Co-ops: School Beyond the Home

Thank you for your interest in home school Co-ops.  Our hope is that this will answer many of your questions, and supply adequate information for your family to make an informed decision regarding your involvement.  We believe that loving parents are wonderfully qualified teachers for their own children and that sufficient resources are available to help any parent to customize a comprehensive and academically thorough education for each child in his home.

Q:  What is the purpose of the Co-ops?

A:  School Beyond the Home Co-ops were started to provide homeschooling families an opportunity to pool their talents together in order to teach their different skills to each others’ children.  While they provide children the opportunity to participate in corporate social and academic activities, the Co-ops are not intended to replace dedicated schooling at home, but rather to reinforce what your children are already learning in the home.

Q:  What is the vision of School Beyond the Home Co-ops?

A:  Our vision is to be a cooperative teaching group created by, taught by and administered by Christians who have a Christian worldview.  It is to talk about God, pray to God, discuss issues from a Biblical worldview, read verses from the Bible and relate them to science, math, reading and more.

Q:  Who can participate in the Co-ops?

A:  We recommend that you register with SAHS to stay informed of educational opportunities such as the co-ops.  This does not mean that one needs to be a believer to attend, but please know that in the teaching and fellowship of the co-ops, there will be mention of God, our beliefs in Him, His Holy Scriptures and the hope that we have been given through Him.

Q:  Is there more than one co-op?

A:  There are two large co-ops that meet at the HUB facility on Patch as well as several families that get together throughout the area to host smaller co-ops in their homes.  You are welcome to attend one or all of the co-ops that will meet the needs of your family.  If you are interested in beginning or participating in a home co-op, any of the current Co-op Administrators would be happy to provide information and sources as needed.  Please contact SAHS on the "contact" link to get information on the current Co-op Administrators.

Q:  What are the differences between the two large co-ops?

A:  The two co-ops are called, “Friday Co-op” and “Friday All-Ages Co-op”.  Both co-ops function under the same organizational plan, weekly rotation of dates, and time schedule.  The Friday Co-op offers classes from 3 years old thru high school, and the Friday All-Ages Co-op provides classes for Newborn thru High School.

Q:  How do I join a Co-op?

A:  A mandatory meeting for all interested families is held well before the start of the next term (May to plan for fall term and Nov to plan for spring term) after being advertised on the SAHS Yahoo Group. A parent MUST attend this meeting in order to receive priority in registration.  This is a requirement for each term in which you want to participate. Please note that each child must also be registered with CYS and have an up-to-date physical and shot record in order to participate in the co-ops that meet at the HUB.

Q:  How are the co-ops organized?

A:  Parents meet (May to plan for fall term and Nov to plan for spring term) for a mandatory organizational/planning meeting prior to the beginning of a semester.  Each parent presents a class option at the meeting. This information includes the following: the name of class, the maximum number of students, ages/grades of children that the class is appropriate for, any fees associated with class, and a basic description of the class, to include the titles of any published curriculum being utilized.  Parents attending the meeting sign up their children as being interested in taking up to two classes each.  This sign-up will begin at the meeting and will continue for approximately one week via email.  A deadline for class interest sign-up will be set by the Co-op Administrator.  After the deadline, the classes are finalized by the Co-op Administrator, who will make sure there is at least one class available per hour for each age/grade range.  Final class sign-up is then offered via email, to those who attended the mandatory meeting, for one week following the outgoing list.  At the end of that week, registration will remain open until the maximum number of students per class is reached and/or one week prior to the start of the semester when registration for all classes, with the exception of PE, will close.

Q:  Who teaches the Co-op classes?

A:  All teachers are parents of co-op children, volunteers who have been personally recommended by co-op members, paid professional teachers who have been personally recommended by co-op members, or HUB personnel.  All Co-op teachers and teacher assistants are asked to sign an agreement saying they agree to purposefully instruct the children as teachers, assistants, or authority figures, with excellence not only in academics, but also in sound character, wisdom, good conscience, love and sincere faith.  All instruction and interactions will endeavor to fulfill those goals. We do not, however, require HUB or private instructors to sign this statement; this may or may not affect your class choices.

Q:  Will all classes presented at the Mandatory Pre-term Meeting be offered that term?

A:  No. We will only offer those classes which have the greatest interest. We will provide classes for all age groups at each hour; this will be based on classroom and teacher availability, numbers of children interested, and ages of children participating in co-op that term.

Q:  What is the Co-op calendar?

A:  Each school year has two terms:  Fall and Spring.

1. 1.Fall term is August to November. We meet approximately 7 Fridays.
   

2. 2.Spring Term is January to May. We meet approximately 8 Fridays.
   

3. 3.We try to build our schedule around the EUCOM/AFRICOM holiday schedule to free long weekends for travel or family time.
   

4. 4.Co-op format is as follows:
   

9:00 - 9:10 Opening Assembly- Meet at CYS HUB

9:10 - 10:10 First hour classes

10:20 - 11:20 Second hour classes

11:30 – 12:30 Third hour classes

The preschoolers/kindergarteners stay in one classroom for the first and third hours of the co-op.  They leave to participate in PE during the second hour.

Q:  Must the student participate all three hours?

A:  No, a student may opt to participate in one, two, or all three classes. A parent must, however, participate in at least one class as a teacher or assistant in order for his/her student to participate in the co-op.

Q:  Can a family join mid-term?

A:  Unfortunately, in order to preserve the cohesiveness of the classes and to respect the preparations of the teachers, we must institute an end of enrollment date of one week prior to the beginning of the semester.  If a family will arrive in the Stuttgart area by the start date of the Co-ops, but are unable to attend the organizational meeting, they are welcome to submit a class idea/sign-up sheet to the Co-op Administrator, thereby guaranteeing them a place when the term begins. Students arriving after the beginning of the term will be allowed to participate in PE on a space available basis, after being registered properly with CYS. If none of these options will work for your family at the time of your arrival, please still do enjoy participating in our monthly mom’s meetings, field trips, birthday bowling, special events, and regional activities as you settle into your new assignment. We will look forward to working with you next term!

Q:  As a parent, what are my responsibilities?

A:  A parent must participate in at least one class as a teacher or a teacher assistant.  We encourage all parents to be in prayer about what they would like to teach, or how they would like to participate each term.  Some suggested classes that have been successful in our model are: Sewing, American Girl History, Small Engine Repair, Pioneer Days, Manners & Etiquette, Cooking, SAT Prep, Speech, Excellence in Writing, Recorder, Choir, Introduction to Physics, Dissection, Knitting, Around the World with Crafts, or whatever other wonderful creative ideas you might have.

Q:  What can I do when I am not teaching or helping in a classroom?

A:  When a parent is not teaching or assisting in a classroom, she may stay on the premises to help in any other class that might need extra help, to observe another class, or to fellowship with other mothers.  She may also leave the premises to run errands. To do so, she must sign out on the form located at the front desk, leaving a cell phone number so that she can be contacted in case of an emergency or disciplinary issues.

Q:  Will a teacher be alone in a classroom?

A:  All classes must have two adults in them at all time.  One full time teacher and a TA are assigned for each class during each term including classes taught by HUB staff.

Q:  What if I cannot attend one of the Co-op classes?

A:  All teachers and TAs are responsible for finding their own substitutes for any absences, whether scheduled or unexpected.  If you can’t provide a substitute, contact the co-op administrator for help as soon as possible.

Q:  Do I need to sign-in at the HUB when I arrive?

A:  Yes, please sign in at the front desk upon your arrival at the HUB.  This policy is mandated by CYS, though we are not required to sign each child out at the end of co-op.

“Lord, You established peace for us; all that we have

Accomplished You have done for us.”  Isaiah 26:12

The Co-ops were formed as extracurricular support groups to come along side the home educating family in order to strengthen it in this weighty task. We hope only to enhance and complement the many things that you are already doing in your home.  School Beyond the Home should be an exciting and enriching program that will benefit your children and ultimately the cause of Christ as we raise and train the next godly generation for Him. We trust God to develop, use, and expand as He sees fit.

If you have any further questions or concerns after reading this brochure, please contact any of the Co-op Administrators, who will be more than happy to assist you.  Please contact SAHS on the "contact" link to get information on the current Co-op Administrators.