Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency

 

High School at Home

12th Annual Conference

Friday July 20, 2007

Hotel Carlisle

 

THEME: SUCCESS IN LIFE

 

8:45-9:00 Registration and snacks in main ballroom then visit college and  vendor tables which will be open until 3:30.

 

9:00-9:45 Welcome & Keynote Talk in main ballroom

Innovations in Education that Homeschool Families have Developed—Molly Richman Inspektor (PHAA 2000)

 

First  Breakout Session 10-10:50 AM

1.       High School at Home: An Introduction to the PHAA Diploma Program—Especially for families and evaluators new to PHAA. Find out how the program works and how to comply with its requirements— Howard Richman.

2.       Journeys in High School (for students)—Time for students to have a free-ranging discussion—guided by Joe Strayhorn.

3.       Do-it-Yourself SAT Prep: Learning the Ins & Outs of the SAT College Entrance Exam—Molly Richman Inspektor

4.       Honors Courses: Why to Put in the Effort, How to Document It, & How to Evaluate It—Susan Richman.

5.      The St. Vincent College Enrichment Program: School of Education Students Provide Classes for Homeschoolers—Dr.Veronica Ent (Chair, St. Vincent College Education Department)

 

Second  Breakout Session 11-11:50 AM

1.       Finding Your Passion—Deb Bell with student panel

2.       Learning about Money is Just as Important as Earning It: Finance 101 for Homeschool Students—Mary Ann Demzchak

3.       Using National Standards: How to Know if You’re Doing Enough—Molly Richman Inspektor

4.       Opportunities available at Public, Private, & Catholic Colleges—by a panel of admissions officers from Arcadia University, Community College of Allegheny County, Juniata College, La Roche College, Newmann College, Point Park University, Seton Hill University, Shippensburg University, St. Vincent College, Waynesburg College, Widener University, and Wilmington College of Delaware.

5.      College and Career Planning made Easy for Homeschoolers—Michael Robinson, PHEAA.

 

 

Noon - 1 PM Buffet Lunch in main ballroom (free)

 

 

Third  Breakout Session 1-1:50 PM 

1.       AP Online Test Prep Classes from PA Homeschoolers: Learn about the AP exams from this year’s online teachers, and how online learning can help you be well prepared—panel of teachers including Debra Bell (English Literature), Bonnie Gonzalez (Psychology), Molly Inspektor (English Language and English Literature), Derek Otieno (Computer Science), Howard Richman (Macroeconomics), Susan Richman (US History), and Joe Strayhorn (Statistics).

2.       Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Teens—Bill Geise and Don Hill

3.       Writing Your College Application Essay-- Help for getting YOU down on paper! -- Ruth Green

4.       Opportunities Available at Christian Colleges (other than Catholic)— by a panel of admissions officers from Elim Bible Institute, Geneva College, Houghton College, Messiah College, and Patrick Henry College. 

5.       Opportunities in Civil Air Patrol and the Military – Mark Mazarella, Education Services Specialist, US Army, and M. Allen Applebaum, Colonel CAP

 

Fourth  Breakout Session 2-2:50 PM

1.       A Guide to AP Classes (by & for students)—Katelin Dutill with panel of students who have taken PA Homeschoolers online AP test-preparation classes

2.       PHAA Evaluator’s Meeting— Discuss concerns and questions about working as a PHAA evaluator. Clear up any confusions on procedures and goals — Howard Richman, Karen Boyd (evaluators only)

3.       Get Motivated with Student Contests: Congressional Award Program, Writing Contests, Speech Competitions, Science Fairs—Panel including Susan Richman, Katrina Weston, and Louise Keckler.

4.       College Admissions & Scholarships for Homeschool Students—by a panel of college admissions officers including Dr. Elizabeth Strenkowski of CCAC, Dana Britton of Messiah College, Stacey Hampton of Penn College of Technology, and Mark Mazarella of US Army education specialist and former college admissions officer.

5.       Learning Robotics using LEGO Robots with the LEGO Education Carnegie Mellon Curriculum— Derek Otieno

 

3:00 -3:30 PM Afternoon break in main ballroom.  Free snacks during time to visit tables.

 

Fifth  Breakout Session 3:30-4:20 PM

1.       The Excelsior: PHAA’s student newsletter-- Become a Part of It! Learn about one of the best ways to extend your homeschool friendships and hone your writing skills— by working on the staff of The Excelsior!—Katelin Dutill (outgoing editor), Timothy Blakeslee (incoming editor) and staff.

2.       PHAA Membership Meeting— Elect a Board Member, discuss any needed changes in by-laws,  possibly put such changes on a written ballot, and more (for PHAA members only) — led by Howard Richman. (PHAA parents and evaluators only)

3.       An Alternative for College Credit: CLEP Exams: How one family set and met new goals with CLEP—Maribeth Spangenberg.

4.       High Tech Careers: A Two Year Degree and your Ticket to the Future—Bill Geise & Tech College admissions officers from Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

5.       Creating Theater Opportunities for Homeschoolers—Deb Bell

 

4:30-5:00 PM Homeschool Graduates Panel in main ballroom. (General Session)—by a panel of homeschool graduates, led by Molly Richman Inspektor. Hear from a full range of PHAA grads who’ve made many different types of choices in their lives and see how they are doing since moving beyond homeschooling— A chance to ask all of your questions.

 

Key: 1=Cumberland, 2=Carlisle, 3=Penn, 4=Dickinson, 5=Oak