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1. Ballet Magnificat!’s “Anchored: The Pilgrim Story”
Beautifully choreographed and performed by
BALLET MAGNIFICAT!
, “Anchored: The Pilgrim Story” will inspire audiences with its portrayal of the courage and faith of the Pilgrims, their perilous crossing, and the friendship that developed with Native Americans. The timing is especially fitting for America's 250th anniversary, since the Pilgrims' Mayflower Compact was a governing document that directly influenced the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. Ballet Magnificat! is the nation’s top Christian ballet company, and their faith is shared sincerely. “Anchored” is a perfect event to invite friends and family to. Presented by
FirstLoveWorks
. Three performances are scheduled in Massachusetts: September 23 in Andover, September 25 in Worcester, and September 26 in Plymouth.
In conjunction with the Ballet, FirstLoveWorks is arranging for Leo and Nancy Martin, and/or Paul Jehle, to give presentations about the Pilgrims and their connection to the Declaration and Constitution at schools and for homeschool groups during the weeks prior to the performances, as their schedules permit. If you are interested in scheduling a presentation, you should contact
Ann@firstloveworks.org
. Also, there will be a presentation about the Pilgrims and the Declaration at Plymouth Memorial Hall on the afternoon of September 26, ahead of the performance itself at 6:30. The presentation is free of charge (as are all presentations scheduled within a week or two prior to the performances), but folks will be asked to register. There will be more details coming in future issues of the MassHOPE Messenger.
Discounts for homeschoolers, students at Christian schools, and groups
Homeschoolers and students from Christian schools, and their families and friends, will receive a 25% discount on tickets. They should contact Anne Smith at
volunteer@masshope.org
for information.
Groups of 25 or more receive a 25% discount. A representative of the group will need to contact Tom at
tom@firstloveworks.org
in order to receive the discount code for group members to register with.
Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. This will happen automatically at the website for the Andover and Plymouth performances, but not for Worcester’s, as Mechanics Hall does its own ticketing. If your group will be attending there, a representative should email
Tom@firstloveworks.org
and he will arrange for the discount.
All other tickets may be purchased at
https://www.firstloveworks.org/
.
Also, there are many, many volunteer opportunities available for the events, carrying different levels of compensation ranging from complimentary tickets to 10% discounts. If interested, please contact Tom at tom@firstloveworks.org or Anne at
ann@firstloveworks.org
.
2. We make learning SPANISH fun!
-
ONLINE from the comfort of your home.
-
Small groups with native instructors.
-
$20 discount for homeschoolers.
-
Dynamic classes that children enjoy!
-
Classes for the whole family.
Visit our website today at
www.academiabilingualbridges.com
or send us an email (
academiabilingualbridges@gmail.com
) for information.
3. Summer Reading Challenge
It’s not too late to join! The Challenge is sponsored by the Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance. Click
HERE
for details.
4. Speaker vault for August – Seann Dikkers on the development of government schools
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 August, we invite you to listen to another thought-provoking message by Seann Dikkers from our 2026 convention.
Dr. Dikkers is a husband and father with over thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, professor, pastor, curriculum designer, researcher, and author. A passionate advocate for faith-based education, purposeful play, balanced use of digital media, and individualized learning, Seann serves as Executive Director of Portals Education.
In this workshop, The Hidden Agenda Behind Mass Education, Dr. Dikkers takes a historical look at 150 years of government schooling in America, contrasting its development with the tradition of freedom centered Christian education. He examines key legislation, influential educational leaders, and the philosophies that shaped the modern public education system. Along the way, he explores questions such as: What were government schools originally designed to accomplish? Where did they go wrong? How has the system itself contributed to declining educational outcomes? Most importantly, Dr. Dikkers highlights how home discipleship offers a fundamentally different and deeply biblical approach to educating the next generation.
5. Field trip fun in ARLINGTON
And do I mean FUN. Robbins Farm Park is a MASSIVE playground that is, evidently, also “the greatest playground in the entire universe.” According to
FAMILY DESTINATIONS GUIDE
, “It’s not just big, it’s absolutely massive in a way that makes other playgrounds look like they’re not even trying.” But its most defining feature? The slides. “Built directly into the natural slope of the hill, these slides are the stuff of playground legend.” Plus, there are ball fields, picnic areas, walking trails, and a hilltop view of the Boston skyline. No admission cost; free for all. Robbins Farm Park is located at 61 Eastern Avenue in Arlington.
6. For your encouragement: lost, overwhelmed, and inadequate?
Then you’ve come to the
RIGHT PLACE
! All these tips are good, but my favorites - from experience – are numbers 3, 9, and 12. Especially 3. Wish I had learned that one years earlier than I did!
7. In the news: good news for New Hampshire
From
NH Journal
: HB 1268 will bring
IMPORTANT STEPS
toward increased freedom for homeschoolers.
UPDATE: Since this piece was published on June 24, Governor Ayotte has signed the bill into law. HSLDA, which supported the legislation, weighs in
HERE
on its implications for homeschoolers.
8. Chuckles: it would only be fair
For those days when you can only cry or
LAUGH
.
9. Exciting opportunity for homeschooled Dracut teens
The Dracut Cultural Council is looking for
two high school-aged homeschool students
from Dracut to serve as Youth Members on the council. This would be a unique opportunity to encourage civic participation and an opportunity for hands-on learning.
You can apply online through Town Hall, or go to a monthly meeting (usually only one hour long) for more info.
From Diane McGary,
dracutculturalcouncil@gmail.com
, co-Chair of council:
I'm hoping that you might help us inspire some high school age homeschoolers to join the Dracut Cultural Council. We are currently seeking two Dracut youth to serve as Youth Members. Their volunteer terms would commence in January and be for two years, with the option to recommit for another two-year term. We meet monthly at Dracut Town Hall on the 3rd Thursday of the month starting at 6:30, though our workshops are at the Dracut Library on Wednesdays, as the library is closed on Thursday nights.
We have a few projects - Poet Laureate, Snow People, Old Home Day Booth, and then two informational workshops (Reimbursement & Compliance, and LCC Grants & Grant requirements). We also evaluate the Local Cultural Council grants submitted to Dracut. We work to inspire and share the arts around our community and would love to have some civic-minded youth on our council.
10. August Adventures returns
Start planning now for next month with
AUGUST ADVENTURES
, courtesy of the Highland Street Foundation. Throughout August there will be free access offered to high-quality museums, events, and sites – one on each of the month’s 31 days. Venues are located across Massachusetts, from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. Check out the listings
HERE
.
11. Free summer Fridays on commuter rail!
From the MBTA WEBSITE:
Commuter Rail service will continue to be free every Friday through August. This promotion does not apply to
the
CapeFLYER
or to
special event trains
.
How to get your discount:
No action needed—just board the train!
12. Speaker vault for July – Seann Dikkers on home discipleship
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 July, we invite you to listen to a thought-provoking message by Seann Dikkers from our 2026 convention.
Dr. Dikkers is a husband and father with over thirty years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator, professor, pastor, curriculum designer, researcher, and author. A passionate advocate for faith-based education, purposeful play, balanced use of digital media, and individualized learning, Seann serves as Executive Director of Portals Education.
In this workshop, Seann explains that education and discipleship are not the same as mass schooling. They have different traditions and different expectations. If you have ever asked, “How do I know if they are on pace?”, “What if they miss something?”, “How do I know if they are learning?”, or even “I’m not sure I know enough to teach high school!” then this session should settle your mind and help you plan for discipleship with excitement. Explore some of the key differences and save massive amounts of time and stress trying to recreate schooling at home.
13. Field trip fun in Newbury
The
SPENCER-PEIRCE-LITTLE FARM
is not only a National Historic Landmark and museum but also a family-friendly museum owned and operated by
HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND
. Children can “learn about life on a farm over the centuries through hands-on activities” such as pumping water from the well.
14. For your encouragement: the benefits of art museum visits
THIS ARTICLE
is by a museum docent and isn’t about homeschooling - but she does invoke Charlotte Mason and her ideas about art!
15. In the news: homeschooling for special needs
This
USA TODAY ARTICLE
focuses on the benefits of homeschooling for children with special needs.
16. Chuckles
What did one hat say to the other?
You wait here. I’ll go on a head.
17. 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
.
18. 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!
19. 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).
20. 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.”
21.
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!
22. 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 #24) or the MassHOPE Massachusetts Homeschool Marketplace and UCS group, 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MassHOPEDiscussion/
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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