HEART to Heart Newsletter

How Many of Us Said, "I Will Never Homeschool"?

7/28/2016

There was no bigger homeschool skeptic than me. I didn’t understand how, or why, anyone would remove their child from the social aspect or traditional structure of school. I also severely doubted my own abilities, and to be honest, patience level, in regards to successfully educating my daughter. I was sure that all homeschoolers were out of touch, anti-social, and a little weird. I wanted no part of this world.

Enter my youngest daughter, who attended traditional school from K-6th grade. She is joyful, social, and raced out the door every single morning, excited to get to school. Shortly into her sixth grade year, things changed. She had a bad experience with a teacher (I know that each teacher brings different gifts and experiences into the lives of each child and I always encourage my girls to adjust course if they are out of sync with a teacher. Suffice it to say, Jacey adjusted course daily in 6th grade.) Pretty soon my happy girl hated not only school, but learning.

Jr. High loomed on the horizon and we weren’t comfortable with her continuing into the Junior High program at her current school. Our local public school is large and Jacey wasn’t super stoked about that option either. So we started looking around.

My friend suggested I look at HEART Christian Academy and consider homeschooling. It took me awhile to stop laughing! Clearly my long-time friend, my confidante, my partner in crime, knew absolutely NOTHING about me. But just to humor her (and hopefully clue her in to who I really am) I agreed to investigate.

I was determined to give it a solid 10 second look before I told her it wasn’t for us.

At about the 9 second mark I was not exactly interested, but definitely curious. I perused the website and became familiar with the vision and processes of HEART. I was intrigued with the combination of 'at school' and 'at home' days. I LOVE that the school provides the curriculum lists and lesson plans so I didn’t have to actually create them myself. Because I know me and it just wouldn’t have happened. I continued to look deeper and I made a few phone calls. Once I got a grip on all things HEART, I talked to my daughter. I thought for sure she would snap me back to reality by laughing hysterically at the thought of me homeschooling her. She didn’t. She wanted to go look at the school.

So Jacey, my husband, and I went and met with the principal. We asked about 2461 questions and she patiently and thoroughly answered every single one. When we left we must have walked through a door to some alternate universe because suddenly we were a homeschool family.

Jacey spent her Junior High years at HEART Christian Academy. She fell in love with learning again. She made amazing, faith-filled, motivated, loving, brilliant friends. Her life was touched by some of the most extraordinary teachers I have ever encountered. I loved the structure and freedom of the lesson plans. She is well prepared for the Honors track in high school, and more importantly, equipped with a strong faith, amazing organizational skills, and self-motivated learning.

As I wrap this up, let me encourage you…no let me insist... that you visit HEART Christian Academy and discover for yourself all the wonderful aspects of this school. And to Lori Borden, thank you for knowing me better than I knew myself and leading us down the path to what was a phenomenal two years. I only wish I would have tried it earlier!

HEART Christian Academy is located in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Our signature JK-8th grade hybrid program includes two days on campus and three days at home featuring the academic structure and Christ-centered community of a private school with the flexibility and affordability of homeschooling...The Best Of Both Worlds!

To find out more visit www.HeartChristianAcademy.org or call us at (949) 412-4060

Our Guest Blogger: Christi Hamilton is a wife and mother of three living in Dove Canyon, CA.

Why Homeschooling is the Next Big Thing

7/16/2016

The National Home Education Research Institute estimates 2.3 million K-12 children are currently home educated in the United States, a whopping 75% increase since 1999. While that number only accounts for 4% of all K-12 students, experts are predicting an exponential increase in homeschooling in the next 10 years. Why is home-based education becoming so popular?

First, traditional schools (private or public) simply cannot compete with the academic efficiency and targeted learning opportunities homeschooling provides. Even large homeschooling families have a much lower student-to-teacher ratio than any traditional classroom allowing for more time one-on-one. While parents considering homeschooling may question their ability to teach, current statistics should put their minds at ease. Year after year, homeschoolers score higher on standardized tests than their traditionally schooled counterparts. Even academically elite universities like Stanford are recognizing the benefits of home education. Jonathan Reider is a national expert on college-bound homeschoolers who spent 15 years at Stanford as senior associate director of undergraduate admissions. "The distinguishing factor is intellectual vitality," says Reider. "These kids have it, and everything they do is responding to it." While not every student is bound for the Ivy League, it is clear that the average parent is absolutely capable of educating their own children.

Secondly, and many would say more importantly, parents want the time to pass on their own family values and faith. While homeschooling certainly doesn’t guarantee your children will develop a vibrant and lasting faith, it definitely provides many more opportunities for discipleship and service than a traditional academic schedule. Grounding our children in their faith is not a new concern. The land of Canaan probably looked to the Israelites like high schools and colleges look to parents today, like a land filled with every opportunity to go wrong. The Lord’s solution for parents then is the same today – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” The bottom line is that developing a solid faith requires time. Statistics vary, but national research suggests that only 10-30% of professing Christian teens continue in their beliefs through their college years. In stark contrast, in a recent study of nearly 10,000 18-to 38-year-olds who grew up in the church, 87% of those who were home educated maintained a strong Christian faith as adults.

Many parents are convinced of the benefits of homeschooling but simply don’t know where to start. HEART Christian Academy is the ideal launch pad for those new to home education! Our signature program for Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade, two days on campus in a grade-level classroom and three days at home, provides the academic structure and Christ-centered community of a private school with the flexibility and discipleship opportunities of homeschooling...truly the best of both worlds!

To find out more, visit our website at HeartChristianAcademy.org or give us a call at (949) 412-4060.

Mariners Ocean Hills VBS July 11-15!

6/30/2016

HEART is blessed to share our campus with this wonderful, family-oriented church! If you are looking for a fun, Christ-centered VBS for your kids, Mariners is a great choice! Click the image above to register!

Religious Freedom in California Threatened Under New Senate Bill

6/17/2016

The following information was sent out by Biola University and we believe it has potential future impact on the religious freedom of all Californians, especially faith-based institutions like HEART. Please consider voicing your concerns about this bill as described below and praying for the Lord's intervention.

To view this information on Biola's website, click here
To view additional FAQs, click here

Dear Biola community,
A threatening and overreaching bill (Senate Bill 1146) is working its way through the California legislature. If passed as is, this bill would strip California’s faith-based colleges and universities of their religious liberty to educate students according to their faith convictions.
The proposed legislation seeks to narrow a religious exemption in California only to those institutions of higher learning that prepare students for pastoral ministry. This functionally eliminates the religious liberty for students of all California faith-based colleges and universities who integrate spiritual life with the entire campus educational experience. Prayer or requiring chapel services, spiritual formation groups and ministry service are an integral part of the educational experience for faith-based campuses, and they are at risk if SB 1146 is passed. In addition, it would eliminate religious liberty in California higher education, as we know it today, and deprive tens of thousands of students of their access to a distinctly faith-based higher education.
The AICCU (Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities) and Biola President Barry H. Corey have engaged with Sen. Lara and his staff on a number of occasions to voice concerns and to propose amendments to SB 1146 that would both preserve the existing religious exemption and satisfy Sen. Lara’s primary concerns about protecting LGBT students who attend Christian colleges.
If passed as is, this bill would significantly challenge Biola University’s ability to continue in the mission that has guided us for 108 years.
As many as 42 faith-based institutions of higher education in California could be impacted. Some examples of how the bill would impact faith-based institutions include:

Faith-based institutions in California would no longer be able to require a profession of faith of their students.
These institutions would no longer be able to integrate faith throughout the teaching curriculum.
These institutions would no longer be able to require chapel attendance for students, an integral part of the learning experience at faith-based universities.
These institutions would no longer be able to require core units of Bible courses.
Athletic teams would no longer be able to lead faith-based community service programs.

Currently, the bill is waiting to be heard by the California Assembly's various committees. It has already passed the Appropriations Committee and the California Senate. Action is expected as early as the week of June 13. If approved, the bill could then move through the assembly — perhaps by June 30 — for a full vote. Our best chance to stop it is right now before it can get to the Assembly floor for a vote.
The author (Sen. Ricardo Lara) of SB 1146 has publicly stated that it is not his intention to restrict the rights of religious schools to operate in accordance with their faith. However, the legislation as currently written will greatly impact faith-based higher education. We need your help to make assembly members aware of the negative implications of the bill.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Step #1 — Spread the Word. Forward a link to this article to parents, students or alumni of faith-based colleges and universities, churches or others who value religious freedom for faith-based institutions. Anyone who has an affinity for faith-based higher education in California should know about this threatening bill.
Step #2 — Contact Your Legislators.
- Email/phone calls. Send an email or make a phone call to your California Assembly Member this week. Click here to find your Assembly Member and email them using the following format for their address: assemblymember.lastname@assembly.ca.gov (i.e. assemblymember.calderon@assembly.ca.gov). Click here for a sample letter/email.Whether by phone or email, the message is simple: Identify yourself and express that you have strong concerns about SB 1146, offering any reason you choose, or no reason at all. The important thing is to express your concerns about the narrowing of religious freedom this bill would impose on Biola and all of California’s faith-based colleges and universities.
- Social media. Express your concerns about the bill on social media using hashtag #SB1146.
Step #3 — Pray. Pray for this moment in California history when our deeply held beliefs are being challenged. Pray that Biola is able to continue living and educating in ways that are consistent with biblical convictions. Pray that our mission, to prepare our students in mind and character through a biblically grounded education to impact the world for Christ, can remain unchanged.