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What is the Christmas Program like?

11/29/2023

This is Part 1 of a 2-part series on Christmas traditions at CHA.

This year, the CHA Christmas program will be held on a Wednesday. That is different from previous years where it was held on a Monday morning. Otherwise, the Christmas program will be relatively the same as in the past. If you are new to CHA, there are a couple of things you might like to know.

For starters, students can wear Christmas colors to the Christmas program. You will see about ⅓ of the students in their regular uniform, another ⅓ in dressy Christmas clothes, and another ⅓ in crazy Christmas shirts. So it’s all good- you decide how you want your child to look for all those pictures you are going to want to take 🙂

Next, it is common to have parents, grandparents, and younger siblings in attendance. If you are a working parent and you can get off work for the morning, do it! Extended family is also warmly welcomed!

The program begins with a Christmas carol and devotion together in the auditorium. Then the Advent Angel families are announced. Next, the younger grades present their poems and songs, then they are dismissed to go sit with their parents. The older grades generally stay seated together to wait for their turn on stage. 3rd-8th grades take turns doing songs and/or poems, with the high school classes entertaining us in between with skits. We’ll close with a final Christmas carol and students will be dismissed to leave with parents. The whole thing lasts about 90 minutes, so if you have little ones you might want to pack accordingly.

Keep an eye out for Part 2 next week: “What kind of Christmas gifts are exchanged?”

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What is a Panel Discussion? by Bill Jenkins

11/15/2023

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"The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
~Dorothy Nevil

A CHA tradition, which appears without explanation on the yearly calendar, is the three-time per year High School Great Books "Panel Discussion". These occur on the first CHA day after a lengthy break. (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter) Since we do not assign homework or reading (unless it be a devotional reading from Scripture) it is difficult to hold a Great Books class on the first day back from holiday as the class is rooted in discussion of a shared reading. What then is the best use of this class time on these three academy days?

Enter the Panel discussion!

For well over a decade now, the Great Books tutors, often accompanied by one student from each high school grade level, have spent this first class period post-break, modeling discussion of a short reading they did over that break. Sometimes the reading is a short story, but it could also be a poem, a reading from Scripture (it is always this once per year), or a brief piece of philosophy. The modeling of discussion is the key idea. The art of conversation is one learned over time and with experience. Some of us talk too much (me!). Some do not say enough. Some are active listeners and some become disengaged. Nevil's comment above indicates what we hope for our Great Books classes and for the formation of students in good conversation habits. Our desire is that students learn the appropriate time to speak and the appropriate time to listen. We want them to learn the appropriate time to ask a question, draw a conclusion, or help a fellow student find their way through a difficult line of argument.

The Panel Discussion is an opportunity for tutors to demonstrate what authentic conversation, dialogue, disagreement, searching for common ground, and active listening all look like. It is a chance to discuss many pieces of important literature that fall outside of our curriculum. Finally, it is something to which all parents are invited and encouraged to attend. It could potentially provide tools for conversation at the dinner table, in the car, and any other place you might talk with your teens.

This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series.
Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected]

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CHA Traditions: Bake Sale

11/8/2023

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Brownies and popcorn and rice krispie treats,
These are a few of my favorite eats!
For only 2 quarters I can buy a whole bag,
Send me a dollar and watch what I snag!

For years, high school students at CHA have signed up for a “Bake Sale” date on Wednesday. They get to choose what yummy snack to provide to the CHA student body, and they are responsible for bringing in their pre-bagged goodies ready for sale. When signing up for Bake Sale, the high schooler must choose how they want to apply the money that they will make. Frequently, the high schooler chooses to put the money towards their Prom ticket. Although this year several students are putting their Bake Sale income towards the high school trip to Rome in March. In the past students have donated it to another charity or Eagle Scout project. So sending in money for Bake Sale helps to support our students! Students and parents are responsible for making sure the funds are applied to the agreed upon event or charity.

Bake sale officially begins the first Wednesday in October. Bake sale items are 50 cents each. A parent “CHA job” volunteer sits at both lunches to help collect money and distribute goodies.

What should I make? How many should I make?
Every family is different! Some families buy pre-packed snacks from the store. Some families buy packaged cookies, and repackage them a few to a baggie. Some families love to bake! Some love sweets and some love salty (pretzels, popcorn, etc.). All are acceptable. Please be sure the serving size of your items is fairly standard, and that each bag contains a reasonable serving for 50 cents. Generally, around 125-150 items is a good goal.

What if I don’t have change and need to split $1.00 between two siblings?
No problem! First lunch is K-5th Grade. Typically, the 5th graders get in line for Bake Sale first, then 4th, and so on down to Kindergarten. (This gives the younger children more time to eat their “healthy food” first!) So put the dollar in the lunchbox of your oldest elementary student. Include a post it note, or a verbal message with your responsible child to give the change to their brother or sister. The parent volunteer will make sure that every sibling gets an equal share ;) Second lunch is for 6th-12th Grade and follows first lunch. And it’s not uncommon for POPs and tutors to also bring in 50 cents and indulge in any leftover treats after second lunch ;)

Can my child charge Bake Sale items?
At this time we are not using FACTS for Bake Sale (although you CAN use it for Pizza and Chick-Fil-A Days!). This is because the cash is taken and counted by the high school student at the end of the day to be applied towards their “charity.” And frankly we don’t want to deal in unauthorized charges for cupcakes ;)

Is Bake Sale every Wednesday?
Yes, except on a Wednesday that holiday treats are provided for each class. This year that will occur on Wednesday, February 14th (Valentine’s Treats) and Wednesday, March 13th (Pi Day). A parent from each grade will sign up to bring in a treat for the whole class. (There will also be a sign up for class Christmas treats for Monday, December 11th.)

And finally, please feel free to advertise your bake sale on the CHA Family Facebook page!

Special thanks to Mrs. Lisa Byrd for her input on this piece. This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series. Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected]

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Clean House

11/1/2023

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Question: How do I keep my house clean AND homeschool at the same time?

The answer? You don’t.

Homeschool homes just aren’t immaculate living spaces. I saw a sign once at Hobby Lobby that said, “Pardon the mess, but we live here.” I should have bought it. A homeschool home is undoubtedly a "lived in" living space.

The Bible says, “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest” (Proverbs 14:4 NLT). We can paraphrase that to say, “Without children a house stays clean.” But what do all homeschool families have in common? Children. So there you have it. Take “mop the floors” and “dust the mantle” off your list of things to do until break. We’re too busy forming strong oxen, um, I mean God-fearing, well-educated children. The housekeeping will have to wait!

This is part of the Board Bits: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks series.
Is there a question about CHA or homeschool that you would like answered? Submit inquiries to Tracey at [email protected]

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What is the Christmas Program like?

What is a Panel Discussion? by Bill Jenkins

CHA Traditions: Bake Sale

Clean House

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