Co-op Frequently Asked Questions
When and where do you meet?
We meet on Thursdays from 9:00-1:00 PM, with a cleaning time from 1:00-1:30 PM.
We meet at Trinity Assembly of God church located on Mt. Morris rd.

What is the daily co-op schedule?
9:00 A.M.                                 Arrive and prepare for classes or supervise children in the gym if you are a                                                                                         helper. PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME!
9:30-10:30 A.M.                      Class #1
10:30-11:30 A.M.                    Class #2
11:30-12:00 P.M.                    Lunch
12:00-1:00 P.M.                      Class #3
1:00-1:30 P.M.                        Cleaning Time 

What are the age groups for your co-op classes?
  • Nursery:  0-1 years
  • Toddler:  2 years
  • Pre-K:  3-young 5
  • Elementary:  5-6, 7-9, and 10-12
  • Teen: 13 and up

Do I have to teach a class in the co-op?
  • All members of the co-op have to be actively involved in the co-op, either teaching classes or assisting in classes.
  • You are not required to teach a class, but if you are not teaching then you are put on the cleaning team.  We need just as many teachers as we do cleaner and everyone helps in some way or another.
  • You must be in the co-op for at least one semester before you are allowed to teach classes

What is the Cleaning Team?
  • The Cleaning Team is made up of those families who are not in a teaching role. The teachers take much of their personal time to plan and gather materials to teach their classes outside of co-op. To bless them for their time, teachers are not on the Cleaning team. I realize that it is not fun to have to stay and clean-up, but please remember that those who are helping and not teaching a class do not have to spend time between co-ops preparing a class and have the responsibility of running a class each week. Hopefully this information will help you to realize how important your service on the cleaning team is to the co-op and what a blessing you are to the teachers.

Can I bring other children besides my own to co-op?
  • Only registered co-op children are permitted on co-op days. Do not bring other children to the co-op. They will not be allowed to attend co-op with your children. Special circumstances are allowed – please contact the director if you have a special situation to be considered.

What will my responsibilities be as a parent at co-op?
  • All parents will be teaching or helping for two out of the three class hours. We like to have all parents have an off-hour where they can converse with other parents in our Mom's room. However, should we have parents absent, you may be asked to help during your off hour.
  • A co-op is unique in the sense that the participation of all the parents is necessary. We cannot emphasize this enough. This group is designed that all parents are active in numerous ways: teaching, planning, and/or supervising the children.
  • Parents must attend all co-op sessions and will either teach or help in classes.
  • Parents are expected to be at co-op for the entire co-op period. If you need to leave early, please inform the Co-op Director in advance.
  • Please do not run errands during the co-op day.  We meet only twice a month.  Please use your co-op free time to supervise hallways or develop relationships with other co-op moms and dads who are off that hour.
  • If you will be absent, other parents will have to take on any teaching, helping, or cleaning responsibilities that you are unable to do. Please notify the Co-op Director as far in advance as possible about your absence so replacements can be found. You can do this by phone or email. 
  • We count on all parents to be there every week. If you show a pattern of absences without notification, you will be asked to not return to co-op.

What should I know about lunch?
  • Children and adults will need to bring a lunch for lunch period. 
  • Please no cupcakes or other messy types of snacks that could ruin the floor.
  • Please no drinks that could stain the carpet (red, grape, etc.)
  • Please no pop.
  • We sit on the gym floor for lunch. You need to bring blanket or tablecloth to sit on to protect the floor. 

What supplies will my children need for co-op?
  • All children will need to bring backpacks to each co-op (labeled with their name on outside of bag.)
  • Elementary and teen children will need to bring own supplies to co-op. Toddler and Pre-K children do not have to bring their own supplies. They will use the co-op supplies; however, they do need a backpack.
  • Please periodically check your child’s backpack to make sure that they have adequate supplies throughout the year.
  • Elementary and teen children will need:
  1. a book bag / knapsack 
  2. a lunch box / bag 
  3. markers (If your child prefers colored pencils, feel free to buy them instead of markers, or perhaps they enjoy both)
  4. crayons 
  5. folder 
  6. pencils (with erasers) OR pens, if your older child prefers them 
  7.  white glue 
  8. 1 or 2 glue sticks 
  9. scissors, safe for the age of your child 
List of optional items that may prove to be useful:
1.     Kleenex
2.    pencil sharpener (only one that contains its shavings)
3.    container to store pencils, markers, crayons, scissors, etc.

What are the responsibilities of teachers?
  • Teachers are expected to provide a syllabus for the class they are teaching. The syllabus will be posted in the Informational Handbook and on the website.
  • Each teacher will receive a budget for his/her class. Expenses incurred by teachers will be reimbursed provided teacher stays within budget. Teachers can request reimbursement at any time during the semester. Please put receipts in an envelope. Write your name and the total amount to be reimbursed on the envelope. Give to the Co-op Director.
  • Please arrive to co-op with plenty of time to make sure that your room is set-up properly.  You may have to go and get tables and chairs for your room, so please allow time for this each week.
  • Teachers are expected to prepare good lessons for our co-op. Please make sure you spend adequate time to prepare for each co-op lesson you teach.

What is expected of me as a classroom helper?
  • It is expected that the Helpers in the classes will maintain class discipline so that the teachers can focus on teaching.
  • If you are not teaching a class at co-op, you will be on the cleaning team. We will clean from 1:00-1:30 P.M. each week. You will have the same cleaning job for the entire semester. Some members of the cleaning team help to supervise the children in the gym during cleaning time.

How often do I need to be at co-op?
  • It is very important for the success of the co-op that you and your children attend co-op regularly.  
  • Co-op is a commitment.  
  • We depend on our parents and helpers for all of our classes to run smoothly and for children to receive the full benefit from our classes.  
  • Please be here for every co-op unless sickness or an emergency prevents it. 
  • If you know that you will miss several co-op dates, please reconsider whether co-op is right for your family at this time.  
  • If you or your children are sick, you obviously cannot attend co-op.  This is a legitimate excuse.  We do not want sick children or parents at co-op.  Also, if you have an emergency and cannot attend co-op, this is understandable.  

What is your policy on behavior and attitude for adults in the co-op?
  • We desire that this co-op honor God in all that it does. Only through putting God first and by following His direction in our attitudes and activities will this co-op survive and thrive.
  • Please be Christ-like in all your dealings with the children and with the parents.
  • Please have an attitude and demeanor of a servant.
  • When conflicts arise, please pray first, and then confront the person with which you have the conflict. Please refrain from gossiping with others about the situation.
  • Please pray for the teachers and children often.

What is your policy for children’s behavior and attitude in the co-op?
  • H.O.M.E. guidelines for behavior apply for co-op participation. Disobedience, defying the rules, and any other ongoing problems will be addressed. Let your children know that being a part of the co-op is a privilege. Children are to address adults as Mr., Mrs., or Ms.
  • When a child is acting out inappropriately or disobeys the rules, 
  1. The Teacher/Helper will have the child sit out in the room for a period of time. 
  2. If the child continues to disrupt after this time-out, the teacher will fill out the discipline form and have the helper take the child and the form to the Co-op Director.
  3. The Co-op Director will take the child and form to the parent and discuss the situation. If misbehavior of the child happens on a regular basis, the Co-op Director will discuss child’s behavior with the co-op board and the board will vote on dismissal of the child from co-op.
What are the fees for the group?
You can become a non co-op member of HOME for $15 per year. This allows you to have all the benefits of HOME except the co-op.
Co-op member fees depending on which program you are joining and how many children you have.  Fee start at $55.

For a more detailed understanding of our co-op, please read the HOME Member Handbook.