New goals for a new school year

As everyone goes back to school today, I am pondering the one advise we all hear as homeschoolers - to create a plan/goal for each school year. One of the speakers at the recent homeschool retreat spoke about creating a spiritual and physical plan on top of the academic.  Her examples really energized me and is inspiring me to put mine into action.  So here's a sample of what we're hoping to do: (keep me accountable!)

Academic:

• the kids want to take the CAT (California Achievement Test) in the Spring.  My children are excited about the idea of academic testing and gauging how well they do (it's really for bragging rights)  We are using the CAT as our inspiration to work harder.
  

• an immersion (instead of spiral) approach to Science this year.  In the past, we dabbled with a little bit of everything (jack of all trades, master of none) but this year we want to focus on one subject (Astronomy).  The oldest has already perused the whole book and gave me the thumbs up.  We're using Apologia for this subject.
  

Spiritual:

• we have yet to choose a patron saint and school motto. I am leaning towards St. John Marie Vianney, he seems to be everywhere I was this year.  He might have already chosen me ;-)  As for the motto, it will come to me, like it always does.

• each year we memorize a Latin prayer - it will be Anima Christi and Salve Regina.  We will learn to chant the latter as it is easier to memorize in song.  Speaking of singing, I want to teach the kids Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris Hostia. The parish in our neighborhood has a weekly Exposition and Benediction so it would be so appropriate to learn these. Since Latin is one of our subjects, this also falls into the Academic category right?

• taking the advice of a priest - I want a holy water font by the front door to bless ourselves on our way in and out of the house.

• a blessing/gratitude book, where we can all write down our blessings at the end of each day.  

Physical

• the oldest and I have recently started to run.  We also found out that our parish now has a 6:30 AM daily Mass. So we have planned to combine the two - go to Mass three times a week then run afterwards. 

• more outdoor time/playdates before the cold of Winter locks us indoors

• more (challenging) chores and responsibilities for the older three.  The almost four-year old has already, on his own accord, taken over new chores. Praise God!

I'm trying to be simple in my goals and plans as it is very tempting to plan for everything. One of my favorite things to say is "make room for the Holy Spirit".  So that empty space in my planner is for Him.

Happy Back to School!