Homeschool Movie Stars
July 2005

What do Lindsay Lohan (Herbie, Freaky Friday), Raven Symone (That's So Raven), and Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings) have in common?  It's not a new movie or show, or a Hollywood extravaganza they were seen at... Each of these actors was homeschooled! And interesting enough, each of these famous young actors homeschooled through Laurel Springs School (www.laurelsprings.com), the "School of the Stars."

What makes famous young actors, athletes and scholars turn to homeschooling?  For an answer, let's look to the past.  Many proud homeschoolers love to tout the names of famous people throughout history who were homeschooled.  Take a look at just a few!

• Presidents - George Washington, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Inventors - Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison
• Artists - Claude Monet, Ansel Adams
• Composers - Amadeus Mozart, Irving Berlin
• Actor - Charlie Chaplin
• Authors - Charles Dickens, Mark Twain
• Scientists - Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver

Who knows what inventions, political principles, and art and literature we would be missing if these historical figures were not allowed the freedom of independent learning and growth!  The power of learning is limitless, and the homeschooling tradition, steeped in history, continues on today with a renewed interest in all that it can offer the individual and the world.

All children are "stars" in their own right – and the dream of parents is that each child reaches up and grasps their fullest potential.  Many young actors, athletes and scholars are doing just that – they are turning to homeschooling because it offers the flexibility to learn while pursuing their dreams, and to pursue their dreams through learning!

To become a child actor, performer, or athlete, young stars must be able to "take school with them" on their early career endeavors.  If their program of study is geared toward their individual learning style, they can learn in less time while happily pursuing their other dreams.

Along with actors Lindsay Lohan, Raven Symone, Elijah Wood and many others, Laurel Springs School also homeschools many athletic stars as well.  Just this year, skater Tanith Belbin, a student of Laurel Springs, won the gold in the 2005 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships.  Chad Compton won the title of top Junior Surfer in the U.S., and 14-Year-Old Alexa Glatch was named one of the top 5 Americans in the World Junior Tennis Rankings.

In the performance world, one student, Monet, is becoming a Rock star and was recently a guest on FOX's Bernie Mac show; Melinda Sullivan won first place in the Spotlight Awards performance arts scholarship program, and is now touring the country with the CATS Troop.

In the academic world, Chelsea Bets Christenson has won the UN High School Essay Contest in both 2003 and 2005, and is officially considered one of the top ten high school writers in the nation! Yang Liu, a homeschooled graduating senior, was selected as a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

What makes these kids achieve their goals is a supportive family and a home education program that is as diverse and flexible as they are.  Today, we shape tomorrow's leaders, and we find the unique mold of  the future inside our children, within their hopes, dreams and talents.

	About Laurel Springs

Laurel Springs (www.laurelsprings.com) fosters homeschoolers through their PreK-12 traditional distance education curricula as well as their online academic program and teacher services.  Not only are these programs diverse in their academic offerings for every grade level, but they were the first distance education program to be accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) – the same organization that accredits the Ivy Leagues.

Their program is affordable, and offers some scholarships based on talent and need.  Each student takes a Learning Style Assessment Profile, and trained staff use this tool to create an academic program that is individually designed for each student.  To encourage interaction, Laurel Springs offers a unique pen pal program that pairs students with each other from around the globe.  Teen View is a student-created newsletter that allows students to express themselves, their talents, and their accomplishments.

Proceeding through high school, graduates are offered a well-deserved prom and graduation ceremony that celebrate their accomplishments as they head into their bright and expanding future.  The school's WASC accreditation is then seen in its full light with student matriculation to top colleges such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Berkley, Columbia, and many more.

To Laurel Springs, the word "school" does not compromise their dedication to homeschooling and the value of individualized learning in the home – or on the road! Personalized service and flexibility are the cornerstones of Laurel Springs that make it a great choice for all families dedicated to their children, their dreams, and their homeschooling needs.

Laurel Springs School has created an easier way to enroll online.   Beginning on July 15^th, 2005, families will have the opportunity to visit their website 24 hours a day to complete and submit their order rather than waiting for a phone appointment with one of the Enrollment Advisors. 

Visit them online at www.laurelsprings.com or call for a brochure at:
1-800-377-5890.
Laurel Springs Address is:
302 W. El Paseo Rd.
P.O. Box 1440
Ojai, CA. 93023
Phone: (805) 646-2473
Fax: (805) 646-0186