Estuarium Day at the Library

The Children and Young Adult Department of the Beaufort County Library hosted Estuary Day, Wednesday, September 26 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Mr Bob Bender, curator of the Lowcountry Estuarium in Port Royal shared information about the Estuary in the Port Royal Sound, the St. Helena Sound and the many creatures and plants found in it.

The presentation featured numerous slides, demonstrations, personal stories and animals in their own aquariums. Estuaries are areas where fresh water from the land and salt water from the ocean meet and mix, such as in our coastal rivers. An estuary can be as small as a tidal creek or as large as a bay. Port Royal Sound and St. Helena Sound are estuaries located in Beaufort County.

The Children and Young Adult Services Director, Maria Benac, had a lovely spread of snacks and beverages for all in attendance. There were homeschoolers, high school students from Beaufort High and the winner of the Estuarium's poster contest, a student at Mossy Oaks Elementary.

Our special thanks to "Ms. Maria" and the library for inviting Mr. Bender and to Mr. Bender for the most informative presentation.

Bob Bender, Curator demonstrates how Welks eat oysters and other bi-vales

Teachers and students mingling after the Estaurium presentation.

Two CHSB members observing the creatures on display.

First Meeting for 2007-08 School Year

The September meeting of the Christian Homeschoolers of Beaufort was Monday the 24th at the Beaufort County Library Paul Siegmund Meeting Room. Our guest speaker for the evening Rachel Ward, is the administrator for Homeward Education Association, a third-option association located in Sumter, SC. Rachel covered several homeschool topics, shared her experience as a homeschool mom and opened the floor for questions. A variety of questions and concerns were raised including preparing for college, testing, and record keeping (grades, transcripts).

Information about upcoming changes to expect, requirements for high school students, qualifications for scholarships, news from the SC Commission on Education, and the importance of legal assistance groups like HSLDA, statewide accountability groups and local support groups.

We were pleased to meet several homeschool families who are new to the area, others who are interested in joing CHSB and those who specifically came to hear Rachel Ward. It was a lovely evening filled with great fellowship and we look forward to having more of like kind during the school year.

S.C. Homeschool Option Three

Option Three:
Legal Option: Establish and operate a home school under the membership auspices of an association for homes schools with no fewer than fifty members.

Attendance: 180 days per year

Qualifications: High school diploma or GED

Record Keeping: Maintain evidence of regular instruction including a written record of subjects taught, activities in which the student and parent engage, and a portfolio of the child's work, with a semiannual progress report

Testing: None

Contact: HEA (803) 496-4511 or visit www.homewarded.com

S.C. Homeschool Option Two

Option Two:
Legal Option: Establish and operate a home school under the membership of the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS)

Attendance: 180 days per year

Qualifications: High School Diploma or GED

Record Keeping: Periodic progress reports

Testing: None

Contact: SCAIHS(803) 407-2155or visit www.scaihs.org to request an application

S.C. Homeschool Option One

Option One:

Legal Option: Establish and operate a home school as approved by the local school board

Attendance: 180 days per year, 4 1/2 hours per day

Qualifications: High school diploma or GED or a baccalaureate degree
Record Keeping: Maintain evidence of regular instruction including a written record of subjects taught, activities in which the student and parent engage, a portfolio of the child's work, and a record of academic evaluations, with a semiannual progress report

Testing: Participate in the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program

SC Homeschool Options

CHSB strongly encourages families to select one of the legal options outlined in South Carolina Home Schooling Statutes. There are currently three options from which to choose. However, compulsory school age* and required subjects** apply to all home educators regardless of which option they select.

South Carolina Law Compulsory School Age: "five years of age before September first until...seventeenth birthday or graduation from high school"; five-year-olds may be excused from kindergarten with submission of written notice to the school district.

South Carolina Law Required Subjects: Reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; Also composition and literature in grades 7-12

Homeschool Resources

Looking for Curriculum?
A Beka Book
800-873-5323
www.abeka.org
The Always Incomplete Catalog
(941) 676-6311
www.lifetimeonline.com
Bob Jones University Press
1-800-845-5731
www.bjup.com
Christian Book Distributors
1-800-247-4784
www.christianbook.com
Christian Liberty Press
(847) 259-4444
www.homeschooling.org
Doorposts
(503) 357-4749
www.doorposts.net
Education Plus
(864) 609-5411
www.edplus.com
The Elijah Company
1-888-2-ELIJAH
www.elijahco.com
Foundation for American Education
1-800-352-3223
www.face.net
Greenleaf Press
www.greenleafpress.com
God's World Book Club
1-888-492-2307
www.gwbc.com
Heart of Wisdom
(703) 897-8890
www.heartofwisdom.com
Home Training Tools
1-800-860-6272
www.hometrainingtools.com
R.O.C.K. Solid
1-800-705-3452
www.rocksolidinc.com
Rod and Staff
(606) 522-4348
Sonlight
(303) 730-6292
www.sonlight.com
The Sycamore Tree
(949) 650-4466
www.sycamoretree.com
Veritas Press
1-800-922-5082
www.veritaspress.com
Whole Heart Ministries
1-800-311-2146
www.wholeheart.org

What We Believe

WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe the Bible is the word of God written without error. We believe that the Bible is our sole authority which reveals God, the fall of man, the way to salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, and God's Plan and purpose for the ages.

We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe that salvation is by grace. The conditions for salvation are confession and belief in Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, but died a substitutionary death on Calvary for the world, being made sin for us. He arose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is now our advocate and High Priest at the right hand of the Father.

We believe that men are justified by faith alone, and are accounted righteous before God only through the merit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.