About Lighthouse Homeschool Co-Op and Policies
Lighthouse Homeschool Co-op is a group of homeschooling families in the Big Rapids area with a desire to see their families growing in Christ. We are dedicated to working together to help our children grow in God and encourage one another in our walk with God and our homeschool journey. The heart and character of our children come first; academics will naturally follow.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
– Hebrews 10:24-25
The Lighthouse
The representation of a lighthouse built on a rock signifies the solid foundation of our rock Christ Jesus. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus tells us, in Matthew 5: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Our mission in this world is to lead others to Christ, as a lighthouse leads weary travelers to shore.
Policies
Lighthouse is a parent-volunteer led group. As it says in 1 Corinthians 12, we are all members of a Body which work together to expand the kingdom of Christ. In this cooperative, all members must contribute.
Students must have a parent on site throughout the morning. Students may not attend without a parent.
Each family will have a clean up duty. This allows everybody to have a small job in keeping the meeting location clean and leave a good impression of LHC. Remember, many hands make light work.
Please be on time for opening. We begin our morning with praise, prayer, and a devotion, setting our minds first and foremost on Christ.
Everyone over the age of 18 serving at LHC must have a background check every year.
Weather
If Big Rapids Public School close due to weather, we will be closed.
School closings: https://www.9and10news.com/weather/school-closings/
If your path to the church is hazardous and you cannot make it to co-op, please let Caitlin Afton know.
Location & Meeting Time
Fall 2023 semester will be held at Trinity Fellowship in Big Rapids, MI.
15085 220th Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307
We meet on Tuesdays at 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Registration
Registration paperwork and fee are due August 1st. This provides essential planning time for our volunteer teachers.
Fees
Our Fall 2023 registration fees are $40 per student. This covers the use of our host church/building and class costs. However, some classes could have extra fees depending on the class. A $10 fee is required for a background check for one parent volunteer. Everyone is required to have a background check once a year.
Any questions concerning fees can be directed to our Treasurer, Laura Tingley.
Visitors
We are happy to host visitors. We love to meet and encourage other homeschool families. We do, however, need to be respectful of our teachers. A visiting student would be allowed to watch a class with a parent present. Please contact lhc.bigrapids@gmail.com at least 2 weeks in advance so we can make proper arrangements for a visitor to observe.
Food Allergies
As of right now, to protect certain students, we have a NO NUTS for any snack rule. If you have any other allergy please let us know at lhc.bigrapids@gmail.com.
Field Trips
We encourage any parent to plan a field trip.
Code of Conduct
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
Parents and students alike are expected to treat others with respect, both in word and in action.
Adults are referred to as Mr./Mrs. to maintain consistency and respect. Every parent has their own beliefs in this area; please understand this is to help our children not become confused.
Dress Code
You are a valuable treasure; treat yourself that way. Modesty is about revealing our dignity and behaving in a way that does not draw unnecessary attention. Please be careful about the message your clothing or the writing therein sends.
Discipline
We are here to honor God first, grow men and women to be set apart second, academics third, but we are not here to be babysitters. If children are acting out or not participating, or disrupting the class, they are given a warning. If they have 3 warnings, they will be sent to shadow their parent. We need to be considerate of the group as a whole; it is not fair to the other students to have one child ‘getting all the attention.’
Sick Policy
• No fever, throwing up, or diarrhea for 24 hours
• If you are taking antibiotics please wait 24 hrs before coming
• If student has clear nasal drainage or allergy-related congestion, please bring extra tissues for your child. If mucus is yellow or green please keep your child at home.
• If you think your cough is contagious, please stay home.
• Let’s all be considerate of others when evaluating our children’s sickness.
Absent
If you need to miss a day due to illness or other issues please let us know ASAP by contacting Caitlin Afton.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
-Philippians 2:3-4