TLC HOMESCHOOLERS of Frederick Maryland

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS
Since the church parking lot has to be plowed before we can attend, the TLC Co-op DOES NOT follow the Frederick County School closings. Please wait for an email a little after 7am to see if we are closed for the day. In most situations we will know the night before. We do not open late since we don't start until 10am. However if the weather warrants, we will close early. If we do cancel classes one week, all class dates are moved back to fit into our make up dates.

For this Winter 2012 semester, our first make up date is Monday February 20th President's Day. If we have to cancellation prior to this day, co-op will meet on Presidents Day. If we DO NOT cancel a class prior to February 20th, co-op will be off for President's Day. There are many dad's off on federal holidays so I hate to take them away if I don't have to. The next make up dates is April 9th Easter Monday. I really don't want to have to use this day either. If we do however it will more than likely be for the social and presentations. Our high school science classes meet on social days and join us for the food and fun later in the day.

OUR CO-OP MISSION
The TLC Homeschoolers desire is to offer a cooperative experience to the homeschool child that is fun and offers good socialization with other like minded Christian families. In this wonderful atmosphere, we provide academic courses to make it worth your while to leave your home on a school day. We strive to pull our resources to present courses that are more difficult to do alone or more fun to do in a group like science, art, literature, physical education, social studies, etc.

GENERAL
Classes are held for ten consecutive Mondays with the eleventh day for our presentation social. Please reserve two extra Mondays for make up days. Co-op classes are available for children Kindergarten through high school with prek and nursery available for younger siblings only. Children are only allowed to register for PreK and Nursery if an older sibling is involved in co-op and the parent is actively participating.

NO CHILD regardless of age is allowed to be unsupervised at any time during co-op. Your child is either in an appropriate class or with their parent. We do not provide study hall.

LOCATION
TLC Cooperative Classes will take place at Fredericktowne Baptist Church located at 8645 Biggs Ford Road Walkersville, Maryland. See the Directions page for more detailed directions.

COURSE FEES
Most of our classes have fees to them, due to the cost of curriculum, project supplies, copying and student books. Individual class fees run between $2-$25 per student per class. However, our professional classes with paid instructors run between $40-$60 to cover the cost of professional fees and associated materials (i.e art class). We have also implemented a late registration fee of $10 for each week you are late handing in your registration forms . It takes alot of time and coordination to make a co-op of this size run smoothly, so your promptness is mandatory.

CLASS PERIODS
For our PreK and Elementary classes we offer four 55 minute class periods: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1-1:30pm lunch break and the last class starts at 1:30pm. To better accommodate the needs of our middle and high school students we modify our class schedule to include a longer science period of 1 1/2 hours with two 55 minutes classes to follow. See the co-op classes page for more detailed information on the courses currently being offered.

TEACHER SUPPLIES
Classroom supply bags have been created containing enough general classroom supplies for 10 students. These general supplies include pencils, markers, glue sticks, paper, etc. Other supplies such as folders, construction paper, craft supplies, paints, etc. are available in our PINK supply buckets. Please contact one of the hall monitors to let them know if additional supplies need to be purchased.

TEACHER REIMBURSEMENT
In our co-op, teachers do not automatically get the fees charged for their classes. They must submit receipts for items purchased for co-op to our accounting person, and a check will be written immediately for reimbursement. If you have a large item to purchase or would prefer not to kick out money up front, our accounting person can pick up items for you with advanced notice. All items reimbursed with co-op funds will become the property of co-op and added to our inventory. This method of accounting allows us to keep track of expenses for proper class pricing as well as sharing resources so we are not wasteful.

CO-OP ETIQUETTE
It is our desire to be a blessing to the community, to Fredericktowne Baptist as well as to each other. Church staff are normally working on the premises most days when co-op is in session. Continued use of the building is dependent on our care and respect of their facility. Everyone’s efforts to ensure well-behaved children and a clean facility are needed.

COMMUNICATION
Check your email each week!! for information you need to bring for the next week or other information the teachers want to pass along to the parents. TEACHERS, please post any homework assignments by Tuesday morning of each week so the parents have time to plan the work. If you do not have email, please recruit a friend to call you with this information. If you are not able to attend co-op one day or are running late, please CALL the group leader at home or on her cell phone so we have ample time to find a substitute for your parent jobs. Email is normally not check the morning of co-op.

ILLNESS AND CO-OP
Please do not attend co-op until 48 hours have passed since you last had any illness symptoms such as fevers, stomach or intestinal issues, pink eye, etc. We also ask that you NOT send preschoolers with colds. If you need to stay home with a sick child, please call Tina ASAP so we can quickly cover your co-op parent jobs. If you desire to send your healthy school age children to co-op, please send a note stating your emergency/illness and your contact information. Also indicate who will be responsible for your child(ren) during co-op and who will be picking up you child(ren) that day. You are only permitted to send school age children to co-op when the parent is not able to come due to illness or emergency.

CHRONIC LATENESS
Chronic lateness is a lifestyle that seems to plague the same families years after year field trip after field trip. However something can be done to overcome.. It is just a decision you have to make for your family. Your lateness affects everyone around you especially at co-op. If you believe you will arrive after 10am please call in so we know you are on your way. It takes a lot of coordination to run ten classes each hour so your promptness to co-op is most appreciated. Opening ceremony starts at 9:45am each co-op day. Don't be Late!!

Please read the article below for encouragement on how you can be cured from the habitual problem of lateness.
Overcoming Chronic Lateness Article

PLEASE DON’T FEED THE MAMMALS
As you can see from above, several children in our co-op have food allergies and sensitivities. Many of these food allergies are to less obvious ingredients. For this reason, please speak to the allergy parents before serving any special snacks or treats during co-op classes. Give parents the opportunity to provide an alternative for their child or if possible discuss options for a more appropriate group snack.

IN BETWEEN CLASS SNACKS
For some children, three hours (10am-1pm) may be a long time to go without a small snack. Since we don’t have any contact food allergies, children may carry a small quick non-messy snack with them in their tote bags and backpacks. This snack should be eaten in between classes unless you have permission from the teacher to eat during class. Please remind your child NOT to share food.

WEEKLY SNACK FOR PREK
Each week, parents should send an individual no-prep snack and a closed top drink for their prek child. Snack time will occur at 10:50 am in each prek class to distract from helper change over. Prek helpers will do their best to ensure children do not share food.

FOOD ALLERGIES
Please be extra careful with your children and food during co-op events. Our co-op usually has a child or two on site with life threatening food allergies. All lunches should be closed and not eaten except in the lunch area (not at the art tables please). After any class where food is part of the course, please have the children thoroughly wash their hands before going to their next class. Any food creations should be left in the classroom until lunch and not carried around the building. Also be sure to have your child wash their hands before after lunch, since children will be sharing sports equipment and supplies. Peanut butter is one of the most allergic and easily passed foods, so please be sure to check under fingernails after eating this product.

LUNCH PERIODS
Everyone is encouraged to bring a bag lunch including a drink and drop it in the lunch room before the start of co-op. Due to our size we offer two different lunch periods. From 11:30-12:15,the middle and high school students will have a combined lunch/open gym time. From 1:00 to 1:30 pm, prek through 5th grade have lunch with an organized gym and game time from 1:30-2:15pm. We ask that children stay seated with open food and wash hands after meals due to children with food allergies. If you do choose to stay. EVERYONE WHO EATS IS REQUIRED TO GATHER UP THEIR OWN TRASH FROM THE TABLE, CHAIR, AND FLOOR, THROW AWAY THEIR OWN TRASH, AND WIPE THEIR EATING AREA WITH A WIPE BEFORE BEING RELEASED FOR GYM/GAMES. At the end of lunch every person is also required to move all their belongings to the main hall so we can promptly clean the lunch room when lunch has ended.

PARENT REQUIREMENTS
Each parent with a child in co-op is required to teach or co-teach one course during the school year. You will also be required as a helper or teacher for each hour of co-op as well as hold a set up or clean up job. We will also continue with our policy of NO CHILD (regardless of age) is allowed to be unsupervised at any time. Your child is either in an appropriate class or with their parent. This policy must be enforced for insurance reasons.