
1 10-12 Master Class for Week 2 at Johnson’s
6 Week 2-Geo-conquest CORE and Journeyman
8 10-12 Master Class for Week 3 at Johnson’s
     Activity Night (TBA)
9 Parent Mentor meeting at Biesinger's
13 Week 3-Eureka CORE and Journeyman
15 10-12 Master Class for Week 4 at Johnson’s
16 8 AM Temple Trip to Bountiful Temple
20 Week 4-Imaginative Arts CORE and Journeyman

During the month of December, there will be no classes held, however there may be a family social/service activity.

III. Start, stop, and continue

1) start, stop and continue feedback in class; let the kids submit feedback anonymously about how they thought the day went.

2) being open to inspiration as a mentor, really listening to the youth and answering their needs, and prayerfully seeking how to give them the attention they need...even if we don't get to everything that we, as mentors, wanted to prepare. We should always make time for sharing inspirements.

3) report on the success of dividing up into smaller discussion groups to share inspirements to help with the time factor, and also ease the discomfort of presenting and sharing of the quieter ones in class.

4) reconfiguring the desks and mentor position so that students aren't too far away from the mentor

5) having a discussion with the youth about "discernment"

6) having a discussion with the youth about the problem of using electronic devices as a distraction (not a learning tool...we want that :)!), and allowing them to help come up with solutions to the problem

7) stay on time table, with the priority on making sure the youth get time to share their inspirements

8) use scriptures in the "know" section or in memorization

9) make sure the work that is expected for them to do is clear, consistent with the format of "Know, Understand, and Intelligence" and that the expectations are clearly set-forth. We expect them to do everything we ask them to do, and then give them the opportunity in class to share what they have done. If we have asked them to do it, there should be some opportunity to display what they have done. Of course, if they don't get to everything for CORE done, despite their best efforts, we still want them to come to CORE class, but will encourage them to succeed the next time :). I am happy to help mentor them to give them planning tips to get everything in that they are working toward, and the other mentors and I would love to answer any questions people might have about inspirements.

10) youth can create their own inspirements, but we ask that they check with the mentor of that class, or at least let them know.

11) make sure inspirements are posted in a timely manner and are not changed several days before class --getting the inspirments significantly ahead of time, but the newsletter should take care of that.

12) Use the youth to lead out and plan activities: E.D.G.E. Method (check out this link...it is a great way to look at it!)

Follow-up on Joan and her voices by Tracy Ressa

Here is some interesting information from Tracy Ressa...thanks, Tracy!

Who were Joan's "Voices?"

 

Joan herself stated at her trial that an angel she later learned was the Archangel Michael first visited her when she was thirteen on a summer day in her father's garden. Joan went on to explain how the Archangel Michael instructed her to "be good and go habitually to church." The Archangel Michael also gave her instructions as to her mission:

"The Voice told me, two or three times a week, that I, Joan, must go away and that I must go into France. Joan responded to the Archangel Michael with a certain astonishment later saying at her trial: "I answered that I was just a poor girl who knew nothing about riding or leading in war." The Archangel reassured Joan that other Voices would come to help and counsel her: "Saint Michael, when he came to me, told me that Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret would come to me and that I should act by their advice, that they were bidden to lead me in what I had to do and that I should believe in what they would say to me and that it was by God's order." 

 

As we look at who these saints were and what strong defenders of the faith they were, we nod our heads and think how appropriate that these are her counselors:

 

St. Michael the Archangel

 

St. Michael is one of the principle angels;  his name was the war cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the enemy and his followers.  (See Daniel 10:13, Daniel 12, Rev 12:7)

 

St. Catherine of Alexandria

 

Catherine of Alexandria is said to have been born the daughter of Cestus, wealthy man of Alexandria in Egypt. She was noted for her wealth, intelligence, and beauty. She is said to have learned philosophy, languages, science (natural philosophy), and medicine. She refused to marry, not finding any man who was her equal.

She is said to have challenged the emperor (Maximinus or Maximian or his son Maxentius are variously thought to be the anti-Christian emperor in question) when she was eighteen years old. The emperor brought in some 50 philosophers to dispute her Christian ideas -- but she convinced them all to convert, at which point the emperor burned them all to death. She then is said to have converted others, even the empress.

This infuriated the emperor and she was tortured on a spiked wheel, which miraculously fell apart and the parts killed some who were watching the torture. Finally, the emperor had her beheaded.

In about the 8th or 9th century, a story became popular that after she died, St. Catherine's body was carried by angels to Mount Sinai, and that the monastery there was built in honor of this event.

St. Margaret of Antioch

 

Margaret was a virgin and martyr from Antioch, where her father was a pagan priest. Having embraced Christianity and consecrated her virginity to God, she was disowned by her father and adopted by her nurse.  (Her mother died shortly after Margaret’s birth.)

 

One day while she was watching sheep, a Roman prefect named Olybrius caught sight of her, and, attracted by her great beauty sought to make her his concubine or wife. When nothing could succeed in moving her to yield to his desires, he had her brought before him in a public trial at Antioch. Threatened with death unless she renounced the Christian faith, the holy virgin refused to adore the gods of the empire and an attempt was made to burn her, but the flames, we are told in her Acts, left her unhurt. She was then bound hand and foot and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water. Miraculously, at her prayer, her bonds were broken and she stood up uninjured. Finally the prefect ordered her to be beheaded.

 

Tracy