About THINK

Mission Statement

To offer educationally-rewarding classes for school-aged children. Since we welcome all home-educating families, THINK Day classes do not include religious instruction, shared prayer, or faith-based content.

Location

Classes are held at the Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalist Church (SLUU), 18412 Burrell Rd. in Odessa, FL, 33556.

Allergy Awareness

Precautions must be taken when bringing food to THINK Day. Please do not bring the following items: peanuts, tree nuts, peanut butter, trail mix, granola, or granola bars. Please read package labels to ensure that the food products you bring to THINK do not contain peanuts or any other nut product. Baked goods made at home are welcome if they are free of nuts or nut-based flour. For the safety of all children, ingredient lists for any food brought to a THINK event should be handy at all times. In a food-sharing activity, all ingredients need to be displayed. We may hold one or two "potluck" activities a year.

Cost of Participating in THINK Day

THINK membership is $21.23 per family per academic calendar year, which goes toward website hosting and business expenses.
A per-semester, per-family fee of $36.77 (due only if attending THINK Day) goes towards rent and supplies used on THINK Days and THINK Events.
Tuition varies depending on which classes you choose; the teacher sets the price of their class(es). Families may take as many or as few classes as they like.

Parent Responsibilities

YOU MAY NOT LEAVE THE PREMISES when your children are in class unless there is an adult on the premises whom you mutually designate to take responsibility for your children in your absence. You must sign your child out in the THINK book should you need to leave the premises.

THINK Rules

You will be asked to read, print, sign, and submit a copy of the THINK Rules document before your child may attend any classes.

THINK Day Schedule

THINK Day semesters consist of 12 class days on Mondays from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. There are 5 one-hour class periods offered throughout the day, as well as a lunch period. Families may take as many or as few classes as they like.

Age Requirements

To register for classes, the student must be at the minimum age by the first day of class. If your learner has a birthday between registration and the first day of class that would put them into the age range, contact administration at thinkcoop@gmail.com by the Friday before registration opening.

While we do not require teachers to offer specific age ranges, the limits instructors set in the class description are followed and respected.

When registration opens, priority is made to children within the age range.

What do I have to do to HELP at THINK Day?

Realize that THINK is a cooperative effort. No one gets paid to run THINK days. Therefore, THINK needs your help to make the day successful for our children. All families are required to sign up for two volunteer opportunities a semester. Task sign-ups begin shortly after class registration. Teaching a class and assisting in classes qualify as available opportunities. For any questions, contact ensign_jennifer@yahoo.com

Absences from THINK Day

If your family will be absent from a THINK Day, please send a courtesy absence notification found in the quick-links menu below so we can cover missed tasks. For planning purposes, teachers must know beforehand that your child won't attend a particular class. Please email your instructor(s) if you will be absent.

Homework/Supplies

Please ensure weekly that your child brings any homework and supplies requested by the teacher.

Lunch Hour

Lunch is from 12:30 – 1:25 PM under the pavilion and in the fields. Bring chairs or a picnic blanket for your family. After the children eat, many families wander around to play and socialize (see Outdoor Play below). Many special events or presentations take place during our lunch hour. Preparing for a high school seminar, an Indian dance presentation, a drum circle, Pasco County libraries, and an exotic bird rescue are a few of the presentations we have held in the past.

Outdoor Play

Spirit of Life UU is surrounded by large grassy areas where the children can play if their parent supervises them. THINK provides outdoor sports toys such as balls and hula hoops during lunch. There is also a small playset. Please respect the memorial garden, the sand volleyball court, and the other landscaped areas around the facility. Climbing trees is not allowed as it presents an insurance issue for the church. BE AWARE that this is rural Florida: Your child may encounter fire ants, pygmy rattlesnakes, and other potentially dangerous creatures native to the area. Members need to tell children about these dangers and supervise them when playing. The church and THINK are not held responsible for any injuries your child may sustain.

Nursery Area

When not used for classes, an area will be open for families with young toddlers or babies to have a safe environment to talk and play while their older siblings are in class. Your presence is always required should your child utilize the nursery.

Free Table

During THINK days, one of our community favorites is the free table. We have a designated space where you may bring things from your home that are gently used and you no longer need. It is such a wonderful feeling to see hand-me-down clothes loved by another child to be able to share books or curriculum with our fellow homeschoolers.

We ask that you bring items worth giving to another part of the community, something that still has life left. Our volunteers coordinate donating the items left over at the end of the day on Mondays. Please respect items on the free table and not leave things around the SLUU property.

Good Citizenship

Please remember that we ALL need to pitch in throughout the Day and ensure that we keep things clean and in good condition. Remind your children about the meaning of good citizenship - If you drop it, pick it up; If you spill it, wipe it up; If you open it, close it, and so on. Most importantly, we are all in this together. We are a cooperative. There is no such thing as "It's not my job." It is a privilege to use this excellent facility, and if we all pitch in, we will be welcome here for semesters to come. Let's work together to leave the facility as we found it or even better!

Thanks for helping to make THINK Day such a great place to be!

If you have further questions about THINK Day, email us at thinkcoop@gmail.com