Summer Learning – Swimming and CPR and More

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION SEASON BY SEASON

SPRING

Our spring activity for #ButterflyHomeschool was tennis (click here to read about it).

SAMUEL SAYS (middle 11 years old – 7th grade):

I like playing tennis. I liked hitting the ball. I liked learning how to serve the tennis ball.

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SUMMER

And now our summer activity has been swimming. We have been learning during June. This was just so right in time for our vacation. We were able to use our new skills during our Father’s Day Family vacation. The oldest girl has taken to the water like a fish (she’s the one with her head under water in the picture).

JUSTINE SAYS (oldest – 12 year old 7th grade):

Swimming was the number one thing I wanted to do for the summer. I feel that everyone should learn how to swim because it is so much fun. I was not scared to swim, but floating didn’t work for me because I could only float on my face, instead of on my back. I also like helping my brother and sister learn how to float when I hold them on their backs.

LEARNING SAFETY FOR THE SUMMER

Just right in alignment with our summer activities is learning how to help ourselves and others be safer if there is an emergency. Read on to learn more about the training that we received from the local firefighters.

Click Image To Download CPR AED Class Registration Flier

CPR AED TRAINING SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

In addition to learning how to swim, we were able to get CPR training at our local firehouse.

If you’d like to register for a class, click here to download the CPR AED Class registration information.

At Firehouse No. 1 in College Park, Georgia, Officer Taylor taught us CPR AED and helped us become comfortable with driving more than half of the chain of survival. I had no idea that an informed citizen could make such a huge impact on someone else’s survival rate. 

CHARITY SAYS (youngest – 8 year old 2nd grade):

I liked the CPR class. I liked pushing the hearts of the mannequins. And the baby mannequins looked so cute! I liked talking with the firefighter officers. 

Become Part of the Chain of Survival with AHA CPR AED Training

I highly recommend that you get yourself and your kids certified, too. If you’re in Atlanta this summer, you can get training for free because it is sponsored by the American Heart Association. If you want the certification option, you pay only $20 at the firehouse after you have passed the test.

To register, call 404-766-8248

Their goal is to get people comfortable with the process of helping the EMT’s out before they arrive on the scene. Training took the fear out of it all for my kids, and I know it will for you, too.

One great perk of our training was the tour of the firehouse. Officer Taylor was wise to tell the kids about that before class started, it gave them something to look forward to. And, of course, the firehouse tour didn’t disappoint. Check out our tour pics below.

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Sincerely,

Donna, The Mommy Butterfly

http://ButterflyHomeschool.com

Exciting Spring 2014

Over the past month, our family has had some interesting adventures. We will summarize them here and share a bit.

Before we do, can we ask you for a favor? Will you leave a comment and let us know about your family’s adventures, too? We know we are not the only folks who have fun hanging out together and want to hear about your stories, too.

Okay, so, here is what we’ve been up to:

In April, our very generous friend, Kamilah, founder of the One Talent org for girls, invited us to her very generous employer’s headquarters offices in Atlanta. We had a blast, and the food was way beyond our expectations. Thanks, Kamilah and Chick-Fil-A!

#FieldTrip #ChickFilA #ButterflyHomeschool

We also started our Tennis Co-Op / Physical Education Co-Op so that we can have fun while learning with other families. One of the awesome things we learned helped us to get started now, instead of waiting until we have all of our gear in place: when tennis was first invented, it was played by hand. So, no tennis racquets were needed on our first day. However, we are planning to buy them as a group with the other families so that we can save on the price a bit.

#WeLoveTennis #ButterflyHomeschool

We were so happy that our local Atlanta-Fulton Public Library system had so many books about tennis on their shelves. We recommended a couple on the PE Co-Op page (click to go see what we are doing in the co-op and the books, too).

Speaking of the library, one of the main things that we do every season of the year is to read, read and read some more. Here is a snapshot of less than half of the books we checked out last month.

Book reports have already been written, and the kids are now learning the basics of blogging so that they can start sharing them with you, our readers.

What about you: what are you reading right now?

I hope you like our brief update. Leave a comment and let us know what you and your family has been doing and reading this Spring.

Sincerely,

Donna Marie, Mommy at the ButterflyHomeschool.com

Physical Education – Keeping It Simple

In previous years, the #ButterflyHomeschool founded and ran a Physical Education Co-Op in College Park, Georgia. After we re-located to a new home, we didn’t start the Co-Op back up because we needed to get used to our new community. We also didn’t want to do a new group the same way we did the old one. We wanted to keep it simple this time. So, on that note, here is what you can expect.

HOW WE KEEP IT SIMPLE THIS YEAR

• *Registration is via Eventbrite so that I don’t have to keep sending individual emails or Facebook messages to each parent.
• *For Spring 2014, we’ll be focused just on Tennis, instead of just having general recess/playground time, like we used to do in the old group.
• *We will have a group buy opportunity to help families who are interested in saving money by coming together on costs for equipment and lessons / coaching.
• *We have announced the dates and times for our upcoming Tennis Co-Op activities for April and May on Eventbrite.

SUMMARY OF WHAT TO EXPECT

Within the event registration area, I have shared more details about what you can expect, but below I will share some of the highlights that you probably will want to be aware of before you register:

• When you register, make sure you register one chaperone and up to a maximum of 5 children. Then in the box indicated, you will be able to list the full names and ages of each child.
• Make sure you read the registration form carefully. We have included a required waiver and permission/consent form as part of the registration.
• Make sure you sign up for the group buy opportunity, if you believe that you’d like to save money on sports equipment and lessons.
• Each adult chaperone must have legal custody or legal guardianship of each child they register.
• Know that, as a mom who has lead a PE Co-Op before, I know that discipline issues (i.e., lack of parental guidance and/or bullying) can become a huge problem and destroy the whole atmosphere of the group. So, we have a clearly stated zero tolerance policy and warning system, which is detailed on the waiver and consent form.

PRIVACY & SECURITY

• As mentioned above, the zero tolerance policy and warning system information is included on the registration waiver and consent form.
• Location details will only be sent privately to each adult chaperone who has registered and verified their identity by way of signing the waiver and consent form.
• We will verify each adult chaperone’s identity. If we find that someone may not be who they say they are, their registration may be cancelled prior to sending out our meeting location details.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Use the contact form to reach out to us by email or call / text Donna at 678-861-8121