MESSAGE FROM OUR MANAGER
Threats to Freedom of Religion in Australia
Dear Friends,
The recent re-election of the Coalition government has delivered a reprieve for the freedom of Religion in Australia. Paul Kelly, the Editor-at-large at The Australian, warned Australians before the election (16/5/2019) that Labor, if elected, would propose laws “that have the consequence of winding back religious freedom.”
Leaders of Christian churches and Christian schools have given thanks to God for this easing of threat. However, there is still much work to be done if we are to retain religious freedom for coming generations.
Kelly stated that the passage of same-sex marriage last year means that “the law of the state and the law of the church (most churches) came into conflict.” Kelly wrote that a Bill proposed by Labor late last year “left religious institutions exposed on multiple fronts.”
Currently, there are powerful lobby groups in our society that are committed to attacking and dismantling the freedoms we have to worship God and to believe, speak and live according to our religious beliefs.
As part of this attack on our basic freedoms, these groups also seek to undermine the responsibilities and rights of parents in the raising of their children.
Christian Home Schooling – A Positive Solution
As home educating parents, we are free to raise our children in the values, beliefs and practices we deem to be best for our children. We can freely purchase Christian curriculum and resources for their Christian home education. These freedoms must be preserved for our children and grandchildren.
Greg Sheridan is the foreign editor at The Australian. His recent book God is Good for You: A Defence of Christianity in Troubled Times (2018), outlines the anti-Christian challenges to the Church in Australia. Given the secularisation of many of our institutions, Sheridan proposes that Christians partially withdraw from some of our secular institutions to fortify ourselves and our faith and to then wholeheartedly re-engage with our culture in order to save it. Further, Sheridan suggests that we build new institutions for the expression of truth.
The modern Christian home education movement embodies exactly what Sheridan has proposed. Australian Christian Home Schooling is a new and different educational institution that enables parents to fortify the faith of their children, whilst presenting them with a quality academic education.
Educating our children ourselves enables us to strengthen our children spiritually, educationally and socially, so that, as young adults, they can wholeheartedly engage with our culture, as was commanded by the Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).
Active to Conserve Current Freedoms
We are to be the salt and light in our culture. As followers of Jesus, we home educating parents are to do more than merely raise and educate our children. During this term of Parliament, there will be robust debates about religious freedoms. Sheridan challenges all Christians to stand, to be bold, firm and respectful at this time. It is a time for Christians to BE ACTIVE and to BE PRAYERFUL so as to maintain Australia’s Christian freedoms.
It is vital at this time, that we support our Christian leaders (e.g. Australian Christian Lobby, Christian Schools Australia, various church denominational leaders and pro-freedom politicians) and firmly, respectfully and prayerfully activate to stand for the faith of our forebears, which has been hard won for us over many centuries.
It is a privilege for you to be able to provide a Christian, home-based education for your children. Whilst you are doing that, I encourage you to be prayerful and active about protecting that freedom for your children and for future generations. We at ACHS are privileged to join with you in the delivery of Christian, home-based education.
Yours for Christ and Christian home education,
Terry Harding
Manager.
Australian Christian Lobby on Freedom of Religion
Martyn Isles of the Australian Christian Lobby makes some key points about the importance of maintaining our current religious freedoms.
Click here to read his latest blog and to watch his 8-minute YouTube talk on this matter.
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Semester 1 Report Cards
Semester 1 Report Cards are due to be printed on the 23rd of July, 2019. This will enable them to be posted before the end of July. You are able to help with the on-time delivery of these report cards by ensuring that you promptly return all completed PACE tests on or as close as possible to the 1st day of July. This will allow time to enter the data, and check ready for printing.
Note: we encourage you not to wait until the 1st of July to send in all of your semester’s work. This will create a backlog for our staff in data entry, and potentially delay the posting of all semester reports. Please ensure that you are sending in completed work at the end of each
month.
ACHS Online Update
In our last newsletter made mention of a new online PACE enhancement website that is coming. Currently our IT department is working on some issues with regards to our students being able to log in, but as soon as this is resolved we will send out communication to all families on how to access this and what levels are available.
Tips for Comprehension
The 5 W’s
If you would like to improve your child’s ability to comprehend what he or she reads or the ability to retain information using the 5 W’s with your child will help to achieve that improvement.
There are five key questions you can use as you train your child in comprehension skills.
They are five key words:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
- Why?
Refer to your child’s hand and five fingers to assist with memorising the 5 W’s. Use the 5 W’s when your child is retelling information from a story in the PACE, a novel, a movie or TV program etc.
Who?
- Who are the characters in the story?
- List as many characters as possible
- Describe the characters
What?
- What are the events in the story?
- Retell the events in order: beginning, middle, end.
- What are the details of the story?
- What is the problem in the story?
- How was the problem solved?
Where?
- Where does the story take place?
- Include as many areas as possible.
- Describe those areas.
When?
- When does the story occur? e.g. date, past, present, future.
- Was it all in one day, during winter, at night etc.
Why?
- Why did the characters do what they did?
- Would you have done the same things?
- Why did you like or dislike the story?
Logophile
We use spoken and written words every single day to communicate ideas, thoughts, and emotions to those around us. Sometimes we communicate successfully, and sometimes we’re not quite so successful. A good vocabulary can help us say what we mean. Here are some new words to add to your student’s vocabulary.
abbreviate (verb) | To shorten |
abstract (adjective) | Existing only in the mind |
character (noun) | A property that defines the individual nature of something |
discriminate (verb) | Marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions |
genre (noun) | A kind of literary or artistic work |
Scripture Memory
At the start of lessons every morning, have your children read aloud, with you, the Monthly Scripture Memory Passage. Have them read either from their Bibles or from a printed sheet. Adjust the size of the passage to fit your child’s age and skill level. This exercise should only take a minute or so.
After a single, aloud reading every day for a month, you child may have memorised the passage. If not, they may need some dedicated time to practice e.g. at night after dinner etc.
When your child can say the Scripture passage to you by heart, record this on your Supervisor’s progress card and the Monthly Attendance Sheet. Put a Bible sticker on their Star Chart and don’t forget to give them a reward for this important achievement.
You are free to use any version of the Bible for this activity. You may wish to download an electronic version of the Bible, for printing the Scripture passages for your child to learn, or you may click on the passages below for a printable version.
Trading Post
Trading post will continue to be a place where you can connect with other families, who might be looking for 2nd hand score keys or resource materials. You may email us here at ACHS with your advertisements, and we will endeavour to list as many as we are able. When sending us items to be listed for sale, please follow these important guides:
- Used PACEs and PACE tests are NOT ALLOWED to be resold. Only used score keys and resource materials such as literature books may be advertised through the trading post.
- Ensure that you provide accurate contact details. The ACHS office does not manage the transactions listed in the trading post. If you would like people to buy your items, provide them with the best way to get in contact with you.
- When listing your items, list them clearly and accurately.
- Maths SK 1037-39, 1040-42, and so on.
- English SK 1037-39, 1040-42, and so on.
- It would also be advisable if you are able to identify if the Score Keys are edition 3 or 4. As there may be differences in content between editions 3 and 4, it will assist you in finding a buyer.
Attendance Sheets
Keeping a record of your children’s attendance to their learning is an integral part of the procedure here at ACHS. Not only does it form part of your record keeping requirements for your homeschool registration, but it helps us see an overall picture of how the students are working. You may download the attendance sheets for January through April here:
2019 Attendance Sheets (Full Year)