Eta Sigma Alpha National Homeschool Honor Society

At our October meeting, Mrs. Steffanie Williams joined us to speak about the process of writing her first book,  Eww...You Homeschool.  She explained her purpose in writing and guided us through the steps of publishing, from the first draft to working out royalties with publishing companies. Her book, which was published by New Harbor Press in March 2021, is written to be an encouragement to homeschooling mothers. You can find more information about it  here.  

Congratulations to the new members of Omicron Zeta Chapter of Eta Sigma Alpha: Abril Victoria Tamez Amelia Winn Robin Robinson   Kylee Huff     Claire Higgins Madison Hare Caleb Giraudeau Brady Bowles Leah Bouldin

 In September we had our first meeting of the school year. We held elections and came up with ideas for service projects and activities for the upcoming year. We also have the privilege of welcoming several new members!

 In April 2021, the group had a service project at the Friendship House. We did everything from raking mulch to folding clothes to tutoring students. We also all enjoyed playing outside games with the kids and participating in their devotional time. It was super fun and a great place to serve! Learn more about the Friendship House here!

 In March 2021, Lydia and Noah Lankford's grandfather, Mr. Wayne Lankford, spoke to the group about making goals and making decisions in life. He discussed the theme of success and also told stories about his experience in his career. 

In our February 2021 meeting, we served at the Soup for Seniors drive for the Local Office on Aging. We loaded up bags with essentials for seniors and shut-ins, including soup, peanut butter, crackers, canned vegetables and fruits, and snacks. It was a great time to serve and make an impact in the community! You can learn more about Soup for Seniors and LOA  here.  

 In our January 2021 meeting, a panel of three Honor Society Alumni, Taylor Caldwell, Andrew Droubay, and Luke Giraudeau, joined us to answer questions about college application processes and give helpful advice about how to succeed in high school. The three alumni discussed how they chose their respective universities, gave recommendations for the college application process, and discussed the things they wished they'd have done differently. It was an extremely helpful discussion!

  For our December meeting, Mr. Aaron Dowdy spoke to us about his ministry with Friendship House. He described the changes that occurred in their ministry due to COVID-19 and showed us a presentation with pictures of their food drives, after-school programs, and refugee housing area. You can learn more about his ministry  here.  

 In November, Mrs. Terry Benjamin of Blue Ridge Women's Center came to speak to us about her organization. She discussed how recent legislature has affected their work and told stories about the women whose lives her work has impacted. It was eye-opening and insightful. For a November service project, we collected donations for the BRWC store, where young mothers can find items for their baby. We collected everything from chapstick and baby hats to diapers and board books. For more info about BRWC, click here. 

 In October 2020, Mr. Darren Potter came to speak to us about his ministry as a chaplain for the police force. It was interesting to hear about how recent racial tensions had affected his work and how he helps police officers process the hard and heavy things they see every day while balancing work with a healthy family life.