Gateway Christian Co-op
Policies and Procedures
Policies and Procedures
Statement of Faith:
We are a Christian co-op and expect All parents to adhere to and sign our Statement of Faith. Children and parents should exhibit Godly character, behavior, and communication. There should be no rude speech or gossiping among adults or children. This also includes a ZERO tolerance for BULLYING. All classes will be taught from a biblical standpoint.
Our Mission:
At Gateway our mission is to enhance our homeschooling experience by providing a time and opportunity for our homeschooling families to participate in activities better executed in a group environment. We believe we honor God by supporting each other to make our homeschooling journey the best it can be.
Our Purpose:
Our purpose is to offer one day a week courses that might not ordinarily be focused on at home and to enrich the homeschooling experience with activities and field trips that provide an environment where children can learn and practice skills acquired in a group setting. These include but are not limited to: respect for other adults, kindness to peers, sportsmanship, taking turns, working together, and a unique opportunity to glorify God as we teach and learn these things.
Church Building Expectations:
We are blessed to be able to use the facilities at Gateway Community Church and want to make sure we bless them in return. We ask that your family conduct yourselves in a Godly manner and that we treat the building and the employees of the church with respect. Please affirm that your children respect the church's property. If you see inappropriate or unsafe behavior please intervene or notify leadership immediately. *Gateway Community Church will not be held responsible for injuries sustained on church property.
Friday Classes:
Classes will be held at Gateway Community Church in South Salem, from 9:30 - 12 each week of the term. Gateway has three terms, fall, winter and spring. Any important information pertaining to Friday Co-op will be posted on our Facebook group page and/or sent via email. A parent is required to remain on the premises during the ENTIRE time unless other arrangements have been made with the coordinator and/or another parent that will be there.
Phones during classes-We ask that parents and students keep cell phones on silent during class time. Please refrain from texting or conducting any phone business during class time.
Communication:
Gateway actively uses our Facebook group page as our main form of communication. Here, we can share important news, have topics of conversation, manage a calendar, send out reminders, schedule and RSVP to events, send messages within the group and execute group polls. Please RSVP with a YES or NO when events are added to our Facebook. This will help the coordinator of the event get a proper head count.
If we need to cancel co-op due to unsafe weather conditions or any other issue we will also post a notice on Facebook by 7am.
Absences/Vacation Policy:
Please notify leadership on Facebook or via text as early as possible regarding planned vacations and missed co-op days. A lot of work goes into preparing for each class, including purchasing supplies and lesson planning. It is out of respect for the teachers that we ask for as much notice as possible if one or more of your family will be absent.
If you are teaching, have your lesson prepared so your helper can easily take over your class in your absence. Make arrangements to get them all required materials ahead of time.
Sick Policy:
Please keep yourself and/or your children at home to prevent spreading illness if any of the following apply:
-Any communicable illness or rashes -Fever above 100
-Vomiting within 24 hours of class
-Diarrhea within 24 hours of class
-Goop eye aka conjunctivitis or pink eye
Clear runny noses and that lingering cough that never seems to leave are okay, but be alert to any signs or symptoms that could pose a risk.
In case of a sick child parents may arrange to have another co-op member be responsible for their non-ill children.
If you are a teacher, class helper, or serve in another area and cannot attend co-op due to sickness we ask that you contact your co-op peers and arrange for another parent to substitute in your absence. A member directory is available in the Facebook group’s files.
Parent Participation Policy:
Our co-op relies on our members to wholeheartedly share their time, talent, and patience with their fellow members, recognizing that it is God who gives us every good and perfect gift, and our purpose in life is to glorify Him. All members must serve as teachers/helpers during the co-op day. This is a hands-on co-op and all parents are required to help in some capacity.
LUNCH TIME: Families are highly encouraged to participate in lunch/fellowship hour. We ask that you bring your own food and clean up after yourselves and your children.
GATEWAY DRESS CODE:
Women/Girls:
Please no low cut clothing, clothing that exposes midriff or large amounts of skin, short shorts, skirts or dresses above the knee, or spaghetti straps.
Men/Boys:
Please no clothing that exposes midriff or large amounts of skin, saggy pants that expose underwear, or shirts that expose the chest.
Also, no weapons or sharp objects are to be brought onto church property. If a class requires a tool that has potential to cause bodily injury, please turn the tool into a teacher upon arrival to co-op. Please be aware there are young children that could find and see these weapons/sharp tools as “toys.”
Conflict Resolution/Disciplinary Action:
When working with so many diverse families, conflicts are sure to come up. Our goal is to create a good environment and serve to the best level possible the families participating in our co-op. If there is a conflict with a child or parent in the group and you feel comfortable doing so, please go directly to that parent. If you are not comfortable with that, please come to a member of leadership where it will be discussed and we will determine a course of action to handle the situation.
After one warning, students that are being disrespectful to other co-op members, displaying hurtful actions, or disturbing the class will be removed from that activity for a period of “time out” and will sit with their mom (or another mom) for the remainder of that class. After that activity is completed, they will have a chance to rejoin the group for the next scheduled class. If the leadership team notices a negative pattern occurring, our course of action will be as follows:
Co-op chapel is an important part of co-op at Gateway and requires mandatory participation. Chapel starts at 9:45am. This does not mean walk through the doors at 9:45am. This means check in and be seated with your family at 9:45am. Gateway's doors open at 9:20am to allow parents 25 minutes to grab a cup of coffee, fellowship with other families, check in, grab name badges, etc. During chapel, we will have a mixture of worship, devotion time, and any important announcements will be made as well. We will also have a prize drawing for families that were signed in and ready to go before 9:45am.
Weekly Sign-In: Weekly sign-in starts from 9:30am-9:44am in the Sanctuary foyer. Please take your family’s name tags and sign up for the on-time prize drawing! If you are teaching, please check to see if any of your students are absent and record this on your name tag’s roster. Absences will also be announced during morning announcements. Use this extra time to set up your class and be sure to put all snacks and/or lunches in their appropriate place, downstairs in the fellowship hall.
Cell phone use - We understand that emergencies happen and that some parents will need to have their phones on them. However, we ask when possible, that phones not be used and played on during chapel. As parents we need to show respect and participation in chapel, while also remembering that little eyes are watching us too!
Tardiness- Chapel starts at 9:30 am. Being late is not only rude, but disrupts the continuity of chapel time, so please try to be on time. During chapel parents have put time and effort into running worship, announcements, and devotions in order to start our day off right. For safety reasons, the church doors will now be locking at 9:30 am, therefore you will be considered LATE if you come after doors are closed.
After being late three times the co-leaders will connect with the parent and express the need to be on time. After three tardies, the parent may be asked to not come back for the rest of that term. Remember that co-op may not fit into everyone's schedule so please take that into consideration before committing.
“Thank you for taking the time to read our handbook. We appreciate you working with us to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and teachers!”
We are a Christian co-op and expect All parents to adhere to and sign our Statement of Faith. Children and parents should exhibit Godly character, behavior, and communication. There should be no rude speech or gossiping among adults or children. This also includes a ZERO tolerance for BULLYING. All classes will be taught from a biblical standpoint.
Our Mission:
At Gateway our mission is to enhance our homeschooling experience by providing a time and opportunity for our homeschooling families to participate in activities better executed in a group environment. We believe we honor God by supporting each other to make our homeschooling journey the best it can be.
Our Purpose:
Our purpose is to offer one day a week courses that might not ordinarily be focused on at home and to enrich the homeschooling experience with activities and field trips that provide an environment where children can learn and practice skills acquired in a group setting. These include but are not limited to: respect for other adults, kindness to peers, sportsmanship, taking turns, working together, and a unique opportunity to glorify God as we teach and learn these things.
Church Building Expectations:
We are blessed to be able to use the facilities at Gateway Community Church and want to make sure we bless them in return. We ask that your family conduct yourselves in a Godly manner and that we treat the building and the employees of the church with respect. Please affirm that your children respect the church's property. If you see inappropriate or unsafe behavior please intervene or notify leadership immediately. *Gateway Community Church will not be held responsible for injuries sustained on church property.
Friday Classes:
Classes will be held at Gateway Community Church in South Salem, from 9:30 - 12 each week of the term. Gateway has three terms, fall, winter and spring. Any important information pertaining to Friday Co-op will be posted on our Facebook group page and/or sent via email. A parent is required to remain on the premises during the ENTIRE time unless other arrangements have been made with the coordinator and/or another parent that will be there.
Phones during classes-We ask that parents and students keep cell phones on silent during class time. Please refrain from texting or conducting any phone business during class time.
Communication:
Gateway actively uses our Facebook group page as our main form of communication. Here, we can share important news, have topics of conversation, manage a calendar, send out reminders, schedule and RSVP to events, send messages within the group and execute group polls. Please RSVP with a YES or NO when events are added to our Facebook. This will help the coordinator of the event get a proper head count.
If we need to cancel co-op due to unsafe weather conditions or any other issue we will also post a notice on Facebook by 7am.
Absences/Vacation Policy:
Please notify leadership on Facebook or via text as early as possible regarding planned vacations and missed co-op days. A lot of work goes into preparing for each class, including purchasing supplies and lesson planning. It is out of respect for the teachers that we ask for as much notice as possible if one or more of your family will be absent.
If you are teaching, have your lesson prepared so your helper can easily take over your class in your absence. Make arrangements to get them all required materials ahead of time.
Sick Policy:
Please keep yourself and/or your children at home to prevent spreading illness if any of the following apply:
-Any communicable illness or rashes -Fever above 100
-Vomiting within 24 hours of class
-Diarrhea within 24 hours of class
-Goop eye aka conjunctivitis or pink eye
Clear runny noses and that lingering cough that never seems to leave are okay, but be alert to any signs or symptoms that could pose a risk.
In case of a sick child parents may arrange to have another co-op member be responsible for their non-ill children.
If you are a teacher, class helper, or serve in another area and cannot attend co-op due to sickness we ask that you contact your co-op peers and arrange for another parent to substitute in your absence. A member directory is available in the Facebook group’s files.
Parent Participation Policy:
Our co-op relies on our members to wholeheartedly share their time, talent, and patience with their fellow members, recognizing that it is God who gives us every good and perfect gift, and our purpose in life is to glorify Him. All members must serve as teachers/helpers during the co-op day. This is a hands-on co-op and all parents are required to help in some capacity.
LUNCH TIME: Families are highly encouraged to participate in lunch/fellowship hour. We ask that you bring your own food and clean up after yourselves and your children.
GATEWAY DRESS CODE:
Women/Girls:
Please no low cut clothing, clothing that exposes midriff or large amounts of skin, short shorts, skirts or dresses above the knee, or spaghetti straps.
Men/Boys:
Please no clothing that exposes midriff or large amounts of skin, saggy pants that expose underwear, or shirts that expose the chest.
Also, no weapons or sharp objects are to be brought onto church property. If a class requires a tool that has potential to cause bodily injury, please turn the tool into a teacher upon arrival to co-op. Please be aware there are young children that could find and see these weapons/sharp tools as “toys.”
Conflict Resolution/Disciplinary Action:
When working with so many diverse families, conflicts are sure to come up. Our goal is to create a good environment and serve to the best level possible the families participating in our co-op. If there is a conflict with a child or parent in the group and you feel comfortable doing so, please go directly to that parent. If you are not comfortable with that, please come to a member of leadership where it will be discussed and we will determine a course of action to handle the situation.
After one warning, students that are being disrespectful to other co-op members, displaying hurtful actions, or disturbing the class will be removed from that activity for a period of “time out” and will sit with their mom (or another mom) for the remainder of that class. After that activity is completed, they will have a chance to rejoin the group for the next scheduled class. If the leadership team notices a negative pattern occurring, our course of action will be as follows:
- Schedule a meeting with child, parent and any leadership involved and place the child on a probationary period.
- If the problem continues, the child will be asked to suspend participation in co-op for a predetermined amount of time.
- If the problem is not corrected on return, the child could be asked to permanently leave the program. Parents also displaying non Christ-like characteristics for a long period of time could also be asked to permanently leave.
Co-op chapel is an important part of co-op at Gateway and requires mandatory participation. Chapel starts at 9:45am. This does not mean walk through the doors at 9:45am. This means check in and be seated with your family at 9:45am. Gateway's doors open at 9:20am to allow parents 25 minutes to grab a cup of coffee, fellowship with other families, check in, grab name badges, etc. During chapel, we will have a mixture of worship, devotion time, and any important announcements will be made as well. We will also have a prize drawing for families that were signed in and ready to go before 9:45am.
Weekly Sign-In: Weekly sign-in starts from 9:30am-9:44am in the Sanctuary foyer. Please take your family’s name tags and sign up for the on-time prize drawing! If you are teaching, please check to see if any of your students are absent and record this on your name tag’s roster. Absences will also be announced during morning announcements. Use this extra time to set up your class and be sure to put all snacks and/or lunches in their appropriate place, downstairs in the fellowship hall.
Cell phone use - We understand that emergencies happen and that some parents will need to have their phones on them. However, we ask when possible, that phones not be used and played on during chapel. As parents we need to show respect and participation in chapel, while also remembering that little eyes are watching us too!
Tardiness- Chapel starts at 9:30 am. Being late is not only rude, but disrupts the continuity of chapel time, so please try to be on time. During chapel parents have put time and effort into running worship, announcements, and devotions in order to start our day off right. For safety reasons, the church doors will now be locking at 9:30 am, therefore you will be considered LATE if you come after doors are closed.
After being late three times the co-leaders will connect with the parent and express the need to be on time. After three tardies, the parent may be asked to not come back for the rest of that term. Remember that co-op may not fit into everyone's schedule so please take that into consideration before committing.
“Thank you for taking the time to read our handbook. We appreciate you working with us to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and teachers!”
