Yearly Archives: 2010

Free Range Robotics has entered the VEX Design Challenges and needs your help!

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Free Range Robotics

has entered the VEX Design Challenges

and needs your help!

We are a New Zealand homeschool VEX Robotics team. If you haven’t heard of us before, then there is plenty of info at http://www.robotics.org.nz

We have three entries: our website, a team video, and an essay.

Please support us! Go to http://www.robotics.org.nz and click on the “Vote Here” link on the home page.
The link has all the instructions for voting.

The voting closes 20/03/2010 3:00pm (NZ time) –

Only two days left to vote!.

Quoting the challenge details for the website and video: “The community voting will determine seven of the ten finalists to be judged for the Award. Three additional submissions chosen by the VEX Advisory Council and the challenge partners will complete the group of ten finalists that move on to the last round of judging. The ten finalist entries will be scored with a weighted system including the community voting scores, scores given by the VEX Robotics Advisory Council and scores given by representatives from the presenting sponsors of the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship. The combined scores will determine the 2010 Award winner.”

And for the essay: “Submissions will be linked to from the RobotEvents.com Online Challenge website and will be scored by the viewing community. Submissions will be judged on a 50-point scale. The winning submissions will be chosen by the staff of Innovation First using the judging criteria. The top ten essays will be recognized online and will receive the prizes listed above.”

Prizes:

Website

  • 1st: 2010 VEX Robotics Website Design Award, One VEX Robotics Classroom Lab Kit, Automatic Team Qualification for the 2010 VRC World Championship
  • 2nd: One VEX Dual Control Starter Bundle
  • 3rd: One VEX Protobot Robot Kit

Video

  • 1st: 2010 VEX Robotics Promote Award, One VEX Robotics Clasroom Lab Kit including the Autodesk® VEX Robotics Curriculum, Automatic Team Qualification for the 2010 VRC World Championship
  • 2nd: One VEX Dual Control Starter Bundle
  • 3rd: One VEX Protobot Robot Kit

Essay

  • $50 VEX Robotics Gift Certificate for top 10 entries

Thanks

Free Range Robotics (Homeschoolers)
Vex Robotics Team 2921
http://www.robotics.org.nz

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Homeschool Team Win at 2009 Vex Robotics World Championships Print E-mail
Written by Mark Lawton
Friday, 08 May 2009 17:12

Award_med1_copy


Free Range Robotics receiving the world title in programming skills. From left to right Richard Paul, Kane Ross, Michael Lawton, Isaac Harrold, Ethan Harrold, Mark Lawton, Rhiannon Waller, Terry Allen, Patrick Walmsley, John Waller, Max Waller

Auckland Homeschool Team Free Range Robotics took away two awards at the 2009 Vex Robotics World Championships held 30th April – 2nd May in Dallas, Texas.
They won the World Championship title for Programming Skills where they had to design and programme a robot to navigate over a field and score goals in a one minute period without any human intervention.

Read More

‘Battle at the Gate’ by Jenny Jenkins

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‘Battle at the Gate’ by Jenny Jenkins
Jenny Jenkins, a homeschooling mother of 7, has had a children’s history story published by Penguin.  Titled ‘Battle at the Gate’, it’s about a young Maori woman, Heni, who was in a pa in Tauranga when it was attacked by British soldiers.  The Maori, most of whom were Christians, defeated the British although outnumbered almost ten to one.  Late that night Heni heard a British soldier calling for water.  She filled a can with water and took it out to him, putting herself in serious danger of being shot by wounded soldiers who were expecting to be killed.
This story captivates children, being a mixture of fast action and moments of kindness, yet still holding the tension to the end.  It is an excellent story to use for Bible and Schools classes and after school clubs. Check out Jenny’s Website

New Plymouth Conference: “Refresh” 23-24th April 2010

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New Plymouth Conference:

“Refresh”

23-24th April 2010

“Encouragement is oxygen to the soul”

GEORGE M. ADAMS


With ROSIE BOOM
Author, Speaker, Singer & Song-writer

New Plymouth, New Zealand
Saturday, 24 April 2010

With a Family Concert – Friday, 23 April 2010  7pm to 9 pm

Come and be refreshed

Refresh is a one-day conference with special guest Rosie Boom, a
homeschooling mother of six. Rosie will encourage and inspire you as
she shares her family’s homeschooling journey in her humorous, honest
and engaging way.

You are also warmly invited to bring your family along on Friday evening
for a fantastic concert with Rosie and her talented family.

Boom Family evening concert – Fri 23 April 2010

Rosie Boom Conference – Sat 24 April 2010

For information on Rosie and her family, visit http://www.boomfamily.co.nz

North Taranaki Home Educators Inc.
Organising committee:
Sue Innes, Shelly Farr, Merryn Hooper, Helen Powick

Conference Programme

Venue: Northpoint Baptist Church, 116 Mangati Road, Bell Block

9.00 Venue opens
9.30 Rosie Boom: Joy in the Homeschool Journey
10.30 Morning tea
10.50 Rosie Boom: The Gift of Values (how to nurture character in our children’s lives)
11.50 Home-grown talent
12.30 Lunch
1.00 Stalls open (book-sellers)
2.15 Rosie Boom: Building a Strong Family
3.15-6.00 Stalls open

This is a conference for mothers only, but if you are breast feeding, you are welcome to bring your baby.

The following book-sellers will be available on the day:
Learnex
Curriculum Concepts
Pohutukawa Books

Conference Information

Cost: $30, Early Bird- $25 (If received before 31st March 2010)

Lunch, morning & afternoon tea included in cost

To Register:
Complete the form below and return with a cheque made payable to:
North Taranaki Home Educators
c/o Helen Powick 805 Otaraoa Road, RD 43 Waitara

Payments can also be made by direct credit to:
North Taranaki Home Educators Bank Account (email for the details)

Please indicate your name and ‘Refresh’ on the payment.

Enquiries:
Sue Innes – 06 758 5294 innesnz@xtra.co.nz
Helen Powick – 06 754 7158 powicks@gmail.com
Merryn Hooper – 06 752 0132 mmhooper@maxnet.co.nz
Shelly Farr – 06 759 9378 shellyfarr@xtra.co.nz

We look forward to seeing you

With Love from

The Refresh Team

Come and be refreshed registration Form

Surname Given name
Name badge to read

Address

Tel ( ) Mobile
Email
Method of payment: Direct Credit* Cheque
* If paying by direct credit please indicate your name and ‘Refresh’ on the payment.

Contact with us

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We are concerned that there are a number of people who have not been able to contact us over the last few days.

Barbara’s father died on Tuesday morning. Barbara has been down in Christchurch since the beginning of the month. She did take two days out last weekend to speak at the Hamilton THEN Conference and flew back to Christchurch just as the conference was finishing. Craig and the rest of the family are all gathering in Christchurch now.

We wanted to put this up to let people who have ordered books over Trademe and Sella know why you may not have heard from us yet. We are only taking brief looks at our email at the moment and you will have to leave messages on our land line. We are focusing on family at the moment. We have family over from Australia and the States.We are especially enjoying seeing our 5 week old grandson and his 14 month old sister.

If you URGENTLY need to contact us over MoE or ERO issuses you can contact us at 021 027 8 2220 or 021 027 8 2221.

We will be back in Palmerston North late on Monday night. So we will endeavour to contact those who have left messages on our answer phone or emails over the days following that.

PATCHWORK OF GRACE 2010

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PATCHWORK OF GRACE 2010

Fri 28 May evening  – Sunday 30 May afternoon.
Back by popular demand is the “Patchwork of Grace” retreat.

This is an opportunity for you to spend a weekend away from the burdens and stresses of homeschooling life and take some time out to fellowship with other like-minded mums.

You will receive inspiration and encouragement for your homeschool journey from well-known speaker, Rosie Boom as well as having time to reflect spiritually in the quiet surroundings of Elm Court, El Rancho Camp, Waikanae.

Places are limited to 50 full-time participants so please do not delay in booking and sending your deposit. Breastfeeding babies are welcome, but you will need to organise childminding for toddlers and older children.

Cost:  $165 per person
(Includes all meals from Sat breakfast through to Sunday lunch.)

Deposit of $50 required to secure your place.  Balance to be paid by 21 May.
********************Early-bird price:  **********************
$155 per person if deposit received by 1 April.

Some feedback from the 2006 POG Retreat

“Much more than I had ever expected.  A great blessing.”
“Fantastic!”
“Great variety.”
“Everything so well organised.”
“I am leaving more charged and hopeful that I can spend more quality time with my children.”
“Elm Court accommodation is awesome – warm, comfortable and modern.”

Contact Gayle McDonald for all enquiries regarding registration forms or finance lotsamacs@xtra.co.nz
For all other enquiries please contact one of the following:
Ruth Stormer
Saramaree McDonnell
Hineawe Green