Hometeam
A Ministry of The River Church (formerly Faith Church)
Policies and Procedures Manual
2018-2019
Our Vision
To be a help and a blessing to homeschooling Families in our community.
HOMETEAM COOPERATIVE LOCATION — The River Church, 3411 Airport Road, Waterford, Michigan
PURPOSE — Classes are offered not to replace your child’s curriculum, but to enhance your child’s learning environment. Parents work together to provide these opportunities in a friendly, safe, Christian environment.
CO-OPERATIVE POLICY — Hometeam is a co-op that depends on every family doing their part to make it a success. Active parent participation in the classroom is a requirement. Please refrain from non-class related discussion while classes are in session. If a family fails to “show up” for two Hometeam days without calling, we maintain the right to remove them. In these cases, fees will not be returned.
HOMETEAM YEAR — The fall semester usually begins about the 3rd week of September meeting 6 times. The winter semester usually begins about the 3rd week of January meeting 8 times. Hometeam meets every other Thursday (occasionally weekly classes are offered see the current semester registration form for details).
GOVERNING STRUCTURE — We are responsible to The River Church as a part of their educational ministry. Our liaison to the Pastoral staff is Jayson Combs. The Hometeam Coordinator is Lora Saul.
BI-WEEKLY SCHEDULE --
12:00 p.m. — Nametags are located on the tables outside the auditorium. All parents and children meet in the auditorium for dismissal to classes. Please be prompt. Please sit with your first hour class. Dismissal takes place by class.
12:10 p.m. — Children are escorted to their first class by the assigned parent helpers.
1:10 p.m. — First hour class dismissed and children are escorted to the auditorium. Parents and children sit with second hour class for devotion and announcements.
1:30 p.m. — Children are escorted to their second class by the assigned parent helpers.
2:30 p.m. — Second hour class dismissed and children are escorted to their 3rd hour class.
3:30 p.m. — Third hour class dismissed and children are escorted to gym to meet parents. TOTs remain upstairs to be picked up by parents.
At the end of the day please pick-up your Tots upstairs and then report promptly to the gym to retrieve your older child/(ren) promptly at 3:30 p.m. This is not an open gym time. This is important so that all parents can leave promptly. Please do not allow children to bring out gym equipment and play during this time with equipment.
We all need to work at being out of the building so the staff can finish their work and leave promptly at 4:00.
SNACK AND LUNCH — The time slot for lunch is 11:30—noon in the gym. You may bring your own lunch. There is no eating or food allowed in the hallways. Some teachers may allow snacks or occasionally provide one, please check with the teacher. Also be aware of this if your child has allergies.
PARENT BREAK ROOM — The parent break room is located on the lower level in room 107. In this room you will find mailboxes, announcements, the Hour Coordinator and a place to relax or do teacher preparation.
MAILBOXES — Mailboxes are located outside the auditorium, then in the parent break room. Please be sure to check your mailbox at THE END OF THE DAY, before you leave, because many teachers place important information in the boxes during the day.
COORDINATORS — There will usually be a Coordinator or Floater in room #107. If you have questions, need help, need additional help in a classroom, supplies, copies, or anything else during the hour the coordinator will be able to assist you.
SNOW DAYS — If Waterford School District is closed due to weather, then Hometeam is also cancelled. If this happens in the fall, which is unlikely, there will be no make-up date. If this happens in the winter semester, we will have make-up date at the end of the semester.
CHURCH OFFICE — Please do not go to the church office unless there is an emergency. Always try to find the Hour Coordinator first.
OTHER CHILDREN ATTENDING — If extenuating circumstances arise and you need to bring a child that does not normally attend Hometeam with you, please contact the Hometeam Coordinator to discuss if arrangements can be made prior to the particular Hometeam date.
CELL PHONES — All parent cell phones must be on vibrate during Hometeam hours. If you MUST take a call please leave the classroom. Please no texting during class times. Let’s be models for our children on being respectful and attentive of the person leading the class.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
All co-op parents are required to stay on the premises at all times. Parents who pay the drop off fee may leave.
All co-op parents must commit to teaching, co-teaching, or helping in some way during the semester.
Parents are responsible for making sure that their children understand and follow the Behavioral Code found in this manual.
TEACHERS AND PARENT HELPERS — You are responsible for keeping your classroom clean. If you have a messy project, please be sure that floors and tabletops are protected with drop cloths. At the end of third hour please remove your garbage and place the bag outside of your classroom. Please end your class five minutes early to have all children to help clean up and return the room to its original condition. We must respect the janitorial staff and keep our rooms tidy.
PARENT HELPERS --
FLOATERS — If you are assigned as a floater for a particular hour— PLEASE report to the break room (room #107). The Hour Coordinator will be delegating to each floater duties and responsibilities for that hour. Floaters may be asked to cover a class as a parent helper, make copies and deliver them to a teacher, gather supplies, etc. If your nametag has a class in brackets next to the word floater please check on that class, before coming to the parent break room.
POSTING/ADVERTISING POLICY — As a ministry of The River Church, we will only advertise Church events and activities from our sponsoring church. This includes yahoo posts, flyers, advertising in the teacher’s room, and word of mouth advertising during Hometeam.
ABSENCES - If a co-op parent cannot attend Hometeam for any reason, the children must be kept home as well.
Please do not send your children, regardless of their ages, with another hometeam family. If you do, you will be called and asked to pick them up. You may send them with another adult who will replace you in your classes.
ILLNESS – Please, if you or your children are ill, do NOT come to hometeam. We know that this can be a difficult decision to keep the whole family at home when only one child is sick, but please be respectful of the other families in attendance. Please ensure that your child has been fever free and vomit free for 24 hours and does not have any other active signs of illness.
TEACHERS — You are responsible for making the necessary preparations for someone to take over your class in case you are absent. Please call your co-teacher or secondary teacher to plan arrangements for your replacement. If you are having materials dropped off the day of Hometeam, to be used in your absence, please have them delivered to the parent break room, not where your class meets. Please let the Hometeam Coordinator know what arrangements you have made for your class.
If you will not be at Hometeam email the Hometeam Coordinator (saulfam3@yahoo.com). For last minute absences, after 8:30 a.m. on Thursdays, call the church office at 248-623-7330 and leave a message. If you are a teacher, please let the Hometeam Coordinator know what arrangements you have made for your class. (See Above)
DRESS CODE
A person’s appearance directly affects his or her sense of well-being, self-confidence and ability to learn. Therefore, appearance in general should be neat and well groomed. The following types or styles are considered inappropriate for girls and boys and are not allowed at Hometeam.
BEHAVIORAL CODE
We believe every child involved in Hometeam has a God given ability to be someone special in this world. Our goal is to provide a safe place for learning and socializing away from worldly influences. We believe that Hometeam should be a place where children can learn not to settle for mediocrity, but to make a difference in this world. The following is a list of expectations of all children attending Hometeam. Please go over these expectations with your children.
While attending Hometeam I will…
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES/DISPUTABLE MATTERS POLICY
We are a ministry of The River Church with the goal of being a blessing to all families involved in Hometeam. Therefore, we cannot allow controversial issues or disputable matters to be a hindrance to our purpose. Please be very cautious and sensitive in subjects of discussion that you think might be of this nature. Also, if you are in a classroom where you feel a discussion is of this nature or heading in a negative direction, please gently speak up and remind everyone of this policy. This includes but is not limited to the following: denominational differences, political views, and other matters of contention.
GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING CONCERNS OR CONFLICTS WITH FELLOW PARENTS OR CHILDREN
Hometeam follows the Biblical procedure outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, as our guidelines in dealing with all situations of conflict or concerns.
“If another sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If they listen to you, you have regained that one.
But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every work may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If they refuse to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a heathen.”
Please use these guidelines when handling a situation between parents and with the children. Everyone has the right to know if they or their children have caused a concern or offended someone in some way. They should not have to learn about the offence by being told by others. Please do not discuss the situation with other parents unless you have first spoken directly to the person.
If you have questions about this policy or how to implement it, the Pastoral Liaison or Hometeam Coordinator will be happy to counsel you on this.
Please click on behavioral code - please print per family and return to Coordinator
Behavioral Code printable form
To be a help and a blessing to homeschooling Families in our community.
HOMETEAM COOPERATIVE LOCATION — The River Church, 3411 Airport Road, Waterford, Michigan
PURPOSE — Classes are offered not to replace your child’s curriculum, but to enhance your child’s learning environment. Parents work together to provide these opportunities in a friendly, safe, Christian environment.
CO-OPERATIVE POLICY — Hometeam is a co-op that depends on every family doing their part to make it a success. Active parent participation in the classroom is a requirement. Please refrain from non-class related discussion while classes are in session. If a family fails to “show up” for two Hometeam days without calling, we maintain the right to remove them. In these cases, fees will not be returned.
HOMETEAM YEAR — The fall semester usually begins about the 3rd week of September meeting 6 times. The winter semester usually begins about the 3rd week of January meeting 8 times. Hometeam meets every other Thursday (occasionally weekly classes are offered see the current semester registration form for details).
GOVERNING STRUCTURE — We are responsible to The River Church as a part of their educational ministry. Our liaison to the Pastoral staff is Jayson Combs. The Hometeam Coordinator is Lora Saul.
BI-WEEKLY SCHEDULE --
12:00 p.m. — Nametags are located on the tables outside the auditorium. All parents and children meet in the auditorium for dismissal to classes. Please be prompt. Please sit with your first hour class. Dismissal takes place by class.
12:10 p.m. — Children are escorted to their first class by the assigned parent helpers.
1:10 p.m. — First hour class dismissed and children are escorted to the auditorium. Parents and children sit with second hour class for devotion and announcements.
1:30 p.m. — Children are escorted to their second class by the assigned parent helpers.
2:30 p.m. — Second hour class dismissed and children are escorted to their 3rd hour class.
3:30 p.m. — Third hour class dismissed and children are escorted to gym to meet parents. TOTs remain upstairs to be picked up by parents.
At the end of the day please pick-up your Tots upstairs and then report promptly to the gym to retrieve your older child/(ren) promptly at 3:30 p.m. This is not an open gym time. This is important so that all parents can leave promptly. Please do not allow children to bring out gym equipment and play during this time with equipment.
We all need to work at being out of the building so the staff can finish their work and leave promptly at 4:00.
SNACK AND LUNCH — The time slot for lunch is 11:30—noon in the gym. You may bring your own lunch. There is no eating or food allowed in the hallways. Some teachers may allow snacks or occasionally provide one, please check with the teacher. Also be aware of this if your child has allergies.
PARENT BREAK ROOM — The parent break room is located on the lower level in room 107. In this room you will find mailboxes, announcements, the Hour Coordinator and a place to relax or do teacher preparation.
MAILBOXES — Mailboxes are located outside the auditorium, then in the parent break room. Please be sure to check your mailbox at THE END OF THE DAY, before you leave, because many teachers place important information in the boxes during the day.
COORDINATORS — There will usually be a Coordinator or Floater in room #107. If you have questions, need help, need additional help in a classroom, supplies, copies, or anything else during the hour the coordinator will be able to assist you.
SNOW DAYS — If Waterford School District is closed due to weather, then Hometeam is also cancelled. If this happens in the fall, which is unlikely, there will be no make-up date. If this happens in the winter semester, we will have make-up date at the end of the semester.
CHURCH OFFICE — Please do not go to the church office unless there is an emergency. Always try to find the Hour Coordinator first.
OTHER CHILDREN ATTENDING — If extenuating circumstances arise and you need to bring a child that does not normally attend Hometeam with you, please contact the Hometeam Coordinator to discuss if arrangements can be made prior to the particular Hometeam date.
CELL PHONES — All parent cell phones must be on vibrate during Hometeam hours. If you MUST take a call please leave the classroom. Please no texting during class times. Let’s be models for our children on being respectful and attentive of the person leading the class.
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
All co-op parents are required to stay on the premises at all times. Parents who pay the drop off fee may leave.
All co-op parents must commit to teaching, co-teaching, or helping in some way during the semester.
Parents are responsible for making sure that their children understand and follow the Behavioral Code found in this manual.
TEACHERS AND PARENT HELPERS — You are responsible for keeping your classroom clean. If you have a messy project, please be sure that floors and tabletops are protected with drop cloths. At the end of third hour please remove your garbage and place the bag outside of your classroom. Please end your class five minutes early to have all children to help clean up and return the room to its original condition. We must respect the janitorial staff and keep our rooms tidy.
PARENT HELPERS --
- Please do not assume that the teacher does not need you if there are several helpers in the classroom — ALWAYS REPORT to your assigned classroom at the beginning of the class. If you need to take care of a personal issue please check-in with the teacher first. If you see something that needs to be done — do it.
- Please help the class teacher to keep the classroom clean.
- Please do not allow any child to leave the classroom unsupervised. A parent helper should escort them to the restroom and back to class.
- If you are helping in a class that includes your own child, please be sure to help all the children, not just your own. Finally, please remember, socializing should be done in the break room and not in the classroom. If we want our children to focus on the teacher, we must teach by example. Please do not carry on private conversations in the classroom while the teacher is speaking to the children. Also please do not use ANY electronic devices in the classroom. If you MUST make a phone call or text, please do so outside of the classroom.
FLOATERS — If you are assigned as a floater for a particular hour— PLEASE report to the break room (room #107). The Hour Coordinator will be delegating to each floater duties and responsibilities for that hour. Floaters may be asked to cover a class as a parent helper, make copies and deliver them to a teacher, gather supplies, etc. If your nametag has a class in brackets next to the word floater please check on that class, before coming to the parent break room.
POSTING/ADVERTISING POLICY — As a ministry of The River Church, we will only advertise Church events and activities from our sponsoring church. This includes yahoo posts, flyers, advertising in the teacher’s room, and word of mouth advertising during Hometeam.
ABSENCES - If a co-op parent cannot attend Hometeam for any reason, the children must be kept home as well.
Please do not send your children, regardless of their ages, with another hometeam family. If you do, you will be called and asked to pick them up. You may send them with another adult who will replace you in your classes.
ILLNESS – Please, if you or your children are ill, do NOT come to hometeam. We know that this can be a difficult decision to keep the whole family at home when only one child is sick, but please be respectful of the other families in attendance. Please ensure that your child has been fever free and vomit free for 24 hours and does not have any other active signs of illness.
TEACHERS — You are responsible for making the necessary preparations for someone to take over your class in case you are absent. Please call your co-teacher or secondary teacher to plan arrangements for your replacement. If you are having materials dropped off the day of Hometeam, to be used in your absence, please have them delivered to the parent break room, not where your class meets. Please let the Hometeam Coordinator know what arrangements you have made for your class.
If you will not be at Hometeam email the Hometeam Coordinator (saulfam3@yahoo.com). For last minute absences, after 8:30 a.m. on Thursdays, call the church office at 248-623-7330 and leave a message. If you are a teacher, please let the Hometeam Coordinator know what arrangements you have made for your class. (See Above)
DRESS CODE
A person’s appearance directly affects his or her sense of well-being, self-confidence and ability to learn. Therefore, appearance in general should be neat and well groomed. The following types or styles are considered inappropriate for girls and boys and are not allowed at Hometeam.
- Bare shoulder shirts — including spaghetti straps, tube tops, tank tops or muscle shirts, (Sleeveless shirts are acceptable)
- Bare midriff or see through clothing.
- Mid-thigh or shorter skirts
- Bicycle shorts or short-shorts (no shorter than fingertip length).
- Body piercing (except in the ears)
- No visible tattoos
- Clothing styles that show underwear or give the appearance of underwear
- Excessively baggy clothing (especially if underwear shows)
- Clothes with indecent pictures or writing
- Pajamas, pajama pants, loungewear or other sleepwear
- If wearing leggings and yoga pants you MUST wear a top long enough to cover the buttocks.
BEHAVIORAL CODE
We believe every child involved in Hometeam has a God given ability to be someone special in this world. Our goal is to provide a safe place for learning and socializing away from worldly influences. We believe that Hometeam should be a place where children can learn not to settle for mediocrity, but to make a difference in this world. The following is a list of expectations of all children attending Hometeam. Please go over these expectations with your children.
While attending Hometeam I will…
- Wear my nametag in a visible place at all times.
- Show respect for teachers and assistants by not only listening with ears, but also with eyes. I will refrain from talking with other students while the teacher is talking and save conversation for a time while working on a project or when socializing is appropriate.
- Show respect for my fellow students by listening and not talking while they make presentations.
- Help to make Hometeam a place where everyone knows that they will be welcomed and not made fun of for being different.
- Come to class on time and prepared with the supplies needed for the class.
- Leave electronic equipment such as cell phones, iPods, tablets and iPads, etc. at home or in my backpack and turned off while at Hometeam.
- Demonstrate respect for others and these rules not only with my actions but also by displaying a positive attitude at all times.
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES/DISPUTABLE MATTERS POLICY
We are a ministry of The River Church with the goal of being a blessing to all families involved in Hometeam. Therefore, we cannot allow controversial issues or disputable matters to be a hindrance to our purpose. Please be very cautious and sensitive in subjects of discussion that you think might be of this nature. Also, if you are in a classroom where you feel a discussion is of this nature or heading in a negative direction, please gently speak up and remind everyone of this policy. This includes but is not limited to the following: denominational differences, political views, and other matters of contention.
GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING CONCERNS OR CONFLICTS WITH FELLOW PARENTS OR CHILDREN
Hometeam follows the Biblical procedure outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, as our guidelines in dealing with all situations of conflict or concerns.
“If another sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If they listen to you, you have regained that one.
But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every work may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
If they refuse to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a heathen.”
Please use these guidelines when handling a situation between parents and with the children. Everyone has the right to know if they or their children have caused a concern or offended someone in some way. They should not have to learn about the offence by being told by others. Please do not discuss the situation with other parents unless you have first spoken directly to the person.
If you have questions about this policy or how to implement it, the Pastoral Liaison or Hometeam Coordinator will be happy to counsel you on this.
Please click on behavioral code - please print per family and return to Coordinator
Behavioral Code printable form