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1. Free training in the construction trades
True, we’re talking basic, vs. apprenticeship-level, training. But it’s a start. And it’s free! Click
HERE
for information.
2. Contest! What Does America Mean to You?
AMERICA 250
is holding a contest – “America’s Field Trip” - for students (including homeschoolers) in grades 3-12. Within three separate age categories, students will submit writing, original artwork, or a high-res photo in response to this prompt:
“
What does America mean to you?”
For the entry form and more information, click
HERE
. NOTE: Submissions must be received by 8:00 PM EDT on Monday, March 30, 2026.
3. We make learning Spanish fun!
Give Your Child the Gift of a Second Language in 2026!
-
$20 discount for homeschoolers.
-
ONLINE from the comfort of your home.
-
Small groups with native instructors.
-
Dynamic classes that children enjoy!
-
Classes for the whole family.
Visit our website today at
www.academiabilingualbridges.com
or send us an email at
academiabilingualbridges@gmail.com
for info.
4. Bay Staters and Rhode Islanders! Connecticut invites you
TeenPact Connecticut invites students from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to join them at this year's dynamic leadership camp from April 6-10, 2026 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 four- or five-day camp for ages 13-18 and one day for ages 8-12. Learn more about all the details and the exciting overnight camp option by emailing jenjen632@yahoo.com, calling (860)779-3999 (home #) or going to
TEENPACT
.
Can’t make it to Connecticut? The same classes (also offering student housing) will be held in New Hampshire on April 20-24.
However,
these dates overlap with part of MassHOPE’s annual convention.
If you sign students up for the New Hampshire class, see if you can arrange for them to get home with a relative or friend, leaving you free to attend the entire 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.
5. Speaker vault for January – Dianne Craft
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 January, we invite you to listen to a very special presentation by longtime homeschool advocate and nationally known speaker Dianne Craft, who went home to be with the Lord on December 9, 2025. Dianne spoke at the 2011 MassHOPE Convention, where she encouraged parents with her wisdom and insights into how children learn.
Do you have a student who sits and stares as soon as you leave his side; always says “I forgot”; takes FOREVER to complete his work; is highly anxious; easily upset; socially inappropriate; always moving; has sensory issues? Explore the physical causes of behavior and attention problems in children and teens. Learn targeted remedies for each of these problems. Be amazed at the difference in your student’s mood, memory and learning ability. Many call this a “life changing” teaching.
6. Field trip fun: celebrating the 250
th
in Massachusetts
Here’s a
WEBSITE
featuring events, battles, exhibits, commemorations, and more across our commonwealth, The Birthplace of America.
7. For your encouragement: homeschooling benefits
In a rut, or temporarily discouraged?
HERE
is a review course on the blessings of homeschooling!
8. Not technically “in the news” - but worth seeing!
Can “social media” substitute for the news?
HERE
is what Jay Wile, frequent MassHOPE convention speaker, recently reposted.
9. Register for Homeschool Days at Old Sturbridge Village
Two
HOMESCHOOL DAYS
are scheduled for the month of January: Friday the 16
th
, and Friday the 30
th
. Scheduled workshops are focused on winter-themed crafts, cooking, and stories. There’s still plenty of room available, but space is limited and they tend to fill up, so don’t wait too long if you want to participate in a workshop. Pre-registration is required. Click
HERE
for information and registration for 1/16 (still room in many workshops!) and
HERE
for 1/30.
10. 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!
11. Speaker vault for December – Jay Wile
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 December, we invite you to listen to a compelling message by Dr. Jay Wile:
I Told You That Was Going to Happen!
In this workshop, Dr. Wile examines several Old Testament prophecies that have already been fulfilled in remarkable detail. He highlights how these prophecies, written centuries before the events they describe, accurately predict the rise and fall of famous cities, as well as specific aspects of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. You will even hear how Scripture foretold the very day Jesus entered Jerusalem. Through these striking examples, Dr. Wile demonstrates that the Bible could only have been authored by God Himself, the One who alone knows the future. This session is sure to deepen your confidence in the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture.
12. Field trip fun in Haverhill
The Museum of Printing is open to the public only every other Saturday, but group tours can be scheduled on other days. See more information on their
WEB PAGE
(including a very cute Twelve Days of Printmas). Read a good description of this small but quality niche museum
HERE
.
13. For your encouragement: too tired to teach
Here is one homeschooling mother’s
ACCOUNT
of her solution to the problem.
14. In the news: “inherently dangerous, abusive, and suspect"
We can’t let our guard down. The enemy hasn’t just given up and gone away.
The New York Times
recently published an
OPINION ESSAY
arguing for “sweeping federal oversight of all home education, nationwide.” The author claims that for parents to indoctrinate children “into one mind-set or ideology without the possibility of other perspectives” constitutes abuse, evidently blind to the hypocrisy of such a notion. Does he really have no idea at all that this is exactly what happens in so many of our country’s classrooms – both public and private – every single school day?
15. 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).
16. Convention recordings
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. 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.”
18.
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!
19. 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 #21) 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.
20. 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.
21. 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/
22.
The MassHOPE Educator ID Card
Educator IDs are available for benefits such as potential discounts at retailers. Order them from our website
HERE
.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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
.
26. 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
.
27. 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.
28. 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
.
29. Get started homeschooling in Massachusetts
Check out this MassHOPE site for
getting started
.
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