Homeschool Connections: October 2009

Saturday, October 31, 2009

TAC ... Again!

Thomas Aquinas College's meet and greet webinar went fantastic and we're going to do it again!

Please come join us and learn about one of the leaders of Catholic higher education:

Just click on the title below to register:

Thomas Aquinas College A sweeping tour of the greatest and most influential works of Western Civilization

Session date: Monday, October 26, 2009
Starting time: 8:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time
Cost: FREE
Duration: 1 hour
Presenters: Jon Daly and Greg Becher

Description:
Jon Daly, Director of Admission, will introduce the College’s program of genuine Catholic liberal education where “Great Books” replace textbooks and seminar discussions replace lectures. He will also explain how College faculty lead small seminar discussions on seminal works across the disciplines—science, math, language, music, literature, philosophy and theology—and address student life, alumni careers and questions which arise as the presentation pro ceeds!

Greg Becher, Director of Financial Aid, will also participate in the webinar and will introduce and explain the College’s generous and well-ranked financial aid program.

No college ranking system can offer the full measure of an institution, however, each can help to introduce aspects of an institution. Among others, Thomas Aquinas College has regularly earned high praise from many and varied sources including The Princeton Review (where it earned the “Best Value” ranking in both 2009 and 2010), U.S. News & World Report, the Cardinal Newman Society and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. You are invited to read these and other reviews on our website, www.thomasaquinas.edu.

Agenda:
"A sweeping tour of the greatest and most influential works of Western Civilization." (--National Review).

Please join us for a live presentation and discussion of Thomas Aquinas College’s unique program of Catholic liberal education. The College’s Admissions Director, Jon Daly will explain Thomas Aquinas College’s “great books” curriculum and Socratic teaching method, and provide information about student life outside the classrooms. Greg Becher, the College’s Financial Aid Director will describe the College’s generous and well-ranked financial aid program. Thomas Aquinas College is ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the "Top 50" academic programs in the country, and is one of only 13 schools in the country to be named to The Princeton Review’s "Financial Aid Honor Roll." It is truly a “best buy.” Students at Thomas Aquinas College engage firsthand a curriculum made up entirely of the “great books” — the seminal works upon which Western civilization is founded. The students discuss these great works in daily seminars led by members of the teaching faculty. These conversations encourage independence of thought in students and aid them in developing a capacity for critical judgment. Complementing this stimulating and rigorous intellectual life are ample opportunities for recreation. The College is bordered by the Los Padres National Forest — students are just minutes from hiking, camping, and myriad other outdoor recreational activities. The College also has basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts, and a baseball and soccer field. Intramural and pick-up games are daily events. The campus itself has a beautiful forested area with walking trails, ponds, and meadows to help students relax after classes. Outings to the many museums, plays, concerts, and baseball games in nearby Santa Barbara and Los Angeles are scheduled regularly, and the Pacific Ocean is only 25 minutes from the campus.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Meet Ave Maria University

Ave Maria University is on schedule for this Thursday. Join us to learn more about this orthodox Catholic university in beautiful Florida where they built a town around Ave Maria.

Please click on the title below to register:

Meet Ave Maria University

Session date: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Starting time: 7:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (6:00 pm Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: FREE
Presenter: Jason Fabaz

Description:
Come learn more about Ave Maria, a classical liberal arts university in the Catholic tradition in beautiful SW Florida. 10 priests on campus, 3 Daily Masses, daily Confessions, Perpetual Adoration Chapel, Traditional Latin Mass 3 days per week, avg. class size is 17 students, student/faculty ratio: 10:1 92% of faculty has Ph.D. or terminal degree. 10 majors in the classical liberal arts; 3 pre-profession programs: pre-med, pre-law & a certificate of business. 11 athletic teams competing in the NAIA. Over 35 student clubs & organizations.

From the presenter:
I’d love for you to come visit the campus, call or email anytime! Jason Fabaz Assistant Director of Admissions Ave Maria University 5050 Ave Maria Blvd. Ave Maria, FL 34142 239-280-2480 direct line 239-450-1440 cell phone 239-280-2559 fax 1-877-AVE-UNIV (283-8648) http://www.avemaria.edu/ jason.fabaz@avemaria.edu

Monday, October 26, 2009

Meet Wyoming Catholic

UPDATE: The webinar went fantastic! To view the recording of the event just go to Meet Wyoming Catholic College.

This is a busy week for Catholic College Month and I hope you're all up to it. You have the opportunity to meet three great Catholic colleges. Tonight is TAC, Thursday is Ave Maria, and sandwiched in between is Wyoming Catholic College.

If you've not yet heard of Wyoming Catholic, or just haven't explored deeply it as a possibility, I strongly encourage you to join us Wednesday evening. This is your opportunity to speak, listen, and learn.

Just click on the title below to register:

Wyoming Catholic College: Blazing New Trails in Catholic Higher Education

Session date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Starting time: 8:30 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (7:30 Central)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Cost: FREE
Presenter: Mario Coccia

Description:
Learn about Wyoming Catholic College! Wyoming Catholic College is a four-year coeducational Catholic college whose primary educational objective is to offer a traditional liberal arts education that schools the whole person in all three dimensions—mind, body, and spirit. We accomplish this by immersing our students in the beauty of the outdoors, by introducing them to the wisdom of Western tradition and thought as found in the Great Books and Good Books of the past millennia, and by making the best of the Catholic spiritual heritage part of the rhythm of daily life in our close College community. Students graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.

This unique combination of educational spheres results in graduates who know there is truth and how to seek it, know how to think clearly and express their thoughts eloquently, know how to learn and expect to find delight in learning throughout their lives, and know how to attain a great measure of happiness by a moral life led in relationship with God.

Presenter's Biography:
After working many years in healthcare marketing in NY and NJ, Mario Coccia moved with my family to Austria to pursue advanced degrees in theology and was appointed Assistant Dean of that school. Mario joined WCC in 2007 and live in Wyoming with my wife and 5 children while completing a doctorate in theology.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Meet Thomas Aquinas College

Up next for Catholic College Month is Thomas Aquinas College in beautiful Southern California. If you are not familiar with TAC then you absolutely must make time and join us Monday evening for this free webinar. Gosh, I think all the smartest people I know are TAC grads. Plus, their whole pedagogical approach is Socratic discussion which I love. You read Great Books and then sit around and talk about them. That is my kind of place!

Just click on the title below to register:

Thomas Aquinas College A sweeping tour of the greatest and most influential works of Western Civilization

Friday, October 23, 2009

Career Search Skills: Beacon of Light in a Dark Economy

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Adult and High School Online Classes

I am very excited to announce our first adult course. If you could use a little help in a job search we are here to help. We've found a vibrant professional who knows the ins and outs of today's job market. If it's been more than just a few years since you've embarked on a job search then this course will be well worth the reasonable cost.

Please click on the title below to register:

Career Search Skills: Beacon of Light in a Dark Economy
Course Description:
Have you ever wondered "How in the world did that person get that job?" or "Wow, that is the best job in the world. I would have never thought that a person could get paid to do that!"

Find out how you can be that person. The mainstream media continues to tell us that the "Sky is Falling!" Well if you like to follow the "Pied Piper" and listen to the symphony of employment destruction ... be my guest. However, if you have the "No Guts, No Glory!" attitude, then read on and seriously consider attending the "Beacon of Light in a Dark Economy" career search course.

In this course you will learn about:

Resumes / Electronic resumes
Applications (90% are now online)
Interview skills (How to become an expert at phone and face to face interviews)
Online Job Boards such as Monster, Career Builder, Indeed and many others
Social Media and how it can be used for and against you
Reputation Management and Networking
Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc.
Questions potential employers like to ask
Confrontational Interviewing and other types of interviews you may encounter
Other Grassroots / DYI marketing yourself ideas
Creating your own Unique Selling Proposition

Course Outline:

Session 1 -- Overview of the current market and how has it changed
Session 2 -- Commonsense and Mistakes that Kill
Session 3 -- How to create a great marketing blitz – for yourself

Course Goal:
Obtaining victory in an employment world that is full of serpents and traps. This course will help you prepare for the challenge.

Fee: $45 for all three classes.

Presenter's Biography:
Derek Prentice is a graduate of Hope College with a B/A in Communications, Business and Art. An accomplished and integrity-driven professional with over 14 years of business success with Fortune 500 organizations and start-up companies, specializing in technology, automotive, power sports and consumer electronics.

Equipment Requirements:
Attendees are required to have high-speed internet. A headset with microphone is recommended but not required. (You can find them reasonably price at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002XIX0O/catholictreas-20.)

To check your connection with the online classes visit: http://www.webex.com/lp/jointest/.

If you have questions or comments, please leave a comment here or email Maureen Wittmann.

Click HERE to enroll.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Theology 101: Social Ethics: High School Online Course

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes

This Spring '10 course is the third and last in our Theology 101 series. These courses can be taken together or independently. Whether or not you took the first two in the series, you'll benefit greatly from Social Ethics. Miss Ashour is an outstanding theologian and teacher. Most recently she has been employed by Ascension Press as a national speaker.

Course Description:
“…[B]y reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in the temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will. …There they are called by God that, being led by the spirit to the Gospel, they may contribute to the sanctification of the world, as from within like leaven, by fulfilling their own particular duties” (Lumen Gentium 31). Such a statement undergirds the teaching of this course as we seek to know the proper role of the faithful Catholic in the secular sphere.

Course Goal:
Each student, comprehending his/her exalted role in society, will acknowledge and begin to live out his/her role as a Catholic in the world.

Course Outline:
Session 1: Dignitatis Humanae; “Reverse Clericalism” (Russell Shaw); the role of the laity (Gaudium et Spes); voting and political action; Just War Theory, capital punishment.

Session 2: “The fundamental option for the poor” (its correct and incorrect usage); Liberation Theology (and Pope Benedict’s critique); the fall of communism and its revival in other forms; private property, capitalism.

Session 3: The attack on the Church; media bias; Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and other organizations; the Catholic Moment Theory (Cardinal Stafford); the American Project.

Session 4: Vocations: The Universal Call to Holiness; the Priesthood, Marriage, and Religious Life; discernment (Fr. Michael Scanlon’s 5 C’s), public and person prayer, spirituality.

Fee:
This four-week course is regularly $75
Early registration discount is $15 until December 31, 2009

Dates and Time:
This is a nine-week course. Classes will begin Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and meet every Tuesday through February 2, 2010. The time will begin 1:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 2:00 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open.

Misc. Details:
All coursework will be provided by the instructor or available online for free. No homework will be given. However, Miss Ashour will provide optional homework with each of the classes so that parents can expand on her lectures and supply full academic credit for their student's work. (Note: Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.) Miss Ashour will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone is recommended. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon. A web cam is NOT required.

To register, go to: Social Ethics. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, please don't hesitate to email me.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Literature: King Arthur: Online High School Course

The other fall 2009 class still open is Literature: King Arthur and Christ -- Heroism and Holiness with Henry Russell, Ph.D.

We've found Dr. Russell's literature courses to be especially helpful to Kolbe and Mother of Divine Grace families. We receive a good number of emails from students from these these great home study schools who are really happy to have a fun and interesting online course to supplement their studies. For example:

I've taken the Sir Gawain series and will be taking the Canterbury Tales and King Arthur ones as well. First of all, I want to let you know how much I enjoyed and got our of Sir Gawain. The lectures were a much better way to study the book than the approach I was going to use originally. I use Kolbe, and we have to read Sir Gawain for lit this year. [I planned to read] these stanzas, answer the questions on the literal level- what the Green Knight looked like, what Gawain had on the back of his shield, etc. No insights into the times, style, and parallels like Dr. Russell offered. It was way more interesting to read the book knowing all the additional information Dr. Russell gave us, and I'm sure I'll be able to pass the quarter exam without even studying because I remember more from the lectures simply because they're more interesting. :)

If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Russell's upcoming King Arthur course, here is all the information:

Course Description:
King Arthur attempts to build the City of God on earth, as we all must. His noble and sinful knights rise far above themselves under his Catholic kingdom’s rule of chivalry. Their fall is also our fall. In Lancelot we will see the crucial role that holiness must play in any heroism, and find that holiness--both personal and of the nation--is the purpose for which heroism is made. Most editions of this tale have been drastically whitewashed by their modernizers to make it a tale of merely cardinal virtues or generic Christian sentiment. Some have gone so far as to warp it into the service of paganism and witchcraft. Yet the greatest knight in the world sees Jesus and ends as a monk.

Third in the series: Medieval Lessons for Modern Catholics. Each course in the series can be taken alone or consecutively.

Professor's Biography:
Dr. Henry Russell is Headmaster of the St. Augustine's Homeschool Enrichment Program founded with his wife Crystal. The program began in Fall 2005 with 20 students in two living rooms and now tutors more than 70 students. He is also the President of the SS Peter and Paul Educational Foundation, dedicated to founding an orthodox Catholic Liberal Arts college in southeast Michigan.

A graduate of Princeton and South Caroline (M.S.), Dr. Russell completed his graduate work at Louisiana State University.

Formerly the Chairman of Ave Maria College's Department of Literature, he has also been a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Wake Forest University. He is a founding faculty member of the St. Robert Southwell Creative Writing Workshop held in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Dr. Russell's works include The Catholic Shakespeare Audio Series. He was the Associate Editor of The Formalist from 1990-2004 and his writings have been published in various journals. He was honored to edit Dr. Alice von Hildebrand's groundbreaking volume, The Privilege of Being a Woman.

Price: $60

Dates and Time:
This is a nine-week course. Classes will begin Tuesday, November 3, 2009 and meet every Tuesday through November 24, 2009. The time will begin 10:00 AM Eastern Time and end at 11:15 AM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open.

Course Materials:
Dr. Russell will provide selections via e-mailed PDF files from Thomas Mallory’s English language, Morte D’Arthur. If you'd like to own it, you can check Amazon. Make sure not to use a volume by another author.

Homework:
No homework will be given. However, Dr. Russell will provide a quiz, answer key, and suggested essay topic with each of the four classes so that parents can expand on his lectures and supply full academic credit for their student's work. (Homeschool Connections does not keep transcripts.)

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone is recommended. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon. A web cam is NOT required.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Online High School Theology Course: Catholic Spiritual Writers

Although we are scheduling spring courses there are still two fall class still open. One is Catholic Spiritual Writers and it starts November 5, 2009. Dr. Gotcher's classes are terrific for high school students as they are not only academically challenging but also spiritually uplifting. This course is a terrific opportunity for you to give your high school student credit for literature and theology as well help him or her grow in love with all things Catholic.

Course Title:
Catholic Spiritual Writers
(click on the hyperlink to register)

Course Description:
In this course we will look at the basic principles of Catholic spirituality as they are explained by some of the great spiritual writers, such as St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, Thomas a Kempis, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Therese of Lisieux. We will especially emphasize their application to the life of the young laity.

Homework
The assignment will be to pick one of the great spiritual classics, read the entire book over the six weeks of the course, and keep a journal of reflections as you read.

Fee:
Six-week course for $120.

Dates and Time:
Classes will begin Wednesday, November 4, 2009 and meet every Wednesday through December 16, 2009. The time will begin 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 Central). The class is one hour 15 minutes.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close when the class is filled. (Maximum 15 students.)

Course Materials Needed by Students:
The text will be The Classics of Catholic Spirituality by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. (editor of the English language edition of Magnificat magazine). It is very inexpensive ($7). The rest of the texts from the great spiritual writers are available free online.

Equipment requirements:
Because this is a discussion course, students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with a microphone. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon.

Course Access:
All Homeschool Connections courses are recorded and available to registered students for up to six months.

Professor's Biography:
Dr. Robert F. Gotcher most recently served as Associate Professor of Systematic Studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Kathy, are raising their seven children in Franklin, Wisconsin. Dr. Gotcher has been actively involved in the home schooling of his children, especially in the junior high and high school years. He has taught Latin, literature, physics, astronomy, and religion to homeschooled students. He has a special devotion to the classical trivium of grammar, logic and rhetoric, especially as they pertain to the written arts.

Dr. Gotcher graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 with a B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies. He received his M.A. in Theology of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1991 and his Ph.D. from Marquette University in 2002. In his adult life he has done everything from volunteering with the poor in Appalachia, to religious education and youth ministry, to desktop publishing and computer related responsibilities at a law firm. At the seminary he taught introduction to theology, the doctrine of God, one and three, theological anthropology (creation, sin, redemption, grace, four last things), life principles, and human sexuality and has given public presentations on Vatican II, the encyclicals of the pope, social justice, life issues, human sexuality and the theology of the body. His publications focus on family issues, lay spirituality and issues related to the Second Vatican Council. He is involved in the secular Franciscan order, home schooling, and pro-life activities in the Milwaukee area and nationally.

Dr. Gotcher blogs at Heart, Mind & Strength, Classic Catholic and Love2Learn.

Click here to learn about other homeschool online classes.

Monday, October 19, 2009

High School Government Online Class

We're getting most of our spring classes scheduled this week. First up is our introductory government course. We're offering that again due to its popularity:

Course Description:
American government has been called the most radical experiment in self-governing in human history based on its unique system of democracy and citizen involvement. Learn how the fundamental elements of American government are supposed to work, how they actually work, and the role and responsibility each citizen has in our government and our future."

Instructor's Biography:
Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-Law and Public Policy and a Master's in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. He served three years as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives. For 21 years Ed has served as the Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Director. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation's first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Ed was the director of the state of Michigan's largest all-volunteer citizen petition drive which also was the state's most accurate petition drive ever, 97.3% valid signatures. Ed has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America.

Price: $135

Dates and Time:
This is a nine-week course. Classes will begin Friday, February 12, 2010 and meet every Friday through April 16, 2010 (No class on Good Friday). The time will begin 12:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 1:15 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close on February 7, 2010. This will provide students time to learn about the educational software Moodle (free) and the instructor time to provide a syllabus and welcome letter.

Misc. Details:
All coursework will be provided by the instructor or available online for free. Homework and research projects will be given and graded. (Though Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.) Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone is recommended. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon. A web cam is NOT required.

Comments from Mr. Rivet's Past Students:

"The class was fantastic! I really enjoyed it!"

"Thanks for teaching this class ... I really enjoyed it and I felt like it gave me a better understanding of my government."

"I loved this class!"

"NICE JOB!!!!! I really enjoyed the class and I am thankful I did it. The course gave me a basic yet essential understanding of how our government works that I never had before. Thanks a bunch!"

To register, go to: Democracy, Government, and Citizenship. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, please don't hesitate to email me.

I'll post the rest of the courses here on the blog over the next week as we get them together. Or you can check in at the Homeschool Connections website to see what's being scheduled.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Francican University Steubenville

Addendum: The live webinar with FUS went fantastic. You may watch the recording at Meet Franciscan University.

Catholic College Month is under way. The webinar on how to pay for college without breaking your bank account went great! It's never too early to start planning! If you'd like to view the recording just click on How to Pay for College.

Next up for Catholic College Month is Meet and Greet Franciscan University of Steubenville. This is a terrific opportunity to meet firsthand (electronically at least) FUS's key admissions officials:

Franciscan University of Steubenville Catholic? Absolutely! Typical? Not Even Close!

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Time: 3:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
Duration: 1 hour
Presenters: Margaret Weber and Joel Recznik

Description: A Catholic liberal arts school, Franciscan University of Steubenville integrates strong academic programs and a lively faith environment, educating and forming men and women of hope to be a transforming presence in the Church and the world. This attractive combination draws over 2,400 students from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries. Students choose from over 40 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs, and a popular study abroad program in Austria. Faith households -- small groups of male or female students -- provide positive peer support, while confession, daily Mass, eucharistic adoration, and Festivals of Praise encourage students to pursue ongoing personal conversion in the power of the Holy Spirit. A Great Books Honors Program, NCAA Division III and intramural sports, Works of Mercy and Missions of Peace, and a Human Life Studies Minor are among the many additional opportunities found at Franciscan. Franciscan University is Academically Challenging and Passionately Catholic.

Presenters Biographies: Mrs. Margaret Weber has served Franciscan University of Steubenville in the Admissions Department for over 26 years. The last 18 years she has been the Director of Admissions. Margaret and her husband Gregory have two sons who are graduates of Franciscan University a daughter who is currently a junior.

Mr. Joel Recznik has served Franciscan University of Steubenville for 23 years, and the last 8 have been as VP for Enrollment. Joel and his wife Joan have 12 children and their three oldest are currently attending Franciscan University.

Seating for this event is limited so enroll soon!

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Catholic College Month Update

We've scheduled a few more colleges and universities for Catholic College Month. This event is open to all families interested in Catholic higher education. It is also a tremendous opportunity to meet first hand (electronically, at least) with key admissions officials at some of the great Catholic universities and colleges in the country, and it's FREE!

Here is the schedule thus far: