Red River Rattlers Boy's Basketball

Hey my name is Alec Hilliard I play point guard for the Red River Rattlers. September 29th of this year (Andrew and my birthday) shined a little light upon season number three for the guys with some scrimmage games in Bellevue, TX, a long way from the team that started in ’07 with about six players. We are officially a varsity team now and have played public, private, and other home-schooled teams around North Texas. This is going to be a very fun year since it is our first year in the TCAL conference and we will get to go to district and state! We have had ups and downs in our numbers, but now have a full team of 15 guys.

#1 Nick Dhooghe
#3 Andrew Flowers
#11 Kaleb Moses
#13 Sam Leach
#14 Josh Honea
#21 Timmy Teater
#22 Peter Dhooghe
#23 Trent Harvey
#24 Daniel Huffman
#32 Aaron Leach
#41 Alec Hilliard
#51 Phillip Dhooghe
#52 Dominic Dhooghe
#55 David Dhooghe
#??? Sam Fink

We are so blessed with our coach, Steve Ayers who drives us around the world to take us to our games and gives up his weekdays and Sundays to come out and shoot with us. Dale Harvey has been a big help in coaching some of the newer guys and helps us out. They both have high expectations for our team and Mr. Steve always says we work for “excellence” and out on the court our motto is “attack!” We hope to place well this year in the conference and make it to state, that is, if we can get everyone better from sickness and injuries. We love the game of basketball more than any other sport and enjoy trying to be the best we can be for the team. We have put in tons of hours over the summer with working out and improving our game. (Some players with over 375hrs.) Liberty posted a schedule so hopefully y’all can catch one of our games sometime! Our guys sure play hard!

Be blessed,
Alec H.

Red River Lady Rattlers

Hi, my name is Liberty Davidson, and I’ve been on the basketball team since we were the Bulldogs (six years ago!) Fortunately we changed our name to the Rattlers, which title we have proudly held since our second year.

We’ve had our struggles and our triumphs as a team. We’ve known what it’s like to go on a seemingly never-ending losing streak, but we’ve also known the great feeling of countless victories in a row.

Three years ago, the team welcomed a new coach, Dwayne Holman, and we joined a sports league that exists exclusively for home schooled and private schooled teams. In March, we made it all the way to the State Championship and finished as runners-up!

The Lady Rattlers have consistently improved over the last several years, and the beginning of the 2009-10 season has been no different. We have been victorious in each of our first three official games!

This year our team consists of twelve talented players:

#3Tess Hough
#5 Morgan Ayers
#14 Hayli Hough
#21Victoria Blessing
#23Liberty Davidson
#33Mallory Clayton
#2 Katy Palmer
#13 Virginia Land
#15 Teresa Dhooghe
#24 Nikki Morgan
#41 Kalie Lovejoy
#45 Allison Land

We value determination, team work, good sportsmanship, and most of all, playing our best. As Coach Holman says, “If you leave it on the court, you will be victorious.”

The home schooled boys in our group have also had a team for the last three years, and they have been doing excellent!

We are really excited about the promising season ahead for both teams. What makes it even more exciting is when YOU, our fans, show up and cheer!

All our home games are held at Radware Elementary School in Woodbine. Here’s the address:
668 FM 3164GAINESVILLE, TX 76240-9082


Please feel free to call Coach Dwayne Holman for directions, 940-447-4710

To read more about the Lady Rattlers, click here.

Enrichment Classes Celebrates 10 Years!

"The LORD has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY!" Psalm 126:3

The Red River Enrichment Class Program is celebrating 10 years! And we are celebrating in a BIG way!

* past yearbooks for sale - only $5
* Commemorative T-shirts and book-bags for sale at Registration December 4
* watch a slide-show at registration and see how the kids have grown!
*Memory forms to fill out at Orientation in January
* hear the story of our humble beginnings
* great prize giveaways every Friday next semester
* special visits by past members of EC
* new COLOR yearbook format
* goody bags for everyone!

And. . .

This year we are adding a FIFTH hour!

If you have never tried EC, this is a great time to join. If you've been off for a semester or two, we'd love to have you back! Join us for a GRAND celebration!

Click here for more info about Enrichment Classes.

Registration is December 4th - one day only! Space is limited. To get on the waiting list and get a copy of our awesome class schedule, email Kari Davidson at sweeteralsothanhoney@verizon.net.

There is no late registration.

Not So Typical . . .

I have truly been enjoying the "Typical Homeschool Day" thread you all have been keeping alive - WOW! It is nice to see our group open up a little. FYI: I've e-mailed with Renee before & she really doesn't bite - there is no need in being afraid to post :) Anyway, I am lovin' all the posts & have added them to our blog.

I was dying to chime in this week, but in all honesty, we started school this week & it has NOT been a "typical" week. In fact, we have yet to have a typical day . . .

Cows have jumped the fence & gotten out on the road way causing me to have to stop everything & go cowgirl (yeehaw), the boys have woken up fighting each & every day with one another, 2 mischievous little boys (ahem, Tucker & Trevor, not to mention any names or anything) decided to pull every single Kleenex out of the new box (brought home especially for their little runny noses) & fill our trashcan with them, -- Oh yes, they all woke up with a small cold on the first day of school -- don't you know they were in good moods all day -- NOT!! Daddy brought home a new 4 wheeler & how could any 3rd grade boy focus on school when there is a new 4 wheeler to be ridden?
WAIT. Insert: What is homeschooling all about -- Those moments right there! Thankfully my husband reminded me of that when he all but took me hostage & took me on a 4 wheeler ride around our land with our boys. The fresh air, the cool breeze, the deer we saw, the boys' smiles as we raced around, their laughter -- "That is what it is all about!" The longer I homeschool the more I realize it is those real life moments that make all my sweat & tears worth every bit of it - not a completed math page.

So, after reading many of your typical days, I'm going to change the thread a bit & ask - what this week was "Not So Typical?"

A Typical Day By: Kari

We get up about 6:30, then work out. Sometimes Liberty does not work out when I do so she is starting her chores while I go out. My work out is a mile or two walk/run and some days I add a work out video to that also. Liberty usually runs a mile and during basketball season she has additional things her coach adds to that.
Liberty gets all her basic chores done and she then starts school with Gary(Dad) about 8:00 or 8:30. If he is not quite ready then she and I will start our devotional time together. Right now we are reading Beautiful Girlhood by Mable Hale. I have a list of books we will read together for the rest of the year. The next one is The Christian Charm Course by Emily Hunter, then I have two video series by Josh McDowell on Apologetics and so on. Bible is mixed in with these.
When Gary comes in we pray and say our pledges, American flag, Texas flag and the Bible. Gary then does Algebra and History with Liberty.
While he is doing that I check my email and FB, clean up breakfast dishes and take a shower. He is usually finished with her by then and she hops in the shower while Gary and I discuss anything coming up that day or next that we need to be aware of. He leaves and I usually get a phone call or two during all this time.
By now it is about 9:30. So Liberty walks her dog one more time and we jump in to the rest of the day.
Let me say that Liberty thrives on order and structure. She likes for me to have a schedule made up and laid our for her. She likes knowing what to expect. We change the schedule up a bit every year for different reasons. We also will change it up a bit during the school year if she is having difficulty with something or we see that something is consistently not getting done. But for now this is our schedule for this year and so far we really like it. She also likes me nearby. For the most part I am usually in the school room with her while she is working, even though I may be doing my own reading, filing, grading, organizing, etc. (currently working on her transcript)
It is now close to 10:00 and she finishes up any algebra problems she has and history assignments. We then go to geography, government, then science, Spanish, literature, which we sometimes read together. Right now we are reading our book together for literature. Next is spelling, vocabulary, poetry and English.
Those things take up to around 3:00 or so. During this time whe we have had a break she likes to go outside on the porch or in her big chair in her room and she has her alone time with God and her Bible. She tries to read through the Bibe every year. The following are the rest of things on her schedule that she does on her own like writing, blogging(on her blog site liberty-freedomtospeak.blogspot.com), SAT practice, basketball practice, shoot hoops, etc., for now studying her Driver's Ed. (This has been like pulling teeth. She has no desire to drive so we have finally had to insist that she get her permit so she can start gaining experience.) Practice her piano daily and her guitar weekly, EC homework and art, which we are trying to do once a week. Liberty and I are also trying to start up an online business which we try and work on together in the evening.
She also enjoys acting and tries to audition for a Butterfield play at least once a year. This year she got to act in one and work back stage in one, which was good experience for her. She also got to work behind the scenes in a movie that is being made in McKinney right now doing little odds and ends for a few days. Her favorite part was the slamming down the Clacker. She has joined Venture Scouts this year and 4-H and so those both involve extra activities. She is active in her youth group and our church and on our church's tambourine and dance team. All of those things require extra time and energy so those are added in on top of the rest.
On normal days when we are home for most of the day, she goes to bed around 9:15 and gets up between 6 and 6:30. On nights when we are out late due to a basketball game or other late activity, which we limit as much as possible, then we sleep in till 7:00 or 7:30 and follow the same routine.
During the weeks we have Enrichment Classes, Liberty still has spelling and science on Friday afternoons and another lesson over the weekend.
On Wednesdays we cut something out so the day is a little shorter since we go to piano lesson that day and church. After piano I go to Wal-Mart to do my weekly shopping and she studies one of her lessons in the store, if she wants. She doesn't care much for shopping.
I try not to answer the phone most of the time during school unless we are on a break when it rings. School is school and the kids need to know this is just as important to you as you want it to be to them.
I love our home school and I love to home school. I love spending the hours with Liberty and imparting what I can to her. The honest truth is that I really learn a lot from her. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and I am very thankful.
Kari

Typical Day By: Susan

After returning from a week spent with my dad for his 80th birthday, we will
be starting another year of "school" at the Gleaton household tomorrow.
Three of my kids have graduated from home school, and I have three to go.
My oldest graduated from UNT three weeks ago and just left this afternoon to
live in Rowlett. He starts his first full-time job with the company he did
an internship with in Richardson tomorrow. My second oldest is already
retired from the Army, and he and his wife are expecting baby #2 in just
four weeks! My third oldest is living at home and beginning her second year
at NCTC. We have homeschooled all of our kids all of the time. Although I
tearfully considered other schooling options (more than once!), I realized
that those other options came with their own set of problems and that I
would just be trading one set of problems for another. I figured out I was
better off with the set of problems I had and that, for me anyway, the grass
was not really greener on the other side. I came to the conclusion,
however, that I had to make school something that is enjoyable, doable and
attainable both for me and the kids. That took a lot of prayer and
soul-searching on my part, and thus our "school" will look quite different
from others. That's okay, and I think every family should figure out what
works best for them.

My main goals for school are for the kids to learn and to want to keep on
learning. I also want to provide a well-rounded education. I try to end a
subject just before it gets to be too much. That way, they are ready for
more the next day. We do some subjects together (history, Latin/Greek roots
and literature) and some subjects individually (math, science, government,
spelling, writing, typing, drilling, etc.) Presently the younger two are
doing science and government together also. We do the basic subjects
everyday (history, math, science) and switch off days on the other subjects.
Some are Tues/Thurs and some are Mon/Wed/Fri. The kids each have their own
checklist of which subjects to do each day so it doesn't get confusing and
all gets covered. I watch for signs of frustration or not understanding in
any area. That is where we back off, figure out what went wrong, and start
again. If a math lesson doesn't get finished because it is not understood,
that's okay. There is no point in continuing on until it is understood.
The same goes for other subjects.

What does a typical day look like? It's probably a lot different from
yours!

10:00-Everybody up, breakfast, chores, bible. (I've actually been up quite
a while, and accomplished a LOT of my day!)

11:00-Start school together. I read whatever history we are studying aloud,
then we do Latin/Greek roots or Spanish.

About 12:00-I read the science lesson aloud to the younger two, then we do
government or any other subject we might be doing together. The oldest
starts school on his own. If there is a science experiment that day, they
do that on their own.

About 1:00-Lunch. I read whatever our literature is at the time aloud.
Often the literature ties in with the history we are studying.

About 2:00-Everyone completes the rest of their subjects on their own. They
finish at variable times, but are usually done by 4-5:00.

Outside activities and dinner for the rest of the day. At dinner, I often
read missionary-related stuff while the whole family eats. We often have
dinner guests, in which case I don't read. The boys have to be in bed by
midnight. (They are 14, 15 and 17.)

This schedule is crazy late, but it works well with college kids at home.
We also have a boarder that works nights. He is often a part of the family
on his three nights a week off.

Susan

A Typical Day By: Linda

We have tried it all and are now homeschooling one on a year-round plan.
This lets us do fewer subjects at a time and leaves room for enrichment
activities. It also promotes life-long learning skills. It is important to
learn to enjoy learning.

We tried public school and it was a disaster! They didn't teach the kids
squat. If you think you can't homeschool because you're not a teacher, well
that's a false illusion. If you have a pulse, care about your child's
education, their character, and can read, write and (bonus) have basic
computer skills you are highly qualified to teach your child. You will NOT
have to put up with the anti-parent poison that has infected our schools.
Nor will you have to wonder what is being taught to your child - without
your knowledge or approval - by "counselors" who have their own agendas.
Don't even get me started...

We tried private Christian school. Great teachers and staff who did their
best to promote Godly principles and high academic standards. Costs a
fortune. What we didn't expect was the secular snotty social scene with the
other kids. Nice parents - wretched kids! No thanks, I can get that for
free at public school. Narcissism isn't cute even if it is dressed up in
little plaid uniforms, but I digress...

We are back to homeschool and happy as larks. The co-ops are great sources
of information and support. The kids and families are tremendous. LOTS of
great extra-curricular opportunities and enrichment that would not be
possible in a private / public school setting. I've found that a key to
success in school (any school) is for the child to take responsibility and
accountability for their education. Do not expect a child to come to this
epiphany on their own. Expect to get static. Be a big person (who already
HAS their education) and hold the line. Bobbing, weaving and changing to
make them "happy" is a sure way to get defeated. (Been there - done that,
you've met my boys) Structure helps a lot. Discipline is a life skill
best learned young. That is where self-esteem comes from, by the way. (No,
it isn't fairy dust) I must say, Katy is doing great!

6 am out of bed
make bed, get dressed, start morning chores, get organized for the
day
7 am jog a mile (gets those brain cells snapping and keeps the hiny tiny)
7:30 breakfast, clean up after yourself (a critical life skill worth
teaching)
finish any morning chores, chat with Dad
8 am Personal Bible study
8:30 School Starts
schedule of classes varies by day but is regularly scheduled so
there is no question of what needs to be accomplished
12 n LUNCH!
ask questions, get help as needed, chill out a bit
3:30 done with classes, put on swimsuit, get a cool drink, and take reading
book to floatie chair to read in pool. Life is good.
5pm Set table for dinner
6pm Dinner
Clear table and kitchen (Home Economics 101)
7pm Enjoy evening with the family
homework if necessary
Extra curricular activities some nights

If it doesn't get done during the school day then mom needs to know why. If
there is a problem - tell me. Got a question - ask it. Otherwise, it
becomes homework. Welcome to the real world. Fits and baditudes are not
problem solving skills. If you wouldn't dream of pulling it in private
school on the teacher, don't consider trying it on me. Dad is the
principal and you don't want to get sent to his office. Personal
accountability is a big deal. Success rocks!

Katy has set a goal for herself to go to the Naval Academy - her idea, not
mine. So, if my approach to homeschool sounds a bit militaristic, well
then... OK.

Semper Fi, little sister! Your mama is your biggest fan.

Linda