Berrien Springs Virtual Academy Partnership
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  • Program Basics
  • Registration
  • Classes
    • Berrien BookShark
    • Field Trips: In-Person Bonus Experience
    • Virtual Classes >
      • Virtual Class Guidelines
      • The Animation Course: Animation or Drawing Courses
      • Bonus Virtual Classes
      • Michigan Virtual
      • Middlebury World Languages
      • Typing Quest
      • Login Sites
    • Animal Husbandry >
      • Birchbank Farm: Art of the Small Family Farm
      • Circle C Stables
      • Ground Zero: Exploring Equine Education
      • Ground Zero: Mounted Archery
      • Patsy Little: Horse Care and Management
      • Spring Creek Equestrian Center
    • Art Classes >
      • Architecture
      • Birchbank Farm: Art Classes
      • Buchanan Art Center
      • Ceramics/Pottery >
        • Birchbank Farm: Historical Arts
        • Ceramics with Jill Dodge
        • Niles STEAM Room: Ceramics
        • Wheel Fun Pottery!
      • Creative Design with Robert Ritzenthaler
      • Mixed Media and Collage
      • Design Street in Plainwell
      • Jon Whidden: Collage
      • Drawing and Painting Classes: see tabs >
        • Niki McNeil: Art Classes
        • Jill Dodge: Elementary Art
        • JLN Studios: Acrylic, Watercolor and Pastels
        • Starlight Studio
      • Jewelry/Leather >
        • Chainmaille with Kim Bollman
        • Jill Dodge: Leather Tooling
      • FLC: Art and Culture Around the World
      • GVNCP: Art Classes
      • Krasl Art Center
      • Photography and Videography >
        • Adventures in Photography with Katie
        • For Robert Ritzenthaler Photo or Video, see Technology Category
      • Glass >
        • Jill Dodge: Glass Fusing
      • Water Street Glassworks >
        • Water Street Glassworks
    • Business and Finance >
      • Personal Finance
    • Chess >
      • Chess: Niles
    • Dance: Fine Arts >
      • Benton Harbor Dance Studios
      • Decatur Dance Studios
      • Coloma Dance Studios
      • Dowagiac Dance Studios
      • Niles Dance Studios
      • Sawyer Dance Studios
      • South Haven Dance Studios
      • St. Joseph Dance Studios
      • Stevensville Dance Studios
    • CTE: Career and Technical Education
    • Drama >
      • CMW: Children's Music Workshop
    • Family Adventure Trips >
      • New River Gorge
    • Foreign Languages >
      • Lotus Chinese
      • Dos Mundos Spanish
      • I Heart Spanish
    • Humanities >
      • Re-enactment Arts >
        • Ground Zero: Archery
    • Life Skills >
      • Cooking and Baking >
        • Birchbank Farm: Gluten Free Cooking
        • Joel Bennett: Beginning and Advanced Baking
      • Crochet: with Niki McNeil
      • Sewing and Textiles >
        • Robin English: Sewing and Quilting
        • Adventures in Textiles
        • Birchbank Farm: Sewing
    • Music >
      • Music: Intensive Project-Based Study >
        • Cello
        • Guitar
        • Percussion
        • Piano
        • Violin
        • Voice
        • Other Instruments
      • Music: Group Project-Based Study >
        • Berrien Springs Public School - Band or Choir
        • Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra
        • The Music Academies - Niles
        • West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts
        • Shoreline Music Classes
        • Trevor Jones: Songwriting & Music Production
    • Nature/Environment >
      • Birding and Beyond
      • Loonling Learning: Natural Acts Hiking
      • Love Creek: Outdoor Explorers
      • Homesteading
      • GVNCP: Nature Classes
    • Physical Education >
      • Gymnastics >
        • Elite Sports Academy
        • Branch Gymnastics
        • Infinite Gymnastics at Andrews
        • Power In Motion
        • The Club for Gymnastics
      • Martial Arts
      • Physical Fitness & Sports >
        • Basketball >
          • Basketball: Andrews Jr. Cardinals
          • Basketball: Niles with Dan Oates
        • CrossFit
        • Fitness Classes at the BH/SJ YMCA
        • Hockey: Youth League
        • Ice Skating: Learn to Skate: Garden Ice Arena
        • Life RX: Teen Strength/Conditioning
        • Midwest Performance Academy
        • Homeschool Nexus- Rock Climbing and Running
        • Soccer: Andrews Jr. Cardinals and Red Arrow Soccer Club
        • Softball: Dugout Dolls
        • Tennis and Pickleball: Group Lessons
      • Swim and Gym Locations
      • Swim Lessons/Swim Clubs >
        • Group Swim Lessons: various locations
        • Swim Clubs
    • Technology >
      • FLC Tech Classes
      • Niles STEAM Room
      • Photography or Videography with Robert Ritzenthaler
      • Jon Whidden: Recording Studio and Electronic Music
    • Vocational Education >
      • Tom Hurst: Woodworking
      • Bicycle Mechanics
      • Lifeguarding or WSI Certification and Junior Lifeguarding
  • Dual Enrollment / CTE
    • What is Dual Enrollment?
    • Andrews University
    • Glen Oaks Community College
    • KVCC - Kalamazoo Valley Community College
    • Lake Michigan College
    • Southwest Michigan College
    • CTE
  • Meet your Mentor
    • Mentor Bios
    • Mentor Evaluation Tools
  • Contacts / Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Homeschool Links of Interest
    • Social Networking & Homeschool resources
    • Standardized Testing Opportunities
  • Calendar
  • Field Trips: Virtual Options

Mentor Bios



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Jill Dodge ~ jdodge@homeoftheshamrocks.org ​

Salutations Students and Parents!

 I have had the joy of teaching since 1997, filling elementary positions such as multi-grade, pre-kindergarten , art, and principal.  In 2013 I started teaching two classes for the Berrien Springs and Niles Partnerships and have enjoyed adding to my art curriculum each year. Most recently I added a Family Adventure Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

​The things I enjoy are my husband Terry, our four children, Autumm, Winter, Trey and Holden, table games, dark chocolate, ceramics, photography, and being in nature, visiting U.S. National Parks, hiking and much more!

I look forward to communicating weekly with your family throughout this school year!

Blessings,                                                                                                                                                                  
Mrs. Jill Dodge



Margaret 'Meg' Edwards - medwards@homeoftheshamrocks.org

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Phil Giddings ~ pgiddings@homeoftheshamrocks.org 
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My name is Philip Giddings and I am a teacher who has enjoyed working with students and my colleagues over the past years.  I have worked with middle school, junior high, high school, and college students in various capacities.  I have also enjoyed administrative duties as I was the principal of a pre- kindergarten through 12th grade school in Chicago, Illinois. I also performed joint duties as I had the privilege of working in smaller school settings where I functioned as Teacher/Principal.
My joys are seeing student success and student development as they make positive choices that will enhance their future.  I am an American but I have lived in and traveled to many different countries not limited to but including Africa, France, and the Caribbean.
I realize that the success of today’s youth is in reality a strong indicator of our accomplishments. This paved road makes smooth the passage for the next generation.  We invest now and anticipate a lucrative return on our investment which will be withdrawn during the next generation and beyond.  I am willing to take part in the crafting and the shaping of this emerging generation.
I look forward to being a part of your accomplishments, inspiration, and your ultimate triumph.


Sincerely, 
Philip3
Philip E. Giddings III

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Rebecca 'Becky' Halcombe - rhalcombe@homeoftheshamrocks.org

Warm Greetings!
I look forward to coming alongside you in your homeschool journey as Mentor and friend. It is always a delight to help cultivate and witness the growth and development in each unique student and family. 

I started working for the BS Partnership in 2010 as the Field Trip Coordinator and then eventually a Mentor Teacher.  Prior to that I was privileged to Homeschool my 4 children for 20 years. Prior to that I had the opportunity to be a classroom teacher.

I anticipate a wonderful year of learning with your family!


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Juliette Horton ~ jhorton1@homeoftheshamrocks.org
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​Hello students and parents!!  I’ve had the awesome privilege of being an elementary school teacher!  It has been a joy for me to teach children in the states of Alabama and Michigan for the last 18 years. I am married and my husband and I have been blessed with 2 lovely girls.  We enjoy spending lots of time together as a family.  We love reading together, visiting zoos and museums, playing games and helping others.
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It is very important to me to see my students be successful in their education, so I work hard in helping them accomplish the goals that have been set for them or they’ve set for themselves. I’ve often times thought, “Is there another profession that I’d enjoy as much as teaching?”  Well, it’s been almost 18 years and I’ve not found another yet.  I LOVE being a teacher!! My students call me Mrs. Horton and I am happy to be a Berrien Springs Parent Partnership mentor.  I look forward to working with you!


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Mandy Jankoviak ~ @homeoftheshamrocks.org

My name is Mandy Jankoviak. I was a public school teacher for 13 years before deciding to homeschool.  We have been homeschooling for 4 years.  My children are 13, 11, 10, 6, 4, and 1. (Yes, that's 6!) Needless to say, I love kids and am excited to work with yours!

We enjoy the beach, swimming, Pinterest projects, decorating, and the arts.

​I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with the partnership and happy to help in any way I can.


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Ani Kuhn ~ akuhn@homeoftheshamrocks.org


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Iveth Ortiz ~ iortiz@homeoftheshamrocks.org

​Hello Partnership Families! I am privileged to join the team of mentors this year and look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growing along with your families. My name is Iveth Ortiz and I have resided in the Berrien Springs area for 6 years now after moving from Florida. I am married and have two wonderful boys, aged 10 and 7 who are also students in the Berrien Springs Partnership. I currently serve as a Title 1 Reading Intervention Teacher in the 3 elementary private schools in Berrien Springs. I enjoy traveling to new places and spending time with my immediate family and extended family. I was born and raised in Colombia, South America and love latin American food, music and culture. I hope you will find the partnership program enriching and enjoyable as much as me and my family have. 


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Mark Ring ~ mring@homeoftheshamrocks.org



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​Amy Scott ~

​My name is Amy Scott, and as a homeschool parent, I am excited to mentor students in the Berrien Springs homeschool partnership!  I have 16 years classroom teaching experience before leaving several years ago to begin homeschooling my two children.  

Our children, ages 13 and 14, are both homeschooled and participate in many activities.  My husband of 20 years is a 4th grade teacher.  We enjoy spending time together as a family and participating in church activities.  

It is a privilege to work with your family.  We will have a fantastic school year and journey together! 



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Lynne Wieferich ~ lwieferich@homeoftheshamrocks.org

​My name is Lynne Wieferich. I was a public school teacher for ten years before becoming a stay at home mom and homeschooling my two sons. I enjoy being a mentor teacher and hearing about all of the great classes that are offered through the partnership program.


Teachers of Record

Becky Halcombe: K-8 gen ed
Tom Hurst: K-12 Industrial Arts and Agriculture
Mandy Jankoviak: K-12 Music
Mark Ring: 9-12 Communication

Peres Sambu: Family and Consumer Science
Luis Sanchez: K-12 Spanish
Sara Smothers: K-12 Physical Education
Lisa VanPlew-Cid: K-12 Art



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