Home Education - Beyond
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*Carpenter’s College Graduation
#All photo credits to Jenna, Campion College Photographer of the day. December last year, our eldest son, *Carpenter graduated from College!!!  He now proudly holds a  Degree in Bachelor of Liberal Arts. The Graduation ceremony opened with the Celebration of Mass, presided by the Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta and con-celebrated with the College chaplain and several local priests. Afterwards dignitaries, faculty and student representatives addressed the; Graduates, faculty, families and friends of the Graduates with the key address given by Miranda Devine. Then the big moment when the graduates receive their degrees! Three years of study working towards this moment, this achievement! We are so proud of our lad! The application, diligence, perseverance and sheer work that…
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Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales: Anseo A Thagann SÃ
Three short days and our precious Anna Maria(21) boards a plane and heads off on an adventure of a life time. She lands in Dublin and then begins her travels throughout Ireland; then later on Scotland, England and Wales. Three months living and working in Ireland and the UK will be a wonderful experience and we will be following her travels vicariously through photos, email and skype. Anna Maria has researched well and has an itinerary complete with a list of sights to see and adventures to experience. If any of my readers from Ireland and the UK have ‘must see’ recommendations to add to the list, we’d love to hear…
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Our ‘Boy’ the Swim Coach
Our son Carpenter is supporting himself through College as a swimming instructor. Whilst staying with our College children I was thrilled to have the opportunity to watch him teach. His love of teaching was something he had already conveyed in his discussions with us, but seeing him teach, it was most apparent. He had a smile for each child, was clear in his directions and expectations, and radiated a joy and love for what he was imparting. In particular I loved watching his hand signals, being an indoor pool the noise was incredible, the hand signals he developed were ingenious and the instruction clear. Carpenter has now been teaching for…
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Leaving Home
Hard to believe it was only a month ago that Carpenter left home, it seems much longer than that, so much has happened since. The day he left was hard, at least for those left at home, just as it was when Anna Maria left, leaving days don’t get easier with subsequent children. Prior to Carpenter leaving life became a huge rush, there was much to fit in, sitting for his STAT test only days prior to departure was the major emotional focus, plus fare-welling his regular commitments, adding in a few new social events and a surprise party organised by his friends, well done J & J! With plenty of last minute rushing about including clothes…
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Spreading His Wings and Flying
In only three short weeks our eldest son will be leaving home! Our second child to ‘leave the nest’ and only 12 short months after his sister, how quickly the ‘ranks’ are thinning! Carpenter’s departure date has been rather unexpected and has happened with a rapidity that is only just sinking in. He is excited and keen to begin the next part of his life journey. Twelve months ago Carpenter’s casual job became full time in many respects. For six months he juggled a full schedule until deciding his study was suffering and he needed to scale back, during the next six months he focused on his studies and his…
- Blog, Family, Home Education, Home Education - Beyond, Home Education - Highschool, Learning, Living
Calendar Countdown!!
Many families at this time of the year are marking down their Advent calendars. We however, aren’t focused on Advent calendars ’cause we’re busy marking down the days until Anna Maria arrives home. Three days till she is here!!!!!! It has been a long year without her, five long months since she was home. Safe travels to our darling girl, we can hardly wait:):){{{}}}
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The Road Ahead
Anna Maria left home for College a month ago, excited and focused on the road ahead. She is enjoying her studies immensely and loving the social life. Within days of arriving in the ‘big smoke‘ Anna Maria found part-time employment as a medical receptionist. She is happy and thriving. We at home on the road behind, were so very sad the day she left home, our lives changed forever. It has been a period of adjustment, tears have been shed, hearts ache, her company is sorely missed. Yet hearing from her, sharing in her enjoyment from afar is a consolation indeed. After each phone call, each skype, every email we…
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She Goes Forth – The Times, They are A Changin’
In less than a fortnight our eldest leaves home! Anna Maria is excited and eagerly looking forward to beginning the next stage in her life’s journey. Eight months ago Anna Maria began a course at our local TAFE, Administration/Bookkeeping, Certificate 3. She quickly found her rhythm and enjoyed the experience of formal classes and independence. We watched her blossom and bloom with pride. Just before Christmas she sat for her final exams and passed with flying colours, receiving 100% for Bookeeping! Throughout this period Anna Maria had been discerning what direction to take next. In October she applied to attend a Catholic Liberal Arts College. All applicants to the College have to write an application…
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Stepping Forth
Well the day has finally arrived, mentally we knew it would but can you ever really be prepared? Our first-born is ready to move forth, to begin the next stage in her life’s journey. A new beginning for us that will impact across many areas of our family dynamics. Designing your own home education curriculum makes it is a little harder to pre-plan a clear concluding date. Do you finish with a ‘grade’ level, when all assigned work is done, or use age as your guide? As Koala draws closer to her 18th, age seems a good definitive, but mostly we have been guided by her needs. We were expecting to have…
