Learning Tree Handbook

The Learning Tree
"A safe place for home-school families to learn, grow and make new friends. Loving, learning and living as unto the Lord"

The Learning Tree
Handbook

Dear Co-op Member,

Welcome! The Learning Tree is excited and encouraged by your choice to home school and to be a part of our co-op. The following policies and procedures are designed to support and administer the vision and philosophy of the Learning Tree. Thank you for your attention concerning these policies. We appreciate you going over these rules with your students and look forward to a terrific school year!

The Learning Tree Leadership Team

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Building Usage
Class Changes
Conflict Resolution
Copy Policy
Discipline
Emergency/Snow Days
Illness Policy
Lunch Policy
Payment Policy
Refund Policy
Responsibilities of Parent
Responsibilities of Student
Responsibilities of Teacher
Returned Check Policy
Semester Dates

Building Usage

1. Restricted Areas

We are limited in our usage of this building. We only have permission to occupy the Classrooms, Great Rooms, Preschool pod, Gym and Chew & Chat area. We are not allowed in the back hallway behind the Great Rooms, the Atrium, the vending area, the back bathrooms, preschool kitchen, stage areas and the second floor of the building.

NO students are to be at the vending machines/Atrium area! The Atrium is used by Vineyard Community Church staff for meetings on Mondays, and we want to respect the church's wishes for us not to sit in there or walk through during co-op hours.

It's really not a big deal if one person or even two people walk through a restricted area, but there are close to 400 of us at Learning Tree. If only a small percentage of us walk, run or skip through these areas, they will quickly become congested, loud, and messy areas.

One reason for these boundaries is that the Vineyard's Facilities crew can only clean the part of the building that we are not in during the day on Monday. They only have one hour to clean and set up all of the area we use after we leave on Monday. We help with the cleaning, but it is a big area.

2. Classrooms

· No Gum!
· No food or drinks. Teachers, avoid food during class unless relevant to lesson plan.
· All Gym students meet in the Great Room and wait for the teacher.

3. Restrooms

There are 2 restrooms that we have access to. (1) The men's and women's restroom located to the right of the Information Table. (2) A unisex bathroom located in the classroom hall. You may not use the restrooms located in the back hallway behind the Great Rooms.

4. Parking Lot

Parents are permitted to park in the area outside the children's wing. Please note: Police patrol our parking lot and fine heavily for parking in handicapped areas or along the curb.

NO students (even high schoolers) are to go out to the parking lot without an adult accompanying them. This is a safety precaution for all students!

5. Playground

The playground is for students who are preschool through 10 year olds. All children must be supervised on the playground.

During co-op, no children are to be on the playground without their class and teacher.

During lunch if the weather's nice, the playground area may be used for children preschool through 10 years old who are accompanied by their parent.

After co-op, the playground is for students who are preschool through 10 year olds and accompanied by an adult.

Class Change Policy

If it is necessary, a student may drop or add a class with the understanding that availability of a replacement class is not guaranteed. In order to not upset class flow, it is strongly recommended to make changes by the second week of the semester. If a class change is desired, the parent must go to the Information Table and request a change form. The information workers will check to see if space is available in another class and give directions for how to proceed. There is a $5.00 fee for making any changes after registration.

Conflict Resolution

Matthew 18:15-20 "Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."

Unfortunately, personality conflicts and misunderstandings can happen. Though rare, it is important that we agree on how to deal with these situations should they arise.

The offended party must first seek to resolve conflict between the two parties. If either party is unsatisfied or resolution cannot be met, they then need to seek the assistance of an objective party (typically the Director or other member of the Leadership Team) to mediate.

If necessary, the conflict will be taken to the other members of the Leadership Team and they will make the final decision.

Copy Procedure

In order to respect those working in the church office during co-op time, one person has been designated to generate copies. Pre-planning is strongly encouraged. Turn in your masters with clear instructions (using the Production Request Form) to the Information Table at least one week in advance whenever possible. The co-op will reimburse for copies up to 3-1/2 cents per copy during the semester. Between semesters ( during summer or Christmas break) we will reimburse the full amount for copies made prior to the first day of the semester.

Discipline Policy

1. Each teacher is responsible for his or her own discipline code within his or her class.

2. If the teacher deems a student's behavior inappropriate, the student will be sent out of the room. Students sent out should go to the Information Table for a time-out.

3. Parents will be notified before the end of the day and may be asked to attend class the next time if inappropriate behavior continues.

4. The Learning Tree reserves the right to expel any student from the co-op if disruptive behavior fails to be curtailed. No refunds will be given.

Emergency/Snow Day Policy

In case of severe weather, we will follow the Princeton City school-closing schedule. In the event of a delay, we will meet at our regular time. If Princeton City Schools are closed, we will not meet. The only exception would be if you get a call from the phone chain. The phone chain will be distributed at the beginning of the semester.

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Illness Policy

Children with the following symptoms should not attend:

1. Colored mucus
2. Diarrhea, vomiting or nausea
3. Eye drainage
4. Virus or contagious infection
5. Rashes (including bleeding diaper rash)
6. Head lice
7. Fever within the last 24 hours

Should there be any questions, the overseer of the area will decide if any person fails to meet our health guidelines. Please keep in mind, this is done for the protection of the children and families so we can continue to provide the highest quality program for all the children.

Lunch Policy

Lunch is held from 12:00 - 12:30 in the following areas:

Great Rooms: Preschool-8th graders accompanied by their parent.

Chew & Chat: 9th-12th graders must eat here. Moms need to make this room available to the high school students because of limited space.

Preschool Area: Families who would like to eat with their preschool students.

Parents are required to eat in the same room as their children. If you have several children and you cannot be in the same room as all of them (i.e. you have an elementary student and a high school student), then you need to make arrangements with another Mom who will be responsible for your oldest student.

NO students are to be in the Gym during lunch. Parents are responsible for their children and need to know where they are. All students must remain in their assigned lunch room area during this time.

No gum. No glass bottles or serving dishes. We encourage clear liquids only. We may not use the microwaves.

Parents and students are responsible to clean up their eating area prior to 12:30 p.m.

Payment Policy

The Learning Tree Home School Co-op's pay structure is as follows.

Annual Family Membership Fee - Every family is required to pay an $80 non-refundable Annual Family Membership Fee to hold your spot for next year (regardless of whether you teach, co-teach, lead, are half-day or how many kids you have). This fee is collected at registration in May. Make checks payable to "The Learning Tree."

Semester Tuition and High School Fee - Tuition is $70 per student per semester. There
is also an additional High School Fee of $35 per semester.

Class Fees - Occasionally classes will charge an extra fee. Read carefully the Class Descriptions to see if the classes you are registering for involve an additional class fee. Most class fees are for the entire year but are paid for in the first semester.

-- Half-day tuition is $55, with a high school fee of $15.
-- Nursery (0-24 months) is free.
-- Teachers and leaders get one child's tuition free ($70 discount).
-- Co-teachers get half a child's tuition free ($35 discount).
-- Families pay for a maximum of 3 kids.
-- Tuition, High School Fees and Class Fees must be paid or a payment plan made during the first two weeks of each semester (September and January).

Here is a sample of what a teacher and a non-teaching co-op member would pay for a semester's tuition. These numbers do not include the annual family membership fee, any high school fees or applicable class fees.

                                   Tuition                         Tuition
                                   $70 per     Teacher        Amount
                                     Child       Discount         Due

Teacher with 1 child           70     -      70       =        0
Teacher with 2 children      140    -      70       =      $70
Teacher with 3 children      210    -      70       =    $140

Member with 1 child           $70
Member with 2 children     $140
Member with 3 children     $210

If you have any questions, please stop by the Finance Table.

Refund Policy

If you withdraw before the second week of class, the Learning Tree will refund any tuition paid. Any withdrawal after the second week of the semester will result in no refund being issued. Please note that Learning Tree will keep the non-refundable membership fee paid at registration.

Responsibilities of Parent

1. All parents have a responsibility to respect and encourage all guidelines (we are all hall monitors and traffic/noise control).

2. Arrive ten minutes early. Have your children ready for class on time. If you are scheduled to work, arrive before the children and be prepared for them.

3. If you cannot attend on the day you are scheduled to work, it is your responsibility to call the head of your area (nursery, preschool, kindergarten, etc.). If you are a teacher's aid, call the teacher and let her/him know.

4. All parents should eat with their children and help monitor that lunchroom.

5. All parents must be willing to sub once per semester if needed.

6. All parents are responsible to help clean the building after Co-op for one month each semester. If you cannot fulfill your scheduled assignment, it is your responsibility to find a replacement by the scheduled day.

7. All parents must stay in the building while their children are in class. We are asking that parents NOT leave the premises during the co-op unless it is a real emergency. The first reason is because if you leave the premises during one of your free hours, you do not get to know the other members. You could miss out on some really great friendships and discussions. We want to promote a community for our members which will hopefully go beyond Monday. The second reason is that it just isn't fair! As much as some of us would like to leave while we are at the co-op and get some shopping done, we have a responsibility to be there for four hours as we agreed to in the Learning Tree contract. If you need to sign out due to an emergency, please stop by the Information Table to fill in the Sign-Out sheet with where you are going, how to contact you in case of an emergency and who will be responsible for your children while you are gone.

8. Please check your child's backpack each Monday for notes from teachers. Be sure your child has all needed supplies each Monday.

9. Parents are responsible for checking their mailbox each Monday and the website periodically.

10. Parents are responsible to pay tuition by the second week of co-op and class fees as they become known.

Responsibilities of Student

1. Be on time.

2. Students need to stay in the appropriate areas of the building. We use only the class room area and the gym. We do not use the Atrium or vending area.

3. Be prepared. Bring supplies, books, and homework.

4. Be quiet in the halls between classes. No yelling or running.

5. Be respectful of others property:
        *Other students - keep hands to yourself
        *Parents
        *Teachers
        *Other people working in the building
Remember, we are guests in the building. If we are not courteous, we may not be invited back!

6. Be ready to have fun, make new friends, and learn something, too!

Responsibilities of Teacher

1. We expect all teachers to reflect the vision and governing values of the Learning Tree.

2. Be prepared and on time for your class.

3. The Learning Tree reserves the right to approve all teachers and curriculum.

4. Teachers are required to submit a class description, class syllabus and substitute teacher lesson plans.

5. Teachers are responsible to find a replacement if they cannot attend. In an emergency, call the substitute coordinator. Do not phone the church.

6. Have open communication with parents concerning disruptive behavior, chronic tardiness and/or incomplete work.

7. Avoid food during class time unless relevant to lesson plan. NO GUM.

8. Turn in all copy requests with the appropriate form to the Information Table one week prior to need. If you elect to make your own copies, you will be reimbursed at 3-1/2 cents per copy. During summer and Christmas breaks, we will reimburse the full amount for copies.

9. When making purchases for co-op supplies or materials, please keep the receipt. Simply staple the receipt to the BACK of the "Reimbursement Request Form" and fill out the form completely. Please pay special attention to the consumable/non-consumable section. After purchasing a non-consumable item, please list each item separately so the Learning Tree can keep track of inventory. Turn in form with receipts to Lisa Grotz or Sharon McAvinchey.

10. Teachers are responsible for notifying students/parents if a class fee is involved (can put a note in parents' mailboxes). The Teacher also needs to let the Finance Department know that there is a class fee and submit a list of students in the class and the amount of the fee to be collected. Learning Tree will reimburse the teacher directly for the expense as well as collect the fees from the students involved.

11. Do not allow any new students into your class without an appropriate Class Change Form signed by both teachers involved.

12. If you have questions or concerns, contact your lead teacher.

13. See Discipline Policy for appropriate direction.

14. Teachers must honor existing waiting lists before accepting new students into a class. If you are not sure if you have a waiting list, have the student's parent check with the Information Table.

Returned Check Policy

In the unfortunate event that a check does not clear due to insufficient funds, a Returned Check Notice will be given to you in your mailbox. You will be responsible for the original amount plus a service charge in the form of cash or a money order.

Semester Dates

First Semester: September 12 - December 19, 2005

No classes December 26 and January 2, 9, and 16.

Second Semester: January 23 - May 15, 2006 (No classes April 17 - Spring Break)

We will use May 22 as a make-up day if we have any snow days.