Thursday Connection: Policies and Procedures

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Thursday Connection Co-op

Statement of Purpose:

We are a Christian home school cooperative. We believe strongly in the parents' ability to educate their children and wish to enable them in this endeavor. We wish to assist the home school educators, not replace them. We are not, and do not plan to become a school. We wish to minister to the parent and the child through these years of their lives. We welcome non-Christian families into our cooperative who are willing to follow our guidelines. We do not require families to sign a statement of faith.

Types of Classes: We believe that we can provide two options to aide the home educating family.

Academic Classes: These classes will most likely provide weekly homework and projects to be returned to the teacher. The teacher will provide a syllabus which will enable parents to more adequately direct their student during the week. These classes should only be taken with a commitment to complete all assignments. All academic classes for grades 7-12 will offer grades. Grades for younger children are available by request. Grades will be sent by email at the end of the semester. If you do not have an email address, please provide the teacher with a SASE at the beginning of the semester. Please do not call the teacher after the semester is over (especially during their Christmas and summer break) to request grades.

Enrichment Classes: These classes are expected to offer activities that will enhance your child's educational experience. They will offer very little homework. Sometimes, the teacher may give a list of suggested home activities, but these are not required. These activities will help your child to get the most out of the class. Enrichment classes will not offer grades, with the exception of grades 9-12. For grades 9-12, grades will most likely be "participation only". Again, in order to get a copy of these grades you must request them from the teacher. The grade will be sent to you by email.

It is our belief that as home school parents, we are all working to instill in our children a high standard of behavior, attitude and respect for authority. Therefore, it is the policy of Thursday Connection Cooperative (TCC) that conduct deemed inappropriate by classroom teachers, supervising parents, and/or TCC board members/volunteers will not be tolerated. Continued offenses by a student will result in the parent being contacted to attend class with the student. If s/he is unable to comply with authority s/he will not be allowed to continue at TCC. Tuition/registration and material fees will not be refunded. Please read the following information carefully and understand that by signing the Parent/Student Responsibility Agreement, you agree to support the teachers, parent volunteers, and board members in helping to maintain a respectful learning environment for your child and the other students.

ADMISSION

Non-discriminatory policy:
Thursday Connection Cooperative accepts students for enrollment in any and all educational programs without regard to race, sex, religion or national origin.

Religious Affiliation:
We are holding classes at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. We have a pleasant working relationship with the church staff. We consider ourselves a Christian Co-op, but we are not directly affiliated with First Cumberland, other than the fact that we meet at the church and have a couple of joint events each year.

Our policies and guidelines reflect a moral standard as set forth by our Faith; however; parents/students are not required to sign a statement of faith to participate in our program. Families are expected to read and understand our statement of purpose but do not have to sign any faith based statement.

Financial Obligations:
Registration fees, tuition, and material fees are the responsibility of the family. Financial assistance and scholarships may be available for some families on a case by case basis. After initial registration fees, including materials and first month’s tuition, tuition payments will be due on the first Thursday of September, October, November for the fall semester.

We will pre-register for spring semester in December. At that time, material fees for Spring are due along with January tuition. The remaining tuition will be due the first Thursday of February, March, and April. Late fees of $5 per student per week per class will be strictly enforced. If late fees are not paid, the family will not be allowed to register for the following semester.

Tuition checks should be made payable to the teacher, but placed in the tuition box at the administration table in order to be properly recorded. Please do not pay the teachers directly. If paying in cash, please bring correct change and put cash for each teacher in a separate envelope with the teacher's name, the student's name and the amount enclosed. Our inability to make change will not be a valid reason for paying late. Make sure that you receive a receipt when you are paying cash. Bounced checks will require payment of all money due in cash plus fees charged by the bank. All scholarship requests must go through Mary.

Note: There is a 2 week trial period in which you may drop classes without being financially responsible for the entire semester. If you wish to exercise this option, you must drop your class by the end of week 2, August 28, 2008. If you choose this option, please know that no pre-paids are refundable.

VOLUNTEER OBLIGATIONS:

Volunteer Requirements

Each family is required to volunteer 16 hours each semester. We have dates available for each parent to choose and we try to be flexible in allowing this freedom to choose dates and jobs. Shifts are either 4 hours for 4 times each semester or 1 hour per week for 16 weeks to fulfill the 16 hour requirement. When you sign up for a shift, we expect that you will fulfill your obligation. Please mark your volunteer shifts on your calendar. Thursday Connection will send a reminder email with a list of volunteers for each week. Please check your emails.

Volunteer Check-In

Please be 10 minutes early for your shift to allow time to check in and settle your children in their respective classes. At the check-in area, you will initial that you are present and pick up a job description from the blue accordion file for your shift. Please read and follow that description unless you are asked by Dawn Beckmann to serve somewhere else. At the end of you shift, please replace the job description and initial out. Thursday Connection reserves the right to place you in any job as our needs dictate.

Changes or Absences

If you have a schedule change, you are required to make the change with Dawn Beckmann the week before your scheduled shift. The master list will be available during co-op hours through Dawn to obtain names and numbers of other workers with which to switch your dates. You may also access the list through Dawn via telephone or email during the week. It is your responsibility to find a replacement for yourself. When you have made a switch or found a replacement, please notify Dawn as soon as possible. If you choose, you may buy out your volunteer time at the rate of $35 per 4 hour shift for a total of $140. (Some volunteers may need to buy out shifts and serve volunteer time in various combinations. Please speak to Dawn about these options.

If you have a medical emergency or last minute change during the week you are scheduled to volunteer, it is your responsibility to find a replacement to hire a substitute. Then, you should make Dawn aware of the change via telephone. The substitute list will be available online and the first few weeks at co-op. If you have a medical emergency the morning you are scheduled to work, you must call Dawn, and each emergency will be handled on a case by case basis.

No Shows

If you choose to e negligent in serving your volunteer time as scheduled, you will be fined $60 (this includes a $35 substitute fee and a $25 fine) per 4 hour shift. If you are a "no show" for 2 shifts, action may be taken by the board regarding the lack of commitment by the family in question. Please be diligent in service and worthy of trust by full cooperation and participation in our program.

Tardiness

If you are late, it makes it hard on everyone. Please be 10 minutes early for your scheduled shift to allow time for your own children to be settled into their respective classes and for you to sign in at the volunteer station. You will be assessed a $5 penalty for every 15 minutes you are late for your shift. If you are 1 hour late, you will be considered a "no show" and be assessed the $60 fine. Occasionally, we all have circumstances that we cannot control and Thursday Connection will try to take these things into consideration. By planning to be early, most of these circumstances will not affect your arrival.

Volunteer Coordinator Contact Information

Dawn Beckmann
Home: 609-0935
Cell: 919-6068
Email: bdawn722@yahoo.com

PARENT GUIDELINES

1. Illness:
a. Excessive cough or runny nose-clear, yellow, or green from nose, throat or eyes. The only exception to this is allergic symptoms that have been diagnosed as allergic by a doctor. If your child has a bad cold and you can alleviate their symptoms with antihistamines and/ or cough suppressants, so that they are not "shedding" the virus constantly throughout the day, they are welcome to attend.
b. Bacterial infections that are treated by antibiotics-please make sure that your child has been on the antibiotic regimen at least 24 hours before returning to class-this would include such things as pink eye and strep throat.
c. Vomiting, diarrhea, or fever-your child should be symptom free for at least 24 hours before coming to class.
d. Rash-do not bring your child to class with any rash UNLESS it has been diagnosed by a doctor as non-contagious.

2. Book bag: Each child should come to class with a book bag, backpack or something similar to keep papers and loose items in during the day. PLEASE LABEL ANYTHING THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOSE.

3. Please do not loiter in the hallways. If you would like to visit with other moms, you may sit in the childcare room, break room or mom's room. If you would like to work quietly, you may do so in the library.

4. Please do not use classroom time to talk with teachers. We will provide a teacher phone list so that you may make an appointment to talk with them at appropriate times. Please do not approach the teachers about money or scholarship issues; these will be handled by Wendy and Mary.

5. Please check your email weekly. If you do not have email, we post all e-mails on the bulletin board in the hallway at coop for you to read. Also check your family folder each week.

6. Parents are always welcome to sit in any class their student is taking or to supervise their student in any class. As a courtesy to teachers, please let them know your plans to stay. Please do not bring younger siblings into the classroom, including nursing infants.

7. Children not in TC classes must be supervised and should not be allowed to disrupt classes or roam hallways. ONLY parents working on their volunteer time have the option of using the childcare room for younger siblings.

8. You or a designated adult must accompany your K-5th grade child into the building each week. Your child should scan themselves in/out using his/her ID badge. Students 6th grade and above do not need an adult to enter or leave the building. If you have high schoolers, they may sign themselves and their siblings in/out.

9. If you have a K-3rd grader, please make sure they have their schedule on the back of their ID tag before you leave. All students must leave this nametag on during the day. Volunteers will help the younger kids move between classes, but TC cannot guarantee a child makes every class if they do not wear their nametags. PLEASE help your child become familiar with the campus and go over room numbers and class times.

10. If you have a 4th -12th grade student, please make a schedule card for them with their class room numbers and times for them to carry. They may make a schedule sticker for their ID tags if this will be easier.

11. Pick up time is no later than 4:45. Please remember that in your contract, you agreed for one of our board members to take your child to their home if you are late.

12. Parking and Entrance into building-Please use the back parking area and courtyard door only.

13. Student Rules-Please make it a point to go over all student rules with your child prior to the first day of class.

Discipline Guidelines

Please read the following information carefully and understand that by signing the Parent/Student Responsibility Agreement, you agree to support the teachers, parent volunteers and board members in helping to maintain a respectful learning environment for your child and other students.

It is the goal of our conduct guidelines to help students know what is expected of them at TC. Please go over these guidelines with your student thoroughly. These guidelines are designed to maximize parent/teacher/administrator communication. It is vital that parents address any issues which may arise at co-op.

Student Discipline Guidelines

1. Be respectful and obedient during the day. This includes respecting the teachers, volunteers, and any other adult, fellow students, and property.

Disrespectful language or attitudes towards any adult or student will be addressed strongly.
Aggressive language or behavior will not be tolerated.
Vandalism will result in community service or more serious consequences which could include removal from co-op.

2. Come prepared to class as requested by your teachers.

Bring all needed supplies
Homework should be completed neatly and on time

3. A hall pass is required to leave a classroom.

No one should be in the hall for any reason between classes without a hall pass
Requests to leave class should be only in emergencies. Use the restroom between classes.

4. Dress modestly and do not wear offensive clothing.

Undergarments should be worn but not seen.
No midriffs or cleavage should show.
You will be asked to wear a T-shirt or pants of our choosing if the dress code is violated.

5. Bring only items needed in class to co-op, leave all distracting toys at home.

Do not bring any trading cards, or occult related games (i.e. Pokemon, Harry Potter) or materials to co-op.
These will be confiscated and only returned to the parent.

6. Clean up after yourself.

Place all trash in proper containers
Leave all rooms better than you found them

7. Secure permission from the TC board before conducting any fundraising at co-op.

8. Follow all rules set by the church. No running in hallways. Use inside voices while inside the building.

9. Food, including lunch, must be eaten only in designated rooms.

10. Due to ongoing issues with being outside, only high school students are allowed outside without an adult and only with permission. The student is allowed in the outside picnic area only. There is to be no loitering in the parking lot, no sitting in cars, and no wandering around the building, inside or out.

11. No smoking on the co-op campus (inside or out.)

12. No public displays of affection (hand-holding, kissing, arms around each other) are allowed on campus.

Disciplinary Policy

1st occurrence- Warning from teacher or adult in charge.

2nd occurrence of the same or similar behavior-student writes out offense and how he/she can correct it and turns this in to the adult in charge. A phone call to the parent from the teacher or board member will be made.

3rd occurrence of the same or similar behavior - a written warning will be sent to the parent with the child. The child will not be allowed to return to class without the signed warning slip. The form should be signed by BOTH parents. In the case of single parent homes, one parent will be accepted. If a child receives 3 behavior slips in any one semester the behavior issue will be brought before the TC board for evaluation.

4th occurrence of the same or similar behavior-a meeting with the student, parent and at least 2 board members will occur. Child will not be allowed back in class until this meeting takes place.

** Some offenses will require immediate dismissal from TCC for the semester. Examples include oral discussion or written notes indicating physical bodily harm to another student, violation of dangerous weapons policy (available upon request), These are not the only offenses that would require immediate dismissal, but are an indicator of the gravity of the grounds for dismissal.

Homework Prep

Since homework completion is an ongoing hindrance to our classes, we are going to address this separately. Parents spend a lot of money on these classes, and have very high expectations from them. If your students are not prepared for class, it is a hindrance not only to the student's learning process, but also to the entire class who is now ahead of the student. Often times, there is a waiting list for classes, especially academic classes, and it is not fair for a student who is not motivated to fill a seat that would benefit a student who is motivated.

For all academic classes, if your child comes to class unprepared, the following sequence will occur:

1st offense-- The teacher or designated board member will call the parent to inform parent of student's missing work and arrangement will be made for turning in work.

2nd offense-If the assignments are not turned in at the previously arranged time or a new assignment is missed, another phone call will be made to the parent by the teacher or designated board member.

3rd offense-a meeting will be called between the parent, teacher, and Thursday Connection board members. If the work is not being done, we all need to consider whether or not our program is the best placement for your student.

We will not give grades for any class that has missing work.

Communication is key. If your family has suffered a death/major illness or other circumstance, please contact your children's teachers and the TC board immediately.

Lunch

There are many weeks when lunches will be available for purchase. The coop offers pizza lunch 2 weeks of each month. Lunches on alternate weeks may be offered by such groups as Ambassadors Basketball, Berean Swim Team and TC Student Government. Lunch tickets must be purchased no later than one week before the lunch is offered. There will be no lunches sold on the day of the lunch. Semester pizza passes will be available for purchase. If you are involved in a home school group that would like to offer a lunch as a group fundraiser, then please contact Dawn Ritter at dmritter1@gmail.com.

Questions & Comments

Because we are not a packaged program, there will be rough bumps in the road. We wish to prayerfully walk through these with you. As we hit areas that are difficult to deal with, there will be changes. If you have a serious problem with your experience with our cooperative that requires immediate attention, please feel free to call one of our board members. If your problem is less serious and can wait up to a week for a response, please email us at wendy@thursdayconnection.org.

Scholarship Guidelines:

Scholarships are to be handled on a case by case basis. For confidentiality purposes, the administrator and the director of finances will process these. Each family should show need, as well as a willingness to give back to the cooperative. Most scholarships will be given with the understanding that the family will provide extra volunteer hours. For every scholarship, under normal circumstances, we will ask the recipient to work one extra volunteer shift per semester. There are also positions available that will provide scholarships at the rate of $6.00 per hour of work. These positions allow consistent people to be available every Thursday, such as in the childcare room.

THURSDAY CONNECTION BOARD:

Our board is a job-directed one. Each board member is first in command in their area of assignment. They are accountable to the administrator, and to the board as a collective body. Meetings are called as needed, at the request of any board member. Our goal is for each board member to handle their job well, communicate where needed with the others, and keep meetings to a minimum . There are also members-at-large who help to keep things running smoothly. The input from different perspectives is very important to us.

Administrator:
Handles scheduling of classes, interviews and recommends teachers to the board, daily problem solving. She is accountable to the board. She confers frequently with other board members. She oversees all areas of the coop to make sure it is running smoothly. She handles scholarship distribution with the Director of Finances.

Director of Finances:
Responsible for collection of money, bookkeeping, financial statements, and recommended budgets. Responsible for distribution of scholarships, refunds, maintenance of petty cash, balancing of the monthly bank statements.

Director of Fundraising:
Responsible for all fundraising planning and implementation. Will make deposits into the Thursday Connection bank account and report them to the director of finances.

Director of Registration:
Responsible for registration records.

Volunteer Coordinator:
Manages all volunteer workers. Prepares schedules and supervises the weekly workers. Provides updated job descriptions to volunteers. Holds absentees accountable. Reports all difficulties to administrator.

Non-Board Positions

Yearbook Coordinator:
Manages all aspects of putting together annual yearbook. Coordinates photographer for student photos. Chooses yearbook staff and assigns jobs.

Prayer team Coordinator:
Our board and cooperative will be totally ineffective without this covering. Our prayer team commits to pray for us, and gathers prayer concerns each week.

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Policies and Procedures