A hearty welcome back to our returning families and a very special, warm welcome to our new families!! We are excited you are with us! We look forward to getting to know you this year as we immerse ourselves in the intriguing and chivalrous times of the Middles Ages.
Before we launch into talking about knights, crusades, or the Feudal system, let’s first start off by giving you a bit of background as to the what, who and why of Down Home. Go ahead…grab your cup of coffee or tea and let’s dive right in…
The blog’s purpose-
“SLOCA exists to educate for life: the kind of education we provide is life-enriching, life-preparing and life-giving…” and this blog, Down Home, will focus on our home life. It is called Down Home because we know that much of the work and wonder that goes along with this kind of education lies in the home. We want you to feel supported and encouraged by what we share. Down Home’s intention is to inspire, nurture and educate us on the home-front as we cultivate and learn alongside our children. We hope to be a useful resource that will strengthen your role as an involved parent in your child’s classical education.
The blog’s aspiration-
Another purpose of Down Home is to be a forum to help build and foster relationships in our parent community. We believe that there is nothing better than face-to-face connection and conversation. However, for those of us on different tracks, who don’t get to see each other on a daily basis, this is a great opportunity for us to join together, participate by leaving comments, contribute your own exceptional ideas and suggestions, and encourage others with your experiences and photos.
A bit about me-
My name is Cheryl McCabe and my family and I have been a part of the SLOCA community since 2011. My husband, Will, and I currently have 3 children attending the school. Our oldest son, Aidan, who started Kindergarten at SLOCA, starts Upper Middle School (UMS); our middle boy, Owyn, steps up this year to Lower Middle School (LMS); and their littlest brother, Quinlan, begins his Primary career. I am picking up the baton from Jenny Bischoff who meticulously curated our blog for the past 6 years. The blog has always been a valuable supplement to our homeschool experience and my goal is to continue what Jenny has helped build.
How to join in-
The easiest way to keep current with the blog is to subscribe via email. This allows you to receive a message in your inbox each time there is new content. So, please don’t be shy. Remember, we are in this together!! Leave us comments, share your ideas, give us some tips on resources, send us your questions, and email us your submissions! We look forward to hearing from you!
What to expect-
Downhome posts a variety of topics five times a week so make sure to check back in daily. Besides Monday, we did change what each day is called but the content is essentially the same. Below is an overview of what each day will consist of:
- Monday Mix-Ins | will typically include a series of videos, links and resources you can use at home to enrich and expand on what we are currently studying in history and literature.
- Tuesday Tell-All | will usually feature topics about homeschooling, home life (parenting, organization, chores, etc.), and parent contributed posts (Day in the Life).
- Wednesday Wonderings | will mostly highlight the awe-filled experiences, big or small, in the home or in the classroom, that provoke us to ponder, appreciate and celebrate what we are a part of. We will also, occasionally, bring back our “What’s For Dinner?” posts for some easy, delicious and healthy weeknight meals.
- Thursday Thoughts | will generally focus on classical education, character, campus life, student work, book reviews, and anything related to our school/parent community.
- Fill-Me-In Friday | will include community events, student performances, family activities, and we may bring back some favorites like Friday Flops and Friday Faces.
You now have an idea of what we’ll have for you here on the blog. Here is a taste of our Monday Mix-Ins:
- The Middle Ages began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. To start us off, let’s review where we ended last year: the Fall of Rome
- Help your student gain a broader perspective on when the Middle Ages occured with these resource links you can quickly peruse with them: the European timeline and the Islamic Empire
Lots more to come next Monday so make sure to come back here! And if you’re new this year, please comment below and introduce yourself. We’d love to say hi! Happy Mix-in’!!
SLO Classical Academy is not affiliated with any of the above-mentioned individuals, websites, businesses or organizations.
