Vine and Branches Homeschool Co-op Connect with other homeschool families in NWI! Registration for Full Membership is now closed Associate membership is available any time! We are partners with South Shore Homeschool Athletics.
 

Vine and Branches Membership Request

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Vine and Branches Porter County (V&B) is a Christian educational homeschool co-op and 501c3 non-profit organization.  Application for membership requires the following:

1. You must complete the entire application form (please be sure to include both the first and last name of your children on the form below); please note that this application is thorough and may take more than 15 minutes to complete.

2. You must read and agree to our Statement of Faith and/or agree to participate with the understanding that V&B offers only classes and activities that reflect our Statement of Faith and reserves the right to deny any endorsement or approval of classes or activities that conflict with our Statement of Faith.

3. You must read and fully agree to the Participation Requirements and Expectations, Code of Conduct and Dress Code, Participation & Media Release, and provide an accurate and verifiable Volunteer Application in order to participate in our co-op.

4. Please note that submission of this request does not guarantee membership.

5. IMPORTANT: When filling out the request below, please fill in the field that asks for "Primary Parent Name" with the name of the parent or adult family member who will be responsible for fulfilling co-op responsibilities.  Please fill in the field that asks for "Spouse's Name" with the Primary's spouse information if married; if not married, please leave blank.  Feel free to leave your spouses email address blank if he/she does not wish to receive V&B forum messages.

 

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Vine and Branches Statement of Faith & Values  

GOD: We believe there is one true and living God who is eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. ( 1Jn. 5:4-7, Jn. 16:13-15)

CREATION: We believe the world was created by God. (Gen. 1:1, Jn. 1:3)

THE BIBLE: We believe the Bible is the verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible, and wholly authoritative Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16)

SIN: We believe that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (Rom. 3:23-24)

GOD’S LOVE: We believe God demonstrated His love for lost and sinful humanity by sending his only son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place to save us from our sins, was buried, and then rose again on the third day. (1 Cor. 15:4, Jn. 3:16-19, Rom. 5:8)

HOLY SPIRIT: We believe the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin and indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service. (1 Cor. 3:16, Gal. 5:16, 20-22)

SALVATION: We believe salvation is offered as a free gift to the sinner, brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection paid the penalty for the sin of man.  (Rom. 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9)

MARRIAGE: We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these are the only two, distinct and complementary sexes.  We believe God created marriages to be the exclusive union between a man and a woman.  (Gen. 1:27-28, Eph. 5:22-23, Matt. 19: 4-6)

FAMILY: We believe the God-ordained authority and responsibility given to parents for the raising and nurturing of their children includes directing their children’s educational development and equipping them to live in a manner that brings glory to God. (Prov. 22:6, Deut. 6:5-9, Rom. 13:1-10, Eph. 6:1-4)

UNITY: We believe in the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in Jesus Christ and though individual doctrinal differences may exist, they should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators. (I Cor. 1:10, Eph. 4:11-13)




Participation Requirements, Expectations, & Agreement


Code of Conduct and Dress Code

These behavior guidelines are set up to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all involved in our Vine and Branches (V&B) Co-op.  They are goals implemented so we can seek to love others and put their best interests first.  If unacceptable behavior is found in a student during class time, they will be approached by either a teacher or classroom assistant.  If a student shows a great amount of disrespect or lack of submission to the authority of the instructor, his/her parents will be informed by either the teacher or by a member of the leadership of V&B.  Parents will be given the opportunity to correct the situation.  If the behavior persists, then the leadership reserves the right to ask that parent to remove the child who is unwilling to abide by co-op policy.  Parents are ultimately responsible for their own children and all damages incurred by their children to property of Liberty Bible Church or the V&B co-op.  The following are the expectations and guidelines of our Vine and Branches co-op:

1. Vine and Branches parents and children are exhorted to conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner, remembering that we are all in the Body of Christ.  Specifically in our various classes and activities, volunteer organization leaders are to be given respect, cooperation, and cheerful obedience.  All members will seek to teach and encourage good stewardship in caring for the facility, equipment and property of others.  All members will seek to teach and encourage the welcoming, courteous, cooperative and respectful treatment of others.  Destructive, rude or suggestive language, swearing or cursing, and ridicule of teachers or other students will not be tolerated.

2. All Vine and Branches members will seek to give a "good report" of others, and teach and encourage the Biblical example of keeping right relationships with one another.  As parents, we share the goal of godly behavior and agree to assume responsibility and to address situations as they arise with the children in the group.  (Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 3:12-14; Hebrews 10:24)

3. Cell phones, mp3 players, hand-held video games, or other electronic devices may not be used during class time.  These items will be taken away from the student and returned to the parent if used.

4. Children are expected to attend the classes in which they are enrolled.  Teen students will not be allowed to spend unchaperoned time alone with a student of the opposite sex during their time at co-op.

5. Vine and Branches does not wish to impose specific dress requirements. However, all V&B members are asked to dress modestly, and in a conservative manner appropriate for the season based on a desire to be pleasing to the Lord as an image bearer and to avoid causing a brother or sister to sin or stumble. Examples of inappropriate clothing include but are not limited to:  

  • Women/Girls:  Tight fitting or low-cut clothing, clothing that exposes the midriff, low-rise pants unless a long shirt covers the hip area, short-shorts, skirts or dresses well above the knee, see through clothing, and “spaghetti straps”.
  • Men/Boys:  Tight fitting clothing, clothing that exposes the midriff, muscle shirts, baggy pants that expose underclothing, shirts that expose the chest, clothing with rebellious, profane, or occult symbolism (skulls and death themes, hard rock or metallic rock bands), and clothing that promote secular rock bands or music (out of respect for others).

If a student is seen not following the above policy, their parent will be informed and they will be asked to cover themselves with a jacket or be required to change clothing.

When/if your student is participating in a physical education class of any sort, please have your student wear appropriate shoes and clothing.

Participation Agreement & Media Release



Volunteer Application Have you at any time ever:





Are you aware of:



References (Other than relatives). Please provide two. Children’s/Youth Volunteer Verification Agreement

 

I understand that submission of this application does not guarantee membership.  

I hereby certify that all of the information provided by me in this application is correct, accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand the the falsification, misrepresentation or omission of any facts in said documents will be cause for membership termination. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to abide by all the policies set forth in this application and that I am responsible for ensuring my family complies with co-op policies.

By my e-signature verification below, I verify that I understand that electronic signatures are legally binding and have the same meaning as handwritten signatures. I confirm that this electronic signature is to be the legally binding equivalent of my handwritten signature and that the data on this form is accurate to the best of my knowledge.