New Year's Eve Bowling!

Bowlerama

3031 Newcastle Ave
New Castle Delaware

Celebrate New Year's Eve
5pm–8pm

* Unlimited Glow Bowling
* Bumpers Available
* Shoe Rental
* MusicHats & Noise Makers
* 1Lg Pizza per lane
* Pitcher of Soda
* 10 Tokens for children under 12

Just $49.95 per lane! (Maximum of 4 people per lane.) *

*We are a family of 5, so I called and they said we could add another person for $10.

They will have a count down for the new year at around 8pm.
I am told this is an annual event at Bowerama and is alway great fun!

For more information call: 302-654-0263
or visit their website.

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Special Holiday Public Skating Sessions at the Fred Rust Ice Arena!

December 28-29 * 1-3pm and 8-10pm
December 30th * 1-3pm and 7-9pm
December 31st * 1-3pm with DJ
January 1st * 1-4pm with Free Sand Art

January 2nd * 1-3pm

Admission:
$6 per person
$5 per person ages 6 & under

Skate Rental:
$3 per person

Group Rate Admission:
(groups of 10 or more)
$5 per person


Directions:
From I-95: Take Exit 1B, heading toward the University of Delaware Stadium on Route 896. Go through four lights. At the fifth light, turn right into the David M. Nelson Sports Complex. The Rust Ice Arena is the building to your left after making the turn.

For more information call 302-831-2868 or visit their Website.

First Night Wilmington 2008

First Night Wilmington 2008

“Bridging Cultures Through the Arts”

Monday, December 31, 2007

4:00-10:00 p.m.

Fireworks Finale
10:00 p.m. over Rodney Square

Beginning at 4:00 p.m. fun-filled activities in and around Rodney Square will entertain the entire family! From marionette shows, to dance performances, strolling entertainers and a variety of exciting bands, First Night Wilmington 2008 promises to be an event to remember. Special features for this year’s event include; our ever popular Youth Entertainment tent, the return of last year’s very popular Skating Rink on Market Street, There’s really no better way to begin the New Year’s Eve then coming together as a community to celebrate the coming of the New Year and the arts.

Admission buttons will be available at all New Castle County Happy Harry’s location on December 1, 2007. Get your buttons for just $7 for one or $10 for two. Children under age 12 are free! Buttons will also be available on-line December 1. For more information, on button purchases, click on “Admission Buttons”.

YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT:
LEGO Building Blocks Art Exhibit
Tuckers' Tales Puppet Theatre
Street Performers
Orbotron, Avalanche, Moonbounce and Trampoline Thing
Trackless Train by Richards Layton Finger
Jack the Balloon Man

Website for more information

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Art Class Offered through City Gates

City Gates Academy is currently accepting registration for their "Multi-media" art class.

Students will explore diverse styles of art-making from mosaics to painting to crafts and beyond. Last year students' interests were sparked in a wide variety of techniques as they all enjoyed and benefited from the creativity of their teacher, Christina Hines. Christina surveyed the kids with regard to their interests for future programs and plans to incorporate many of their suggestions into this year's class. New material will be covered, so returning students are encouraged as well as students new to the class.

The age range for this art class is 4th - 8th grade.

This class will be held on Fridays at 12:45 to 2:15 beginning January 25.

Cost is $225 for 17 weeks.

Classes to be held at Brandywine Valley Baptist Church on Mt Lebanon Rd, in North Wilmington (just south of the Concord Mall).

To register call: 302-229-9626.

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Antibiotic Resistance: Brain Pop Movie

Hot Off the Press!

In response to a slew of letters Tim and Moby received from students anxious about "superbugs" like MRSA (staph infections), Brain Pop has launched a new movie on Antibiotic Resistance. Be sure to check out the movie, which looks at the evolution of these superbugs, where they come from, why they're so dangerous, and what we can do to reduce their incidence!

Click here

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Literature Lesson Plans

In my endless search for lesson plans for books the kids are reading, I just came across another decent resource. The Discover Education website offers free lesson plans. The literature lesson plans are offered for limited selection of novels and some lesson plans include suggestions for adaptations for older or younger audiences. This is actually a good resource site for various lesson plans and supplementary teaching materials. I am going to book mark it!

Website

Holiday Trains at the Wilmington and Western Railroad

Holiday Night Trains
Celebrate year's end with a 45-minute evening ride aboard historic 1929 rail car, "The Paul Revere." Track side neighbors decorate their homes for these festive evenings, train riders enjoy the best view! Help judge the decorating contest. Vote for your favorite holiday light display!

EVENT DATES: December 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30
DEPARTURES: 5:30, 6:30 & 7:30pm
FARES:
Adults: $8
Seniors (age 60+): $7
Children (ages 2-12): $6

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

Santa Train!
Santa Claus rides the train and greets everyone on board, giving all children a chocolate treat! Be sure to bring your camera and have Santa pose for pictures with your child.
December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 & 16
12:30 & 2:30pm
FARES
Adults: $12
Seniors (age 60+): $11
Children (ages 2-12): $10

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
THIS EVENT HAS ASSIGNED SEATING

Website

All trains depart from Greenbank Station, located in Greenbank Park near Prices Corner on Delaware Route 41 North (Newport-Gap Pike), 1/4 mile north of Delaware Route 2 (Kirkwood Highway). Free parking is available at the station and at nearby Greenbank Mill.

Model Train Exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum!

The tradition of the model train display at the Brandywine River Museum is almost as old as the museum itself! Since 1971, the museum's collection of trains has grown to include 150 locomotives and 300 freight cars. The collection is frequently augmented by trains loaned by visiting engineers. Toy trains in the collection are mostly Lionel products dating from 1915 to the present. A "must see" for the youngest train fans is Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends from the Isle of Sodor!

The Brandywine River Museum's train display is part of "A Brandywine Christmas"
November 23, 2007 through January 6, 2008

Telephone: (610) 388-2700
Hours: Daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(Extended hours until 6:00 p.m., Dec. 26-30)
Closed Christmas Day

Admission:
Adults, $8.00; seniors (65+), students with ID and children ages 6-12, $5.00. Free for children under 6 and Brandywine Conservancy members.

Website

Storytelling and Music from Odds Bodkin!

Happy Holidays,
From Master Storyteller Odds Bodkin!

Imagine--four hours of The Odyssey for your Fifth Grader...the entire Little Proto Dinosaur Trilogy for your five-year-old...The Rage of Hercules for your teenager...The Winter Cherries for your Holiday celebration...so many great gifts (and eleven more!) ready for your iPod or computer this Holiday Season--all for $99.

Odds' music-filled storytellings are unlike anything else:
Indie Awards.
Parents' Choice Gold Awards.
Storytelling World Awards.
The Children's Music Web Award.

From now until December 31st, oddsbodkin.com is proud to offer the following Odds Bodkin Storytelling Downloads,
15 titles (a $146 value) for $99

The Odyssey: An Epic Telling (4 hours)
The Adventures of Little Proto
Little Proto's T-Rex Adventure
Little Proto and the Volcano's Fire
The Evergreens: Gentle Tales of Nature
The Teacup Fairy: Very Old Tales for Very Young Children
The Wise Little Girl: Tales of the Feminine
The Winter Cherries: Holiday Tales from Around the World
The Blossom Tree: Tales from the Far East
Rip Roarin' Paul Bunyan Tales
With a Twinkle in Your Eye: Funny Folktales from Everywhere
The Hidden Grail: Sir Percival and the Fisher King
The Harper and the King: The Story of David and Goliath
Giant's Cauldron: Viking Myths of Adventure
The Rage of Hercules

Once you've purchased your Collection, your user name and password let you return any time to download at your convenience. A great way to give pre-loaded mp3 players!
Just click here!


Previously Homeschool Happenings!
1-Odds Bodkin
2-Odds Bodkin

IOWA testing offered at City Gates

IOWA Basic Skills Testing
City Gates offers this opportunity for testing to any home school student from 4rd to 8th grade wishing to assess their knowledge base.

When:
March 3, 4, & 5: 9:00 to 12:00
(make-up date March 6, in case of bad weather)

Cost:
$52.00
DUE Friday, December 21

Location:

City Gates Academy

Send payment & registration to:

City Gates Academy
P. O. Box 7581
Wilmington, DE 19803-0581

Be sure to include:
* Name of student
* Grade being assessed
* Address & Phone number
* Enclose Payment

For more information call Cheryl Cooper at (302) 234-4276
or via e-mail at Chkncooper6@aol.com subject line IBST

For those of us who have never done this before, I did have a couple questions which I emailed to my contact at City Gates. Below are the answers I received, I thought it best to just copy them verbatim:

Q. Who gets the test results?
A. The results are sent to the CGA test coordinator who them mails them out to the individual families.
Q. Are the results confidential?
A. Yes, the actual results are sent to each family.
Q. Is there a way to prepare a child for the tests if they have never done a test like this before?
A. Yes. If this is the first time a student has taken the IBST, when registering please indicate as such and request a practice/preparation test. http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/practice_tests.html
Q. What if the child does not do well, does some "higher" authority get involved.
A. That is up to each individual family. As stated previously, the test results are confidential. No one has access to the answers except you, so no one else will get involved.
Q. What are the tests like, can I/we see a sample?
A. The only sample available to see is the practice test. People can check out the BJU press website for more information. http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/iowa.html. There is an additional charge of $4 for each practice test. There are also other resources available on the BJU Press website for test practice http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/practice_tests.html

Nutcracker on Ice at the Centre Rink, Delaware State Fair in Harrington!

The Centre Ice Rink at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington will present the holiday classic, “Nutcracker on Ice"

Saturday, December 22nd - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday December 23rd - 2:00 p.m.

Enjoy the retelling of this classic magical tale which combines the art of ballet with the athleticism of figure skating. This is the fourth ‘Nutcracker on Ice’ production The Centre has performed. This year, favorite characters will be joined by some new additions, such as: peppermint candies, lemon drops, swirling snowflakes, a little pair, and a fantastic crown presentation with some incredibly talented spinners.

Ticket prices are as follows:
$9.00 in advance;
$10.00 at the door.
Children (ages 2 & under) are free with a paying adult.

To purchase tickets call (302) 398-5900 ext. 500

Reserving tickets in advance is advised, as seating is limited.
Seating is first come, first serve, so arrive early.

Website

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Jingle Bell Hayride at Bellevue State Park!

Jingle Bell Hayride
Saturday, December 15
5 p.m.

An old-fashioned holiday hayride through Bellevue State Park!

Afterward, enjoy s’mores and hot chocolate by the campfire. The fee for this program is $6 per person. Please pre-register by calling the Arts Center at (302) 793-3046. Meet at the Percheron Barn.

Bellevue State Park is located at 800 Carr Road, Wilmington, De.

website

The Nutcraker by Anna Marie Dance Studio at Archmere Academy Theater!

Come see homeschoolers, Billie Rose and Teddy in this wonderful rendition of the season favorite, The Nutcracker!

Teddy is a soldier in the battle scene and Billie Rose dances as a mouse in the battle scene and an angel in the Sugar Plum Fairy scene! Besides the charming and heartfelt performances by my children, (yes, I am biased) this production of the Nutcracker includes many, many, talented young people from the award winning Anna Marie Dance Studio. Also featured, as the Sugar Plum Fairy is the very lovely and beautiful Russian ballerina, Miss Anya. The battle scene is one of the most elaborately choreographed, by the enormously talented and charismatic Mr. Sonny Leo. And, the Christmas Tree in the party scene! This is no mere cloth and string effect. The tree is a fully decked out, three dimensional, growing and grandiose Christmas Tree. Thank you Mr. Bill!

There are lots of opportunities to see the Nutcracker in our area. This one promises to be a notch above the many. Unless you are traveling to NYC, you couldn't ask for a better time.

Dates:
Saturday December 15th, 2:00pm
Sunday December 16th, 2:00pm

Tickets:
$15 for children and Seniors.
$20 General Admission

For tickets call
302-475-3949

Archmere Academy is located at 3600 Philadelphia Pike in Claymont Delaware.

Pet Pictures with Santa! Kids too!

Join Forgotten Cats and Petsmart for this jolly holiday tradition!

Bring your pet, cat, dog, mouse, rabbit, parrot, snake, and have you pet's picture taken with Santa! Forgotten cats volunteers will be on hand to help your furry or scaled friend pose! The cost is $8.95 with a Pet Perks card (free from Petsmart) and $5 of that goes directly to Forgotten Cats to help support their mission of humanely addressing the issue of feral cat populations.

So come, join the fun, and get your pet photographed with Santa!
Santa says he will pose with kids too!

Forgotten Cats and Pet Pictures with Santa will be at the following Petsmart locations:
* Christiana, Delaware on 12/1 & 12/2,
* Brandywine, Delaware PetSmart on 12/8 and 12/9
* Jenkintown, Pennsylvania PetSmart every weekend EXCEPT the weekend before Christmas.

Picture time will start around 10:30 AM and end around 4:30 PM each day.

"Home for the Holidays" at The Baby Grand

"Home for the Holidays"

A heartwarming revue full of classic and favorite Christmas and holiday songs with lively choreography and featuring many of the faces you remember from past shows. Three Little Bakers' popular holiday show, based on the very first holiday revue created by Weber-Prianti Productions in 1990, features over 20 classic songs and is set in an old Victorian home where a theatrical family hosts a weekend get-together to celebrate the holidays."Home for the Holidays" plays at the baby grand in Wilmington, DE from November 23 through December 30.

For a complete listing of shows and information about ticket sales contact the Box Office: 302-652-5577 / 800-37-GRAND or visit the Box Office.

$35 Adults / $30 Senior Citizens / $25 Children (under 12)
For group sales information contact Dan Sanchez at (302) 658-7897
A portion of the proceeds will benefit St. Michael's School and Nursery.

The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market Street, Wilmington DE.

Three Little Bakers

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Yuletide Home School Day at Winterthur!

Yuletide Home School Day
Thursday December 13
10 am–3 pm

Take a tour of the mansion to learn how children experienced the holidays in the 1800s and early 1900s. Make a craft based on a toy children would have played with in the early 1800s. Stay to visit the family-friendly exhibitions - Pets in America and K is for Kids.

$8 per person; children under 2 free
Pre-registration required

For reservations call:
800.448.3883 or
302.888.4600

Website