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1. Open house for new co-op in Westborough
TODAY
.
Grace & Truth Homeschool Enrichment Co-op is a new Christ-centered, biblically grounded homeschool community meeting on Wednesdays in Westborough, Massachusetts. Our desire is to come alongside homeschool families through education, discipleship, fellowship, and enrichment—helping equip parents and encourage children as together we raise up the next generation in the truth of God’s Word.
🌿
YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR OPEN HOUSE!
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Come stop by & drop in to check us out! Come meet our teachers, tour the classrooms, learn about our classes and membership, ask questions, and see whether Grace & Truth might be a good fit for your family.
We would love to meet you!
Mission of Grace Church
85 E Main St., Westborough, MA 01581
📚
ABOUT GRACE & TRUTH
Grace & Truth is a
membership-based, parent-involvement homeschool enrichment cooperative
. Family membership includes the individual classes offered through the co-op. We currently plan to offer
three terms throughout the school year
, with a summer break and opportunities for
field trips, special events, and community activities
along the way.
Please note:
Grace & Truth is
not a drop-off program.
Our cooperative model is built around families learning and serving together. Each participating family contributes to the community by having
one parent teach or volunteer for two class blocks
during the co-op day.
Our
Member Handbook
explains the cooperative structure, parent participation, family membership fee, policies, and other important details. Copies will be available at the Open House.
🕘
OUR WEDNESDAY
Our regular co-op day runs from
9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
:
9:30
— Arrival & Check-In
9:40
— Opening Assembly
10:25
— Block 1 Classes
11:30
— Lunch & Recess
12:05
— Block 2 Classes
1:10
— Snack
1:30
— Block 3 Classes
2:35
— Closing Assembly
2:50–3:00
— Dismissal & Check-Out
❄️
WINTER TERM Begins on January 13th
🤝
WE’D LOVE TO CONNECT WITH YOU
If you are looking for additional homeschool enrichment and a community centered around
Christ, biblical truth, education, discipleship, and family participation
, we would love for you to consider joining us. Please feel free to contact either of us with questions:
Pastor Dave
508-755-7467
PastorDaveJ@gracetruthco-op.org
Shelly Johnson
508-762-9624
Grace.Truth.Cooperative@gmail.com
2. Reading tutor available in central Mass.
From Carla Auker:
I offer Orton-Gillingham based tutoring in the central Massachusetts area. Contact me at (774)271-0056.
3. Speaker vault for October – Ginger Plowman
The MassHOPE website features a
CURATED LIBRARY OF RECORDED WORKSHOPS
from past conventions. Over the years, we have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of inspiring speakers, and we regularly showcase some of their most encouraging presentations in this section. For October, we invite you to listen to a thought-provoking message by Ginger Plowman from our 2008 convention.
Ginger Plowman is an author, speaker, and homeschooling mother known for helping parents apply biblical truth to the everyday challenges of raising children. With a practical and engaging approach, Ginger encourages parents to look beyond outward behavior and address the attitudes of the heart.
In this workshop, Taming the Tongue, Ginger tackles one of the most challenging areas of family life… how we speak to one another. She examines the tremendous power of our words to encourage, instruct, and build up, as well as their ability to wound and tear down. Ginger offers practical guidance for recognizing sinful patterns of speech and replacing them with communication that honors God. With plenty of encouragement for parents along the way, this session will challenge your family to think carefully about the words you use and help you cultivate a home where your speech reflects grace, wisdom, and love.
4. Field trip fun in Sutton
WATERS FARM
looks like a wonderful place to spend a beautiful fall day. Open every day, but also many special events are scheduled. This 1757 historic landmark offers “a glimpse of 19th century New England farm life.”
5. For your encouragement: did homeschooling make a difference?
The author of
THIS PIECE
was homeschooled in Maine in the 80s and 90s. He references both academic studies and personal experiences in this thoughtful look at grown-up homeschoolers.
6. In the news: an involved grandmother in California
I hear about more and more instances where it’s the grandmother, not a parent, who is doing the day-to-day homeschooling. Story
HERE
.
7. Chuckles
Good. Fast. Cheap. Choose two.
8. Happy Family Sign Time
Happy Family Sign Time — Live weekly basic sign language classes for children and their grown-ups! Learn fun, everyday signs together (mealtime, feelings, playtime, and more)—no experience needed. Best suited for infants through early elementary age.
Try it first: Book a trial class for just $10, no commitment.
$20 per class or $120 for the full 6-week series, per family. Learn more and sign up at
happyfamilysigntime.com
.
9. Homeschool programs at Old Sturbridge Village
October Homeschool Day for October 9. Info
HERE
. Many workshops still have space.
Homeschool civics programs this fall. Info
HERE
. The October class is over, but you can sign up for November.
10 TeenPact returning to Connecticut and New Hampshire
T
eenPact Connecticut
invites you to join them at next year's dynamic leadership camp from
March 29- April 2, 2027
at the Capitol in Hartford. TeenPact inspires youth in their relationship with Christ and trains them to understand the political process, value their liberty, defend the Christian faith, and engage the culture around them. There is a four- or five-day camp for ages 13-19, one day for ages 8-12, and a one-day Political Communication Workshop for ages 13-19. The overnight camp will be held at the beautiful Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford. Learn more about all the details and the new exciting location for overnight camp option by emailing jenjen632@yahoo.com, calling (860)779-3999 (home #) or going to
TEENPACT
.
Registration opens September 1, 2026 and the best prices are from September 1-30. Here’s how the savings work:
Double Early Bird — Save $30
Register during the month of September and receive
$30 off tuition
.
Early Bird — Save $15
After September, the savings continue at
$15 off tuition
until 60 days before your class begins.
Can’t make it to Connecticut? The same classes (also offering student housing) will be held in
New Hampshire on May 3-7.
For the first time in many years, these New Hampshire dates
do not conflict
with the MassHOPE Convention in Sturbridge.
Register
HERE
for Connecticut and
HERE
for New Hampshire.
Don’t know
what
TeenPact is, and
why
you should attend?
The
WHAT
: here’s a
QUICK LOOK
at what it’s all about. [Bonus for attending a state class: you’re eligible for Alumni Events. My kids loved them!]
The
WHY
: read this
INSPIRING STORY
about the huge impact TeenPact had on one student.
Here is the testimony of an alumnus:
The godliest peers I had growing up were those I knew through TeenPact. Going to TeenPact classes and alumni events strengthened me spiritually, shaped my growth and maturity as a person, and sparked a passion for influencing government and culture and gave me a venue to put that into practice. The educational experiences TeenPact offered were not only challenging and impactful but also loads of fun.
ONE-DAY TeenPact for 8-12-year olds
For many students, TeenPact begins with a simple but meaningful experience — a day spent learning, exploring, and connecting with new friends who share their
curiosity and excitement.
These one-day state classes (sometimes affectionately referred to as “TeenyPact”) are created especially for students
ages 8–12
, giving younger students a chance to experience TeenPact in a fun, welcoming environment where relationships form naturally and confidence begins to grow.
Throughout the day, students will:
• Join together in worship and prayer
• Participate in prayer walks
• Discover how laws are made
• Take part in an engaging mock legislature
Students don’t just learn about leadership at TeenPact — they experience it firsthand alongside new friends, building skills and memories that last long after the day ends. To reserve your student’s spot,
CLICK HERE
.
11. Speaker vault for September – Vicki Bentley
The MassHOPE website features a
CURATED LIBRARY OF RECORDED WORKSHOPS
from past conventions. Over the years, we have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of inspiring speakers, and we regularly showcase some of their most encouraging presentations in this section. For September, we invite you to listen to a thought-provoking message by Vicki Bentley from our 2010 convention.
Vicki Bentley is a veteran homeschooling mother, conference speaker, and author who has encouraged thousands of families with practical, biblical advice for managing the challenges of home education. Known for her warm humor and realistic approach, Vicki equips homeschool parents with tools to simplify life, reduce stress, and focus on what matters most.
In this workshop, Organized (Well, Almost!) – Time Management for Busy Moms, Vicki shares practical strategies for bringing order to the often chaotic world of homeschooling and family life. You'll discover simple, effective techniques for prioritizing responsibilities, making the most of your time, and reducing the feeling of constantly being behind. Whether you're juggling lesson plans, household tasks, or ministry commitments, this encouraging session will help you develop routines that work for your family while leaving room for flexibility and grace. You'll come away with practical ideas to help you accomplish more, and enjoy the journey along the way.
12. Field trip fun at the fair
Founded by the Essex County Agricultural Society, the Topsfield Fair was first held in 1818 and is now the nation's oldest continuing fair. Something for everyone in the 10-day event which starts on Friday, October 2 and runs through Columbus Day, October 12. Loads of educational opportunities in addition to entertainment, carnival rides, and food. Learn all about it
HERE
.
13. For your encouragement: multiple ages
There has been a lot written about how to handle homeschooling children of different ages – and that’s good; by taking in a wide variety of tips, you increase your chances of finding something that will work for
your
family.
HERE
i
s another on the subject. Hope you find a nugget that’s helpful!
14. In the news: “Has Homeschooling Gone Mainstream?”
Written by a homeschooling mother,
THIS ARTICLE
from
Minding the Campus
is basically a review of the recent book
Skipping School,
by historian and homeschooling mother Dixie Dillon Lane. The work is characterized as “a refreshing, helpful review of what homeschooling is and how it has operated over time” and asserts that it entered the “mainstream” around 2010.
15. Chuckles
For those days when you can only cry or
LAUGH
.
16. Recordings from the 2026 convention
Did you miss a session because there were too many great workshops to choose from? Or, sadly, did you miss the entire convention? No problem. Order session recordings individually, or get the whole set. Just click
HERE
.
17. Know someone who doesn’t receive the Messenger?
We share important information about MassHOPE, and other items of interest to homeschooling families. So spread the word! Encourage your friends to sign up now to ensure they receive all this, especially upcoming convention info.
All they need to do to receive it is to send full name and email address to
info@masshope.org
.
Help them stay informed!
Also,
while you’re at it, why don’t you start thinking about volunteering at our next convention? We need you!
18. Choose “MassHOPE” when purchasing from Christian Book
MassHOPE has been approved for the GiveBack affiliate program at Christian Book and will receive a 4% cashback donation on any orders that are placed with MassHOPE as the beneficiary! Look for a box at checkout that says to find your church (which actually includes Christian schools and 501(c)(3) organizations as well as churches).
19. Social media triple play
We’re on each of the Big Three: X
, Facebook, and Instagram. Our Facebook and Instagram accounts are linked, so you can follow us on Instagram and get some of the same info we post there. Go to our link -
https://www.instagram.com/massachusetts_homeschool/
-
and click “Follow.”
20.
Discounts from SchoolhouseTeachers.com
Homeschooling can be challenging.
It can be expensive, time-consuming, and confusing to choose classes and curricula for multiple students. We are writing to tell you that
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
will provide all the courses you need for homeschooling each of your preschool through graduating 12th-grade students at the discounted annual price of $179 (you save $90)
.
With hundreds of online courses, lesson plans, quizzes, tests, answer keys, certificates of completion, and streaming videos, your annual
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
membership will ensure you have a full-spectrum, non-Common Core curriculum platform to confidently educate your children at home.
Membership is good for your whole family—including grandparents—no matter how many children you have. Because everything is included online, there is no need to buy textbooks. PLUS, there are no per class, no per child, nor any other hidden fees. You can also generate quarterly report cards for each student and access help with transcript creation for your high schoolers.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com contains nearly every subject imaginable—art history, drawing, computer technology, foreign languages, history, language arts, math, music, science, and loads of electives. Let your kids help pick out their own courses!
21. MassHOPE Facebook groups
Did you know that MassHOPE has two private Facebook groups in addition to its main Facebook page? If you would like to join the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Discussion and Support Group (described in Item #23) or the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Marketplace and UCS group (described in Item #24), or if you invite anyone to join these groups, please note that there are questions you will need to answer in order to be approved. If you don't get approved soon after your request to join, perhaps you didn't answer the required questions.
22. MassHOPE advertising opportunities
MassHOPE has a variety of advertising options available at reasonable rates in several media paths – MassHOPE website, dedicated email, Facebook, MassHOPE Messenger. If interested, please send an email to advertising@masshope.org. All ads are subject to availability and space. MassHOPE reserves the right to accept or reject ads as we must apportion limited space and evaluate relevance to our audience.
23. MassHOPE Facebook discussion group
Connect with us on Facebook at
MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Discussion and Support Group
. This group provides support and encouragement for homeschoolers pursuing privately-funded, parent-led home education. Its purpose is to encourage and equip homeschool parents to disciple and educate their children for the Lord, and to connect families within our state to give them opportunities to gather together for educational and recreational experiences. Join at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MassHOPEDiscussion/
24. MassHOPE’s Facebook marketplace
Couldn’t make it to the used curriculum sale? Connect with other buyers and sellers on MassHOPE’s homeschool marketplace and UCS in order to buy and sell used curriculum! Join at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MassHOPEUCS
.
25.
The MassHOPE Educator ID Card
Educator IDs are available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website
HERE
.
26. Your news items wanted
Do you know of an event or activity in or near Massachusetts that would edify or interest the homeschool community? Email Anne Smith at
volunteer@masshope.org
and we will review it for possible inclusion in the MassHOPE Messenger.
27. Remember to "Like" MassHOPE on Facebook
"Like" MassHOPE's
FACEBOOK PAGE
.
You'll be encouraged in your homeschooling journey and will receive all updates for upcoming events.
28. Are you on our mailing lists?
If you are receiving this e-newsletter, you are on our email list! May we also add you to our “snail mail” list to receive occasional information via the U.S. Postal Service? If Yes, please send your full name and complete mailing address to
newsletter@masshope.org
.
29. How to homeschool legally in Massachusetts
This video features Michael Donnelly, formerly HSLDA's designated counsel for Massachusetts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmELLON4OFI&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWzxwNhyZUNrdz0K-tbkz9a&index=21
.
The link referenced for further Massachusetts-specific articles is
https://hslda.org/legal/massachusetts
.
30. Special education resources
Here are two valuable resources for homeschooling parents of special needs children.
FREE DOWNLOADS
provides IEP templates, therapy resources, a Getting Started guide, and more.
EMPOWERING HOMESCHOOL CONVERSATIONS
, which covers a wide range of issues.
31. Videos and webinars from HSLDA
T
hree-part video series on getting started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVOzkYx2vcA&list=PLe7Gz-9V5xsWAtvLTz1gA1CYyPLBBe-Ke
.
How to Start Homeschooling with Special Needs
:
https://hslda.org/teaching-my-kids/special-needs
.
And many, many more
:
https://hslda.org/community/webinars
.
32. Get started homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for
getting started
.
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