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Oklahoma Bulletin Board

OCHEC functions as a statewide service organization, rather than a support group. Several annual events focusing on support and encouragement or legislative awareness are sponsored by OCHEC.

In an effort to provide other  resources for home educators, these pages will allow groups to post their events. Events and activities from across the state that are appropriate
for homeschool families are welcome. Please submit event information to the OCHEC office. E-mail (preferred) staff@ochec.com or (405) 810-0386. Please include the region name, (i.e.: Kiamichi, Great Plains, State, etc.)

The inclusion of any event listed does not constitute an endorsement by OCHEC.

Please replace the "AT" with the @ sign when emailing contacts.

USED BOOK SALES

SPORTS

HONORS

STATEWIDE INTEREST

OCPA ESSAY CONTEST
The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Oklahoma's premier conservative think tank, will host its 5th annual essay contest this spring. The contest, which is open to graduating public, private and homeschool students in the 12th grade, offers a total of $10,000 in prize money to the top five entries. Information on the 2004 Citizenship Essay Contest will be available at OCPA's website, www.ocpathink.org


CALLING ALL AUTHORS
Kate Jennings, a homeschool mother, is soliciting student writings to publish in a book showcasing the talents of homeschoolers. She is accepting (very) short stories, essays/paragraphs (creative or instructive), poems and letters. Photos and artwork to illustrate the writings are encouraged. Contact her at kjennings03@comcast.net.


NATIONAL SPELLING BEE
Register during September and October through your regional sponsor. Tulsa World: (Green Country and northern Kiamichi), Heather Weathers, (918) 581-8554 or heather.weathers@tulsaworld.com. The Daily Oklahoman: (Eastern Red Carpet, Great Plains, Frontier, Lake, and southern Kiamichi), Michele Webb at mwebb@oklahoman.com or 800-375-6397.


NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE
Host a geography bee in your group. October registration. Contact National Geography Bee, National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688, www.nationalgeographic.com.


NATIONAL HISTORY DAY COMPETITION
Regional contests held across the state for grades 6-12. Contact the state coordinator, Kelsey Arnold, (405) 522-5236, www.ok-history.mus.ok.us for regional and state info. For national details and contest criteria see www.thehistorynet.com/nationalhistoryday/index.html


ROBOTIC COMPETITION
Middle and high school teams design and build a robot (with free supplied parts) to maneuver a pre-determined course. On September 11 teams will receive rules and parts and will attend workshops to introduce them to basic mechanical and electrical principles at Oklahoma Christian University. The contest takes place October 23, 2004 at OCU. Run by OK BEST (Oklahoma Boosting Engineering and Science Technology) Contact Matt or Suzanne Lapolla at okbest@sbcglobal.net or 405-737-6082.


VOICE OF DEMOCRACY SCHOLARSHIP
November deadline. Contact the local Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) for details.


REGISTER FOR ACT, SAT, or PSAT
The ACT Assessment student registration packet or the SAT registration bulletin are available from your local high school counselor. You may also register online, write, or call.
Codes for homeschool students are:
SAT - 000 000
ACT - 969 999
PSAT - 993 799
ACT REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 414, Iowa City, IA 52243-0414, (319) 337-1270, www.act.org (includes educational and career planning information.)
ACT TEST DATES
Oct. 23, 2004, Dec. 11, 2004, Feb. 12, 2005, Apr. 9, 2005, June 11, 2005.
Beginning in 2005 the ACT will add a 30-minute writing test as an optional component to complement the English test.
POSTMARK DEADLINES:
ACT Regular - basic fee: $28, ACT Plus Writing - $42 (Five weeks before test date)
Late - basic fee plus late fee of $17 (Three weeks before test date)
COLLEGE BOARD SAT PROGRAM
P.O. Box 6200, Princeton, NJ 08541, 1-800-728-7267, www.collegeboard.com (also has sample PSAT test questions.)
SAT TEST DATES
Oct. 9, 2004, Nov. 6, 2004, Dec. 4, 2004, Jan. 22, 2005
After January 2005 the New SAT will require a student essay. The fee will increase by $12.00. (Check the web page for additional 2005 dates, deadlines and fees.)
PSAT TEST DATES
Wednesday, October 13, or Saturday, October 16, 2004
Check with your local high school for the test date in your area and for specific fees. Registration is not available online. Register through your local high school.


TEST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR FRENCH
30 families are needed to beta test an elementary level phonetic French program called Le Français Facile before its release next year. A one-semester commitment is required with monthly reviews. Teacher's and activity manuals, audio, and activity items are provided. Contact Marie Filion at marie@shalomranch


SCIENCE FAIR
The OKC HOPE Support Group invites all Oklahoma homeschoolers in grades 1 - 12 to participate in their 6th annual homeschool science fair at the Omniplex in Oklahoma City on Saturday, January 22, 2005. All participants will receive ribbon awards as well as constructive comments from the judges. The science fair is non-competitive for 1st through 3rd graders. Students in grades 6 through 12 may follow ISEF guidelines to qualify for the regional science fair in March at UCO. Cost is $5 per student with maximum of $10 per family. Entries are due November 20. Additional information on the science fair, parent workshops, and the entry form are online at ou.edu/asce then click on "Science" link.


OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR PROGRAM
The first Oklahoma State Fair Education Program.
allows homeschooled students (K-12) the opportunity to visit the Oklahoma State Fair in an educational setting. Monday, September 20 - Thursday, September 23, students will explore the unique agricultural heritage of our state and learn about the diversity of our equine and livestock industry through special exhibits and demonstrations. Admission is free of charge to students and teachers. Groups pre-register. Space is limited! Contact Christy Alcox, (405) 948-6700.


TULSA WORLD EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Tulsa World Educational Services offers 2004 Election Coverage student packages. Elementary students will learn about voting, the party system, and current candidates ($7). Secondary students will learn about registration, voting, history of voting in America, U.S. Constitution voting rights, local and national candidates and more ($18.75). Teachers may attend the Election Workshop ($5), October 14, 2004 at Fulton Teaching and Learning Academy in Tulsa. Also available are free tours of the Tulsa World newspaper plant (call Dale Ross at (918) 581-8592), various contests, and free curriculum guides on topics such as Stock Market, Theatre, Math, Advertising, Understanding Media and much more. Contact Tulsa World Educational Services at (918) 581-8592 or visit www.tulsaworld.com/nie


THE OKLAHOMAN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
This year's Oklahoma Mock Election provides a student activity book and teacher's guide featuring 4 weeks of lessons revolving around the presidential election. The materials cover the importance of the vote, the electoral college, political parties, candidates, campaign finance, and more. In addition, participants may download Oklahoma Mock Election Voter ID cards and sample ballots. The program will culminate in a mock election to be held on October 28, 2005, where students may vote for their choice of president/vice president, state senator, and a few sample state questions. Enroll at newsok.com/features/mockelection/enrollment.html
Other educational programs include Bedlam Geography (a series of geography lessons centered around Big 12 football); It All Adds Up (a financial literacy tool for upper elementary and middle schoolers); and the Meinders Global Economic Challenge (an economics program geared toward high school juniors and seniors, which culminates in an academic competition with scholarships to Oklahoma City University.; Read Across America (literacy); and Play Ball (lessons centered around the history and game of baseball, with an emphasis on social studies and math skills). Contact Michele Webb at mwebb@oklahoman.com or 800-375-6397.



This page last updated on 09/16/04