About Us . . .

Overview

MISSION STATEMENT:
As homeschooling families it is our individual missions to raise our children in light of Deuteronomy 6:4-7. We value our privilege to homeschool as the best way to influence our children's spiritual walks through early life. We also know that, as their parents, we know our children best. And thus recognize that we can present the best academic environment in which their individual learning strengths and weaknesses can be nurtured. As a group, it is HERE's mission to reach out to our community of homeschooling families to enhance their experience through fellowship and recreation. We wish for our children to enjoy the extracurricular activities that are present in a school group setting - such as weekly Physical Education, monthly Field Trips, Holiday Parties and Educational Events. Homeschooling is a 24 hour job and thus requires a great amount of discipline on the part of the mother. We recognize that being a disciplined mother requires strength from a source beyond herself - thus it is another goal of HERE to nurture the spirit of our homeschooling mothers. We pray that our monthly Mom's Night Out will be a source of encouragement and rejuvenation for our mothers. Though it is NOT required that a member of HERE be a follower of Jesus Christ, it must be understood that HERE was founded and continues to function through prayer to God.
Deut 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and YOU SHALL TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY TO YOUR SONS and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when rise up.

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK
As a group we know that if everyone contributes, we will all be more successful together.  HERE works using a point system to allow everyone to do their part to help the group.  We use the points to help distribute the load of the group.  The idea is that everyone who participates will have to obtain FOUR (4) points by the end of the year. 

Here are a few ways you can earn points:

• All lead positions (i.e. planning a party or event) – 4 points
• Party / Event Committee Participants – 2 points
• Setup Crew – 1 point / event
• Clean Up Crew – 1 point / event
• Hosting a Mom’s Night Out at your home – 2 points
• Etc. . . .

Note: You can earn a maximum of 3 points at an event if you are not the lead

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEE:
$25 / family per school year (Our year runs August to July)

History

Started in the fall of 2004, HERE (stands for Home Educators Recreation and Enrichment) was the brainstorm of two homeschool moms, Gretchen Heinrich and Tracie Wilkens. With many years of homeschooling experience, Gretchen moved to Smithfield and was looking for a homeschool support group. Tracie was starting her first year of homeschooling and was looking for a group to fill in the missing pieces from a school environment. After meeting at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, they gathered a group of other interested homeschooling moms and HERE was born. The first year featured holiday parties, working toward the Presidential Fitness Award, a few field trips and lots of growth. Today we are thankful for the vision God gave to Tracie and Gretchen to help us support one another as we homeschool our children.

Board 2007-2008

President
Debbie Sebring

Vice President
Theresa Wagar

Secretary
Synora Dybrowski

Treasurer
Jennifer French

Party Coordinator
Kelly Shales

Event Coordinator
Kelly King

Field Trip Coordinator
Vacant

Teen Coordinator
Vacant

Miscellaneous Coordinator
Pamela Freeman

• About Us
• Parties
• Educational Events
• Field Trips
• Mom's Night Out
• Teens (Gr 6 & Up)
• Recreation (PE)
• Google Email Group