NYS Homeschool Regulations: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/10010.html

NYSED Regulations Q&A: http://www.nysed.gov/nonpublic-schools/home-instruction-questions-and-answers

An oldie but goodie blog post: https://thewanderingwarrens.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/homeschooling-where-to-start/

New (as of July 2020) blog post on how to homeschool in NYS: http://www.rebeccagraceandrews.com/blog/how-to-homeschool-in-nys

Quick and easy guide from homeschooling expert Kathy Ceceri: https://www.kathyceceri.com/blog/homeschool-new-york-state

Great explanation on paperwork: http://www.startsateight.com/new-york-state-homeschool-paperwork/
With a helpful cheat sheet: http://www.startsateight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/New-York-State-Homeschooling-Regulations-for-Dummies-Cheat-Sheet.pdf

Very informative site for curriculum reviews: https://cathyduffyreviews.com/

NYS Homeschooling Q&A FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/470138716503005/

Welcome to BluZoo 2020! 
This year the “campers” will have the opportunity to explore ecosystems, meet animals that live in forests, streams & even your own backyard! This year’s theme is all about invasive species, & how they harm habitats. Campers will have the opportunity to create art and meet animals revolving around a variety of ecosystems. More info:
http://www.bluseedstudios.org/event/bluzoo-virtual-summer-camp-2/2020-08-06/

**Socially Distanced for 2020**

North Country Homeschooling’s soccer team, the Highlanders Soccer Club, will hold socially distanced practices at Kate Mountain Park in Vermontville, 2-3pm Saturdays, September 19-October 24, 2020.

Sign up deadline: August 29, 2020
More details and sign-up at: https://forms.gle/Rr7xi3ojNGgDoKdDA

The team is for kids of all abilities, ages 5-18, divided by age group, and is coached by my husband, myself, and other volunteer parents. This will be our 5th (and most creative!) year. Most participants are homeschoolers, but siblings and friends who attend school have joined the team in the past, too.

We will hold practices where we will do drills and activities that keep everyone at least 6 ft apart, while still working on passing and ball-handling skills. We won’t scrimmage or host a game, but we think we can still have a ton of fun.

-Sunita Halasz

Hello all you budding radio personalities!

With the current landscape, many families are contemplating what their options are for education for this coming fall. Families may not believe they have the ability and resources to homeschool and need assistance weighing out their options.

I have started a dialog with an area Christian radio station (and have a name to contact for a Plattsburgh AM station) about creating a PSA (public service announcement) informing families of some local/regional/state/& national groups and associations that can help provide guidance when deciding if homeschooling/cooperative learning is for them.

I am looking for interested parents and youth that would like to help put together this announcement(s). Do you have a good radio voice and want to give a testimonial ? (anonymously/first name/etc.) Are you a passionate parent wanting to spread the word?

Is there any youth out there interested in media marketing and sound bites or just interested in how something like this gets produced and want credit for a service project for 4-H, etc.?

This could include groups in VT and our greater NY area.

If interested:
Contact Janice Stainken
cpfarms@willex.com
518.241.2383

Art and a Story – recommended ages 4-8

Each week we will provide a story and an art project for you to do at home with simple materials. The programs will be available here.
The videos are available to watch anytime at that site.

Art for the Experienced – recommended ages 8+ to Adult

Join Gwen and Karen each week on Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30 AM for a different project, the programs and list of materials can be found here. Additionally, supplies can be borrowed from the Keene Valley Library but you must call to reserve them!

For more information head to the Keene Valley Library website or call 518-576-4335 or email: kvla.library@gmail.com

Hello Music Lovers!  We are just under 3 weeks away from unveiling our 2020 Online Concert Series and couldn’t be more excited about this new way to engage with you.

Starting July 29th, right from our website, choose your own experience through our interactive menu options: Small Plates, Large Plates, Specials, Sweets, and curated Tasting Menus – each with music and music related activities to fill your Loon Lake Live musical appetite!  Watch the menu items grow as we expand our offerings on each of these four dates: July 29, August 2, August 9, and August 13.  Return to distance “dine” with us again as often as you’d like!

Coming right up on July 29th is music for french horn and strings with performances of music by Carl Nielsen, Bohuslav Martinu, Lydia Busler, Paul Chihara, and Alan Civil.  We also have a fun instructional video on how to construct your own hosehorn at home, and our french horn player Debra Sherrill has made play-along videos for horn players of all levels so you can learn some music and play with her!

Please visit our website for more complete info and consider making a tax deductible contribution to help support the online series and our future return to safe in-person live events and activities.  Many of you stepped up right away with support.  We are so grateful to have you in our corner!
Enjoy this fun teaser video featuring our Original Version Social Distancer, Ms. Loon.  She’s not having any of your shenanigans!  She wants you to enjoy some music and music related activities safely!

Wednesdays at 10:30 AM online!

Lake Placid Center for the Arts’ Free Young & Fun Performance Series is dedicated to bringing the best entertainment for all ages to Lake Placid. There is no charge for any Young & Fun performance.

***Sign up in advance to get the links. Donation suggested.

Aug 5 – Painting with Unusual Tools
Aug 12 – Gary the Great
Aug 19 – Pirate School

Historic Saranac Lake asked specifically if North Country Homeschooling kids would draw pictures and make signs for essential workers for their “Thank you to all essential workers!” project.

“We will be displaying thank you notes to essential employees in the windows of the Cure Porch on Wheels behind the Saranac Laboratory Museum. Help us say thank you! Write, draw, or paint a note to the essential workers you appreciate and mail it to Historic Saranac Lake at 89 Church Street Saranac Lake, NY 12983 to be displayed in the Porch. You can also email your note to cpow@historicsaranaclake.org and we’ll print it for you!”

The author, Joy Hakim, who has written the popular “A History of US” and “The Story of Science” curriculum series, has created an at-home learning site for this time of social distancing. Check out: http://www.joyhakim.com/diy-lessons.html