Dunedin Conference

What are the options for teenagers who choose to home-school through the secondary years? How does NCEA work, and how do home-schoolers access NCEA?  What’s Cambridge?  Are there other options (like not doing any qualifications and focussing just on great learning)!? How does one enter university as a home-schooler?  In this talk Natalie Donaldson will give a brief overview of the myriad of possibilities and help you work through the best options for children who are home-educated through the senior years.

Homeschooling is a long term project, and it is important to recognise that, just like any big project, we are works in progress.  It is important to count the cost and really understand our WHY before we begin, because our WHY carries us through the challenges and ups and downs of real life, and helps us not get derailed.  Like all projects – we need a vision for what we’re doing and some blue-prints to build to.  Building something significant takes time and effort, and it gets messy!  We need encouragement for the journey, and healthy self care to last the distance.  Join Cassandra Shepherd as she shares from her 15 year journey homeschooling her 3 children through to graduation, beginning in New Zealand followed by 9 years in Singapore. 

Marian Lane will talk will be about how to find your SPARK.  What is your “spark” and how can you identify it in yourself and your children?  How can you maintain it through your home-schooling journey.  This spark is what helps build resilience, optimism and achievement in you and your family.  It will give you the strength to cope with the difficult days that will inevitably come as part of every home-school journey.  By knowing and encouraging a person’s potential spark they can become a unique and productive flame that positively impacts their family, community and the world around them.  Come and hear how you too, can be building a family where everyone is striving towards their best selves.