Cola City Homeschoolers

Valentine's Card Exchange (by mail)
2021-01-29 | Virtual Event
Valentine’s Card Exchange (by mail)
By Cola City Homeschoolers
All Ages — FREE
Sign up by: Friday January 29

Will you be my Valentine? We’re doing it again this time for Valentine’s Day…SENDING CARDS! It’s also a great way to make connections with other homeschoolers, while social distancing. Cola City Homeschoolers is hosting a Valentine’s card exchange during the month of February.
Sign up by January 29. We will organize the lists by ages (as much as possible). You’ll get a list of participants to exchange cards with–up to 25 familes to send/receive. We encourage personalized message or token item included for each child. Examples: stickers, tatoos, crosswork puzzle, word puzzle or other small valentines.
Note: Your mailing address will be shared with other participants and student names, so that the cards can be personalized by the sender.
Registration for this activity is closed.
Contact colacityinfo@gmail.com with questions.

Girls Club Meet-Up
2021-01-28 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Virtual Event
Girls’ Club Meet-Up
By Cola City Homeschoolers
Thursday, January 28 @noon
Ages 8-12 — FREE
Let’s talk “girl stuff” and make new friends. Come hang out on zoom with us for “Yarn Barn”, Thursday, January 28 at noon. Help plan for more meet-ups and topics. This is an informal, unstructured time for participants to talk with each other.
Hosted by Kim Kelley (parent volunteer) and Alyssa Kelley (student volunteer). Fill out the contact form to get the zoom link–and also updates about future club meet ups!
Bring:

your yarnable crafts to work on and show/tell about. Crochet, knit, macrame, even cross-stitch or embroidery or something else similar.
your own snack or lunch

Oops! We could not locate your form.

School Choice Virtual Rally
2021-01-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
School Choice Virtual Rally
by My SC Education
Wednesday, January 27 @11 am
All Ages–FREE
Click HERE to register
As part of the National School Choice Week celebration, My SC Education invites parents and educators to attend our 2021 South Carolina Virtual School Choice Fair.
This virtual event will take place on Wednesday, January 27 at 11:00AM EST.
Hear from students, schools, and lawmakers from across South Carolina to celebrate school choice. Join us to make your voice heard and learn more about your education options!
This event is free, but an RSVP is required to attend.
Event Schedule:

11:00 – Welcome, National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance
11:10 – School Choice for Private Schools, Magnet Schools, Home Schools and Charter Schools
11:30 – Student Showcase of NSCW Dance
11:45 – A Conversation With Virginia Walden Ford (Miss Virginia)
11:50 – Presentation of Governor’s Proclamation

Utilizing Available Materials: Teacher Webinar
2021-01-26 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Utilizing Available Materials Teacher Webinar
By Bill of Rights Institute
Tuesday, January 26 at 4 pm
Educators — FREE
Click HERE to register
Teaching what is and is NOT in the texbook. How do we utilize what is available in materials and what we do to go beyond it?
Join Bill of Rights Institute for their spring teacher webinars series! Sessions will be led by BRI hosts (and sometimes prominent guests) and will be explorative conversations on topics in teaching, history, civics, and culture.

National School Choice Week
2021-01-24 08:00 - 2021-01-30 17:00 | Virtual Event
National School Choice Week
By School Choice Week
January 24-30
FREE–All ages
Celebrate our choice to homeschool this week.

Click HERE for FREE educational resources for families
Click HERE for printable resources for School Choice Celebrations!
Click HERE for digital resources to showcase your school choice on social media

Checkout this Kick Off Event, Monday, January 25 at noon, on Facebook: Click HERE
Another printable for activity ideas
Read more about National School Choice Week–why homeschoolers should participate

Suzuki Music Open House
2021-01-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
Suzuki Music Open House
By Suzuki Music
Saturday, January 23 at 10 am
All ages — FREE
Click HERE for more information
The Suzuki Academy of Columbia & UofSC Program exists to provide musical instrument instruction to students ages three and older on the violin, viola, cello and classical guitar using the philosophies and methods of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.
Online info session for interested families in Suzuki Academy of Columbia on Saturday, January 23rd, 2021. Suzuki Academy of Columbia is a music program through USC that is based in West Columbia that teaches kids from 3-7ish violin, viola, cello, and guitar using the Suzuki method (beginning with ear-training versus sight reading).

Homeschool Bowling Club
2021-01-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Firefly Games, 736-C, St Andrews Shopping Center, 736 St Andrews R, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
Homeschool Bowling Club
By Stars and Strikes
Fridays, Jan 22–Mar 26 at 1 pm
All Ages — $5/week
Join Stars and Strikes at 700 Columbiana Drive, Irmo on Fridays 1:00pm-2:30pm. $5 per bowler per week (includes shoes). Starts January 22, 2021-Ends March 26, 2021
10-week program includes:

First week practice and coaching session
8 weeks of competitive league bowling
Cosmic Bowling Pizza Party on final week (March 26)

Two Divisions: Bumpers (3 per team) OR No Bumpers (4 per team)
USBC Certified Coaches available
Note: Masks are recommended inside the building. However, will not be enforced while participant is bowling. If you wish to be grouped with others who are strictly adhering to mask requirements, please include that on your registration information.
Please Pre-register to help prepare lane assignments.
Contact Mike Wagner mwagner@starsandstrikes.org, include: Parent Name, email address, phone number, number/ages of participants, bumper/no bumper preferences.
Printable form to turn in at the desk (in person) or via email

Sal's Feed and Seed Tour
2021-01-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Firefly Games, 736-C, St Andrews Shopping Center, 736 St Andrews R, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
Sal’s Feed and Seed Tour
by Cola City Homeschoolers
Monday, January 18 @1 pm
K5-5th grade — $5 per student
Come meet our very own local version of “Ms. Frizzle”–Sal! And get a guided tour of the farm. Find out what’s the difference between Mules, Donkeys and Horses. Learn about local, non-GMO gardening. Stick around to browse after the guided tour.
Tour is geared for K5-5th grade. We ask for parents to stay on site (no drop offs). Families with younger siblings, please keep the littles from disrupting the group.
Masks are recommended per CDC guidelines. Thanks!
Find out more about Sal’s Feed and Seed: Click HERE She has a monthly subscription box especially for teaching kids about local gardening year round!
Look for 2021-2022 project schedule soon.

Flipgrid Weekly Challenge
2021-01-14 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
Flipgrid Challenge: Celebrate School Choice
By Cola City Homeschoolers
All ages — Free
Due: Thursdays at Noon
It’s a great time to get connected online. Let’s get to know some other homeschoolers! Remember that you can upload previously recorded clips or record “live” in the grid.
This week’s challenge is: Celebrate School Choice.
January 24-30 is National School Choice week–which is a celebration of all the options for education. I’m all about celebrating the reasons why we love homeschooling.Â
Here’s a printable placard, you can write out your reason–while you also tell us in the recording. If you’re uncomfortableÂ on the video, you can always upload a picture while you tell. Even if you’re camera shy, you can still participate!
Click HERE for PRINTABLE PLACARD
Want to join Flipgrid Club to connect with other homeschoolers, while social distancing?
CLICK HERE to join the club!

Read more about how to celebrate National School Choice Week

Bill of Rights Institute: Teacher Webinar
2021-01-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Hindsight/Foresight Teacher Webinar
By Bill of Rights Institute
Tuesday, January 12 at 4 pm
Educators — FREE
Click HERE to register
Hindsight may be 2020, but foresight is so 2021! How are we planning ahead for teaching (and living) in the coming year?
Join Bill of Rights Institute for their spring teacher webinars series! Sessions will be led by BRI hosts (and sometimes prominent guests) and will be explorative conversations on topics in teaching, history, civics, and culture.

Assigning Grades: FB Live Event
2021-01-12 14:00 - 14:30
Assigning Grades: a Facebook Live Event
By the SC Homeschooling Connection
Tuesday, January 12 @2 pm
Parent/Teachers — Free
Let’s talk about Calculating Grades.

When you need grades and when you don’t.
How to calculate grades.
Our expert panel of association directors will help advise about policies and procedures for your homeschool records.

Join us for our panel discussion with:

Kim Andrysczyk (The SC Homeschooling Connection),
Lara Caldwell (The South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association),
Hazel Douthit (At Home in the Lowcountry ),
and Michelle Palczewski (Hometown Homeschool Association of South Carolina).

Click HERE for the FB event
Read more about calculating grades: Click HERE

College Fair & Conference
2021-01-12 08:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Homeschool-Friendly College Fair & Conference
By Homeschool Parent Association
January 12, 2021 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
For High School Students

Student Registration NOW OPEN! Meet College Representatives from leading “Homeschool-Friendly” Colleges, Universities, and other Higher Education opportunities. Exclusivley for Homeschoolers!
Click HERE to register

Scavenger Hunt
2021-01-07 12:00 - 15:00
Discover Your Community Scavenger Hunt
by HERO Co-op
Thursday, January 7
All Ages — $20/family
Click HERE to register
Come along with HERO Homeschoolers for an afternoon of family fun! Tune in on Facebook live for clues to specific locations/items around Irmo. Race other families to figure out which location/item the clues are leading you to! Once you arrive at that location/item, post a picture of your family at the location or with the item. Everyone who participates in the event will be entered into the grand prize raffle. Families will receive extra entries for being the first, second, and third, families to decipher each clue and share their picture!
This is a fundraiser for HERO! You do not need to be a member of the co-op in order to participate with this event.
Contact HERO with questions: HEROofIrmo@gmail.com

Homeschool Mondays @Ruth Patrick Science Center
2021-01-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Firefly Games, 736-C, St Andrews Shopping Center, 736 St Andrews R, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
Homeschool Mondays
by Ruth Patrick Science Center
1st Monday January-May @1 pm
$45 per student
Click HERE to register
The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is pleased to announce we will be hosting Homeschool Mondays for Spring 2021. Location: 471 University Parkway, Aiken, South Carolina 29801. The RPSEC series of monthly programs for homeschool students are to be held on selected Monday afternoons from January to May. Each student will participate in 2 one hour-long programs focusing on science, technology, or mathematics.
PROGRAM DATES FOR SPRING 2021

January 4, 2021
February 1, 2021
March 1, 2021
April 12, 2021
May 3, 2021

RPSEC also welcomes parents to stay and we appreciate having at least one parent volunteer per 8 children for each group of students. There is no charge for adults to participate in our Homeschool Mondays programs. Please note that children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the planetarium.
PARENT REMINDERS

Students should report to the RPSEC gallery at 1:00 pm each month on their designated days.
Parents will need to sign their child in each time, and pick up the child’s nametag.
Please remember to sign your child out and return your child’s nametag when you pick them up in the RPSEC gallery at 3:30 pm.
If someone other than the parent has permission to pick up and sign out your child, please notify us in advance.

Questions? E-mail us at RPSEC@usca.edu or call us at (803) 641-3313. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Free Fridays @Riverbanks Zoo
2021-01-01 09:00 - 17:00 | Firefly Games, 736-C, St Andrews Shopping Center, 736 St Andrews R, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
Free Fridays @Riverbanks Zoo
Open to Public
Fridays in January–February @ 9:00am–5:00pm

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden will once again offer complimentary admission to Richland and Lexington County residents every Friday during January and February. Due to COVID-19 Riverbanks is operating under restricted capacity, and all guests are required to reserve timed tickets online. Residents of Richland and Lexington County must present their reservation confirmation and proof of residency for each member in the party over age 18 at any Riverbanks ticket booth to obtain free tickets for entry.

Masks are required for ages 10+

Click HERE for more info

New Year's Eve
2020-12-31 | Virtual Event
Happy New Year! What a year it’s been! Thanks for participating with Cola City Homeschoolers this year.
Learn more about New Year’s Eve
Show ‘n tell your holiday celebrations in our Flipgrid Club with Cola City Homeschoolers: Click HERE to join the Club

Happy Kwanzaa
2020-12-26 | Virtual Event
Happy Kwanzaa. Learn more about Kwanzaa celebrations Click HERE.
Show ‘n tell your holiday celebrations in our Flipgrid Club with Cola City Homeschoolers: Click HERE to join the Club

Flipgrid Friday
2020-12-25 18:00 - 18:30 | Virtual Event
Flipgrid Friday: Weekly Challenge
by Cola City Homeschoolers
All Ages — FREE
Deadline: December 25 @6pm
This week’s Flipgrid Challenge is: “Holiday Celebrations”. Record a video of something special you do for the holidays in our Flipgrid Club by Friday at 6 pm. If you’re participating in the card exchange, show off some of the cards you got. If you have a gingerbread house that you decorated, or made cookies or maybe your decorated Christmas tree. Maybe you celebrate Hannukah or Kwanzaa–or you learned about holidays around the world. Show and Tell about it!
Flipgrid is an online video sharing platform. This is a closed “classroom”–a safe place for the kids to show ‘n tell the fun things they’re learning and doing in your home school. Plus make connections with others during this time of social distancing. We can still socialize online! We’ve set up several topic threads to get started on making connections around some common interests:

Introductions
Pets and Animals
Costumes
Hobbies and Fun Stuff
Jokes
Fun Places
Dance Moves
Science Experiments
Minecraft & Games
Holidays

If you’d like to join the Flipgrid Club, fill out this form so we can send you a log in code to get you started!

Merry Christmas
2020-12-25 | Virtual Event
Merry Christmas. Learn more about this holiday Click HERE.
Show ‘n tell your holiday celebrations in our Flipgrid Club with Cola City Homeschoolers: Click HERE to join the Club

Minecraft Holiday Party
2020-12-20 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Minecraft Club Winter Holidays Party
By Cola City Homeschoolers
Sunday, December 20th at 3pm
FREE (with Minecraft Club)
Join Cola City’s Minecraft Club for some winter holiday themed activities! All club members welcome. Please come to the party with empty inventories and with no equipment. Feel free to wear a holiday themed skin.

Cookie decorating contest
Gift Hunt in the Snow Palace plus ice skating
Arctic Hide and Seek
Capture the Flag with SNOWBALLS

If you’re not a member of the Minecraft Club, yet: Click HERE to join Winter Session (unlimited play for $5 thru March 1).
Note: We are offering chat channels on Discord for the public Hypixel minecraft server and the game Roblox. Because of the popularity of other games such as Among Us, Fortnite, ect, we are now opening a chat channel in the server for ‘other games’. Our moderator will check this channel to make sure club rules are being followed (no adult language, no bullying, ect), but we will not be getting individual permissions for each game, so if you approve this channel, they can play any online game together with the other kids, or just chat while they do whatever online. If you’d like your child to have permission for any or all of these ‘extra’ channels, or have questions about them, please contact Kira Vanderhoff.kira@gmail.com

Flipgrid Friday
2020-12-18 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
Flipgrid Friday: Weekly Challenge
by Cola City Homeschoolers
All Ages — FREE
Deadline: December 18 @noon
This week’s Flipgrid Challenge is: “Holiday Celebrations”. Record a video of something special you do for the holidays in our Flipgrid Club by Friday at noon. If you’re participating in the card exchange, show off some of the cards you got. If you have a gingerbread house that you decorated, or made cookies or maybe your decorated Christmas tree. Maybe you celebrate Hannukah or Kwanzaa–or you learned about holidays around the world. Show and Tell about it!
Flipgrid is an online video sharing platform. This is a closed “classroom”–a safe place for the kids to show ‘n tell the fun things they’re learning and doing in your home school. Plus make connections with others during this time of social distancing. We can still socialize online! We’ve set up several topic threads to get started on making connections around some common interests:

Introductions
Pets and Animals
Costumes
Hobbies and Fun Stuff
Jokes
Fun Places
Dance Moves
Science Experiments
Minecraft & Games
Holidays

If you’d like to join the Flipgrid Club, fill out this form so we can send you a log in code to get you started!

Virtual Teen Science Cafe
2020-12-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Virtual Event
Teen Science Cafe
by SC Aquarium
Thursday, Dec 17 @6:30 pm
Teens — Free

Curious Minds Welcome! Are you a teen or do you know a teen who loves science? The South Carolina Aquarium Teen Science Café out-of-school programs are a free, fun way for teens to engage in lively, educational conversations with STEM experts. Teen Science Cafés for the 2020 year are all virtual in partnership with the Museum of York County and are hosted on Thursdays, September through December, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For teens ages 13-17.

December topic: Find out how sea level rise affects us all and what you can do about it with the South Carolina Aquarium’s conservation manager, Kelly Thorvalson.
For more information and pre-registration: CLICK HERE

Dual Enrollment FB LIVE Event
2020-12-16 14:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Dual Enrollment Workshop with TEL
By SC Homeschooling Connection
Wednesday, December 16 @2 pm
Free — Teens/Parents
Dual Enrollment is when you earn college credits and highschool credit with the same course. TEL Education offers an affordable way to get those college credits–and even work toward an associate’s degree while you’re earning your high school diploma.
A TEL representative will be chatting with SC Connection. Tune in to join the conversation LIVE on Facebook.
Click HERE to attend

Coin Collecting Workshop
2020-12-15 17:30 - 18:30 | Virtual Event
Image by Marc Pascual from Pixabay
Coin Collector’s Workshop
By Cola City Homeschoolers
Tuesday, December 15 @5:30 pm
All Ages — Free
Come learn about the fun (and educational) hobby of coin collecting. Presentation by Randy Clark, the president of the numismatic association along with Ginger Crockett, homeschool parent. Get your collection started…and let’s get a homeschool coin collecting club started too! Meet up with others who are interested in this fun hobby!
All ages welcome! Please pre-register so we can send you the zoom link to the meeting:
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National Gingerbread House Day
2020-12-12 | Virtual Event
Build your own gingerbread house for the holidays. Read more from the SC Homeschooling Connection about how to build simple house out of graham crackers–or do your own engineering challenge.
You could show ‘n tell your holiday celebrations in our Flipgrid Club with Cola City Homeschoolers: Click HERE to join the Club

Make-It-Take-It Holiday Ornaments
2020-12-11 12:00 - 15:00 | Firefly Games, 736-C, St Andrews Shopping Center, 736 St Andrews R, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
Make-It-Take-It Holiday Paint Party
By Cola City Homeschoolers
Friday, December 11 from noon-3 pm
at Seven Oaks Park
All Ages — $3/ornament
Come on out for a Make-It-Take-It project with Cola City Homeschoolers on Friday, December 11 from 12-3pm. Seven Oaks Park at 200 Leisure Lane, Columbia.
Paint a ceramic Holiday Ornament. Various styles available first come first serve: stocking, holly leaf, present, bell, tree, and more. Most of the styles are frames for you to attach a photo. Great for gifts or as a commemorative ornament to keep. All supplies included (just add your own photo later).
The project will take approximately 20 minutes to complete (plus some drying time). Come and go anytime during the 3 hour time. We will set up several painting stations for participants to rotate out and make room for others. We will designate mask required and mask optional painting areas.
Seven Oaks Park has frisbee golf course, trail for bikes/walking, and a playground. If you wish to stay after the project or while you’re waiting for a space at the painting stations.
Contact Kim with any questions, 803-348-2419, colacityinfo@gmail.com
Park at the lower parking lot, to the right of the daycare. Look for the sign that says “additional parking”.
Please preregister and prepay.

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"We Rise" Scholarship Deadline
2020-12-11 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
We Rise by Lifting Others Scholarship
by Homeschool Parent Association
Deadline: December 11

Click HERE for more info and submission details
“We Rise By Lifting Others” – Students that are registered for our virtual college fair & conference may submit a short story or essay from 800-1000 words. The topic, lifting others up during this pandemic. What did you do to impact your community, your family or others during this unprecedented time in history? 3 winning stories. $500.00 scholarship each. Deadline 12-11-20.
More about the College Fair & Conference for Homeschoolers: Click HERE

Mid-Year Reports FB Live Event
2020-12-10 14:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Mid-Year Reports Chat
By SC Homeschooling Connection & TSCHAA
Thursday, December 10 @2pm
FREE — Parent/Teachers
Let’s chat about mid-year progress assessment. It’s included in the law, but what’s it mean? What should it look like? What about the various association policies about mid-year reports?
Join SC Homeschooling Connection for a chat with TSCHAA director, Lara Caldwell about mid-year reports.
If you feel like you’re behind or off-track, let’s help encourage you and get you back on track.
Click HERE for the FB Live Event

Semi-annual Progress report is a chance to look at your home school progress in a different way than the day-to-day look. Isn’t if funny how nothing changes from day to day, but when you look back, everything is different?

Consider: What’s working? What isn’t working? What successes and achievements can you note? What areas need improvement? What areas do you need to spend more time or less time on?
Read more about Semi-annual Progress Report

As you assess what’s working and what’s not working in your homeschool year thus far, you might feel like you’re behind.

With the ongoing pandemic concerns, the officials, experts and media have turned up the volume on the message that parents are messing up education. We’ve got to get these kids back in schools before they’re permanently behind. Really?! It’s just not true.

I don’t buy it–and neither should you. Whether you’re hearing it from your own inside voice or critics around you, hear this instead: you can do this.
Read more about Falling Behind

Boy's Club Playdate
2020-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Firefly Games, 736-C, St Andrews Shopping Center, 736 St Andrews R, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
Boy’s Club Playdate
By Cola City Homeschoolers
Thursday, December 10 @10am
Elementary — Free
Come meet-up with other homeschoolers. We’re interested in starting a boys club meet-up–come discuss ideas for future activities and field trips especially for boys.
Thursday, December 10 at 10 am at Killian Road Park 1424 Marthan Rd, Columbia, SC 29223
Note: This activity meet-up does not require or enforce mask policies. Siblings are also welcome to participate.
More info about this park location: http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/centers/killian-park/
Look for Naima to meet you: Call or text if you need to reach her: 919-475-5532
Please fill out the interest form if you’re interested in more boys club activities and field trips:
Oops! We could not locate your form.

Happy Hanukkah
2020-12-10 | Virtual Event
Read more about Hannukah–Festival of Lights
Show ‘n tell your holiday celebrations in our Flipgrid Club with Cola City Homeschoolers: Click HERE to join the Club
