Valley Faith Co-op Mid Semester Registration!
Valley Faith Co-op Mid Semester Registration!
- What Classes are you offering? Here’s our 2022-23 Class Schedule. We are currently in session, but will be opening Mid-semester registration on 12/7/22 (closes 12/15/22) for students who would like to join us for the spring semester! Remember you must submit your General Membership form and membership payment BEFORE registration for co-op classes is possible.
A few of our FAQ:
- What is a homeschool co-op? The Dictionary defines cooperative as an organization that is owned and run jointly by its members who share the profits or benefits. A homeschool co-op is a group of homeschooling families who come together to enrich their experience by learning from and with one another. Teamwork divides the tasks and multiplies the success. Valley Faith Co-op (a subgroup of Valley Home School Association) exists to help connect families and teachers in a co-operative environment as a top level commitment for all participants on 12 Thursdays of the school year to provide mutual encouragement as well as supplemental and elective activities which can be hard for homeschool families to accomplish individually. This falls under the authority of the VHSA Purpose Statement, per the bylaws: The purpose of this organization is to support the efforts of Christian home educators by providing opportunities for fellowship, encouragement, education, and the exchange of ideas and information from a Biblical perspective.
- Statement of Faith: We require all participants and teachers to be VHSA members and therefore sign our statement of faith. You can find our statement of faith with the membership form HERE. Prospective teachers who sign the VHSA statement of faith under Option #2 (noted with objections) must:
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- FIRST be approved by leadership, who will then submit the teacher, class title, and objection notes to the Membership for approval.
- SECOND be affirmed by VHSA membership vote at the first parent meeting of the year. Each class must have at least one teacher, co-teacher, or room monitor who can sign the Statement of Faith without reservation.
- If the primary teacher opts to sign option #2, then they must find a co-teacher who signs under option #1, or the room monitor position will be labeled as needing an option #1 volunteer.
- We occasionally have teachers who are members of the community; they are also required to sign the Statement of Faith and be affirmed in the process noted above if they sign with reservations. They are not required to be members of VHSA to teach. For example: local banker offering a finance class, local pastor offering a Bible course, or a local 4H leader offering a robotics class.
- Is this similar to a private school? No, co-op is a supplement to your home school program, but not a replacement.
- How often does co-op meet? Co-op meets one day, every other week. There are six classes each semester, (12 total in the school year).
- What curriculum do you use? There is no set curriculum. Each teacher sets up their own class. You can choose which classes best fit your child’s needs.
- How much does co-op cost?
- While the Co-op has no fee, you are required to be a member of VHSA ($35/yr) to participate in the Co-op Classes. Some classes offered require an additional fee by the teacher, such as private lessons; those classes are optional and need to be paid directly to the teacher. You can find our membership form HERE.
- How and when do I pay for a class that requires a fee? Class fees (when applicable) will be paid directly to the teacher. You will have the opportunity to pay them by putting it in their teacher envelope at the welcome table on co-op class days. VHSA will not handle any cash outside of membership fees. If a class includes a fee, the fee must be paid on the first day of classes, or payment arrangements must be made prior to the first class. By registering for a class or private lesson which includes a fee, you are required to pay the full amount, regardless of attendance. All makeup lessons/sessions are to be worked out individually with the instructor.
- Can I teach a class? Yes! This is the definition of a co-op. Each offering their gifts to skills to bless each other. In fact, we give teachers a special early registration so their kids get the premium spots in classes, as a thank you for teaching. Deadline to sign up to teach for 2022-23 has closed, but take a look at our forms below to see if you would be interested in teaching for our 2023-24 school year!
- Please fill out our Teacher Registration HERE
- Then submit any classes you would like to offer HERE.
As always we encourage you to read the FAQ on the website, and the entire handbook. Everything is spelled out SO well there! If you have done both and still have questions, just reply to this email and we will get right on answering them!
Best wishes from all of us on the Co-op Leadership Team!
-Laura
Ecc 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
Important dates to note:
Co-op proposed dates:
- >>Registration: 12/7/22-12/15/22.
- Orientation will be via Zoom before 1/12
- Co-op days in 2023: 1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, with 3/30 reserved for a snow cancellation date to be added if we cancel *more than* one (at least 2) co-op days. ( we have already had one cancellation)
- Closing program, will be the evening of 3/23/23 unless we have at least two canceled co-op days and then it will be 3/30/23