End of Year School Project

This morning I came up with a new project.  This one involves both of my homeschool daughters.  With my oldest graduating from public school soon, I have had to plan out decorations for her open house.  That meant finding her school colors for plates and napkins and balloons. 

It dawned on me that in a year Tasha will be graduating from my homeschool.  I want that to be special.  By deciding to be homeschooled, Tasha had to give up graduating with her schoolmates.  Her graduation should be just as special as if she was graduating from public school.  It may be a year off, but I want to start planning now.

She will have completed all the required courses for the state in our homeschool.  She will have completed all the required courses for the School of Tomorrow and the local Christian School where we get our materials.  She's actually done more than required. 

When she graduates, she will also graduate from my little homeschool.  The state recognizes us as a private school.  However, other than register with the state, we don't really have an identity.  For instance, the state gives every homeschool a name based on the last name of the adult registering.  Usually it's Last Name here Academy.  For example, Smith Academy or Jones Academy.  I don't want to use that in my school. I want something a little more unique.  I want a school with a name and an identity.

This morning I gave the girls their assignment.  We need to come up with a school name, school colors, a school mascot and/or emblem, and a mission statement.  I want the girls to contribute so they feel a sense of ownership in our little homeschool.  I want them to have a sense of pride in our school.  I want them to graduate from the school with the feeling that they have accomplished something great.  

In this process, I am also trying to write goals for my homeschool.  I am trying to really focus on why I am homeschooling and what I hope to achieve.  I have a general idea, and I've talked about some of these things in this blog before.  However, I have never sat down and put on paper what I feel God has led me to with homeschooling. 

I told Tasha and Laura that they are deciding for Megan too, and that is an awesome responsibility.  I suppose I could change things later.  Changing things won't give a sense of history though.  I moved around a lot as a kid.  Giving my kids a sense of history is important to me.  Without it, you just don't feel as if you belong anywhere.

Immediately there was debate about colors.  We've considered a few names.  Very little has been decided on, but at least I have them thinking and working together.  We can only hope some final decisions are made before the end of the year.