The October Nature Notebook Class for CHESS member families will be held at the Right Choices Corn Maze in Southwest City, Missouri on Friday, October 1^st at 11am.  The cost will be $4 per person (please bring exact change) and includes the following:

-          a lesson on the life cycle of corn and Native Americans who once lived there

-          the Short Corn Maze

-          a Hay Ride

-          the Cow Train ride

-          2 shots from the Corn Cannon

Plan to bring a picnic lunch to eat at the picnic tables before the lesson.  You can read more information about the Right Choices Corn Maze at http://rightchoicescornmaze.com/.

Please RSVP to Michelle Cook (contact information in Member Directory) by Friday, September 17^th if you would like to attend.

CHESS will host a Fire Safety House Field trip for CHESS member families on Friday, September 24th at 2 pm.

The mobile Kohl’s Fire Safety House helps teach children how to best respond to a house fire situation.  With two training rooms, props and non-toxic smoke, the house is designed to provide a realistic environment for teaching basic fire prevention and survival skills. 

A certified instructor from the Siloam Springs Fire Dept. will guide the children through the house in small groups to help them learn about smoke detectors, two-ways out, special meeting places, and the importance of not hiding during a fire.  This is open to all ages.  Depending on the number and ages attending there may also be a tour of the Fire Station and Truck demonstration.  (Children will be divided by age into small groups that will rotate.)  This will take place at Siloam Springs Fire Station One at 1450 Cheri Whitlock. 

Please RSVP by Sept. 17th to Jennifer Fox (contact information in Member Directory).  Please include the number of children attending and their ages when responding.

Please remember to cut out and save the Power Points found on the bottom of all Eureka Pizza boxes. We are collecting the Power Points as a fund raiser for the Teen Pact camp. You may give the Power Points to Rhonda Favano or any board member will be happy to take them. Please contact Rhonda (contact information is in Member Directory) if you have any questions.

All parents or guardians who wish to homeschool in Arkansas must complete a set of forms, which must be turned in to the superintendent of the local public school district. These forms can be printed from the Arkansas Dept. of Education website. Forms must be turned in EVERY YEAR that the family plans to homeschool. For parents who plan to teach at home beginning in the fall, the deadline is August 15th. Those who plan to begin home schooling in the spring semester must submit completed forms by December 15th.

MISSED THE DEADLINE? Parents may begin homeschooling at any time during the school year, subject to a 14-day waiting period. The local Superintendent or School Board may waive the waiting period at his/her discretion.

Please contact C.H.E.S.S. with any questions.

Please remember to cut out and save Box Tops for Education, found on grocery items. We collect the Box Tops to earn cash for C.H.E.S.S. activities. Look for the collection box at C.H.E.S.S. events, or any board member will be happy to take them. Parents can also earn money for C.H.E.S.S. by registering with Box Tops for Education online. Please contact C.H.E.S.S. with any questions.

Please channel homeschool-related announcements (field trips, social events, etc.) through the appropriate coordinator: Elementary (Suzanne Griffin), Middle School (Kim Shull) or High School (Tina Coon). For announcements of a general nature, please submit items directly to C.H.E.S.S.