Texas HOME Educators - February Newsletter

Calendar of Events

February 07 Ballet Classes & Co-op Classes

February 14 Ballet Classes

February 17 Field Trip

February 21 Ballet Classes

February 28 Ballet Classes



Co-op Classes

Musical Theater – we will meet on February 7 at 1:00 p.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Kountze, Texas for our “Annie” rehearsal. Cast members need to be prepared to work without script.



Service Scouts – we will meet on February 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Kountze, Texas to make Valentine cards for the Girls Haven. Each family has signed up to bring 24 items to also take each girl a goodie bag; if you do not remember what you signed up for, please text Susan Reed. After we make the cards, we will deliver cards and goodie bags around 3:30 p.m. to the Girls Haven.



Members can enroll in our group at any time during the year. Students K-12 may participate in Service Scouts, a program designed to award youth for their community service.



Ballet Classes

09:00 Ballet I (ages 3-6)

09:45 Ballet II (ages 7-10)

09:45 Jazz (ages 11+)

10:30 Ballet III (ages 11+)

11:15 Pointe (ages 11+)



Classes are held at Studio D in Lumberton, Texas. Tuition is $50 per class, per month. Tuition is due by the first Friday of each month. Girls ballet attire is black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and hair in bun. Boys ballet attire is white fitted shirt, black jazz pants, and black ballet shoes. Girls pointe attire is black leotard, pink ballet tights, pink pointe shoes, and hair in bun. Girls jazz attire is black leotard, black jazz pants, and tan jazz shoes. Boys jazz attire is black fitted shirt, black jazz pants, and tan jazz shoes. If you have any questions, please text Susan Reed at 409-504-8135 or Brieanna Reed at 409-998-9159.



Parents, students are now working on choreography and need to be in class so they do not fall behind. Between now and recital, we need all students in class. No more absentees.



Field Trip

Register by February 10 for our family field trip on February 17 to see the Museum of Southern History, the Museum of American Architecture & Decorative Arts, and the Dunham Bible Museum located at 7502 Fondren Road in Houston, Texas. Our guided tour will begin at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $6.50 per person. Register to join us for the February family field trip!



Texas HOME Educators Track Team

Register by February 14 to participate in THE Track Team.  Please make sure you read and review the policy below with your athlete before you go through the registration process. Your registration is your agreement to abide by the policy below and there will be no refunds once the registration is complete.



Part 1: Season

The spring season shall begin March 13 and continue for 6 additional weeks, excluding April 3, 2020. Track meets are held at 1:00 p.m. at Journey Community Church located at 1534 South Main Street, Lumberton, Texas.



Part 2: Eligibility

THE Track Team is a coed competitive running team for ages 5-18. Athlete’s age group is determined by his/her age on September 1, of the current school year.



Part 3: Events

Athletes will have the opportunity to run in the 100 meter dash twice with an average time recorded and the 400 meter dash at each track meet. THE Track Team will provide the following age groups and athletes will run in their age group: ages 5-6, ages 7-8, ages 9-10, ages 11-12, ages 13-14, ages 15-16, and ages 17-18.



Part 4: Uniform

Athletes must wear uniform – singlet, shorts, and running shoes – to participate in track meets. For safety, athletes cannot wear hard/soft casts or jewelry of any sort during track meets.

	Chest	Waist	Hips
Youth Small	24-26	22-24	25-27
Youth Medium	28-30	24-26	28-30
Youth Large	32-34	26-28	31-33
Adult Small	34-36	28-30	33-35
Adult Medium	38-40	32-34	37-39
Adult Large	42-44	36-38	41-43
Adult X-Large	46-48	40-42	45-47

Part 5: Standings

All timed events will count toward standings. Points will be awarded as follows: 3 points for 1^st place, 2 points for 2^nd place, and 1 point for 3^rd place. Athletes will be given awards after the last track meet based upon their standings. In the event of a tie, within an age group, athletes will run a 100 meter dash to break the tie.



Part 6: Facilities

To respect the privilege of using facilities, athletes/parents must follow Journey’s Track & Field Policy. Track and field must be free from trash and debris after each track meet. All trash must be taken to the dumpster or taken with you as you leave. Drivers must adhere to the 10 mph speed limit while entering and exiting the property. Drivers must park in the available parking spaces by the field. Restrooms are not available at the track, so please be sure athletes/parents use a restroom facility elsewhere before coming to the track.



Part 7: Safety

Athletes will be notified via Facebook no later than one hour to the meet that is cancelled due to weather.



Part 8: Expectations of Athletes

Athletes will be responsible for training at home on their own. Athletes will be responsible for their own warm-up prior to each track meet. Athletes will be expected to arrive on time and be prepared for all track meets: proper uniform, running shoes, and a water bottle. Athletes will be expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship. Please note, if an athlete displays poor attitude and/or behavior, he/she may be asked to sit out a track meet.



Part 9: Expectations of Parents

Parents must be willing to help in some form, such as: chalk the track, pick-up trash, be a timer, or cheer from the sidelines. Parents must advocate a sports environment that is free of drugs, alcohol, and abusive language, including profanity, and remain from use during any track meet. Parents, there will be no dropping off of children for track meets. Parents are expected to accompany their children at all times. However, in the event of illness of a sibling or unexpected circumstance, a substitute guardian may be appointed by the parent for that particular track meet. This appointment must be made in writing noting the following: the reason the parent is absent, whom is in charge of the child, and emergency number, and the parent’s signature.



Part 10: Registration

Your registration is your agreement to abide by the policy above. In the event of an accident or injury, your registration is your agreement to assume full responsibility for your child, thereby releasing Journey Community Church, Texas HOME Educators, its representatives, volunteers, and members f any obligation or responsibility. Your registration also allows Texas HOME Educators to use photographs and/or videos for promotional and/or educational purposes.



During registration, please be sure to register using the athlete’s name, not the parent’s name. Register through the link below by February 14 to participate in THE Track Team!

Christ the King

The second psalm is a contrast between the disobedience of the ungodly and the exaltation of Christ. Man’s rebellion against God is futile because God has anointed Christ as King of the earth. This psalm is a messianic portrayal of the millennial reign of Christ.


Psalm 2:1-3 – Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.


Why do the kings and rulers of the earth to rage? Because of their deep hatred against the Lord, they do not like the constraints of God’s law, but rather, they prefer a law unto themselves, to establish their own conduct, not a Christian conduct. They break their bands asunder to be free to commit all manner of abominations.


Psalm 2:4-6 – He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.


God’s laughter does not arise from humor. God views man’s rebellion as irrational and He laughs at their futile attempts against Him. After He laughs, His words go forth against them, for He has already done that which the enemy seeks to prevent – He has set Christ upon the holy hill of Zion.


Psalm 2:7-9 – I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.


God declares His begotten. Luke makes reference to this decree in Acts 13:33 – God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. This decree declares the Son with power, for He will have dominion of the earth.


Psalm 2:10-12 – Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are they that put their trust in him.


Five instructions are given to those who rebel against the Lord. Man is instructed to be wise, to be instructed, to serve the LORD, to rejoice, and to kiss the Son. Man is exhorted, not only to accept Him; but also to embrace Him and depend entirely upon Him, for blessed are they that put their trust in him.

Two People, Two Ways, Two Destinies

The first psalm provides a basis for all the psalms to follow. It compares the destiny of the godly man with the destiny of the ungodly man.


Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.


The psalmist describes the godly man through three expressions of sin – the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, his conduct is not shaped by worldly standards; nor standeth in the way of sinners, he does not make his association with the ungodly; nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, he has no fellowship with the ungodly who scorn God.


Psalm 1:2 – But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.


The law of the LORD is clearly the Word of God. Hence, the godly man is one who not only delights in God’s Word, but also meditates on His Word day and night. Meditation shows what is on his heart for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). The law of the LORD is the daily bread for the believer, and the godly man carries it with him all day.


Psalm 1:3 – And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.


The godly man is described as a tree planted by the rivers of water, he is rooted in God’s Word and therefore he bringeth forth his fruit. Scripture tells us he bringeth forth much fruit (John 15:5). God can use you no matter what season of life you are in. It is never too late to begin bearing fruit. The enemy will point to our pain and frustration; but if we abide in Him, we will bring forth the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). This verse continues to tells us his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper, he will have a godly heritage.


Psalm 1:4 – The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.


The contrast between the godly man and the ungodly man is striking. The psalmist describes the ungodly man like the chaff. The chaff is husks of grains that are usually separated during threshing because it is worthless matter. The ungodly are dead in their trespasses and sin, they are unserviceable, they are without Christ, therefore they are easily carried away in death.


Psalm 1:5 – Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.


Upon death, the ungodly will be separated from the godly. God will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:23) because the ungodly cannot be in the congregation of the righteous.


Psalm 1:6 – For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The godly man is in Christ; therefore he will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Yet the ungodly man will perish because his name is not found written in the book of life and he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).


The first psalm compares the happiness found in the godly man with the sadness found in the ungodly man. One life leads to everlasting life, the other leads to death. One cannot seriously read this psalm and not examine his own heart. Oh sinner, escape hell, the destiny of the ungodly, and enjoy heaven, the destiny of the godly. Simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31).

Love Like He Loved

How do you show you love Christ? It is so easy for many of us to say we love Christ; but how many of us put action to our words? I have pondered this thought all day. If Christ can love even the worst of sinners, then, I too, must love like He loved so that others may see Christ.


John 13:34-35 exhorts us “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another.”


1 Corinthians 13: 4-17 defines love – “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”


Historians have noted that the ancient Greeks expressed three levels of love. Eros love – a “give me” kind of love; Philia love – a “give and take” kind of love; and Agape love – an “unconditional” kind of love. I am so glad that Christ loves me with an agape love. He loved me so much that he gave his life for mine.


To show the love of Christ, is to love unconditional – “I love you simply for who you are.” A life of love is a deliberate choice on our part. Our love in action will bring joy to our brothers and sisters in Christ; and even show nonbelievers that we are Christians not only in name but in deed as well.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com - Crew Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

Are you new to homeschooling and looking for curriculum; or are you simply looking for a fresh start in 2020? SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers an Ultimate PreK-12 Annual Membership that provides 24/7 unlimited access to all the content on the website, allowing parents to build a customized complete curriculum for every grade for each student, all at one price.


Are you unsure what is to be taught at each grade level? Visit the Scope and Sequence page to see both what is taught and a logical sequence of how to cover each subject. SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers a variety of subjects for each grade level – Bible, language arts, mathematics, history, geography, social studies, science, art, computer, drama, speech, foreign languages, music, health, fitness, electives, and unit studies. Simply follow the following six steps to complete each course:

1.       Select your course and create a schedule for each of your students using the Schedule Builder.

2.       Download and print the lesson plan for each class. Lesson plans are optional. You may choose to use the one provided, create your own, or use none at all. You have the freedom to use each course however you please.

3.       Download the class PDF file found on the class lesson pages and start learning.

4.       Evaluate and mark your student’s progress on the checklist provided in each lesson plan.

5.       Record attendance, test scores, and final course grade in Applecore – an online recordkeeping system. Applecore can also help you with portfolios and transcripts as well.

6.       Print out a Certificate of Completion and celebrate a job well done!

Do your students enjoy watching videos? Why not make them educational and entertaining at the same time. SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers a wide selection of streaming videos that include Bible studies, kids’ programming, and more.


SchoolhouseTeachers.com provides a subscription to numerous World Book libraries free of charge all members. The World Book eBook Library includes hundreds of eBooks for various grade levels as well as a huge variety of subjects and themes. A great resource when you have a student who loves reading! I love how the staff created worksheets to go with a number of titles in the library. And most eBooks include a list of recommended books for further reading.


Do you have a student who is struggling with a particular skill? Do you need help presenting information in a new way? The focused Learning Centers are designed to help you find resources quickly, by skill or topic. Even if you have a special needs child, you can find articles, information, and classes geared towards the special needs child, as well as support for the whole family.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com also provides a section Just for Parents where you will find encouragement through testimonials, how-to resources, and courses just for parents. As any parent can attest, homeschooling can be stressful sometimes, and we all need encouragement to stay the course.


The flexibility of the courses and educational resources included in the annual membership allow parents to use ScoolhouseTeachers.com as the primary curriculum in their homeschool, or as a supplement to their student’s education. Our family uses SchoolhouseTeachers.com to supplement our textbook curriculum. As a parent, I am so thankful for these Christian worldview resources that have enriched our homeschool over the past three years.


Visit the Crew Blog to read what the Homeschool Review Crew has to say about SchoolhouseTeachers.com.

Winter Wellness

Shorter days and colder weather can lead to some bad habits. People who normally exercise and eat their vegetables may find themselves sitting indoors and eating junk food during the winter. Your health is important through each season of the year, and even more so during the winter months. Here are five tips for winter wellness.

1.       Wash your hands. The best way to prevent disease and infection is to wash your hands with soap and warm water. You learned it in kindergarten and it still applies today. Simply wet your hands, lather with soap, rub hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry.

2.       Boost your immune system. Elderberry and vitamin C help maintain a healthy immune system all year round. There have been may studies that show positive results of decreasing cold symptoms in those who are already in good physical health.

3.       Watch your vitamin D levels. Both our immune system and mood rely on vitamin D. During the winter months, it is not uncommon to become vitamin D deficient due to less exposure to the sun. Ask your doctor for a blood test to determine where your vitamin D levels fall before taking a daily supplement. 

4.       Stay active. Even though it is hard to stay motivated in the winter months, it is still important to stay motivated to exercise. Moderate exercise increases the circulation and flow of blood that carries immune cells throughout the body, supporting your body’s immune health during this season when it is especially important.

5.       Maintain a healthy home. People tend to spend more time indoors when the temperatures drop. Indoor air pollutants and allergens can have a negative effect on your health. I personally vacuum at least once every day; but if you can vacuum at least twice a week, it will help. Wash bed sheets weekly and replace air filters monthly. Simple tasks that maintain a healthy home.

I pray you and your family stay well this winter; and enjoy time with family and friends as we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas season. I pray that you will not only apply these wellness tips during the winter months; but throughout the year, to develop healthy habits for year-long wellness.

Texas HOME Educators - January Newsletter

Calendar of Events

January 10 Ballet Classes & Co-op Classes

January 17 Ballet Classes & Graduation Meeting

January 24 Ballet Classes & Field Trip

January 31 Ballet Classes



Co-op Classes

Musical Theater – we will meet on January 10 at 1:00 p.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Kountze, Texas for our “Annie” rehearsal. Cast members need to be prepared to work without script.



Service Scouts – we will meet on January 10 at 2:00 p.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Kountze, Texas to make dog treats for the animal shelter. Each member will also need to purchase a rubber or rope toy; and after we make the peanut butter dog treats, we will deliver them to the animal shelter in Beaumont. Members can enroll in our group at any time during the year. Students K-12 may participate in Service Scouts, a program designed to award youth for their community service.



Ballet Classes

09:00 Ballet I (ages 3-6)

09:45 Ballet II (ages 7-10)

09:45 Jazz (ages 11+)

10:30 Ballet III (ages 11+)

11:15 Pointe (ages 11+)



Classes are held at Studio D in Lumberton, Texas. Tuition is $50 per class, per month. Tuition is due by the first Friday of each month. Girls ballet attire is black leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and hair in bun. Boys ballet attire is white fitted shirt, black jazz pants, and black ballet shoes. Girls pointe attire is black leotard, pink ballet tights, pink pointe shoes, and hair in bun. Girls jazz attire is black leotard, black jazz pants, and tan jazz shoes. Boys jazz attire is black fitted shirt, black jazz pants, and tan jazz shoes. If you have any questions, please text Susan Reed at 409-504-8135 or Brieanna Reed at 409-998-9159.



Parents, please be aware that tuition is due by January 10. We extended the due date for the $60 building fee, this will be due by January 10 when you pay monthly tuition. Please remember, all tuition checks are made payable to Brieanna Reed and recital checks are made payable to Texas HOME Educators.



Field Trip

Register by January 17 for our family field trip on January 24 to see the Aquarium in Kemah, Texas. At 2:00 p.m. students will go behind the scenes with a guided tour of all exhibits both upstairs and downstairs, as well as behind the scene areas and life support systems. This tour includes admission to stingray reef and stingray feeding.  Students will experience their classroom program hands-on with a squid anatomy dissection. Each participant will receive a squid along with dissection tools. We dissect the squid together as a group and learn about each body part and what role these body parts play in order to keep a squid alive. This classroom program includes general squid facts. Cost is $16 per student and $13 per adult. Register to join us at the Aquarium!



Graduation Meeting

If you have a Senior in high school this year, join us on January 17 at 12:30 p.m. in the food court at Parkdale Mall in Beaumont for our first graduation meeting. Please be sure to bring your datebook and a notebook to take notes.



Texas HOME Educators Track Team

Registration is now open for THE Track Team.  Please make sure you read and review the policy below with your athlete before you go through the registration process. Your registration is your agreement to abide by the policy below and there will be no refunds once the registration is complete.



Part 1: Season

The spring season shall begin March 13 and continue for 6 additional weeks, excluding April 3, 2020. Track meets are held at 1:00 p.m. at Journey Community Church located at 1534 South Main Street, Lumberton, Texas.



Part 2: Eligibility

THE Track Team is a coed competitive running team for ages 5-18. Athlete’s age group is determined by his/her age on September 1, of the current school year.



Part 3: Events

Athletes will have the opportunity to run in the 100 meter dash twice with an average time recorded and the 400 meter dash at each track meet. THE Track Team will provide the following age groups and athletes will run in their age group: ages 5-6, ages 7-8, ages 9-10, ages 11-12, ages 13-14, ages 15-16, and ages 17-18.



Part 4: Uniform

Athletes must wear uniform – singlet, shorts, and running shoes – to participate in track meets. For safety, athletes cannot wear hard/soft casts or jewelry of any sort during track meets.

	Chest	Waist	Hips
Youth Small	24-26	22-24	25-27
Youth Medium	28-30	24-26	28-30
Youth Large	32-34	26-28	31-33
Adult Small	34-36	28-30	33-35
Adult Medium	38-40	32-34	37-39
Adult Large	42-44	36-38	41-43
Adult X-Large	46-48	40-42	45-47

Part 5: Standings

All timed events will count toward standings. Points will be awarded as follows: 3 points for 1^st place, 2 points for 2^nd place, and 1 point for 3^rd place. Athletes will be given awards after the last track meet based upon their standings. In the event of a tie, within an age group, athletes will run a 100 meter dash to break the tie.



Part 6: Facilities

To respect the privilege of using facilities, athletes/parents must follow Journey’s Track & Field Policy. Track and field must be free from trash and debris after each track meet. All trash must be taken to the dumpster or taken with you as you leave. Drivers must adhere to the 10 mph speed limit while entering and exiting the property. Drivers must park in the available parking spaces by the field. Restrooms are not available at the track, so please be sure athletes/parents use a restroom facility elsewhere before coming to the track.



Part 7: Safety

Athletes will be notified via Facebook no later than one hour to the meet that is cancelled due to weather.



Part 8: Expectations of Athletes

Athletes will be responsible for training at home on their own. Athletes will be responsible for their own warm-up prior to each track meet. Athletes will be expected to arrive on time and be prepared for all track meets: proper uniform, running shoes, and a water bottle. Athletes will be expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship. Please note, if an athlete displays poor attitude and/or behavior, he/she may be asked to sit out a track meet.



Part 9: Expectations of Parents

Parents must be willing to help in some form, such as: chalk the track, pick-up trash, be a timer, or cheer from the sidelines. Parents must advocate a sports environment that is free of drugs, alcohol, and abusive language, including profanity, and remain from use during any track meet. Parents, there will be no dropping off of children for track meets. Parents are expected to accompany their children at all times. However, in the event of illness of a sibling or unexpected circumstance, a substitute guardian may be appointed by the parent for that particular track meet. This appointment must be made in writing noting the following: the reason the parent is absent, whom is in charge of the child, an emergency number, and the parent’s signature.



Part 10: Registration

Your registration is your agreement to abide by the policy above. In the event of an accident or injury, your registration is your agreement to assume full responsibility for your child, thereby releasing Journey Community Church, Texas HOME Educators, its representatives, volunteers, and members of any obligation or responsibility. Your registration also allows Texas HOME Educators to use photographs and/or videos for promotional and/or educational purposes.



During registration, please be sure to register using the athlete’s name, not the parent’s name. Register by February 14 to participate in THE Track Team!