Birthed from our Charlotte Mason Saturday Morning group, the new Great River Community is officially launched! We are making final preparations to begin our twice-monthly community instructional days on Friday, September 23rd.
For those who were not at the meeting today, I thought I might recap a little of the information that we shared. First - a word or two about the name. Originally, we called this new community a "co-op." But then, we read Nancy Kelly's website: (http://sageparnassus.blogspot.com/2011/08/community-not-co-op.html)
"Our Charlotte Mason community - Truth, Beauty, Goodness - had its first meeting of the new school year. Notice I said "community" and not "co-op". That's because the term "co-op" generally connotates a bunch of images that I don't want associated with our group. Things like harried children, joyless moms, isolated subjects, segregated children, various methods and the like. Instead, we strive for relationships with each of the students, joyful learning, attention as a habit, interested students, clear methods and a unifying philosophy. Our community is a servant to our homeschools, not a master."
Thank you, Mrs. Kelly! Perfectly stated. This is exactly what we long for - a relational, joyful community of parents and children, learning together. So, we are first a "COMMUNITY."
Next, we are "GREAT RIVER." The Iroquois first named this place "Ohio" - "great river." It is broad, deep and swift. It brings life-giving water and nutrients to enrich our land. It is beautiful and full with life. It will sweep you up in its current and carry you away, to new places and people, all the while twisting, flowing and alive. While we admire its depth and beauty, it is also a sculpting force - powerful, transformational. And it reminds us that our Lord is like this, too: Jesus, the LIVING water who transforms us. It is everyting we desire our community to become: a GREAT RIVER.
For those families planning to be a part of the Great River Community, we covered a lot of ground at the Parent Meeting today. Here is the link for ALL the documents from today's meeting:
http://www.mediafire.com/?d4tbodbvmwbou
Two items to note:
- We are in immediate need of two Co-Directors to oversee planning of the 2 Littles groups. The "job description" is at the link above. Please prayerfully consider if it might be you. :)
- WORK DAY - Next Saturday (17 Sept) from 8:30-11 at the classroom building. Please come and help clean up, if you can. There will be lists of specific jobs to be done. All supplies will be there.
To all of our friends who were absent today - we missed you. :(
We pray the Lord's blessing be upon each of your families as you begin your school year, home schooling or otherwise. May God bless you and keep you until we all meet again.
