Review of Celebrating High School by Cheryl Bastian

"How about if I just make the brochure and you just relax? I edited your course descriptions too. Could you check them and see what you think?" Cheryl asked me over the phone. We were talking about an upcoming conference that we were both speaking at. My Daddy had just died, so Cheryl took over the bulk of the administrative details. What a blessing she was and is in my life.

It was at that time that I learned just how truly remarkable and administrative Cheryl is. I should have realized it before, seeing that she started a homeschool group and led it for nine years, while she was busy homeschooling and having lots of babies (6 total!). The longer I know Cheryl, the more I appreciate her many gifts and talents.

We speak together about homeschooling high school  and I am always so thankful that she is there to answer all the administrative questions, not my greatest strength! Just how do you keep up with transcripts, SATs, visiting colleges, applying for colleges, and applying for Bright Futures and other scholarships? I thought that I was organized with all the high school stuff until I met Cheryl. She definitely has her homeschooling high school act together and she has written a book to help you do the same thing.

Celebrate High School: Finish with Excellence  by Cheryl Bastian is a handy high school resource to have on your homeschool resource bookshelf. Better yet, keep it on your desk or in your tote. You will be using it a lot. Though this book is written for homeschooling in FL, there is so much that is in this book for those who homeschool in another state. If you live in another state, you can pencil in your own state's requirements if there are differences.

The book opens with how to plan ahead, making a four year plan for your high school student, and graduation requirements. The planning ahead page was so helpful to me because it lists all the things you need to do each year of high school to get your child ready for graduation and college. For instance, in ninth grade, Cheryl tells us we need to...

• research  course requirements for career or college major choice
• research scholarships
• make a tentative four year plan
• begin preparation for the PSAT
• visit college campuses
• begin community service and start logging hours
• write course descriptions
• begin reading list
• start transcript on computer

The high school graduation requirement chart shows us Florida's graduation requirements, college entrance requirements, and high selective college requirements. There is a sample four year plan and a blank chart to fill in for your own high school students. Even changes in Florida graduation requirements after 2011 are listed too.

Eligibility for the FL Bright Futures Scholarships are included in this book too. This scholarship has helped us with financing our children's college tuition. If you are a Florida resident, be sure to read this section carefully.

Cheryl's book continues on with instructions and tips for making high school transcripts, accompanying course descriptions, and reading lists to send with your teenagers' college applications. She gives great advice on writing course descriptions that will reveal to those who read them how exceptional your student really is! She even gives you a list of course titles to get your own creative juices flowing.

Is there more? Yes, there is! Learn to calculate a grade point average, record community service hours, and tweak traditional courses. Find out about using co-curricular activities, work experience, and awards to highlight your teens' achievements. Cheryl walks you through getting letters of recommendation.

And what about those dreaded SATs and ACTs? Don't worry, PSATs, National Merit Scholarships, and CLEP tests are explained in Celebrate High School:  Finish with Excellence. Dual enrollment and graduation are mentioned too. Finally, Cheryl gives us a list of helpful high school resources.

This book is born of a heart to help other homeschooling moms. Cheryl is constantly lending her aid and counsel to women who are just about to begin the homeschooling high school journey. She knows the questions you are asking because other moms are asking them too.

Thank you, Cheryl, for a great book. If you are planning to homeschool high school or already in the trenches, I recommend this book as a great tool for the homeschooling mom!

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).

As you continue on in the homeschooling high school adventure, be sure to fix your eyes on Jesus! He will lead you home and you will celebrate each graduation with joy as your sons and daughters take their place by living the life they are called to live.