Saskatchewan Home Based Educators

Saskatchewan Home Based Educators (SHBE) is the official voice of home-based educators in Saskatchewan. We assist in creating a positive social network and a positive political environment for all those who choose home-based education. We also provide supportive, social and instructional resources for our members.

Latest News:

April 13, 2013

Greetings to all of our SHBE members.

With the new regulations in place, we are now experiencing some uncertainty regarding what is required for year-end evaluations.  Even the school divisions are trying to work out what the regulations mean, and how they will apply the policies.

Over the last 2 months, the SHBE board has been working with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) to try to come up with a way to reduce the confusion while protecting our homeschooling freedoms.

In the next few days, we will be sending you a follow up email with more detailed information.  However, I can tell you that we have been working together to develop an evaluation form that will satisfy the minimum requirements of the Department of Education, while protecting the uniqueness of homeschooling families and their individual homeschooling styles.  I have personally shown the draft to the Director of Home Based Education, and he had no issues with it.

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as "one size fits all".  Therefore, when the form comes out, please remember that it is a template that you may choose to use if you wish.  It is our attempt to simplify things for our members, and reduce some year-end stress.  However, whether you choose to use the form or not, SHBE is here to support you in your homeschooling adventure.

We are currently putting the final touches on the form, and will be distributing it soon.  In the meantime, please stay tuned...

On behalf of the SHBE Board,
Bryan Watson
SHBE President

February 24, 2013

Some items lost as the convention:

• A memory card from a camera was lost at the convention.
• An iPod touch with a pink cover
• A bible with blue jean cover

If found, please Bryan and he will contact the owner. Thanks.

January 22, 2013

Special Invitation, Pre-Session for Homeschool Leaders. Our keynote speakers, Hal and Melanie Young will be speaking to homeschool leaders at a special pre-session to the convention. This session will take place Friday morning from 9am to 10am, before the convention kicks off. This session will be by invitation only and coffee and muffins will be served. If you are a homeschool leader please to receive your invitation. The topic of the session will be:

Developing the Next Generation of Leadership Don’t wait until you are so burnt out that you quit cold turkey and your support group dies, as leaders we know have done. Learn what to look for in potential leaders, how to recruit them and how to disciple them to take over and keep the ministry going for your children’s generation.

December 30, 2012

This year we have available an online registration and payment option for our annual convention. Online registration is now closed, please register at the convention. Convention information can be accessed with the link on the left.

December 2, 2012

Convention 2013 information has been added. Check the link on the left for details. More information will be added as it becomes available.

August 30, 2012

There was a small problem with the SHBE Canada Post mailbox, but it's resolved now, so if anybody gets returned mail, please try again.

August 6, 2011

Dear Fellow Homeschooler:

Please be aware that the Department of Education has implemented new regulations and a new policy manual for homeschooling in Saskatchewan.  If you are a member of HSLDA, you will have received an email from HSLDA early Monday.  

The SHBE Board and HSLDA have worked in partnership throughout June and July to review and discuss these changes.  While we are not particularly concerned by the new regulations, there are some things to be aware of, as identified in an article by HSLDA, which you can find here.  However, the SHBE Board has been in contact with both the Ministry and the Department to suggest ways of improving their communication with us, as we were disappointed in the lack of communication with SHBE prior to these changes being implemented.  SHBE President, Bryan Watson, will be meeting with the Director of Home Based Education during the week of August 13, to discuss this matter.

SHBE encourages all homeschoolers to be familiar with the regulations.  They can be found here.  If you have any questions, please contact your local Board member or HSLDA.  Click here for a list of SHBE Board members.

On behalf of the SHBE Board,
Bryan Watson
SHBE President

February 20, 2012 - Added the convention 2012 schedule. Friday night supper options at the Saskatoon Inn.

February 5, 2012 - Added list of exhibitors to the Convention 2012 page. Note time change for the Home School Completion Recognition Event. It is now starting at 3:30 p.m. Participants should meet at 3:15.

January 10, 2012 - Journal: The winter edition of the SHBE Journal has arrived. In additional to all the excellent articles you will find convention information, AGM information, nomination forms and lots more. Check it out here.

December 22, 2011 - Convention: Lots of new information added to the Convention 2012 page. Check it out!

March 23, 2011 - Nominations: Due to a clerical error where the address on the nomination form had a misprint, Gerald lives in White City, and on Form A, we have White City, and on Form B, we have Regina,  the nominations will be extended with the new deadline of 14 additional days - April 8, 2011. The corrected nominations form will be emailed to all active SHBE members with emails. If a member has only a mailing address a form will be mailed.

Information on nominating can be found here or by talking to any SHBE Board member.

The year 2011, has nominations open for 3 regional Board members from the odd regions -

Region 1 - Southeast,
Region 3 - In and around Regina,
Region 5 - Northeast and 2 Directors at large.

Please help your Board - nominate or run for office.

Renew Your SHBE Membership. Even if you didn't get to Convention 2011, you can still support SHBE by renewing your membership. Strong numbers give us strong representation as we work to promote and defend homeschooling in Saskatchewan. A SHBE membership is a practical way to support both yourself and other families who are on this homeschooling journey.

A SHBE membership only costs $35. Renewal information can be found here.

March 1, 2011    The SHBE Convention's 20th Anniversary Celebration Continues!!
Didn't write down Dr. Kathy Koch's coupon special? Well, she generously offered our SK group a special deal for the entire week following the convention. The offer expires March 6 at midnight CST.  The coupon code when checking out is 22511.  You can pay by credit card or Paypal.  Order from www.celebratekids.com. Free shipping!

If you missed the convention, you missed celebrating 20 years of home schooling in Saskatchewan, you missed celebrating our children and you missed celebrating with fellow home educators. Read more.

February 8, 2011 - John Gormley Live, on Newstalk Radio, is the place to listen on Tuesday morning February 22. Gormley will interview SHBE's Main Speaker Dr. Kathy Koch Tuesday, February 22nd at 11:00 am. If you can't get reception, you can listen live at www.newstalk980.com.

February 1, 2011 - Newstalk Radio will interview SHBE President Bryan Watson Wednesday, February 2nd at 5:30 pm. If you can't get reception, you can listen live at www.newstalk980.com.

January 27, 2011 - Please check the Convention 2011 page. There is new or updated information regarding used books, Home Education Completion Recognition Event, a list of confirmed Exhibitors and lots more!

January 22, 2011 - Teens: View the tentative schedule for the 2011 Convention in Saskatoon on February 25 and 26.

January 20th, 2011 - Watch the newest addition to this web site. The Max Magazine Video. Be informed of the benefits to home schooling.

Homeschool Info Night. If you would like to find out more about homeschooling in Saskatchewan, please join us at the Regent Place Library in Regina (107 Albert St) on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 from 7-8 pm. This informal session is intended for those new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling in the future. Please RSVP at .

December 15, 2010 - It is with great pleasure that the SHBE Board of Directors extends an invitation to you to come and join us, February 25 and 26, 2011, at the Saskatoon Inn to CELEBRATE!! our 20th annual SHBE Convention.

December 13, 2010 - Celebrate!! The registration brochure is finished. SHBE is celebrating the 20th Annual Convention - yes twenty years in a row! You will want to be a part of this celebration. See the Convention page for more details.

November 8, 2010 - The 2011 Convention Committee is diligently working to plan the Feb 25 - 26, 2011 Convention to be held in Saskatoon.

• Registration details are expected to be ready in early December. Check back then to download your 2011 registration form.
• Some changes will be implemented this year with Used Books - watch for details.
• Consider volunteering some of your time at the convention. SHBE Helpdesk to find out how you can help.

Mark your calendars now and join us for speakers, resources, and fellowship.

September 6, 2010 - Where’s My Journal - Part II

Are you waiting with breathless anticipation for your September SHBE Journal?  It is not an accident and the post office did not fail to deliver. 

Due to the rising waters in Regina (especially a basement of one Editor) and the desire to produce three high-quality SHBE Journal issues per year, our Editor is diligently working to send an issue ASAP.

Look for your next issue SOON and pray the MONSOON passes!

August 11, 2010 - Where’s My Journal???

Did you miss your summer SHBE Journal?  It is not an accident and the post office did not fail to deliver. 

Due to the rising costs of printing/postage and the volunteer effort required to produce the Journal, the SHBE Board has decided to produce three high-quality SHBE Journal issues per year.  

Look for your next issue in September!

July 28, 2010 - Homeschool Graduate Makes Scholarship Road Easier for Others

OCEAN PARK, WA, USA—After spending much of the past year hunting down scholarships available to home-schooled students, David Craft realized there was a problem. “There are lots of scholarships available only to those in traditional schools, but none to speak of just for homeschooled students,” he lamented. “When I searched online for ‘homeschool scholarships’ I came up with only a few results, most of which had nothing to do with homeschooling.”continue reading...

May 20, 2010. The SHBE Board of Directors would like to invite all Saskatoon and area home based educators to an informal "meet and greet" on Saturday, June 5th, in the Alberta Room of the Saskatoon Inn. Please join us any time between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm for some refreshments. This is an opportunity to get to know your fellow home schoolers who represent SHBE provincially, discuss any issues or concerns you may have and generally become more acquainted with SHBE.

April 29, 2010. Two SHBE directors elected by acclamation. Two nominations were received for the SHBE board of directors positions that were up for election in March 2010. Denise Dodds was nominated for Region 6 and Angelo Coppola was the only nominee for the three directors-at-large positions. Both were elected by acclamation. No nominations were received for Region 2 and 4. Region 1 director position is still vacant.

Bryan Watson, Region 3 and Sandy Timm, Region 5, still have a year left on their terms of office. Merle Ramshaw, Linda Karn and Dorothy Holfeld did not run for re-election; their terms run out in June 2010. Also Dorothy's active homeschooling career is complete, and therefore her term on the board expires.

April 9, 2008. CLEP Testing Now Available in Saskatchewan. CLEP, which stands for College Level Examination Program, has arrived in Saskatchewan as of February 2008. This program is widely recognized in United States where there are upwards of 2900 colleges granting college credit for individuals who successfully write CLEP tests. There are even several American Colleges who will grant complete distance degrees using CLEP combined with other testing methods such as the DANTES. Students using the CLEP testing method are not required to attend classes; rather they are able to prepare/study independently to write these college level exams. Read more.

August 24, 2007. Blazing New Trails in Saskatchewan by Heidi Goertz
One hundred years ago this year, the University of Saskatchewan opened its doors to the citizens who would become the forerunners of today's undergraduates. Because of the vision of the pioneers who established the university, a long history of quality post- secondary education began... Read more.

November 14, 2006. SHBE and the College of Arts and Science of the University of Saskatchewan are pleased to announce that a Memorandum of Understanding on Prerequisite Policies for Home-Educated Students was signed November 14, 2006. Read more.

September 13, 2006. SHBE held extensive consultation meetings around the province this past July, at which the new Distance Learning Framework currently being developed by the Department of Learning was discussed.

The report submitted by SHBE is now available for viewing. As always, SHBE welcomes your comments, and will continue to update home-educating families on the progress of the discussions with the Department. Click here to view the report.