School Options Info Night: Honing in on Homeschooling and Pods
NEXT WEEK: Wednesday, June 19th 6:00 pm - Learn, Support, Connect!
Many parents are fed up with the publicly funded school systems. Yet with the cost of living soaring, our dollar tanking, and a lack of educational autonomy, many parents are seeking more information about homeschooling and learning pods. On a positive note, more parents are recognizing the value of increased family time, which has fueled interest in these educational alternatives. Additionally, the successes and benefits observed from homeschooling and pods are raising awareness and driving their popularity.
This event is for you if you:
Ever wonder if homeschooling or a school pod could be the right choice for your family
Are already homeschooling or part of a pod and are looking for community or have questions
Know of a space that could serve a community homeschooling group or micro-school
Come out for an evening of connection and support as we hone into everything homeschooling and pods, from kindergarten to high school!
When and Where
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
200 Barnswallow Dr., Elmira
Itinerary
6:00pm Doors open
6:00-6:30 Connect and Visit the Information Booths
6:30–8:30 Speakers + Q&A
8:30–9:30 Connect and Visit the Information Booths
Speaker Line Up (6:30–8:30)
KEYNOTE
Ann Gillies – Peer Attachment & Education
“Dr. Ann Gillies is a Canadian trauma specialist, pastor, author, activist, speaker, rancher, wife, mother, and grandmother. Ann’s skill in clear and brave communication is broad and expertly delivered across all avenues of media as well as in person. Ann is energetic, good-natured, focused, kind, and with spine to spare. Dr. Gillies is a lover of truth and human flourishing who courageously leads the charge against falsehoods and harms in society, despite, as well as because of the personal price she has paid. Dr. Ann Gillies is the real deal.”
– Andre Van Mol, MD | Board-certified Family Physician
Co-chair, Committee on Adolescent Sexuality, American College of Pediatricians
Co-chair, Sexual and Gender Identity Task Force, Christian Medical & Dental Assoc.
SPEAKER PANEL
Sonya Martin, Homeschooling Mother & Homeschooling Mentor – Hosting the Panel and Sharing about Socializing and Support
Laura Page, Director, Classical Conversations Canada - Teaching with Confidence and Support & Structure of Classical Conversations Community Homeschooling
Christy Hoffman- The Ins & Outs of Homeschooling Co-Ops
The Learning House - Finding Your Home Learning Curriculum
Jake & Heather Zwart, Executive Director Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection (OCHEC) Experiential Learning and Support Through OCHEC
Milena Weinberg, Former Public School Teacher, Co-Founder School Pods Canada – Logistics of Joining or Starting a School Pod
High-school Pods - They DO exist!
Info Booths
Ontario Christian Home Educators Connection (OCHEC) - A network in the Province of Ontario that seeks to link together individual homeschooling families and support groups
Classical Conversations Canada - Helping parents reclaim the education of their children
School Pods Canada - Helping families provide quality education for their children
The Learning House - Educational curriculum and resources for parents, home educators, and schools across Canada
Canadian Christian Education Movement - Helping existing spaces serve community homeschooling parents and school pods
The Rock On Campus - To offer hope to students and to give students the opportunities to develop a sense of meaning and purpose as they prepare to serve God throughout our society
Parents/People of Waterloo Region (EMPOWR) - to give and receive support and create solutions for our children, locally, in unity!
Several existing and upcoming homeschooling/pod groups in our area (homeschooling co-ops, high school pods, community homeschooling)
Home Learning Resource Swap!
Bring along any home learning resources or items that no longer serve you and swap them for something new to you that would!
Some Questions from Registrants:
What does homeschooling look like?
I'm looking to teach, so would like to know if there is a need
I'm wondering about high-school diplomas
Can we sign up to be part of a school pod?
I want to know if we can homeschool, the ‘how-to’.
Are there any supports for homeschooling families (tax credits)?
What are the main differences between the Ministry of Education curriculum and the homeschooling curriculum?
Are there pods in our region already operating?
"What are you most interested in gaining more insight about, at this event?"
Planning a school alternative in Southgate
Options if I have to work part-time (if this is even possible)
High-school
We've been homeschooling for many years. Looking to participate in growing and strengthening the community for "education outside of public or private schools" for both elementary and high-school aged students.
School Options
Homeschooling long term
How to transition from public school to homeschooling
supports for homeschooling and learning more about how to do homeschooling well
How to help facilitate one!!
Pods - and teachers who want to do things differently
Homeschooling
Education pods
local support
connecting with other homeschoolers and concerned/involved parents, learning about options, ideally finding pods to further deepen and expand my daughter's education
assist the establishment of Christ-centered homeschooling pods and micro-schools
What Peer Attachment is
Pods and homeschooling options!
Will be presenting on a learning pod
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is making this event possible for our community:
To all of the Parents and people of Waterloo Region and surrounding areas working to empower and educate minds - offering their time, energy, and resources to a better future for us all!
Woodside Church for the support in opening their doors for a space to gather!
FaithFM for supporting this mission for our children and their future!