Who? Former, Current, & Future Homeschool Families

What? ICHE Family Camp

When? Thursday, September 7 - Sunday, September 10, 2023

Where? Camp Timber-lee, East Troy, WI

Why? Because, yes, we CAN take off school right after Labor

Day for fellowship, rest, encouragement, fresh air, campfires, carpetball, gagaball and volleyball.

Register online

Greetings PAACH homeschooling families. I hope you are doing well as another school year begins. I have been challenged over the last month as I have been meditating on 1 Corinthians 13. I have been thinking about how this passage denes family relationships. I would like to share some of my thoughts and struggles with you.

I love my kids. If anyone were to ask me if I love my kids, my answer would be an immediate “yes.” However, what if I were to apply Paul’s definition of love (1 Cor 13:4) and reword the question like this: Is my relationship with my kids defined by an abundance of patience and kindness? Am I quicker to judge my child’s motives or to offer forgiveness when they make mistakes? Do I keep a scoreboard of those mistakes? Questions like this cause me to hesitate before answering that original question. Now I am forced to re-examine how WELL I love my kids. I am fully aware that there is no such thing as a perfect parent, but I must also remain vigilant in acknowledging my shortcomings as a parent. I am challenged to walk with God and before my children in a worthy manner. (Col 1:9-10) Scripture urges me to walk in humility and forgiveness, giving grace to all. Why is this so important as a parent? Because I am trying to set an example that I hope my children will follow; an example of what it looks like to live a life of repentance which bears fruit. (Matt 3:8, Gal 5:22-23)

As a parent who now has children currently ranging from adult to teens to newborn, I have been given a multitude of opportunities to prove my love for my children. I don’t think anyone would be surprised to find out that patience and kindness are not my default response. I have had plenty of opportunities recently to discipline my children. It seems that the bigger they get, the bigger the mistakes. In most of those opportunities, I have found myself needing to apologize for responding poorly and to share my past where I made many of the same mistakes that my children are making. What I am learning through all of this is that God’s grace really is sufficient in every circumstance. (2 Cor 12:9) Humility, an apology, and (age appropriate) straight-talk go a long way in building trust with your children. These same things also build their faith when they can see that God has forgiven you and blessed you after making some big mistakes. Paul knew what he was talking about when he said that God can work all things for the good of those who love Him… (Rom 8:28) He can take your past mistakes and turn them into wisdom, ministry opportunity, and even tools for relationship building with your children. What an amazing God who saves us and then uses us to bring others to salvation… maybe even our own children. Homeschooling has so many possibilities and benefits. I encourage you to take some time to reflect and learn to love your children better.

The PAACH board desires to help and support you throughout your homeschooling journey. We also desire to help you disciple your children by providing encouragement, wisdom, and resources that will enable you to be Godly parents who lead your children towards Christ. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do.

James Cox
PAACH President

Fall Soccer

Register online or in-person at the Christian Center Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cost until June 30: 1st player - $70 | 2nd player - $65 | 3rd or more player - $60

Cost after June 30: 1st player - $80 | 2nd player - $75 | 3rd or more player - $70

Homeschool Bowling

Looking for a P.E. credit for your homeschoolers? The Christian Center is again reserving Friday afternoons for Homeschooler Bowling sessions. All skill levels supported. Family-friendly facility. Reasonable fees for bowling and shoes.

4100 N Brandywine in Peoria. For more information call (309) 685-4218

Dads & Lads

Fridays 5 to 8 p.m. FREE Bowling and/or Billiards (dads must participate with sons to be eligible to play for free)

 

PCA Co-Op

Learning history at PCA is fun for the whole family! Watch a mummy being made, experience a medieval feast, follow the north star with Harriet Tubman, come to Ellis Island as an immigrant, and more! PCA has openings for the upcoming school year. Our Beginners thru Jr. High group has a history focus through a Biblical lens. All ages from birth through 8th grade are welcome. We meet on Friday afternoons from 11:45 am - 3:00 pm, September thru early May.

We also have a high school program that meets on Fridays from 10:30 am - 2:00 pm. This year highschoolers will earn a half credit each in speech, British literature, fine arts (focusing on medieval art and architecture), and Personal Finance. High School Students also have the opportunity to participate in our Fall play. For more information please contact Joan Reinhard @ joanereinhard@gmail.com or 309-363-5886.

PCA Choirs Information 2023-24

Peoria Cooperative Academy Choirs are open for enrollment for our 2023-24 school year! Our choirs are part of the Peoria Cooperative Academy Co-op, a Christian co-op that currently meets on Fridays at Calvary Baptist Bible Church in Peoria. The choirs prepare pieces to perform in two formal concerts during the academic year – a Christmas concert and a Spring concert. Rehearsals also include instruction in music education and choral singing. The directors have adopted a methodology that is consistent across the choirs to encourage musical development from the youngest ages progressing through high school.

We have three choirs:

Joyful Messengers

K thru 4th grade - directed by Larissa Steffen, this choir meets at 10 -11 a.m. Cost per year: $125

Larissa Steffen

Larissa is a lifelong resident of Morton and graduate of Morton High School. Throughout her growing up years, she had the opportunity to participate in numerous church choirs and ensembles, Madrigals, All-State choir, and orchestra, as a violinist. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University studying music education with a focus on voice, but switched majors to nursing at ICC after getting married to Justin in 2009. They now have six children. She continues to participate in various ensembles, such as Peoria Area Civic Chorale and Morton's production of Messiah. She was greatly influenced by her Junior High chorus teacher, the late Heidi White, and hopes to bring the same delight and enthusiasm for music to the Joyful Messengers!

Cantate

5th thru 8th grade - directed by Annalise Duffer, this choir meets at 10-11 a.m. Cost per year: $150

Chorale

9th thru 12th grade - directed by Annalise Duffer, this choir meets at 2 – 3 p.m. Cost per year: $200

Annalise Duffer

Annalise is a home school and PCA choir graduate herself, after which she attended Bradley University to study music. She worked at Limestone High School in Bartonville for four years as their accompanist, which afforded opportunities to lead sectionals, substitute teach for the choir director, and direct a female vocal jazz group. She has also directed musicals for the TEAM home school drama group, directed Grace Presbyterian Church's Teen Choir, and music directed Cornstock Theatre's production of Camelot. Annalise has been teaching private piano lessons for ten years and will begin her fifth year as director for PCA choirs. Annalise is passionate about choir, music education, homeschooling, and loves working with kids of all ages. She and her husband have two daughters, and are looking forward to home educating as well. We welcome Annalise back as director this year!

Chorale members participate in Bradley University’s John Davis Festival each year, and select members are invited to participate in Bradley University’s High School Honor Choir. Chorale members are also eligible to participate in ILMEA in their freshman through senior years (this is optional).

Madrigals / Jazz Ensemble

This is a smaller, audition group open only to Chorale members, sophomore through seniors. In the fall semester, the group learns and performs Madrigal music for a special Madrigal event in late fall, and traditional carols for the St. Lucia Nights in Bishop Hill in December. In the spring, participants learn jazz pieces to perform at a special concert in April as well as in our Spring Concert and other venues. Currently, there is no additional charge for this group.

If you are interested in learning more and/or enrolling your student, please contact Becky Lawles at pcachoirs@gmail.com.

PCA Science Classes 2023-24

General Science

Grades 7th & 8th - Meets Fridays 8:50 to 9:50 a.m. - Cost: $145

Biology

Grades 9th & up - Meets Fridays 8:50 to 10:20 a.m. - Cost: $200

This class currently has a waiting list

Please contact Tracy Castro - mom27blessings@gmail.com for more information

Hosanna Homeschool Choirs fall semester registration will open in July! We encourage every one to visit our website, or reach out to us on Facebook, for fall semester details. Our spring semester was a wonderful blessing! We are looking forward to another blessed semester to end 2023! 

At CIBAD, our goal is to challenge and equip ambassadors for Christ to communicate truth with integrity and grace. CIBAD has two students competing in two speech categories in the National NCFCA Tournament at University of Northwestern in St. Paul, MN with results pending at the time of this publication. Judah Springer is presenting an After Dinner Speech. Judah Springer and Elijah Doering are presenting a Duo Interpretation Speech.

Upcoming Opportunities

(all at New Castle Church in Mackinaw)

Summer

DEBATE CAMP: July 31-August 3, 2023 from 9am - 4pm, Ages 12-18, Cost $75. Students will learn the fundamentals of debate, including how to research evidence, make reasoned arguments, and write an affirmative case. Most important, debaters will learn how to persuade and inspire.

SCIENCE OF STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: August 4, 2023 from 9am - 4pm, ages 8-18, Cost $15. Join us for a fun filled day of experimenting with the basic elements of stories. Come learn the brain science behind great communication in age-appropriate break-out sessions.

FALL CLASSES begin with a parent meeting on August 29, 2023. Classes run Tuesdays September 5 - November 14, 2023.

 

Contact Us

Lonnie Ulrich 309-645-0472

RUlrich90@gmail.com

Cindy Springer 309-306-2146

TazewoodFarm@gmail.com

 

Emilee Anne Castro

Emilee is the daughter of Eduardo and Tracy Castro. She is the middle of 7 children and has been homeschooled since kindergarten. She began participating in Peoria Cooperative Academy in 8th grade. Through PCA she had the opportunity to participate in four plays and Chorale. Emilee has a heart for worship ministry and has been involved in student worship ministry at her church since she was in 8th grade. This summer she will be doing a worship ministry internship at Summit Point Church. She plans to attend ICC in the fall and transfer to Liberty University to pursue a degree in worship ministry.

 

Andrew Endress

Andrew Endress, son of Bruce and Elizabeth Endress has completed his High School home education at Pleasant View School in rural Galva. He plans to attend Black Hawk College in Moline, IL this fall and will continue living at home. His major will be music education, and he is especially interested in choral music. His career goal, Lord willing, is to teach music at the high school or college level.

 

Chris Gonzalez

My name is Chris Gonzalez, I am the oldest of five children. A big part of my time in school has been Tri-County Enrichment Co-op, which I have attended for the last six years. I have made many friends through this co-op and a lot of my memories are attached to going to Tri-County. The teachers there are pretty amazing and pushed me to be who I am today. There was Mrs. Nofsinger who stood by me and my classmates as we struggled through chemistry, and then there was Mrs. Newton who taught me not to take things in life too seriously with her constant rabbit trails and weird obsessions with narwhals. In this upcoming year, I will be attending Illinois Central College pursuing something to do with communications because I love to work with people. Lately, my favorite verses have been Matthew 10:19-20 which says, “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

 

Tim Kelly

Tim Kelly has done it! He graduated this year and is looking forward to what God has in store. At present he is working at a local radiator repair shop and loves it, bringing his particular Tim flare to everything he does. He enjoys any project with his hands and spends his free time just keeping busy… with anything! Congrats Tim, follow the Lord in everything you do!

 

Cliff Leman

Being in PCA has challenged and grown me through homework deadlines, group projects, power points, research papers, and interactions with others. I’ve been a homeschooler and a PCA ‘er’ my entire life, and am thankful for the friendships I’ve built and maintained, and the memories I’ve made through PCA. Ultimately, I am most thankful for those who’ve been instrumental in my life and have both taught me and learned alongside me as I have grown in my spiritual walk. Currently, I will continue to work and try new things until I find where God wants me to be long term. My plan is to job shadow various occupations as I continue working. Phil. 1:6 - “being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

 

Lauren Elyse Shelburne

Lauren has been homeschooled since kindergarten and has enjoyed being part of the Peoria Cooperative Academy since 2nd grade. She loved being part of the PCA Choral program and was a member of the Madrigal and Jazz Ensembles as well as portraying roles in High School in all of the PCA plays and musical theater productions. She participated in ILMEA and qualified for the District 2 Festival Choir in 2021-22 and 2022-23, All-State Choir in 2021-22, and Honors All-State Choir as well as the District 2 Jazz Festival Choir in 2022-23. Lauren enjoys her involvement in her local church and served on summer staff at Camp Assurance for several summers as well as working at the Peoria Chick-Fil-A. She plans to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale this fall, and has been accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.

 

Karsten Dewayne Tisdale

Karsten Dewayne Tisdale, the son of Steven and Rhonda Tisdale, is a high school graduate this year. He will be continuing his education in the fall at Illinois State University for a degree in Computer Science. Throughout high school he has been programming computer games in Unity and Clickteam Fusion. He has participated in figure skating for many years, with a high point of learning the axel jump. Karsten is still exploring the possibilities of what should be his future goals.

 

Greetings PAACH homeschooling families. I hope this month finds you well. Summer has begun and I hope that means lots of time being spent outdoors having great adventures with your family and friends. Summer is a great time to grow in community. I want to offer a few ideas to stir up your creative juices and hopefully make some God-glorifying bonding moments for you with your family.

I want to encourage you to look for opportunities this summer to learn together as a family. Go on adventures, enjoy the outdoors, enjoy some water activities, and discover God’s amazing creation. My family will be enjoying lots of hiking and geo-caching. For those who don’t know, geo-caching is like going on a treasure hunt to find objects or containers that others have hidden and maybe even left clues for you to follow. You can download a geocaching app on your phone for free and use your GPS to help you find them. You may even want to hide your own geo-cache together as a family.

I also want to encourage you to get together with other families from your church or the local homeschool community. Summer is a great time to grill out or cook over a bonfire. Look for opportunities to encourage others and grow those relationships. Practice some hospitality and see how God might use you to encourage another family or even start a new friendship. God has given us all something to offer as a gift to others, so put it out there and build your community. I pray you and your family have a great summer.

The PAACH board desires to help and support you throughout your homeschooling journey. We also desire to help you disciple your children by providing encouragement, wisdom, and resources that will enable you to be godly parents who lead your children toward Christ. We pray that your family learns together, grows together with others in community, and glorifies Christ in everything you do.

James Cox
PAACH President

 

Well, the convention is over, and it’s time to settle into the routine again. First, let me give a shout-out to the volunteers that made our convention happen. They put in uncounted hours of work. So if you see someone who is on the Convention Committee, or volunteered to work at the convention, let them know you appreciate their efforts. It was a great convention.

Now that the mountain top experience is over, it’s time to dive back into normal life. Sometimes we may be tempted to think that the mountain tops, since they are the big noticeable pinnacles, are where all the action is. Those are exciting experiences, and who doesn’t like exciting experiences! We’d love for them to happen all the time! The view from the mountain-top is breathtaking, and awe-inspiring. But if you notice while you’re up there, there aren’t many crops growing on mountain tops. As home-schoolers who are concerned about discipling our children, we must have a rm conviction that growing crops that produce fruit almost always happens in the vales, not on the mountains. And in case I didn’t clearly communicate the metaphor, the crop we want to grow in the lives of our kids is Biblical Faith. Godly faith is built little by little in the ordinary humdrum of life.

God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 6:6-8 is this: “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them while you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” Did you notice the description of normal, everyday, ho-hum life happening there? When do we teach God’s commands and precepts to our kids? While we’re sitting in the house relaxing. Or when you’re traveling somewhere. Or when you’re lying down getting ready for bed. Or in the morning, when you’re all getting up and ready for the day. The normal everyday experience is where faith-building happens.

Simple, every-day events like giving thanks together to God for your meals help instill a sense of gratitude to God for His provision and dependence upon Him for His supply to our need. Mundane tasks like taking out the garbage, making the bed or helping wash the dishes provide opportunity to teach and model diligence and good stewardship of the resources God has committed into our hands, not to mention the numerous needs of helping both ourselves and our children deal with the sinful attitudes and thoughts which arise in our hearts while doing them. Any parent knows that having siblings interact with one another will almost always lead to a training session on how to love and forgive.

This is not saying that those mountain top experiences are useless, or unnecessary. Far from it! We can absorb a lot of truth in those mountains. Our kids always joked with my wife and I at the end of a home-school convention by saying, “Oh great! Now what is going to change in our house?” And there were ideas for change at the end of a trip through the mountain tops. But those ideas had to be cultivated in the elds of the valley. We had to come home, get back to normal life, and plow new furrows in our daily routine in order to implement them. Its never easy, but it does bear fruit.

Don’t forget the sacred and holy nature of what happens every day in our homes. Husbands love their wives and model Christ’s love for the church. Wives follow their husband’s leadership and model the church's loving submission to her Lord. Children learn submission to their Heavenly Father by learning to obey mom and dad. This is holy activity. And it happens in the ordinary, mundane things of life.

The conventions and retreats are there to give you an awe-inspiring view from the heights, to renew your vision of the big picture, of the purpose of it all. But the bulk of the spiritual work and growth that we want to see in our families, our marriages, and our children will be cultivated and will grow in the broad at prairies of daily life. Teach the things of God diligently while you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise... in the normal, ho-hum activities of life.

Brian Kelly
PAACH Board Member

Summer Baseball & Softball

Register online or in-person at the Christian Center Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Homeschool Bowling

Looking for a P.E. credit for your homeschoolers? The Christian Center is again reserving Friday afternoons from Noon to 3 p.m. for homeschool bowling sessions. All skill levels supported. Family-friendly facility. $2.50 games and $2.50 shoe rentals!

Dads & Lads

Fridays 5 to 8 p.m. FREE Bowling and/or Billiards (dads must participate with sons to be eligible to play for free)