Families In Support of Home Education (FISHE) is a network of home schooling families. Our group is distinctive in that it is not a church-based network. We draw from many different churches, primarily smaller churches that do not have a home school support group of their own.
FISHE offers distinctive programs such as:
A Soccer Co-Op: FISHE sponsors an excellent and well-run program for those who are seeking a soccer experience specifically designed for home schoolers (everyone involved in the soccer program must be a member of FISHE for insurance reasons).
A Standardized Testing Program: FISHE partners with Sovereign Grace Church to run a standardized testing program for home schooled children. This testing program meets the requirements of the Commonwealth of Virginia for reporting educational progress. In order to qualify for the testing program, you must be a member of FISHE five months prior to testing. This provides time to properly order materials and set up the staff needed. Families joining within less than five months will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The testing takes place in May of each year.
A Monthly Support Group: FISHE holds monthly support group meetings with educational and helpful speakers and topics that interest and encourage home schooling families. We strive to plan the meetings to be a place where dad, mom, AND the kids can come together for fun and encouragement. For the 2008-2009 year, some our featured speakers will be Tammy Duby, Rick and Marilyn Boyer, and Vicki Bentley.
All support group meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at Jubilee Christian Center at 7:30 P.M.
Jubilee Christian Center
4650 Shirley Gate Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
The National Geography Bee: FISHE sponsors the annual National Geography Bee contest for area home schooling families. Study sessions and official contest elimination questions are administered by FISHE, which leads to the national level competition. In 2006 we had a student compete at the national event here in Washington, D.C.!
A Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Discount: FISHE members qualify for a $15 discount on a membership to HSLDA. This saves FISHE members and their families some much-needed cash, and provides a highly valued membership to a premier and vital home schooling organization.
With these distinctive programs, FISHE serves the needs of home schooling families around the Washington, D.C. area.
Our mailing address is: FISHE, P.O. Box 7243, Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039-9998
With the nominal annual $25 membership fee, FISHE pays rent to the church where the support group meets, provides subsidization of soccer insurance premiums, pays insurance required to hold meetings in the church, pays the registration for the national contests FISHE sponsors, provides food for the monthly meetings and testing program, maintains the web site, maintains the post office box, and provides a small honorarium to the non-member speakers who minister to our group. FISHE has no paid staff positions.
Our Leadership Team: I am Chris Neuburger, the current president of FISHE for 2007-2009. Judy Fox is our vice-president, and her husband Steve is our treasurer. Diana Wise serves as an at-large member of our leadership team. Brian Samuels administers our soccer co-op program.
This year will be an exciting one with many opportunities for growth, sharing and fun. Only the Lord knows what we will discover together!
God’s Blessings,
Chris Neuburger
President
