Tell me more about "Park Day".
Park Day is often the first experience that prospective homeschoolers have with a support group. We urge you to join us at Park day so you can meet veteran homeschooling parents to answer your questions. Park Days are open to visitors and perspective homeschoolers, you need not be a member to attend. However, participation in all other activities, clubs, and field trips requires membership.
When and where is Park Day?

How do I join HFHE?
Membership in HFHE is $25 per year. Dues are used for liability insurance, duplication of handouts, and to offset fees for some events. As a HFHE member, you will be entitled to a 15% discount on membership in the Home School Legal Defense Association. You will also be entitled to “educator’s discounts” at many stores such as Copymax, Bookman’s, Apple Computer, and Jonathan’s Educational Resources.

How do I get started with homeschooling?
Legally, it’s easy to get started. First, if your child has attended away school, withdraw him. The school will help you with this part of the process. File an Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool with the Pima County School Superintendent, and send it to the Superintendent’s office with a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate. If you have never sent a child to away school, at the age of six you must file that same Affidavit with the same information as above. The State of Arizona is one of the least restrictive places to home educate. There is no mandated standardized testing, no intrusive home visits or lesson plans to file with the authorities.
Once your students are home, it’s important to work on the virtues first: patience, obedience, orderliness. Then it’s just a matter of choosing curriculum

What do I use for curriculum?
Anything you want, and it may be different for each child. The State of Arizona requires the areas of reading, mathematics, grammar, social studies, and science be covered. The Catholic faith will be part of your curriculum, too. There are three ways to meet these requirements: you may contract with a correspondence school (such as Seton Home Study) who supplies all of your textbooks does all of the record-keeping, and even grades assignments for you; you may design your own curriculum from various sources and do your own grading and record keeping; or you may use a combination of the correspondence and self-designed. A list of correspondence schools and curriculum suppliers is at the back of this packet, along with suggested readings.

Can homeschooling provide a comprehensive education?
Between the internet, local educational resources, and the network of co-ops available, almost any subject you imagine can be taught. Science co-ops, literature discussion groups, foreign language classes, private fine art lessons... all these and more can be accessed through HFHE members.

What about “socialization?”
How will a homeschooler fare out in the “real world?” Will they be able to interact with a variety of faiths, cultures, and creeds? What is being implied by the “socialization” question is that the homeschooled child is some kind of introverted misfit who cannot relate to other people, children, and the outside world. In reality, most homeschooled children are not only outgoing, but polite and respectful, too. Now, really, what behavior of the dominant peer culture would you like your child to emulate? Self-absorption? Greed? Promiscuity?

Remember, too, that home schooling has the advantages of drawing families closer, setting parents before role models rather than peers, and providing positive, multi-aged social experiences. Vatican II’s Declaration on Christian Education says “For it devolves on parents to create a family atmosphere so animated with love and reverence for God and others that a well-rounded personal and social development will be fostered among the children.” Homeschooled children are civilized in the Culture of Love.

What if I choose to homeschool only some of my children?
Many parents have made that same choice, and it is a CHOICE based on you, the parent, knowing what is in the best interest of each individual child. All children from HFHE members are welcome at activities and events.

What about sacramental preparation?
Currently, in the Diocese of Tucson, we are allowed, as homeschoolers, to prepare our children for the sacraments of confession and communion, with the permission of our parish priest. The children in the group receive these sacraments as a group, but each child is prepared at home. There is a body of parents who meet to plan for this every year. The sacrament of confirmation must be confered through your parish.

How much time does homeschooling require?
There are many variables to consider: the number and ages of your children, which curriculum you choose, your own lifestyle and educational philosophy, to name a few. Organizing your day will quickly become a priority. Many families teach two or more children close in age the same subject. Some plan hard subjects for baby’s nap time. Some start early in the morning, some attend daily mass as a family. Homeschooling is flexable. No two families will be alike. But you will most definitely be spending less time “schooling” per day than an away school which must take roll, line up for bathroom breaks, stop to teach to the slowest student, and assign homework. Home education is much more like tutoring, going at the student’s pace, and each student receiving individualized attention. It’s hard work to take on a child’s education, but Catholic parents are equipped with the graces of the sacraments!