Essential Church School

Christian College Fair
2024-10-31 12:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Briarwood Christian High School, 6255 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
Looking for a college that reflects your Christian values? This college fair gives your student an opportunity to interact and ask lots of questions.
We highly recommend for students in grades 9-12.
Register at https://www.findyourchristiancollege.com/college-fairs/birmingham-al-christian-college-fair

Moundville Park Tour & Archaeology Program
2024-10-28 13:00 - 17:00 | Moundville Archaeological Park, Mound State Pkwy, Moundville, Alabama, 35474, United States
Join us for an afternoon of learning and exploring history – more specifically history in Alabama!
Learn how archaeologists conduct their research and the tools that they use to uncover the past. Your class will learn the basics of archaeology while also building on their math, geometry & historical knowledge. We will excavate a mock archaeological unit and discuss current trends in archaeological research.
We have reserved a site tour of the Native American mounds, as well as an archaeology program for our group. If costs are an overwhelming issue for our families, then we can remove the archaeology program for a simple site tour. Please communicate with us if this is an issue that is preventing your participation.

At Home: Art in Motion
2024-10-22 10:00 - 11:30 | Alabama Center for Dance, 2726 1st Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233, United States
A Collaborative Series with Birmingham Museum of Art
Join Alabama Ballet for a unique and captivating experience with “At Home, Art in Motion,” a collaborative series with the Birmingham Museum of Art. Immerse yourself in a world where dance and visual art merge to create an unparalleled artistic journey.
Curated by Alabama Ballet Artistic Director, Christopher Stuart. This series features all-new works inspired by the extraordinary exhibits of Hayward Oubre and John Rhoden, two visionary artists whose creations have left a lasting impact on the art world. Their masterpieces serve as the muse for innovative and dynamic performances that bring their art to life through the elegance and power of ballet.
Held at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance, this event offers an intimate setting where audiences can experience the synergy between visual and performing arts. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the intersection of creativity and movement in a celebration of artistic expression and collaboration.
Children ages 4 and under are not allowed to attend.

The Three Little Kittens
2024-10-16 09:30 - 10:30 | Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North, Birmingham, Alabama, 35203, United States
For ages 4 – 8 years
Step into the enchanting world of “The Three Little Kittens” where Katie Sue, Purr, Tuffy, and Whiskers embark on a delightful adventure! Join our feline friends as they search for their lost items and discover that any problem can be solved with a little bit of thinking. Don’t miss this purr-fectly charming theatrical experience!

BHC Mom's Night Out
2024-10-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Essential Church School Offices, 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
Join other moms for a time of crafting and fellowship.
Bring your own white pumpkins and a snack/drink to share.

Peter and the Wolf
2024-10-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North, Birmingham, Alabama, 35203, United States
“Peter and the Wolf” comes to life in a captivating theatrical performance blending music, narration, and movement. This beloved Russian fairy tale, composed by Sergei Prokofiev, unfolds as Peter, a brave young boy, outwits a fearsome wolf with the help of his animal friends. Through enchanting melodies and vivid storytelling, audiences embark on a magical journey into the heart of the forest. Birmingham Children’s Theatre and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra invite you to join Peter on this timeless adventure filled with bravery, friendship, and the power of music.
Recommended for ages 6 and older.
Secure your admissions here!

Rhythm, Rhyme, Flow!
2024-10-03 10:00 - 11:30 | UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, 10th Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States
Join the Alabama Symphony Orchestra for a Hip Hop fusion show with local Birmingham talent Shaheed and D.J. Supreme! Perfect for all ages, this Young People’s Concert will fuse the orchestral artform with turntables, empowering messaging, and sick beats! Knowledge is power with the incorporation of STEAM components and a teacher guide for grades 3-5. We can’t wait to welcome you into the concert hall to experience the hype of this musical powerhouse collaboration between world class artists!
Recommended for grades 3-12
Secure remaining seats here:

Birmingham National College Fair
2024-09-08 13:00 - 16:00 | BJCC, Birmingham, AL, United States
Essential highly recommends college fair attendance for all students in grades 9-12. This large college fair offers information and access to colleges and specialty schools from all across the nation. It’s proven that exposure and admission to multiple colleges can affect your financial aid options. We’ve seen it!
Also, the opportunity for your student to see and interact with such a variety of schools will give them a view of what is available beyond the scope of their everyday experiences.
RSVP online at https://www.nacacattend.org/24Birmingham

BHC Homeschool Field Day
2024-08-23 13:00 - 15:00 | McCallum Park, Rosemary Lane, Vestavia Hills, AL, 35216, United States
Join us for an afternoon of activity, community, and summer refreshment!
More details at https://birminghamhomeschoolers.com/event/bhc-homeschool-field-day/

2024-2025 School Year Begins
2024-07-01 | Virtual
The Essential school year runs from July 1st through June 30th.
We allow families to set their own school day schedule within these parameters.

2023-2024 Attendance Due
2024-06-30 | Virtual
Please submit your 2023-2024 attendance records through the online form or to the school office before June 30th.
This is a legal requirement for all schools in Alabama.

Girls Volleyball Tryouts
2024-06-24 09:00 - 11:00 | Gardendale Civic Center, 857 Main Street, Gardendale, AL, 35071, United States
Ages 12 and up
For more information, contact Ashley Atkinson at apatkinson74@gmail.com

Navigating High School
2024-05-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
We are offering an online workshop focusing on the high school journey. This is only open to Essential families, because we will be discussing procedures specific to Essential enrollment and Essential’s diploma requirements. Best for families with students in grades 8-12.
Use online form below to RSVP for this workshop. You must be logged in to complete the form and receive the workshop access information.
After you complete the RSVP, please check all your email folders for an email with subject line “Your Tickets from Essential Church School.” It can take up to 30 minutes for the link to process and be emailed.
The virtual link gives you access to the Microsoft Teams meeting. Microsoft Teams is available as a free app, and you can also access it through Google Chrome as a weblink. Plan to log onto the meeting about 5 minutes before the workshop begins. We won’t be able to help with log on issues during the workshop. This link will NOT work with Apple’s Safari web browser.

High School Graduation Ceremony
2024-05-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Church of the Highlands | Fultondale Campus, 3250 Lowery Pkwy, Fultondale, AL, 35068, United States
We look forward to a special, formal evening celebrating our high school graduates.
Graduates and their parents should use Graduation Information link on the Member Page to register for participation and admissions.
Admissions for friends and extended family are required for attendance. Please secure your attendance admission BEFORE May 15th. Admissions may be offered after this date, but they will reflect additional fees for adjustment charges. The admission ticket allows us to plan for attendance, cover photography, audio/visual, and cleaning services, and provide security/insurance for the venue.
Although admissions are not refundable, please contact us if you are unable to attend due to illness. We encourage everyone to continue to abide by health and safety guidelines in respect for others.
Scroll down to see the order form. Be careful entering your email address and selecting appropriate tickets. You will receive a confirmation email. Please forward this confirmation to any guests for whom you are purchasing tickets, so they can show as needed for entry. (The email does not have to be printed. Viewing on a phone will be acceptable.)
If you have any questions or issues with ticket purchase, please use the Contact Us tab above to send us a quick message.
Small children ages 5 and under do not require a ticket. Please note that this event can be long for young children. Consider having some quiet activities for them while sitting in the auditorium, or have them stay with a sitter for the evening.

Kindergarten Graduation 2024
2024-05-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Church of the Highlands | Greystone Campus, 1701 Lee Branch Lane, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
Families with enrolled kindergarten students will find details about this special day inside the Kindergarten Graduation link on their Member Page. There is a discount code listed there for Essential families to participate.
If you have a kindergarten student who is not enrolled with Essential, contact the office for details about Essential discounts.
Order graduation supplies here: https://birminghamhomeschoolers.com/product-category/graduation-supplies/
Secure your graduate’s spot at: https://birminghamhomeschoolers.com/event/kindergarten-graduation-2024/

Afternoon Testing for Grades 3-8
2024-05-07 13:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-06 13:00 - 17:00 | Essential Church School Offices, 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
We will offer 2-day group in-person testing for students in grades 3-8 at our offices. Our testing room only accommodates 10 students, so space is VERY limited. (For information about online or at-home testing, visit the Testing information under the Resources tab above)
PLEASE NOTE: This is a 2-day testing process. Your student will be required to attend BOTH testing days.
Please complete the form below to reserve your student’s participation before April 1st. Essential families receive a significant discount on the test administration.
Please check out our resource page at http://essentialchurchschool.org/resources/testing for other at-home testing options.
MORE INFO ABOUT THE TEST:
We are offering the Iowa Assessments Form E, which is the most up-to-date test available to our school. This test assesses a broad array of skills in these areas: • Vocabulary • Reading Comprehension • Language (Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage and Expression) • Math (Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving and Data Interpretation, Computation) • Social Studies • Science • Sources of Information (Maps and Diagrams, Reference Materials). Students mark answers on a bubble sheet. Each section is timed. Test results are thorough and highlight strengths and weaknesses.
TEST PREP:
You can purchase and have your student go through a practice test. Amazon.com offers several test prep books, and Essential families should also explore our school library for resources.
LOCATION:
Essential Office Building at 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive
Park up and behind office building, and enter through back double door entrance.
SIGN UP FORM

Morning Testing for Grades 3-8
2024-05-07 08:30 - 12:30, 2024-05-06 08:30 - 12:30 | Essential Church School Offices, 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
We will offer 2-day group in-person testing for students in grades 3-8 at our offices. Our testing room only accommodates 10 students, so space is VERY limited. (For information about online or at-home testing, visit the Testing information under the Resources tab above)
PLEASE NOTE: This is a 2-day testing process. Your student will be required to attend BOTH testing days.
Please complete the form below to reserve your student’s participation before April 1st. Essential families receive a significant discount on the test administration.
Please check out our resource page at http://essentialchurchschool.org/resources/testing for other at-home testing options.
MORE INFO ABOUT THE TEST:
We are offering the Iowa Assessments Form E, which is the most up-to-date test available to our school. This test assesses a broad array of skills in these areas: • Vocabulary • Reading Comprehension • Language (Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation, Usage and Expression) • Math (Concepts and Estimation, Problem Solving and Data Interpretation, Computation) • Social Studies • Science • Sources of Information (Maps and Diagrams, Reference Materials). Students mark answers on a bubble sheet. Each section is timed. Test results are thorough and highlight strengths and weaknesses.
TEST PREP:
You can purchase and have your student go through a practice test. Amazon.com offers several test prep books, and Essential families should also explore our school library for resources.
LOCATION:
Essential Office Building at 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive
Park up and behind office building, and enter through back double door entrance.

Please check out our resource page at http://essentialchurchschool.org/resources/testing for other at-home testing options.

2024-2025 Re-Enrollment Opens
2024-05-01 | Virtual
Current families will find the 2024-2025 Re-Enrollment form on their Member Pages beginning May 1, 2024.
Late re-enrollment begins on August 1st, and Re-Enrollment closes completely on September 1st.

Creek Kids Program for Grades 6-7
2024-04-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, 35111, United States
CREEK KIDS PROGRAM – Outdoor Field Trip at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

We have only 30 spots available. Make your reservation today!

Offered by Alabama Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Aquatic Education Program and Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

Follows Alabama Science Course of Study for 6th-7th grade
Located at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park in McCalla, AL
9 am – 12 pm
Wading in the creek, train ride, netting fish & aquatic insects, trail walk, watershed model, and PowerPoint
Also includes tour of Ironworks Museum, use of playground & pavilion
Tannehill’s entry fee is $5.00 per attendee (we will contact you if this needs to be collected before we arrive onsite)
Families coming with other students who are not grades 6-7 can explore the park independently. The parents and other students cannot participate with the group.

Creek Kids Program for Grades 3-5
2024-04-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, 35111, United States
CREEK KIDS PROGRAM – Outdoor Field Trip at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

We have only 40 spots available. Make your reservation today!

Offered by Alabama Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources (ADCNR) Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Aquatic Education Program and Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park

Follows Alabama Science Course of Study for 3rd-5th grade
Located at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park in McCalla, AL
9 am – 12 pm
Wading in the creek, train ride, netting fish & aquatic insects, trail walk, watershed model, and PowerPoint
Also includes tour of Ironworks Museum, use of playground & pavilion
Tannehill’s entry fee is $5.00 per attendee (we will contact you if this needs to be collected before we arrive onsite)
Families coming with other students who are not grades 3-5 can explore the park independently. The parents and other students cannot participate with the group.

Homeschool High School Workshop
2024-04-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Chelsea Public Library, 16623 US-280, Chelsea, AL, 35043, United States
Join us as we explore the high school journey and the preparation for life after homeschooling. This special afternoon will feature:

Preparing and Walking the High School Road
Testing and Post-Graduation Prep
The Heart of the Matter

We will meet on the back patio of the Chelsea Public Library for this workshop, and we encourage everyone to RSVP to give us information about the space needed for our attendees. Donation is not required, but it is helpful in providing printed materials as well as honoring our workshop speakers.

Event Sponsor
We are thankful for the space provided and the support of the Chelsea Public Library! Explore their website for the many resources they offer for students and families.
Free – $10.00 Suggested Donation

Homeschool Capitol Day
2024-04-04 | Montgomery, AL, Montgomery, AL, United States
Homeschool Alabama is planning a Day at the Capitol for Alabama homeschoolers on Thursday April 4, 2024. We hope to see a LOT of homeschool families on that day! Be the face of homeschooling to our legislators and show support for homeschool freedom.

Tour of State House
Tour of Capitol Building
Deliver cookies to state legislators
Speakers
Field trip activities

Join homeschooling families from across the state to tour the state capitol building, visit historic sites, meet your legislators, and support homeschool freedom. Register now! We will update with more details as tour schedules and other events are set.

Limited to 200 people so Register Today!

BHC Easter Park Day
2024-03-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Cahaba Lily Park, 3200 County Road 52, Helena, AL, 35080, United States
*RAIN PLAN* If it is actively raining or if there are thunderstorms, we will cancel this event. Please watch our social media posts on Friday morning. Someone will be at the park at 1pm – just in case.
Join us for a traditional Easter egg hunt as well as spring fun! Bring plastic eggs (with or without goodies inside) and baskets for the egg hunt, and bring a prepackaged spring treat/drink to share (or bring your own snack for your children). Teens and older students can help with egg hiding if they prefer. Dads often join us on this day too!
Bring kites and sport equipment for free time. Hopefully, we will have beautiful weather, but we will meet drizzle or shine and hide eggs under the pavilion if needed!
For those who haven’t joined us in the past, we do hide tickets in eggs to redeem for prizes after the egg hunt. And here is our normal schedule:
1-1:30 pm – Families arrive and drop off eggs at designated area.
1:30-2 pm – Teens/Dads hide eggs at a designated location while children play or eat.
We gather in grade level groupings for the egg hunt at 2pm.
After the egg hunt, students look through their collected eggs for tickets and goodies. Empty eggs can be donated to BHC for use in the next year’s hunt, or you can take your collections home. The tickets are marked, and students will return to their age/grade level egg hunt area with their tickets to claim their prizes.
This is a monthly group event, and we hope you will come and meet new friends. All the families and people may be overwhelming, so look for our BHC team (with lanyards or t-shirts) to help you make connections.

Homeschooling Workshop
2024-03-23 10:00 - 15:00 | North Shelby Library, 5521 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham, AL, United States
Whether you have just started homeschooling, are investigating homeschooling, or just need encouragement for your current homeschool journey, this workshop has proven to encourage and educate!

Schedule

10 am Know Your Why
10:45 am A Homeschool Story
11 am How You Con Homeschool
11:45 am A Homeschool Story
12 pm Lunch Break onsite
12:30 pm How To Teach
1:15 pm A Homeschool Story
1:30 pm What to Teach
2 pm Planning
2:30 pm Q&A Panel

To Attend:
Please let BHC know you are attending! You can simply RSVP on their website and attend for FREE. This event is open to the general public.
The Suggested Donation covers the printed materials and the lunches for our workshop speakers.
We are planning to have pizza delivered for our lunch break, and you can also participate in the Lunch with us.

Navigating High School
2024-03-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Virtual
We are offering an online workshop focusing on the high school journey. This is only open to Essential families, because we will be discussing procedures specific to Essential enrollment and Essential’s diploma requirements. Best for families with students in grades 8-12.
Use online form below to RSVP for this workshop. You must be logged in to complete the form and receive the workshop access information.
After you complete the RSVP, please check all your email folders for an email with subject line “Your Tickets from Essential Church School.” It can take up to 30 minutes for the link to process and be emailed.
The virtual link gives you access to the Microsoft Teams meeting. Microsoft Teams is available as a free app, and you can also access it through Google Chrome as a weblink. Plan to log onto the meeting about 5 minutes before the workshop begins. We won’t be able to help with log on issues during the workshop.

Black Aviators Tour & Documentary
2024-02-27 09:00 - 13:30 | Southern Museum of Flight, 4343 73rd St North, Birmingham, 35206, United States
We are excited to be invited to join the Southern Museum of Flight for a FREE tour and screening of a historical documentary about Black Aviators.
9:30- “The Space Race “ Film
10:45- “The Space Race” Q&A
11:15- Black Aviators Tour
But, we need your RSVP today – by Friday, February 23rd.
This tour is appropriate for students in grades 3-12. FREE for those participating in both the tour and screening.
Younger siblings may need to stay with parent and explore the museum independently if they must attend with older siblings. This could involve museum admission.

Navigating High School LIVE
2024-02-22 19:00 - 20:30 | Essential Church School Offices, 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
We are offering an in-person workshop focusing on the high school journey. This is only open to Essential families, because we will be discussing procedures specific to Essential enrollment and Essential’s diploma requirements. Best for families with students in grades 8-12.
Use online form below to RSVP for this workshop. You must be logged in to complete the form.
Plan to bring a treat to share. We will have sodas, coffee, and water available.

Purposeful Homeschooling Small Group
2024-02-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Essential Church School Offices, 4000 Eagle Point Corporate Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35242, United States
Join Kristy Trent for a small group for homeschool moms which will focus on having purposeful homeschooling environments.
Meeting most Wednesday evenings during the spring semester.
Email Kristy to get connected to the group’s information and schedule.
