Friday, December 28, 2007
New Website for OCL
The new website for the Ocean County Library is http://theoceancountylibrary.org/
Monday, October 29, 2007
Accessing Ocean County Library's website
If you need to contact the Ocean County Library, please use their old web address:
www.oceancounty.lib.nj.us .
It is fully operational, you can access all information, databases, as well as register for events through that URL.
www.oceancounty.lib.nj.us .
It is fully operational, you can access all information, databases, as well as register for events through that URL.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Warning about decorative spider webs
This post came just to me through one of my homeschooling emails from out of state. It is worth passing on at this time of year. I am leaving out personal names:
...we had pretend spider web draped along our banister upstairs. (It is the web that you can buy at Wal-Mart or Target with the little spider inside. It has the perception of being cotton-like however when pulled together, itbecomes like a very strong nylon rope). _____, being a typical kid, started at one end of the web and wrapped it around himself. He rolled his body as the web came off the banister. The web wrapped around his neck. With God's good grace, I happened to have looked up from downstairs. ____ could not speak. His face was already changing colors from lack of oxygen. I ran upstairs to try to pull it off. The web would not budge. I screamed for my husband to come up. He could not get the web to break loose either. He finally did pull the web with great force just barely enough so ____ could get a breath. I ran to get the scissors to cut it off. It was so tight that I could not get the scissors between the web and his neck. Finally, we did cut the web loose. His neck obviously suffered trauma but he is okay physically. He was frightened horribly. I cannot shake the gutwrenching feeling of almost losing a child. We cannot even imagine what would have happened if we didn't see it the very second after he wrapped it around his neck. Believe me when we say that we have preached since our kids were old enough to understand the dangers of anything around their necks. It just happens that fast. And who would have any idea that the pretend spider web would be impossible to pull apart. I know that this time of year, people have it all around their homes. Please just know the dangers of it. Especially if you have younger children. I encourage you to pass this along so no one else will experience what we did.
...we had pretend spider web draped along our banister upstairs. (It is the web that you can buy at Wal-Mart or Target with the little spider inside. It has the perception of being cotton-like however when pulled together, itbecomes like a very strong nylon rope). _____, being a typical kid, started at one end of the web and wrapped it around himself. He rolled his body as the web came off the banister. The web wrapped around his neck. With God's good grace, I happened to have looked up from downstairs. ____ could not speak. His face was already changing colors from lack of oxygen. I ran upstairs to try to pull it off. The web would not budge. I screamed for my husband to come up. He could not get the web to break loose either. He finally did pull the web with great force just barely enough so ____ could get a breath. I ran to get the scissors to cut it off. It was so tight that I could not get the scissors between the web and his neck. Finally, we did cut the web loose. His neck obviously suffered trauma but he is okay physically. He was frightened horribly. I cannot shake the gutwrenching feeling of almost losing a child. We cannot even imagine what would have happened if we didn't see it the very second after he wrapped it around his neck. Believe me when we say that we have preached since our kids were old enough to understand the dangers of anything around their necks. It just happens that fast. And who would have any idea that the pretend spider web would be impossible to pull apart. I know that this time of year, people have it all around their homes. Please just know the dangers of it. Especially if you have younger children. I encourage you to pass this along so no one else will experience what we did.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
The Novins Planetarium at OCC
As stated on their website, the Novins Planetarium is unable to offer a full schedule of shows at the moment, but, as part of their "Reach for the Stars" fundraising effort, they do schedule special events for a variety of audiences. The proceeds from these events go toward their current fundraising campaign.
For more information call: 732-255-0342
Recorded information 732.255.0400 x 2111
Planetarium office weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
For more information call: 732-255-0342
Recorded information 732.255.0400 x 2111
Planetarium office weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Silverton Farms
I went to Silverton Farms today and boy, was it hopping! Farmer Tom was giving rides on his tractor and there were lots of children picking pumpkins and parents buying delicious fresh organic produce. Homeschoolers are welcome to visit his farm for a tour, pick pumpkins, ride on the tractor ... if your group is interested, the phone number to Silverton Farms is 732-244-2621. They are located on Silverton Road in Toms River, 1 block parellel of Church Road off New Hamshire Avenue.
OCL website is temporarily down...
If any homeschoolers have been trying to reach the library's website or register for a program, you already know that we are having problems with our server. Please try to call the library instead at 732-349-6200. We are hoping this is fixed soon!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Attention High School Homeschoolers - a Humane Alternative to Dissection
Our son is taking biology this year and we knew we needed a humane alternative to dissecting anything. The Physician's Committe for Resposible Medicine provides such an alternative:
"Digital Frog 2 is an interactive CD-ROM that uses animation, video, narration, and still images to create a realistic dissection experience for the student. Students can perform an entire frog dissection with a “digital scalpel.”
This humane method has many educational benefits over traditional dissection. Unlike in a real dissection, aspects of virtual dissection can be repeated and reviewed on subsequent days. An anatomy module provides information and photos as students work through each part of the dissection. Other features include animations showing how a frog’s body works and comparisons to human anatomy." (from the Physician's Committe for Responsible Medicine web site, http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dissalt_digital_frog2)
There are links on this page to order a free copy of Digital Frog 2. I just ordered mine!
"Digital Frog 2 is an interactive CD-ROM that uses animation, video, narration, and still images to create a realistic dissection experience for the student. Students can perform an entire frog dissection with a “digital scalpel.”
This humane method has many educational benefits over traditional dissection. Unlike in a real dissection, aspects of virtual dissection can be repeated and reviewed on subsequent days. An anatomy module provides information and photos as students work through each part of the dissection. Other features include animations showing how a frog’s body works and comparisons to human anatomy." (from the Physician's Committe for Responsible Medicine web site, http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dissalt_digital_frog2)
There are links on this page to order a free copy of Digital Frog 2. I just ordered mine!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Patchwork Theatre begins new season!
Wanted: Lost Boys, Pirates & Indians !! for our April 4th/5th, 2008 production of "Peter Pan." Practices on Wednesdays from 3 - 5pm, starting October 3rd, At Sacred Heart Church Parish Hall, Bay Head,
NJ. Previous plays include "Our Town", "Fairytale Courtroom", some One-Acts (including Shakespeare's "Pyramus & Thisbe"), Charlotte's Web", "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe", & "Alice in Wonderland". We are Chistian in outlook & stress kindness to others over performance & ego. The group becomes a family as they learn to bring the play to production. Contact emermary@aol.com, for more information. Hoping we can FLY together!!!
NJ. Previous plays include "Our Town", "Fairytale Courtroom", some One-Acts (including Shakespeare's "Pyramus & Thisbe"), Charlotte's Web", "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe", & "Alice in Wonderland". We are Chistian in outlook & stress kindness to others over performance & ego. The group becomes a family as they learn to bring the play to production. Contact emermary@aol.com, for more information. Hoping we can FLY together!!!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Silverton Organic Produce Farm's Harvest Festival
This Saturday, September 29, after you have visited the Ocean County Library's Bookfest, head on over to Silverton Farm's Harvest Harmony Festival 2007. It is an outdoor music festival presented by the Acoustic Musicians Guild, hosted every year on the grounds of this lovely local farm owned by Tom Nivison. The event runs from 12 noon until 7pm and is located on Silverton Road in Toms River. Admission is $7 for adults, discounted for seniors and free for children under 12. This is a family oriented, alcohol-free event. 
Also, keep in mind that Farmer Tom welcomes homeschoolers to visit his farm for a tour, pick pumpkins, ride on the tractor ... if your group is interested the number to Silverton Farms is 732-244-2621.
Also, keep in mind that Farmer Tom welcomes homeschoolers to visit his farm for a tour, pick pumpkins, ride on the tractor ... if your group is interested the number to Silverton Farms is 732-244-2621.
Good coverage in local papers on homeschooling
Check out these two articles one from the Lacey Beacon and one from the Atlantic City Press.
Monday, September 24, 2007
BOOKFEST IS COMING!
This Saturday, September 29th, make sure you come to the Ocean County Library's Bookfest 2007. Go to the site and check out the great list of authors and events that will be going on all day at the Toms River branch. There will be something for everyone in the family: author presentations, local writers, music, book signings, children’s activities, and Sparks, the Ocean County Library mascot. This coincides with Downtown Toms River's second annual Pizza, Pasta and Pastry Italian Food festival on Washington Street. Come and enjoy!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Ready to Launch...
I have now transitioned this blog from final project for my MLIS degree to real life. How it will be used, what part of it will be used, if it will be used at all is up to the homeschoolers who find and utilize this blog. I have wanted to launch this for awhile in the hopes that families new to home schooling will find their questions answered and if they are local, they will find a local support group to join. Please email me with comments, questions or suggestions at nbvstudio@gmail.com.
Make sure to check back here (subscribe to the RSS feed!) and please feel free to participate.
Happy homeschooling!
Make sure to check back here (subscribe to the RSS feed!) and please feel free to participate.
Happy homeschooling!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Ocean County Library's New Homeschooling page is up on website!
Come and check out the new link on the Ocean County Library's website for homeschoolers. This includes a list of support groups which have given permission to be listed as contacts. I added it just recently and will continue to update it every few months. If you wish to be added on this list, email me at nvoitko@oceancountylibrary.org.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Open House at the Ocean County Library in September
There will be an open house at the Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library on September 13th from 1pm - 3pm. This will be a great opportunity to meet and greet other homeschoolers, learn more about what the library has for you and check out some of our resources. There will be brief presentations and light refreshments served. Registration requested. Please visit the Ocean County Library's web page to register at http://oceancountylibary.org/
JMJ student art show
This was taken at our homeschool group's yearly Celebration of the Arts. Feel free to post your group's photo's here or in the side bar...but remember, you must let me know you wish to become an author of this site! :)
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