Wings Homeschool Group
Family and Student Handbook
Revised 3/27/13
Mission and Faith Statements
Mission Statement ~ “Giving our Children Wings”
Wings Homeschool Group exists to provide an academic and social time for both parents and children in a Christian environment. We offer support and fellowship for parents while children engage in sharing and learning experiences.
Statement of Christian Faith
1. We believe the Bible to be the infallible Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary and atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone can be saved.
5. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin.
6. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in Jesus Christ and that individual doctrinal differences which may exist should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.
All families accepted into Wings Homeschool Group have read the Statement of Faith and signed their names after the following:
I am in agreement with the Statement of Faith and agree to renounce all other faiths and doctrines that are in opposition to the Christian faith.
Please note: Wings Homeschool Group is sometimes referred to as Wings HG.
Family Enrollment
Ø Enrollment is open to any family who is currently homeschooling or interested in doing so in the future (with the following exceptions):
· Homeschools are defined as parent-directed, parent-taught schools in the home. Therefore, membership will be denied to any students enrolled in a public school, or a charter school (part-time is case-by-case). Virtual schools (e.g. MN Virtual Academy or similar program) which are under the authority of a public school district are also case-by-case for admittance to Wings HG, and priority is given to traditional homeschools.
· Enrollment will be denied to those individuals who engage in or promote a homosexual lifestyle, a racist ideology, or anything else that is morally repugnant to the conservative, evangelistic Christian viewpoint.
· All families must agree to abide by the rules in the Family and Student Handbook and by the Minnesota state laws regarding home education.
Ø Current families will have priority in enrolling their child(ren) in classes.
Ø Each Family must return, on a timely basis, the following signed paperwork:
· Completed Registration Checklist
· Signed Statement of Faith/Mission Statement/Liability Waiver
· Signed Rules of Respect and Discipline Policy
· Signed Enrollment Form
· Correct deposit fee of $20 per child, non-refundable, no cash please.
· Signed Emergency and Drop-Off Card*
· *NOTE: Drop-off Card is printed on cardstock for multiple year use, and available to fill out at the Mom’s Tea and at all meeting dates.
· At least one parent must also read and understand these additional forms: Intro Letter, Top 8 Allergy Free Snack List, Sick Policy, and Family and Student Handbook.
Tuition invoices will be emailed out to all families within 4-6 weeks of the new semester starting. Payment will be due upon receipt, and before attending the first meeting date of each semester. Tuition amounts will also be posted on the website, as well as due dates. Please print a copy of your tuition invoice for your tax records.
At the Fall Kick-off Mom’s Tea, and at the entry table in November, there will be payment envelopes set out to assist you in writing checks to the correct tutors and Wings HG. Most families will write between 3 and 8 checks each semester, because checks are written out to each tutor, separate supply fee and tuition fee, due to tax law. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Leadership, as well as returning moms and dads, are happy to assist you through the process.
Ø Prospective families: please request a 20 minute tour if you desire to preview a Wings session before enrolling.
Ø Partial administration fee refund (75%) may be given in some circumstances if a registered family withdraws before the second scheduled Wings day of a semester. For a withdrawal on or after the second Wings day in a semester, there is no refund. Refunds of payments directly to tutors are not offered.
Ø All class sizes will be limited to a manageable number of students, as determined by the Board of Directors and tutor staff. This will determine the number of families able to enroll their children in classes.
General Family Responsibilities for each Wings Session
Ø Child Care - All children six months of age and older are expected to be in the nursery or designated classrooms during the hours of each Wings HG session when parent remains onsite.
Ø Bathrooms – Children through age 6 will be escorted to the bathroom by a teen helper or tutor. The bathroom will be checked by the helper/teacher and then the child will enter. The helper/tutor will hold the main door of the bathroom open until the child comes out. Children ages 7-13 may choose to use the bathroom with a buddy or alone. Director is on duty near bathrooms, as well. Bathroom breaks are encouraged between classes.
Ø Snow Days - The Board of Directors will decide by 10:00 a.m. the day of the scheduled Wings HG session and will notify each family via the website. Every effort will be made to provide a makeup day based on space and teacher availability.
Ø Arrive between 12:45 and 12:55 and have all children delivered to their rooms by 1:00. Support Group, when offered, will usually start by 1:10. (no children allowed in parent area, only exeption is an infant 6 mo or younger)
Ø Beginning in 2010: DROP-OFF option! Parent or parent representative [the adult who is dropping off and/or picking up child(ren)] doing drop-off on a particular day must enter the building and personally sign child(ren) in at the check-in table in the entry area or classroom as is required by age group. In addition, parent/representative must write the name and cell phone number of the person to contact (who will be available at all times via that phone number) for that day. If neither parent nor representative is reachable by properly functioning cell phone, one of these must remain on-site for safety reasons.
Ø Parents must be present, or provide for other adult supervision of the child(ren), at all other group activities and field trips.
Ø Pay tuition, class fees, and field trip fees by date requested for each.
Ø Attend the August or early September Parent Meeting (usually a Mom’s Tea) to learn current information, pay tuition/fees due, and meet other Wings parents. (Attendance is a requirement - must contact Director or Leadership Team if there is a schedule conflict).
Ø All parents are encouraged but never required to participate in the leadership and volunteer positions, which enrich the Wings HG experience.
Ø Parents who remain on-site may choose to sign up to bring a snack for the refreshment table periodically, choosing from "sweet, salty, or healthy" categories on a sign-up sheet.
Ø Parent provides an allergy-safe* snack and water for own child in all age groups. In nursery room, bottles and sippy cups with other beverages are permitted. *see allergy-safe form
Ø Required of all: Serve minimum one hour each year (depending on enrollment) in the science room to assist the tutor. (Julie welcomes parents to sit in on her class as often as desired).
Ø Wings will use Maple Grove Covenant Church Lost and Found, which is the top shelf in the coat room.
Ø Children older than 6 months are not allowed in any Parent time. Students on break from other schools are also not allowed to participate in any Wings HG time.
Ø No hats and no heelies (not even heelies with no wheels) are allowed in the church.
Ø Tennis shoes or similar are necessary every time, for use in phy-ed. Soles of shoes MUST be rubbery or phy-ed tutor will “bench” child for that day (outside of gymnasium, in entry area with Director). Gym floor is cement and is dangerous for inappropriate shoes.
Code Of Conduct
This code of conduct is based on these five premises:
1. Treatment of other people (fellow students, teachers, and parents) must always be respectful.
2. The church and all property will not be abused.
3. Each child is responsible for his/her own personal possessions.
4. Each child is accountable for his/her own actions.
5. Each child’s dress and actions should encourage others to godliness.
Classroom Expectations
Each teacher has the responsibility and authority to set behavioral expectations in order to maintain an educational setting that provides for effective learning without inappropriate disruption.
Prohibited Substances
No warning will be given in this category.
Use of tobacco, and possession of illicit drugs, alcohol, unlawful weapons, and fireworks are not allowed in the building or parking areas. Anyone discovered with possession of any of these items during Wings hours (12:30pm-5:00pm) will be immediately expelled from Wings for the semester WITHOUT REFUND.
Dress Code
1. Tops and bottoms must overlap so midriff skin is not exposed, even when sitting or raising arms.
2. Necklines should not be revealing.
3. No underwear showing. (This includes, but is not limited to, boxers.)
Electronic Equipment
Cell phones, MP3 Players, iPods, etc., will not be permitted for use by students during Wings class hours (1:00-4:00).
Toys, Games, Trading Cards
Students may NOT bring and play with toys, games, or trading cards during Wings class hours (1:00-4:00).
Physical Surroundings
This includes treating our physical surroundings (tables, chairs, walls, carpet, etc.) with the respect due another’s property.
1. Do not run.
2. Do not go outside without an adult.
3. Do not enter any room not assigned to Wings activities.
4. If you make a mess, clean it up.
5. Treat furniture with care.
Bodily Contact
Our goal is to keep all children free from physical harassment of any kind. Therefore:
1. No inappropriate P.D.A.’s (Physical Displays of Affection)
2. Rough housing, wrestling (including arm wrestling), lifting, punching, kicking, bumping, tickling, etc., are prohibited.
Sports Equipment
Do not bring skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, etc. They are not allowed inside the building or on the property.
Balls of any kind are only allowed to be played with in the gym and outside.
Verbal Expectations
1. Bathroom humor and crude language is not permitted.
2. Sexually oriented jokes, comments or name-calling is prohibited.
3. Inappropriate gestures with hands will not be tolerated.
4. Calling other people names other than their legal name or personally stated nickname is prohibited.
ANYTHING communicated verbally or nonverbally that is deemed inappropriate will be disciplined. Ephesians 5:4 “and there must be NO filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting.”
Visitors
For the safety of those within our rented space:
Unregistered adult friends or relatives may attend a Wings session to hear a support group speaker as a guest. There is a $5.00 fee charged to the guest to cover the cost the church charges for this. Other unrecognized people in our rented space at Wings will be asked to leave immediately and reported to the police if unwilling to depart.
Discipline
Ephesians 5:10 “…finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”
We want to emphasize that all of our children are in the process of “finding out”. No one is perfect. The basis for discipline at Wings is that we parents are all working to instruct our children in behavior that is acceptable to the Lord in the area of other people, property, and possessions. Learning respectful behavior takes practice and correcting, with uniform guidelines.
There will be no tolerance for behavior, clothing, or possessions that do not contribute to the five premises on which this Code of Conduct is based. We retain the right to discipline a person for involvement in a situation or possession of an item that has not been previously mentioned. The discipline procedure used will depend on the perceived severity of the offense.
General Discipline Policy
1st Offense:
Talk with the child and remind the child of the expectation/rule. (Separating the child from the other children immediately may be deemed necessary.)
2nd Offense:
The child will be taken out of the room/area and the parent will be asked to sit with the child, out of the classroom area and away from the Parent area, for the remainder of the class.
After the 2nd Offense:
The Board will review the matter which may result in dismissal from Wings. If the child is dismissed from Wings, there will be NO REFUND for the remainder of the semester.
Sick Policy for Children and Adults
To limit the exposure to illnesses in our group, we request that you keep your child or yourself home from the group activities if any of the following symptoms have occurred within the past 48 hour period:
Temperature of 100 or higher Severe earache
Vomiting or severe stomach pains Red eyes or discharge
Communicable disease Undiagnosed rash
Severe cough or cold Severe sore throat
Extreme lethargy Diarrhea
Please stay home for a minimum of 48 hours after onset of symptoms and/or beginning antibiotics for the treatment of an illness. For strongly suspected/confirmed Influenza, must wait 5 days before attending Wings classes.
If your child has been positively diagnosed with a more serious communicable disease, such as pertussis (whooping cough), chicken pox, etc, please contact Wings HG leadership. If your child attended class with what turned out to be such an illness, Wings HG will contact those in contact with your child that day.
Please take time to train your children to cover all coughs in the clothing on their arm, rather than with their hand. Also, let them know that they may use the sanitizer on the check-in table or soap and water in the bathroom to wash up as needed.
New in 2011: Lice Policy – Please keep child home until daily lice/nit checks come up clean for 4 consecutive days.