Home School Kansas

Just because I was googling what exactly to write for my withdrawal letter for my oldest to homeschool this week and had trouble finding a letter example for Kansas.

Kansas Homeschooling Laws info, Here and Here.

Kansas education laws and statutes do not specifically mention homeschooling. However, in 1996, the Kansas legislature did pass a Parental Rights Act that reads, in part: “It shall be the public policy of this state that parents shall retain the fundamental right to exercise primary control over the care and upbringing of their children in their charge” (K.S.A. Section 38-141(b).

In Pierce v. Society of the Sisters, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that "the fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments of this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the creature of the state."

If you are going to home school, first:

Non-Accredited Private Schools (Home Schooling)- register here with the Kansas Dep. of Education. It is very easy, simple and fast to do online.  Save the file on your computer for future reference and print a copy for your records AND for whatever school or schools you are withdrawing your children from if the currently attend somewhere else.

If you are leaving a school either mid year or just not returning for the new school year, you must let them know and an email letting them know doesn't seem to be enough.

You will want to send them a copy of your Registration and a formal withdrawal letter.  We are going to sign ours.  The school requested document or proof that our child was enrolled in some online program.  But I researched and it's a withdrawal letter that is needed here and you do NOT have to explain why or what curriculum you are using. Just that you are withdrawing them and give them registration info so they can remove your child from their records.  Otherwise after 3 consecutive days not in their school they will get reported to the truant officer.   I researched a few things and found this helpful to know!

Example withdrawal letter:

Your name                                                                     date
Address

Child's name


Dear Principal Someone:

Please be advised we will be withdrawing the above child from Some School  effective as of  Date, when she/he will be privately educated.

If you have any questions, please send them to us in writing.  Thank you.


Sincerely,

parent's signature and date

It all sounds very simple once I type it but when you have to come up with something out of nothing really it feels like a lot to have to figure out how to word correctly.  Or maybe that's just me.
update: the school office said it was exactly what they needed and best wishes in success at homeschooling!
Looking for totally free Christian curriculum online?  Complete, All Free Curriculum 

Some quick words on vaccines and exemptions.

It's been a really long time and probably because I'm rarely on the big old computer but I have been typing up letters for school purposes.  In my quest I was googling examples of some various letters I would need for homeschooling and vaccine exemption for Kansas, so I thought I would at least pass my info on in case it would help anyone.

First of all, know the Vaccine laws and exemption for your particular state.  They can be a little different.  I will give the Kansas info. Here and here.

First of all, what gets put in your child's body should be the parent's choice and as parents we want to do what we feel is best for our children based on our own research and convictions.  There have been times I have thought about just caving and saving myself the trouble, but it felt so wrong to go against all the information I now had that I could not forget or ignore.  So if you have decided not to vaccinate or partially vaccinate or delay then I just wanted to help by putting my research and letter example out here.  I'm not interested in arguing about vaccines or that lining up to get vaccinated is what the Lord wants.  I just don't have time for that.

Kansas has Medical and Religious exemption options.

K.S.A. § 72-5209. Health tests and inoculations; certification of completion required, alternatives; duties of school boards.

(a) In each school year, every pupil enrolling or enrolled in any school for the first time in this state, and each child enrolling or enrolled for the first time in a preschool or day care program operated by a school, and such other pupils as may be designated by the secretary, prior to admission to and attendance at school, shall present to the appropriate school board certification from a physician or local health department that the pupil has received such tests and inoculations as are deemed necessary by the secretary by such means as are approved by the secretary. Pupils who have not completed the required inoculations may enroll or remain enrolled while completing the required inoculations if a physician or local health department certifies that the pupil has received the most recent appropriate inoculations in all required series. Failure to timely complete all required series shall be deemed non-compliance.

(b) As an alternative to the certification required under subsection (a), a pupil shall present:

(1) An annual written statement signed by a licensed physician stating the physical condition of the child to be such that the tests or inoculations would seriously endanger the life or health of the child, or

(2) a written statement signed by one parent or guardian that the child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such tests or inoculations.

My religious conviction based on Scripture is not to violate my conscience.

"..to go against conscience is neither right nor safe."  -Martin Luther

Romans 14:23.

James 4:17  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Acts 5:29 " we must obey God rather than man"

These are our spiritual convictions on this matter, I do not impose them on anyone else.

Also the fact that many vaccines have aborted baby cells in them doesn't make this decision hard for me,  the more I read and research the further I am convinced. I also have seen how much healthier our family as been since no more flu shots and vaccines. And to think I used to be on the other side, fearful and judging those who would not vaccinate.  Anyway, this isn't a post to convince anyone, only to help those who are wanting help with letter info.

Letter example:


Your name                                                                                                date
address


To Whom It May Concern:

In compliance with Kansas State Laws, I am writing this letter on behalf of my child(ren),names  who will be attending Some School, Date.

I am writing this to state that we adhere to a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such inoculations. The practice of vaccination is contrary to our beliefs and would violate our religious principles.

By declaring these convictions and presenting them in writing to you,  I am complying with the immunization exemption provisions in K.S.A. 72-5209.


Thank you.

parent signature                          date


I modified a letter for New York State .  Notice I made sure to include the proper wording needed for Kansas.  I thought about using more of the letter's wording as I preferred it but I figured I better stick to more exact wording.  Maybe that is me but I just wanted to make sure.  I am so thankful however at enrollment the lady that helped me was so kind and helpful and never made me feel like a societal delinquent. Other things I read online was you do not need to explain yourself or your religious details to the school or in the letter.  In hind site, I would have had this letter written and ready to turn in with all my other paperwork at enrollment.  So I will have to drop it by before school starts.

Some info if you are interested:

http://www.mommypotamus.com/vaccine-illusion/   Immunologist challenges current vaccine theory. I have heard this lady talk some before.

http://www.mommypotamus.com/should-parents-who-dont-vaccinate-be-prosecuted/

http://www.mommypotamus.com/should-vaccines-be-mandatory/# 

http://www.thankyourbody.com/why-we-chose-not-to-vaccinate-our-child/

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/18/history-vaccination.aspx  forgotten history of vaccines.

Some Doctors against vaccines.

Dr. Tenpenny D.O.
Dr. Mercola D.O.
Dr. Susanne Humphries M.D.
Dr. Toni Bark M.D.
Dr. Jack Wolfson Cardiologist
Dr. Tetyana Obukhanych PhD Immunologist

All Natural Sunscreens

Yes, I'm still here, I've been a bad neglectful blogger... Summertime is here and here are some sunscreens I like that are all natural and very comparably priced to the chemical junk you can get the store. Dr. Mercola, Natural Sunscreen, with Green Tea, SPF 15, 8 fl oz (236 ml)  Why just spf 15??  It blocks 94% percent of the rays.  He also offers an spf 30.  Looking for a stick for little faces?? Badger Company, All Season Face Stick, Sport Sunscreen, SPF 35, Unscented.  The Badger company even says theirs is NonNano.  I would assume mercola's is too as it both sunscreens you have work a tiny bit harder to rub in the white, but that is the price you pay a little with the natural sunscreens sometimes.  I felt like I have had chalkier natural sunscreens before so I'm ok with this stuff.  Short post, but it's something. :)  Needing to post how to make deodorant soon...

Poison Ivy

I'm posting this while it is in my head to do it.  This fall my son's ball rolled into my parent's neighbor's poison ivy.  He got the ball and ran in to tell us the ball rolled into it, and it was one of those big huge balls.  I freaked out slightly and made him wash his hands immediately as I know you want to get those oils off you asap.  We have never dealt with it before, I have never had it, nor my kids.  Anyway, a couple days past and he mentioned his forearms being itchy, there were red and a little bumpy a little welty.  I should've taken a pic.  All I saw was a little rash on his arms, and I didn't think much of it.  Till bath time came it was all up his arms, underneath his upper arms, welts bumps, his neck back of legs and behind, belly and back.  The smart thing would've been to shower the kid and change his clothes and wash them in hot water.  Duh.  I am thinking, oh crap, we are in for a fight, the google results of poison ivy pics were HORRID, but I did come across only a few that looked like him so he seemed to have a mild case, even though he was itchy and it was widespread. 

Something he did on his own that night that I read actually does help, was, he took a really hot bath.  You would think it would irritate and inflame, but I read online that it helps the rash feel better.  Which is funny that naturally, he did this for himself.  Check out this out from modernsurvivalblog. 

Then in my flustered freakout frenzy,I gave him some Zyrtec ( which I only use if someone is getting a full body rash) and I had put some cortisone cream on his wrists, but didn't like the idea of putting it all over him as even topical steroids can weaken the immune system.  I then got out my food grade aloe vera gel, just a little, maybe 3 tablespoons or so, and added a few drops each of essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary and I put that everywhere the rash was.  If you can believe it, as I still can't, the next morning, his rash was nearly all gone, I could only see a little left on his wrists.  I put more on him that morning and that night and he was fine.  I thought I would need to keep him home from school but no need.  A strange fluke, I don't know, but I DO know it could only have been poison ivy, a mild case perhaps, but this is what worked for us, for what it is worth.

source for picture: www.modernsurvivalblog.com

Natural Help for Coughs and Ear Infections

Since it's that time of year I wanted to share a product that I didn't learn about till this year.  Our pediatrician told me about buckwheat honey, that it's proven to be just as effective as guaifenesin for coughs.  My son had been struggling with a cough for a few weeks and we had been using the mucinex for kids, I was desperate one night and pulled it out, he would cough to the point of puking.  Anyway he did end up on a round of antibiotics ( as much as I love to avoid them) but the dr also told me about Zarbees, it's flavor is more appealing than the molasses taste of buckwheat honey and the nighttime version has melatonin in it!  We've had some pesky coughs around here again and I have not had to be up in the night with anyone coughing, if I someone is not getting to sleep, we use the Zarbees, then it takes a little bit and sleep ensues.  SO nice to know I'm giving the kids something healthy and natural with no additives in it.  I also use a humidifier with a few drops of ecucalyptus oil. 

From SustainableBabySteps.com: "Eucalyptus oil uses have long been known to include anything regarding the respiratory system, including during asthma attacks, bronchitis infections, colds, and more. But there are dozens more little known uses for this essential oil." check out more here.

My other go to item is Wally's Ear Oil.  Refer to this post if you'd like to read how we kicked my son's ear infection without antibiotics last year.  We were able to avoid the dr. twice!

Natural Help for Crepey Dry Skin

Ah, getting older, isn't it grand?  Just when you face clears up, you look in the mirror in just the right lighting and think " what?????????"  This fall I noticed some crepey wrinkleness in the area of my cheeks below my eye, not right under the eye but below.  Needless to say my vanity kicked in and I wanted to kill those wrinkles... I wanted to accept them because it's part of aging but they didn't seem like they should be THERE of all places... smile lines maybe not there.  The skin seemed to pull and be thin and crepey, it only looked ok right AFTER I put on something moisturizing.  So I googled and I googled.  I came to the conclusion that I was over drying my skin and that skin needs humectants, which I'm not entirely sure oil provides.  Oil does nourish and protect, but humectants hold the water in the skin.  Humectants would be something like honey, glycerin or hyaluronic acid.
This would make sense that the Madre Magic worked better for my mom than the straight almond oil.  It contains honey.  Being in the freakout stage I was in, I bought two new products to add to my winter repertoire.  The Madre Magic and Andalou Naturals, Hyaluronic DMAE Lift & Firm Cream, Age Defying, 
ingredients :
Aloe barbadensis juice*, argania spinosa (argan) and simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oils*, glyceryl stearate, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*†, fruit stem cell and bioactive 8 berry complex*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil*, DMAE, glyceryl monolaurate, hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, ubiquinone (CoQ10), bisabolol, tocopherol (vitamin E), magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (vitamin C), panthenol (pro vitamin B5), allantoin, cyamopsis tetragonolobus (guar) gum*, borago officinalis (borage) and oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oils*, camellia sinensis (white tea) and hibiscus rosa-sinensis extracts*†, phenethyl alcohol, ethylhexylglycerin, agathosma capensis (buchu) oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil*
* Organic
† Fair Trade.

I have been using the this twice a day, oh I love it, my skin is doing so much better and this stuff actually seems to firm and plump.  Sometimes I will use a little glycolic acid cream before I put this on.  This was very soothing.  And the final help is just on my extra crepey area, I use the Madre Magic and my skin has improved more than I thought it would.

One more note for dry skin.  I have traded salt scrubs like the sea salt and baking soda for sugar since salt can pull water out.  So far so good, it never occured to me that sugar could contain glycolic acid!!  So I've been using sugar mixed with my oil on my face.  If you want to amp it up with more exfoilating add some fresh squeezed lemon, a wedge would be enough for one application, I still like to add a drop of oil or two... just cause it's winter.

So there it is, I wanted to share in case anyone else is having similar issues!!

I've also recently bought some Now Foods Vegetable Glycerine, haven't it used it yet! But it will be used it whatever random moisturizer I make next, I'm still trying to perfect my foot oil...

Hair Products ands Tips

Ok as much as I like to save money making beauty products, sometimes, I'm tired of it, I'll admit it, some things really aren't that bad to make, others take longer... like when I was looking up how to make my own hairspray.... too long, no thanks.  I really like this product, as usual I get it off iherb.  They really should pay me for these plugs but my audience isn't that big so oh well....


Andalou Naturals, Hair Spray, Perfect Hold, Sunflower & Citrus,

 

I hadn't used hairspray for a really long time because of the chemicals and sometimes, my hair does need it.  I love this, it smells great, decent ingredients and has great hold if you ask me. Unless you're looking for Aqua Net...;)  I have been using Andalou Naturals, Styling Cream, Sweet Orange & Argan for a long time.  I may try the hair gel next.  All these smell really good, as does the shower gel that I just got not long ago, and the conditioner.  Though I don't think I can afford to keep getting the shampoo or conditioner.  I checked out these ingredients once upon a time and they were ok.

Another hair tip.  Soft water.  We got our old one going again and I hated my hair a whole lot less. ;)  It seems to get cleaner, softer and is easy to comb out.  I noticed a difference in the kids hair too.  If you don't have soft water and hate your hair.. I do believe they sell shower heads that soften your water.  And never under estimate the power of getting your ends trimmed.  I still can't tell you I have found the perfect shampoo, price, ingredients and performance as I struggle with scalp build up issues.  I just have to spend a lot of detailed scrubbing time when I wash.  At this point I use Nature's Gate which is what I consider a lesser evil but not perfect in ingredients, it was it has fragrance but it's phalate free fragrance.  I would rather it be all out NATURAL fragrance.  And speaking of making crap, I DID make some hair serum that I am pleased with actually.

Hair Serum Recipe:

2 tbsp. Aloe vera gel ( the kind you can eat)

1 tbsp. coconut oil

2 tbsp. almond oil

a few drops of peppermint oil and rosemary.

  Shake each time and use sparingly and not too far up towards the roots, you can use on wet or dry hair.  I mix it with my styling cream sometimes too.   AND  I have in the past few days started using some on my face since it's been such a dry winter... so far so good but I am not to the point where I would say forsure put it on your face!!  But it's something you wouldn't need to rinse off your hands and if you have some irritated itchy skin, it works pretty darn well.