General Policies and Guidelines
Teacher/ Parent Absentee Policy
Teachers must make an effort to schedule a substitute for their classes if they will not be attending co-op on a particular day. Once a replacement is found, please email or call Susan Nicholson, the teacher and assistant coordinator, to let her know about the change. We understand that unexpected, last-minute illnesses or other situations can occur. If you are unable to find someone to teach for you, call Susan and she will assist in finding a fill-in. However, please make every attempt to find a substitute on your own first. A list of available substitutes during each period will be given to teachers at the beginning of co-op. Guest Speaker Policy
When planning a guest speaker, the teacher must first notify the co-op steering committee. The teacher will then be expected to notify parents via email of the upcoming guest speaker, and to communicate openly with the children and their parents afterward, particularly if the speaker taught something contrary to the GGFCHS Statement of Belief Visitor Policy
When visitors are brought to co-op, parents need to be sure they are signed into the visitor log at the front table. Building Use Expectations/Policy
All involved with co-op are expected to be respectful of the Gospel Lighthouse Church building and staff. The co-op is unaffiliated with the church, and no one should borrow church supplies or use church facilities in a manner unspecified for co-op. The steering committee has extra supplies (pencils, glue, staplers, etc.) and a first aid kit available at the front table. Please always look for your help there, rather than the church office. Let us strive to make as little of a disruption in the church’s daily operations as possible, allowing it to further God’s work without distraction from our presence. |
Classroom Behavior Expectations & Discipline
Policy Teachers will set specific classroom rules and expectations, which will be clearly communicated to the students, and made available for the parents as well. If a teacher believes a student is behaving in an inappropriate manner, there is a three-step process to follow: 1. The teacher will address the student directly about the problem in as private a manner as possible. 2. If the problem behavior continues, the student will be asked to leave the class for the day, and be escorted to his or her parent/responsible adult. 3. If the problem behavior occurs again, the teacher will request a meeting with the child’s parent and a member of the steering committee. All effort will be made to resolve the problem in a manner satisfactory to all involved. If, however, it cannot be resolved, the child may be asked to permanently leave the class. If problems occur consistently across various classes, a member of the steering committee will meet with the child and his or her parent to attempt to resolve the issue. If a solution cannot be reached, for the safety and benefit of all of the children in co-op, the steering committee reserves the right to remove this child from co-op. For Students
Students will be active participants in their classes. Students will be respectful of their teachers and other parents. Students will not be disruptive in the classroom, and will understand teachers do have a three-step process in place to deal with behavioral problems, as well as the prerogative to ask them to leave the class. Students in 6th grade and up will maintain assignment notebooks in order to keep track of their teachers’ expectations. Students will stay within the areas of the church specified for co-op use and will not use/play with anything that belongs to the church unless they have been given permission to do so. Students will treat the church building with respect, not running through it or maltreating it in any way. Students may not run/play in the parking lot, or in any outdoor area unless supervised by an adult. Students will dress modestly, in an effort to relate to each other in a Godly way. |
For Parents
Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children. Therefore, a parent must be present and aware of where/ their children are and what they are doing. If a parent has received permission for his or her child to attend co-op alone, that parent must assign another present adult to be responsible for his or her child. Parents are expected to participate in the co-op (hence the term cooperative). Everyone should be doing something to assist in some way. If parents are unwilling to contribute, they could jeopardize their child’s spot in co-op, and will be approached by a member of the steering committee in regards to the same. Children will not be registered for co-op until their parents sign up for a spot in which to help. If you are unable to attend co-op for any day, See Teacher /Parent Absentee Policy Parents will strive to work with each other in a cooperative manner, dealing with any problems that are brought to their attention in a timely and respectful way. Parents will endeavor to remember that we all approach the education of our children from slightly different perspectives, and we are all volunteers in this effort. Please give teachers some latitude, and discuss any concerns directly with them, if necessary. Parents will complete a Student Profile for each of their children before the start of coop, in an effort to provide teachers with important information, such as what the family’s expectations are of the co-op (Is this counted academic work or strictly enrichment? Will you be requiring your child to complete assigned work assignments?), as well as behavioral or medical items of note for the child. Parents will check their emails for general co-op updates and weekly messages from teachers, understanding that most communication will occur this way. One of the “co-operation jobs” for parents is clean-up at the close of co-op. We need to leave the church facility better then we found it. |
For Teachers
Every effort will be made to have two adults in each classroom at all times. Similarly, one adult should never be alone with one child who is not his or her own child. When a child is escorted to the restroom, the adult is to wait outside for the child, and then return him or her to class. Teachers will strive to work with parents in a cooperative manner, communicating freely, respectfully, and often with them. Teachers will review all of the Student Profiles for their classes, and will contact parents or a steering committee member with any questions raised by them. Teachers will provide a syllabus or course description before or at the start the co-op year. Expectations will be made clear to parents and students up front as much as is possible. When appropriate (all school age classes under 6th grade), teachers will communicate weekly assignments to parents via email. Children in 6th grade and up will be expected to maintain an assignment notebook, of which teachers will facilitate the use. Teachers are expected to choose classroom material in such a way that is consistent with the vision of the co-op and with biblical principles. Assistance in this is available from the steering committee. If there is any doubt or question, please check first. Classrooms or work areas will be picked up at the end of each period, and any spills (from food, art…) need to be cleaned thoroughly. |