GGFHSA
Greater Grand Forks Home School Association Welcome
This information is provided to better acquaint you with the Greater Grand Forks Homeschool Association and its leaders, members, activities, and opportunities. We invite you to contact our leaders or members and we look forward to meeting you and getting to know you and your family. There are approximately 75 families in GGFHSA. They are our greatest asset and will be your greatest help in the days ahead. Please take time to get to know them. GGFHSA is a Christian homeschool support group for families living in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and many surrounding communities. Our families come from many different faith and spiritual backgrounds. The group originated in order to facilitate events for homeschoolers such as spelling bees and testing and has grown to include many activities and opportunities for our children and support opportunities for parents. Registration and payment of the annual membership fee ($17 per year) is due in August. New members joining Oct 1st-July 31st pay the full fee and receive a prorated fee the following year. Membership fees cover some activity fees, the cost of our website, speaker fees, and general group expenses such as printing and postage. Below you will find some of the many benefits available to members of GGFHSA.
Homeschool laws
North Dakota and Minnesota are two of the most regulated states in the country for homeschoolers. GGFHSA does not provide legal support or advice, but we urge you to become familiar with your state’s laws by reviewing summaries on our website: www.ggfhsa.org . Also consider membership in your state homeschool association and the national Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), which provides free legal representation and advice for its members in matters of homeschool related legal disputes. Both states require a statement of intent to be filed with your local school district if you are homeschooling. Please use the forms available on our website which include only the details required by law. It is important not to set a precedent with the state or school district by giving more information than is required by law that may be asked on another form. Questions about the statement of intent can be addressed to our public school liaison at psliaison@ggfhsa.org . Testing is also required by both states. Please review the laws for your state. Because North Dakota law requires a certified teacher to administer tests to North Dakota homeschooled children, GGFHSA arranges a testing opportunity the first week of May which meets requirements for both states. Members pay for the test. Nonmembers may test with our students and are asked to pay an administration fee in addition to the cost of the test.
Meetings
leader@ggfhsa.org We follow the traditional school year for our meetings, which begin in August with an Activity Fair. This come and go event is designed to allow homeschoolers a chance to register with GGFHSA and explore the many services, products, and opportunities available through our group and in the community. Meetings are generally held the first Monday of each month at the East Grand Forks Campbell Library. Some meetings are an opportunity to hear a speaker of interest to homeschoolers and some months our meeting time is used for an event hosted by our group. Children are welcome to accompany you to meetings and enjoy a class or presentation in the story room at the library. A calendar of meeting times and topics will be available at the beginning of the school year and current meeting information is provided on our website and in our newsletters. Meeting minutes are forwarded to all members via email by our Communications Coordinator. While at our monthly meetings please browse our homeschool library located at the East Grand Forks Campbell Library. A complete list of books is available on the website. Curricula can be checked out for the school year. Donations of homeschool or education related books and curricula are accepted at the discretion of the librarian based on available space and how dated the material is. Contact the librarian at library@ggfhsa.org if you need access to the library between meetings, to check on the availability of a book, or if you have a donation.
COMMUNICATIONS
info@ggfhsa.org Our website (www.ggfhsa.org) is a valuable resource for providing information to members and potential members. It has enabled us a tremendous cost savings by allowing us to post online our newsletters, library holdings, and other information which was previously photocopied and mailed to members. Questions, problems, and suggestions regarding the site should be addressed to our Communications Coordinator. The monthly newsletter can be accessed by members only on our website. It is used to inform members of the coming month’s schedule, GGFHSA news, and member achievements. Members are invited to submit information directly related to education, homeschooling, or to their family for publication in the newsletter by the 20th of each month. The newsletter is posted by the 25th and an email is sent announcing its availability. Our Communications Coordinator sends announcements and prayer requests via email when time does not allow publication in the newsletter. Members may send urgent, time-sensitive information to our Communications Coordinator who will forward the message to all members. Please respect our members’ privacy and do not forward or send emails to others unless you have a personal relationship with them. In October a roster of all GGFHSA members is published and distributed. The information is to be kept confidential for the exclusive use GGFHSA members. In addition to personal data, members list curricula they use or have used which is a valuable resource to get more information or potentially view, borrow, or purchase the product from another member when you are considering using a particular resource. Roster updates are published mid-year.
Events and Activities
events@ggfhsa.org Activities and field trips are arranged and events are overseen by our Events Coordinator. A schedule for the school year and information about many events and activities will be available at the Activity Fair and on the website. The coming month’s schedule is published in the newsletter. General standards of respect and good behavior are expected from everyone attending GGFHSA activities. In November our monthly meeting is used for our annual Geography Fair. Families choose a geographic area from a predetermined area of selection and create a display reflecting information about their choice. All members are encouraged to participate in and especially to attend this educational event. During the event students will have the opportunity to fill out a passport with information they must obtain from each display. It has been a very popular and exciting event for our members. GGFHSA hosts both a Spelling Bee and a Geography Bee which are recognized by the Grand Forks county, North Dakota state, and national bees. The Geography Bee is held in December and the Spelling Bee in January. There is no charge for members and there are divisions for students in K-8th grade to participate. Resources for studying are available on the website. Each March GGFHSA participates in the city-wide Artwise art show. Students are given the opportunity to display works of art and attend workshops during the event. We arrange group reservations to the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra’s Young Audience Concert, also in March. Other activities available through GGFHSA include Christmas caroling, used book sales, monthly field trips, and parents’ night out. Co-op classes such as speech, science, and art have been organized in the past by individual members. We also have members who arrange homeschool classes at Red River Valley Gymnastics club, the YMCA, Championship Tae Kwon Do, and Jackie’s Art. Music lessons are available from current and former homeschool students and various locations in Grand Forks. The list of opportunities can be overwhelming. We encourage you to participate in as many activities as suits your family. Any member may arrange a field trip, activity, or co-op class through the Events Coordinator who keeps a master calendar of our schedule. Instructions for setting up a field trip are available on our website. The group can only be as successful as the members make it so we ask all members to plan, organize, or help with an activity.
Mentoring
mentor@ggfhsa.org A unique feature of our group is our Mentor Mom. This wise, seasoned, homeschooling mom provides a wealth of information and moral support for our members. If you have any questions about homeschooling, our group, or just need a boost of encouragement contact our Mentor Mom for confidential support and advice.