Families supporting families in private home education...

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:6

...with a Biblical worldview.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

Support for the whole family...

"All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:13

...from preschool to highschool...

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

... with classes, field trips, service projects and more.

"...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

We love supporting home education!

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History of SOCCO

This is a short history of SOCCO for all those who are interested in where we started.  It was contributed by Terri Bonstrom in 2012 and was updated in 2014 by Laura Mehrley.

In April 2004 Ann Cochrane, founded SOCCO (South Orange County Christian hOmeschoolers) out of a desire to have a support group exclusively for Christian families in South Orange County, California who home educate their children independent of any public programs.  Ann set up a private website with MyFamily.com for SOCCO members to communicate with each other.  She also began coordinating events such as Beach Days and Mom’s Meetings.  Members were required to sign documents agreeing to a statement of faith, event guidelines, and release of liability, as well as pay a nominal $15 a year fee per family.

Within the first year, leadership transferred to another member, Kathy Johnson, who added a public website allowing prospective members to get to know what SOCCO provides. Many more activities (science and art classes, choir, curriculum information exchanges, park dates, etc) were added and led by members.  SOCCO also became a part of a state network organization: CHEA (Christian Home Educators Association of California) and a national network organization: HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense), which directs many more families to SOCCO support group.

SOCCO leadership has changed several more times since then, but its purpose of supporting Christian home educating families has flourished with new ideas being introduced each year.  In May 2006 Greg & Terri Bonstrom volunteered to lead SOCCO, along with four other members who volunteered to be on a board in various advisory & coordinator positions (Outreach Activities, Social Activities, Education Activities and Treasurer.)  In September 2009, Don & Jennifer Cooper and Jeremiah and Gabi Smedra volunteered to lead SOCCO.  Early in 2010, the Smedra's moved out of state and the Coopers went on to lead SOCCO. 

In June 2011 Laura Mehrley agreed to serve as SOCCO's next leader as the Administrative Coordinator and is still serving in this role.  A board was created so that the leadership of SOCCO could be maintained with assistance from committees.  Since then each committee leader has served with the support of members on their committee and various functions have been added.

One of the unique features of SOCCO is that all members of the group are asked to consider offering their time and resources to the group, keeping SOCCO volunteered based for all its functions and board positions.   The classes and programs offered serve the members to meet their needs as home educators, but have also served the community, including: military personnel, hospitalized patients, missionaries and the elderly.

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