SEEDS OF FAITH HOMESCHOOL CO-OP
INFORMATION & POLICIES

If you would like to join us please email your name, address, phone,
and names/ages of your children to SeedsFaith@gmail.com.

What is a Homeschool Co-op?
Mission of Seeds of Faith Co-op
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
ABSENCES
REGISTRATION - GENERAL INFO
COSTS AND FEES
DATES AND TIMES
NURSERY
CO-OP RULES
DRESS CODE
DISCIPLINE
MEDICAL RELEASE & WAIVER OF LIABILITY

WHAT IS A HOMESCHOOL CO-OP?
A co-op is a co-operative effort between homeschooling parents to
provide classes and opportunities for their children that might be
otherwise difficult or too costly to provide at the family level. Each
family is required to provide a parent to help with the co-op.

IMPORTANT NOTE - A parent is required to be present whenever a student
is involved. NO DROP OFFS!

MISSION OF SEEDS OF FAITH CO-OP
As the years have rolled by we have entered into a new stage for SOF
co-op: our teenaged group is now just as large as our elementary
group. As a result we offer several class choices for our elementary
students, junior high and high school students each hour.  Siblings
ages 5 and under are welcome and you will find class options for them
on the schedule.

Our classes are mainly physical activities and enrichment
classes. We have just a few academic classes offered, mostly because we
feel that parents are quite capable of teaching those at home. We
place a priority on classes that are difficult to teach at home, such
as foreign language or science or those that benefit from a large
group setting, such as physical education. We also like classes to be
enjoyable for our students so we offer a wide variety of enrichment
classes

Seeds of Faith is guided by a Leadership Team of Christian
homeschoolers. For our Statement of Faith, see our website. All
classes will reflect a Christian perspective that honors our Lord. No
class will teach anything that would be in direct conflict with our
Statement of Faith.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
We require that a parent be present during the times that children are
present. The adult will serve in one or more of the following
capacities for 2-3 hours, depending on the commitment arranged with
the leadership team: Teach or Assist with a class, Supervise or assist
in the nursery, monitor the hallway, or various other necessary
duties. The adult may be a teacher for two hours, or teach one hour
and assist one or two hours, or assist in a class or the nursery for
three hours.

Each family is required to help clean the church two times per year.
Please sign up at registration for two cleaning slots. If you do not
sign up, you will be assigned two weeks to clean. If you cannot help
on your day, it is your responsibility to switch with another family.
We do have one person assigned to watch the children. Parents need to
instruct their children 12 years and under that they must remain
together under this person's supervision unless helping with the
cleaning.  Because we have such a large number of teens we expect that
any teens whose families are cleaning will actively participate in the
cleaning process.

ABSENCES
Co-op is a commitment. Please remember also that this is a
co-operative, which means we all make it happen as a team. When even
just one mom is missing, it can make it harder and more difficult for
the rest of us to do our jobs and the kids are the ones who lose out.
We recommend you find another co-op alternative if you have plans to
miss more than 4 Fridays during the Fridays of our co-op. Because of
the example we are setting for our children, it is important to be on
time and to fulfill our commitments. Excessive tardiness and excessive
absences will be subject to the Leadership Team's review and will
depend on your circumstances. If you are absent 4 times or more during
the year you will not be considered for teaching for the next
semester.

Ideally you will be at every co-op. However, we realize that sometimes
there will be unavoidable situations that cause you to miss co-op.
Teachers need to provide us with the name of their designated
substitute before co-op begins. Assistants are asked to arrange for
their own substitutes whenever possible and then notify us of the
changes. If it is an emergency, please let us know and we will make
sure your assignment is covered.

You MUST call us if you are not going to attend co-op. In the event
you need to be absent for all or part of a co-op day, it is your
responsibility to contact Lisa Wagner as soon as you know, and no
later than 8:30 a.m. Friday morning. NOTE - Please call Lisa at
810-796-2768 and if you can‘t reach her there her cell phone number is
810-706-7293.  You can email her up til 7am Friday morning at
lisaquing@gmail.com.   If you must contact her later than 7am please
do so by telephone.

If one of your children is ill, your other children ages 6+ may attend
co-op under the direct supervision of another adult. (If this adult is
not a co-op member, he or she must be pre-approved and listed on your
registration form.) We require a signed note from the parent stating
that the designed substitute is supervising your children. Please do
not assume that you may send your children with someone else. You MUST
contact Lisa Wagner and obtain approval. Her contact information is
listed in the above information.

Dropping off your children is not allowed. In case of an emergency
(not scheduling conflicts or errands) where you must leave the church
grounds, ask another parent to be directly responsible for your
children. Tell your children and a leadership team member to whom your
children are accountable.

Students will not be allowed at Seeds of Faith Co-op without a parent
on site at all times (or a designated substitute in case of an
emergency or illness). If a parent must leave the grounds, they must
check out with one of the leadership team members.

REMINDER - a parent or guardian is required to be present whenever a
student is involved.

REGISTRATION – GENERAL INFO
We require every family have at least one child in grades K-12 in
order to register with Seeds of Faith co-op.

The class schedule will be released several weeks before registration.
We will NOT be mailing class schedules. Check the website for the
schedule. You can print this schedule out.

We maintain a waiting list of interested families. We have room for
130 students in our co-op. If our enrollment falls below 130, we will
draw from the waiting list in the order that it was formed.
Occasionally, we may allow a family to move ahead on the waiting list
if the parent can fulfill an urgent teaching need.

We regret that we have to limit the size of the co-op due to space and
management considerations. (If someone out there is interested in
starting another co-op, we would be very glad to help get one
started!)

COSTS AND FEES
The registration cost for the co-op this year will be $80. This will
need to be paid at registration and is non-refundable. There is an
additional tuition charge for hired teachers.

The registration fee covers the facility charges and expenses for
running the co-op. We will continue to strive to keep the co-op
affordable for everyone.

We must have your payment for your registration to be considered
complete and for your space to be held in the classes.

Most classes require a supply fee, which is paid directly to the
teacher. Classes with high materials costs, such as crafts, may have
higher supply fees. These costs are listed on the Class Descriptions
sheet. Please check each fee before registering to avoid surprises
later.

Supply fees are due on the first day of class, unless you make other
arrangements directly with the teacher.

Important - supply fees must be given to the teacher in an envelope
with your child’s name and the class name on the outside. Do not
expect the teacher to make change. Cash or checks are both acceptable.
Please take a few minutes before the first day of co-op to prepare
supply fee envelopes for all your children’s classes.

We have an ongoing fundraiser selling pizza at lunch. This helps us to
keep the co-op affordable and provides a convenient lunch for those
who wish to participate. We have a candy fundraiser at the end of each
year to help offset the cost of registration.

DATES AND TIMES
Co-op will meet approximately every other Friday. Check our Calendar
to see dates and times.
The co-op will offer 4 time slots of classes between 9:30 am –2:35 pm.
Each student, ages 4 and up, will be able to take 1-4 classes. Parents
will sign up in advance for the classes for each student and for the
parent commitments. Some classes may have limitations on the number of
students or age limits. Please be aware of this. Classes in high
demand may be repeated in the next year.

Co-op will be cancelled if Dryden Community Schools are cancelled due
to inclement weather. If you are wary of going out due to weather,
please feel free to make that judgment yourself. Please call Lisa
Wagner and let her know that you will not be in.

NURSERY
A staffed Nursery will be offered for babies and toddlers up to age 3.
Older children will not be allowed into the nursery, unless their own
parent is working in the nursery at that time. Teens may choose to
volunteer as nursery workers, if desired.

Children must be pre-registered to enter the nursery or playroom.
Priority will be given to the children whose parents are working
during that time slot.

Diaper changes and pottying will remain primarily the parent's responsibility.

The Nursery/Playroom will be coordinated by Sheryl Titus. If you have
any concerns or suggestions, please contact Sheryl.
titus_sheryl@yahoo.com or 810-310-0734.

LUNCH
We have extended our lunch time to allow for more opportunities of
fellowship.  However, with that comes an additional responsibility to
make sure our children are well-behaved.   Bearing this in mind,
please instruct your children that there is no ball playing or running
during lunch.  Please make sure your children clean up all of their
garbage and lunchtime items when they are done.  If you or your
children accidentally spill something during lunch please clean it up.
 If you bring any items from home for lunch (such as roasting pans or
drinking containers) please make sure they are out of the gym and put
away as soon as lunch is concluded.  Please put your chairs away once
you are done with lunch to help expedite the cleaning process. Thank
you for helping to make our lunchtime enjoyable.

CO-OP RULES
Be respectful of classes in session and of learning happening. If
someone is speaking, be attentive. Anyone disrupting class will be
asked to leave.
Please arrive PROMPTLY for your classes. Allowing a few extra minutes
to get everyone situated is a good plan. The building will be open at
8:45. Opening assembly begins at 9:30.
Inappropriate conversations, gestures, clothing, or aggressive
physical contact will not be permitted. Such actions may cause a child
to be removed from co-op permanently. This decision is left up to the
discretion of the Leadership Team.
Off limit areas include: Kitchen (except as scheduled), Office hallway
(except for parents).
NO FOOD allowed in carpeted areas unless teacher permission is given.
Teacher is then responsible for cleanup.
Nametags must be worn at all times during co-op.
The lawn may be used, but children (including teens) must be directly
supervised by an adult who is outdoors.
Parents MUST stay on-site while their children are here, but they do
not necessarily have to remain in the building.
Coats should be hanging on racks. Please leave boots near coat racks;
do not track in mud or snow onto the facility floors.
Backpacks or lunch bags should be left neatly out of the way. Please
do not use the main hallway for storing belongings.
Clean NON MARKING athletic shoes only on the gym floors.
No running indoors, except during supervised classes or during Open Gym time.
No loitering in the bathrooms. Please use the bathrooms in the main
hallway and avoid the ones near the offices.
Children 12 and under must be directly supervised at all times. If the
child is not in class, he or she must be directly under the
supervision of a parent or another adult.
No children, including teens, should be outside except when directly
under the supervision of an adult.
Sick children belong at home, not at co-op. Never put sick children in
the nursery or playroom.
An unenrolled child may not attend co-op as a "visitor" unless that
child’s parent is present AND prior permission has been obtained from
the coordinator or assistant coordinator.
No smoking, drinking alcohol, illegal drugs or weapons allowed at co-op.
Any public display of boyfriend/girlfriend relationships is not
acceptable at the co-op. Teen boys and girls should not be alone
together except in a public area.
Show respect for all adults and peers. Address adults in the manner
they prefer. If unknown, please use titles of respect (Mr., Mrs.,
Miss).
All participants must treat the church facilities and equipment with
the utmost care and respect. Seeds of Faith Co-op does not have a
budget to cover repairs to the DWC building, grounds, or equipment.
Co-op participants are responsible for and will be asked to pay for
any damage that may occur to the building, grounds, or equipment.
Students are not allowed to bring personal electronic items to co-op.
This includes, but isn’t to mp-3 players, ipods, personal gaming
systems, laptops (unless needed for a class) and telephones.   These
items will be confiscated and returned to the parent if they are seen
using them.

DRESS CODE
All co-op participants, children and adults, must be dressed modestly
and appropriately while attending the program. If you are unsure if
something is appropriate, it is probably wise to choose another item
of clothing. Abdomens and backs must be covered. Tight-fitting
clothing should be avoided. Shorts and skirts must be at least
fingertip length when hands are at the sides. Clothing must not have
inappropriate slogans or illustrations. Girls that wish to wear
dresses should wear shorts under their dresses if engaged in physical
activities. Clean, dry shoes must be worn to protect the church’s
flooring. Hats should be removed during class. (I Tim. 2:9-10, II Tim.
2:22, Lev. 6:10-11, Ezek. 42:14)

DISCIPLINE
Every adult, not just the designated teacher, is expected to intervene
if disruptive or disrespectful behavior is observed. All parents are
responsible for enforcing Seeds of Faith rules, listed above. It is
understood that if anyone in your family violates the rules, it will
jeopardize your participation in the co-op, and the Leadership Team
reserves the right to deny participation to any student or family.

Parents will be contacted if a disciplinary problem arises and may be
asked to remove their child from class. Parents are responsible for
their children’s actions and behavior.

These guidelines are for handling any disruptive behavior in class:
1st Offense - Speak to the student, asking him or her to please stop
the behavior and giving him or her a warning that if he or she does
not stop the behavior, he or she will have to sit with an adult in the
classroom or be separated from the other students.
2nd Offense - Remind the student to stop the behavior. Either move the
student next to an adult or separate him from the other students.
3rd Offense - Remove the student from class and escort them to the
Coordinator or one of the Leadership Team Members. They will notify
the parent during the next transition.

If a student’s behavior is excessively rude or aggressive, steps 1 and
2 should be skipped and step 3 should be taken immediately. If a
student continues to be a disruption during the semester, they will be
asked not to return.

MEDICAL RELEASE & WAIVER OF LIABILITY
Each family must sign a form releasing Seeds of Faith, Dryden Wesleyan
Church, and their employees and volunteers from any liability for
damage or injury. Signing this form also grants permission for Seeds
of Faith to use photographs taken at co-op in printed and electronic
publications, as well as for co-op participants to be listed in a
group directory.

The medical release form is available at:
http://www.sofhomeschool.com/documents/MedicalRelease.pdf

 


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