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1. Annual Used Curriculum Sale June 20!
Don't miss the MassHOPE Used Curriculum Sale coming June 20 to Chapel of the Cross in Westborough, Mass. Turn your used curriculum into cash and find bargains galore as well as the free room!
Please see full details
HERE
. Items must be tagged in advance and dropped off on Friday, June 19.
Register to sell
HERE
.
Register to volunteer
HERE
.
If you volunteer three or more hours you can shop early (one hour before public opening).
Tag generator for sellers
HERE
.
Download or share a printable event flyer
HERE
to help spread the word to friends, co-ops, and homeschool groups.
Don't miss it. The more sellers and buyers, the better!
Questions? Email UCS@masshope.org
2. Connecticut’s new homeschool restrictions: a sobering reminder
Last week, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill 5468 into law, marking a significant turning point for homeschool freedom in Connecticut. The new law requires parents to undergo a background check through the Department of Children and Families before they may begin homeschooling their children. Importantly, this requirement applies broadly as a prerequisite to exercising a parent’s educational choice.
For decades, Connecticut was known as one of the least regulated states for homeschooling. It now stands alone as the only state requiring mandatory background screening of parents before they may teach their own children at home.
This attack on parental freedom serves as a reminder that homeschool freedom cannot be taken for granted. Those who favor increased oversight of homeschooling are likely to view Connecticut’s actions as a model for additional regulation elsewhere.
At the same time, this moment offers an important reminder: the homeschool movement has always been built by parents who love their children and are deeply invested in their education and formation. Homeschooling did not begin because of government permission, but because parents recognized the responsibility to direct their children’s learning.
As Massachusetts homeschoolers, this development should encourage us to remain informed, engaged, and prayerful. MassHOPE will continue to monitor developments affecting homeschool freedom and keep Massachusetts families informed.
3. Graduation ceremony this Saturday: you are invited!
This year marks our 22nd formal graduation ceremony, and it will be held at Holden Chapel on June 6 at 2:00 PM. If you are interested in celebrating this event with this year’s seniors, please join us!
4. Celebrate America 250
With the Fourth of July and the 250th anniversary coming up, these events might be of interest:
In Boston, July 11-16,
SAIL250
will be bringing 50 Tall Ships into Boston Harbor. See schedule
HERE
.
You can look at
MA250
to find events, attractions, and celebrations all over Massachusetts. And in nearby states:
Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s
Strawberry Banke Museum will be
FREE
all day on July 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is an incredible value. A family of four would normally pay over $60 to tour
THIS SITE
of homes, gardens, exhibits, and more.) Start early, or you may not see everything there is to see!
The town of
BRISTOL
, Rhode Island will be hosting its 241st (starting in 1785) July 4 celebration, the oldest continual such event in the history of our country.
Or if you’re traveling further afield, you might even want to tour George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, in Virginia. Guides for homeschoolers
HERE
.
Also, the film “Young Washington” is scheduled to open in theaters July 3.
FANDANGO
(and maybe other outlets) are offering $5 tickets for showings on July 4.
5. Field trip fun in Whittier Land
You can visit the Merrimack Valley childhood and adult homes of John Greenleaf Whittier, influential 19
th
century poet and abolitionist celebrity.
Whittier’s
BIRTHPLACE
and childhood home, and its extensive grounds, are located in a rural section of Haverhill. The house, built in 1688 and preserved in its early 19
th
century form, was inhabited by five generations of Whittiers. It is the setting of his famous
Snow-Bound
. Available
HERE
or at the homestead is a walking trail brochure which guides you to 13 stations on the property. Most of the sites are landmarks cited in Whittier’s poems.
The
WHITTIER HOME AND MUSEUM
, in Amesbury, was Whittier’s main residence from the mid-1800s on and is a National Historic Landmark. It will open on Saturdays, starting in May.
6. Speaker vault for June – Phil Downer on fatherhood
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 May, we invite you to listen to a thought-provoking message by Phil Downer.
Phil Downer has spent decades encouraging families in their calling to build strong, Christ-centered homes. As a speaker and longtime advocate for biblical family life, Phil brings practical wisdom, humor, and a deep understanding of the challenges families face day to day. His passion is to equip parents to lead their families in a way that reflects God’s design.
In this workshop, Phil explores the irreplaceable role fathers play in the homeschool family while emphasizing the essential partnership of moms in helping dads lead well. Timed intentionally for Father’s Day, this session offers encouragement and practical help for families seeking to strengthen the home and embrace God’s design for parenting.
7. For your encouragement: a challenge to get outside
Maybe you can’t fully meet the
1000 HOURS OUTSID
E
that founder/homeschool mother Ginny Yurich encourages, but you can probably increase your kids’ outside time...by at least a
little?
8. In the news: misleading in Maine
The Maine Monitor evidently conducted an in-depth interview with a veteran homeschooler, but ignored most of what she told him and wrote, choosing instead to confirm false stereotypes. See the article
HERE
.
9. Chuckles
For those days when you can only cry or
LAUGH
.
10. LIFE-SIZE Tabernacle exhibit in Boston
ONE DAY ONLY:
Monday, June 8. Free admission (but please pre-register). Free parking.
Families are invited to experience the special life-size Tabernacle Exhibit in Boston.
This biblical exhibit offers students and families a unique opportunity to step into the world of the Old Testament and visually explore the Tabernacle, the sacred place of worship God gave to Israel in the wilderness.
Through this life-size recreation, visitors will be able to see the structure and elements of the Tabernacle and learn how each part points to God’s holiness, mankind’s need for redemption, and the grace of Jesus Christ.
Watch a short preview video
HERE
.
This can be a meaningful weekday field trip for homeschool families, co-ops, Bible classes, church groups, and students learning about the Bible, biblical history, the Old Testament, worship, sacrifice, and the Gospel.
Families are welcome to come individually, and group visits are also welcome.
Event details and registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988244861904
For questions, please contact:
yooupkim@clfusa.org
11. Last call for co-op science labs and speech club
The Central Mass. Christian Homeschool Co-op in Hudson has just a few openings left in science lab classes and speech class. They are opening these spots to non-members.
Chemistry Lab and General Science Lab
We have a few openings in two of our LAB-only classes. These classes will meet on co-op Fridays from 10:20-11:50. Please click
HERE
for details, including course descriptions, prerequisites, fees, and texts.
Please look over our
WEBSITE
. If interested, fill out the membership request form
with a note letting us know you’re interested in a science lab class
.
Questions after checking out our website? Send an email to
cmhscoop7@gmail.com
.
Speech101
Open to ages 10 through 18, this club will meet on Fridays at 12:00-1:30, for the fall semester only. Click
HERE
for the description, which includes information about expectations, what will happen each week, dates and times of meetings, and information about our coach.
Feel free to reach out via email with questions:
cmhscoop7@gmail.com
. You can also look
through our
WEBSITE
.
12. 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
.
13. Speaker vault for May – Phil Downer
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 May, we invite you to listen to a thought-provoking message by Phil Downer.
Phil Downer has spent decades encouraging families in their calling to build strong, Christ-centered homes. As a speaker and longtime advocate for biblical family life, Phil brings practical wisdom, humor, and a deep understanding of the challenges families face day to day. His passion is to equip parents to lead their families in a way that reflects God’s design.
In this workshop, Phil offers timely encouragement for homeschool moms navigating the demands of family life. He highlights the vital role dads play in supporting and strengthening the home, particularly in areas like sibling conflict, character development, and discipline. With both insight and practicality, Phil reminds families that the challenges they face are often opportunities that can be seized for growth and deeper relationships.
14. Field trip fun at the zoo
ZOO NEW ENGLAND
runs two separate zoos in eastern Massachusetts: Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, and Stone Zoo in Stoneham.
15. For your encouragement: go ahead and memorize!
Homeschoolers often use curricula that encourage students to memorize. But memorization, disparagingly termed “rote memorization” by its detractors, has developed a bad (while undeserved) rap over the past fifty-plus years, leaving us swimming upstream again school norms.
HERE
we find an article from The Hill extolling the very real
benefits
of “learning by heart.”
16. In the news: what people get wrong about homeschoolers
According to this
ARTICLE
from RealClearEducation, “the resources available to these parents, along with the abysmal record of public schools, are big reasons why scoffing at the idea that ‘anyone can homeschool’ is misguided.”
17. Chuckles
What did the pirate say when he turned 80?
Aye matey.
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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