Dear SCCS parents,
Welcome to the first 2014-15 Shelby Crossings newsletter! These notes come at the beginning of each month with some reminders and encouragement for you, so please make an effort to read them when you have the time.
If you have signed up for field trips or want to participate in a park day, then this is your updated schedule of the month's activities. While I also try to post all this information on our website and the SCCS Facebook group under "Files," this is the most dependable way to reach me and to receive information from me, so please try to check email regularly.
Below is the list of the month's activities with details beside them. If the field trip required previous sign-up, that will be noted, or if you can still RSVP for an event, that will be in a red RSVP at the end of the details. This month has two such dates: the Support Group meeting, and DeSoto Caverns field trip.
1. I need to know how many moms to expect so I can reserve adequate tables at Panera, so please respond if you plan to join us.
2. For DeSoto Caverns, we must meet a minimum number of 20 students to get the $14.50 rate, so please let me know if you are definitely interested. We had a sign-up sheet at the parent meeting, to gauge interest only. Emailing now is your commitment to come if the minimum is reached.
September
3 Wednesday at 9:00
Patton Creek Chick-Fil-A in Hoover - We will tour the restaurant in a few small groups of 6, back to back. Reservations already made.
5 Friday 1:00
PARK DAY at Heroes Park in Alabaster - Bring a lunch and hang out together!
10 Wednesday at 9:00 Patton Creek Chick-Fil-A in Hoover - Second group to tour the restaurant in a few small groups of 6, back to back. Reservations already made.
11 Thursday all day
Service Project – make treats and deliver to your local fire, paramedic, and police station as a thank you for their dedication on this very important date
16 Tuesday 7:00 SCCS Support Group and Fellowship at Panera Bread in Alabaster
Gather for encouragement, to ask questions, and fellowship with other moms. RSVP by 9/14
18 Thursday 9:30 or 11:00
Birmingham Children’s Theatre Wee Folks – Rumpelstiltskin, tickets ordered in advance
24 Thursday 9:00
American Village – “Liberty” program reservations made. Bring $9 cash per adult, students are free. Bring your lunch if you like, since we can picnic on the grounds when program is over, around 11:30. Reservations already made.
30 Tuesday 9:00
Homeschool Day at DeSoto Caverns – includes cave tour, laser light show, panning for gems and trail maze. $14.50 per person for this discounted fun pack. Must have 20 people to get this group rate. RSVP by 9/14.
Though most of you have been 'doing' school for a few weeks now, my family begins our homeschool year officially on Tuesday. We are excited and anticipate a fun year of learning together. We have a 9th grader in public school, and I am teaching a 7th grader, first grader, and preschooler at home. The difference in abilities, personalities and learning styles is a challenge to accommodate and I have been prayerfully working through curriculum decisions and lesson plans for weeks. I believe God has prepared us well for the tasks ahead, but I still know that there are challenges we can't foresee and issues that may cause us to completely switch gears at some point. For now, we have a tentative plan in place and will take each subject day by day.
I have been convicted anew that while my focus should be on preparing lessons well, more importantly than that, I need to have my heart attuned to what God wills for our family. While we do want His guidance, we don't always show it or prioritize that. His wisdom is whose I want to follow, since I know He surely knows best and sees much farther than I can. This verse reiterates that truth:
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
I am praying we all apply this to our lives and school year. I look forward to the year together!