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Policies and Procedures

 

Joining Shine St. Charles Community

 

Who Are We?

We are a Christian led co-op, serving the St. Charles and surrounding areas. While we are a Christian led co-op, we do not require our families to sign a statement of faith.  Our goal is to foster an environment built on integrity and virtue, provide educational support, and opportunities to engage socially as well as a sense of community for those homeschooling their children. We offer a variety of classes ranging in grades from PreK/K classes through 12th grade. (With Prek and nursery level classes being reserved for those families of co-op with older children.) Co-op classes are held on Wednesdays in O'Fallon, MO.  Joining our Shine St. Charles Community requires you to be a homeschooling family of a school aged child between 5 and 19 years old.  The leaders of Shine St. Charles are committed to serve, help and support those families who desire to educate their children with quality standards.

 

SHINE Family Fees

Shine St. Charles charges an initial registration fee of $45 (this covers your background check and first year faimily fee) and a renewal fee of $25 per year per family.  This fee allows your family access to our website and our  private Shine facebook group.  The renewal fee is invoiced on June 1st of each year and must be paid before classes start if you are attending co-op classes or before you may attend any Shine St. Charles events.  Returning familes who have not paid the fee by the first day of co-op will have their family parked and removed from the private facebook page.

Anyone joining on March 1st or later will not have their yearly fee expire until the end of May the following year.  A full year fee will be charged for anyone joining prior to March 1st. These fees are not refundable.

 

SHINE Family Requirements

Shine St. Charles Families must be homeschooling families of a school aged child between the ages of 5 and 19.  Families must pay their family fee and agree to abide by the Policies & procedures of Shine St. Charles.  Changes may be made to the policies and procedures as needed throughout the year and those changes will be communicated through the website, private facebook group and email. Joining the Shine community may be refused at the board’s discretion to any family that the board feels would not further the objectives of Shine St. Charles.  A background check is required for all families of Shine. To remain a Shine family you will have needed to either attend class or 2 events and/or fieldtrips a year.

 

Conflict Resolution

Unfortunately, conflicts and misunderstandings can occur in any group setting. Those having a conflict should first attempt to reach a resolution between them. If a resolution cannot be found that both parties agree to, they may bring the issue to the board and 2-3 board members will meet together with the parties involved and attempt to resolve the conflict. If that is unsuccessful, a meeting with at least 2/3 of the board will be arranged and the board will make a final decision.

 

Conflicts that originate or happen outside of SHINE: 

Shine does not assume responsibility for those situations occurring outside of Shine events, such as any internet related groups. However, if the board is informed that any issues having originated outside of Shine have become an issue at Shine we will refer to our conflict resolution policy. 

 

Field Trips

Shine St. Charles is excited to offer field trips to those who would like to participate.  However, with field trips we need to remember to follow a few simple rules to ensure the safety and enjoyment for all.  Certain events require pre-payment, in these cases payment will be required at the time of registration.  Refunds will only be issued if the coordinator has not made payment in advance for the event.  Prior to registration please review the field trip description and/or requirements and payment information.  If you have any questions, please contact the field trip coordinator.

Please keep in mind the following rules when attending any of the SHINE St. Charles events.

 

 

SHINE Wednesdays

 

Rules

These rules apply to children and adults.  Adults, please set a good example for the children!

 

PDA Rules:  

 

Dress Code:

Although SHINE does not have an outlined dress code, we do ask that attire be modest and respectful of the church that hosts our co-op and classes. Initial violation of the dress code will result in the parent of the student being addressed. Shine Family privileges could be revoked with no refunds given, at the board’s discretion, should dress code violations continue after being addressed.  All adults and students must adhere as well as any visitors. 

 

Items to be mindful of and avoided:

 

Non-SHINE Teacher Volunteers:

Non-Shine Teacher volunteers may teach a class as long as they are affiliated with a current Shine family and/or affiliated with Shine’s home church. Each teacher MUST consent to a background check by Shine St. Charles. All teachers are required to submit a class description and is subject to board approval. 

 

Parent Volunteer Requirements

Parents must volunteer in one class per hour your child attends co-op, up to 3 hours.  For example, if your children attend for 2 hours, you would help both hours.  If your children attend 4 hours, you would only need to help 3 of those hours. You do not have to help in a class your child is enrolled in, you may choose any class on the schedule to help in.

 

Examples:

Family at co-op for 1 class/1 hour           1 family member sign up to help for 1 hour

Family at co-op for 2 classes/2 hours     1 family member sign up to help for 2 hours

Family at co-op for 3 classes/3 hours     1 family member sign up to help for 3 hours

Family at co-op for 4 classes/4 hours     if 3 hours have been fulfilled no sign up is needed for this hour

 

If all class helper positions are filled you will be asked to be a rescue helper.  A rescue helper is defined as a "floater" and when needed will be asked to help in a particular classroom.  Although the need for you to help varies from week to week, we do ask that you remain open to help.  If you are a rescue helper, please check with a board member to see if you are needed.

Teachers assistants/rescue helpers are an important asset to the class.  PLEASE do not delay in arriving to class on time as many times students will arrive early to class and should not be unattended and/or teachers may need your assistance with class preparation!    

 

Parent Attendance

All parents must be on the premises during classes.  If you are not helping in a class, please wait in the designated area or let a board member know your location on the premise to eliminate the need to locate you in the event you are needed.    

If you need to leave the premises you may find another parent who is willing to be a "Shine mom".  A Shine mom" will be responsible for your children in your absence. The use of a "Shine mom" should be board approved, not utilized on a weekly basis and reserved for emergency purposes.  If a "Shine mom" is agreed upon, please stop by the front desk first and fill out a form letting the board know who will be responsible for your children and how you can be reached.

If you are a teacher and are unable to attend co-op class please contact your assistant/s to inform them and give instruction on how to cover the class in your absence, and let a board member know by posting on the facebook page or messaging them.

If your family is unable to attend co-op class and you are a teacher's assistant please inform the teacher you will not be present so that an assistant can be assigned to the class in your absence, and let a board member know by posting on the facebook page or messaging them.  

Some teachers spend an exorbitant amount of time on class preparation and class attendance is important. While we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise and/or illness may affect your family, absences from co-op classes will be addressed. If your family is absent 6 or more classes during a semester, class participation may be revoked with no refunds issued. In addition, future class registrations may also be denied.  

Junior/Senior Drop Off Option

Returning members have a drop off option for juniors and seniors over age 16. This option comes at an additional charge and is at the board discreption. The additional charge would be $40 per semester per student

 

Returning Family Definition

Being a Shine Family is not the same as prior attendance of Shine classes. When registration for classes opens, you must have attended classes at least one of the past two semesters to be considered a "returning family".
 

Fees

All fall class fees are due by Thanksgiving break and spring class fees due by Eater break.  Shine family fee ($25) will be due by the first day of co-op classes. Please contact the treasurer for more information or assistance.  Any family not paid up will not be allowed to sign up for classes next semester.

 

 

Refunds

Refunds will be given for any class dropped prior to the first day of classes each semester.  After the first day of class but prior to the 3rd day of classes, class fees are refundable, but additional supply fees and the location fee cannot be refunded.  From the 3rd day on, class fees are not refundable.

Shine Family Fees are non refundable

Discipline

It is the goal of Shine St. Charles that all students will be able to enjoy their classes and learn in an environment free from disruption.  Students are expected to be respectful to everyone at all times. Students should listen to their teachers and follow instructions.  While we realize that sometimes students need reminders about how to behave in class, if a teacher feels that a student is continuing to disrupt the class, they will have their helper bring the student to the board member at the front desk. In addition, we ask that teachers contact the student's parent to address the situation. If the student continues to be disruptive in future classes, the board will work with the teacher and the parents to try to determine a course of action that will allow the student to return to class without causing continued disruption.  If after the suggested resolution has been implemented the student continues to be disruptive, the board will require that parent withdraw the child from the class and no refunds will be given.  If the problem behavior continues through multiple classes and no resolution is found in a reasonable length of time, the board will ask that the student not return to co-op.

 

Homework

Some classes will have homework assigned.  Whether or not to expect homework will be listed in the class description when you register for the class. Students are expected to respect the time and effort teachers put into their classes by completing all assignments and coming to class prepared. Students and parents should understand that failure to complete assignments could result in the student being unable to participate in class.  

 

Parent Volunteer Expectations

As a co-op, we depend on all our parent volunteers to make classes run smoothly.  Helpers in classes should communicate with the teacher about how they can best help the teacher. Teachers and helpers should feel free to address students who are disrupting class. As a helper we ask that you help the teacher assist students who need extra guidance with class projects and work.  Please avoid use of electronic devices during class.  All helpers are to remain in class unless doing something to assist that class. All parent volunteers are responsible for keeoing the classrooms clean. Clean up after every class. The 2pm classroom must be vaccuumed, tables wiped, trash emptied.

 

Lunch

Lunch will be eaten in the Multi-purpose room.  No food or drink (except water bottles) should be taken anywhere else in the church.  STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE ALONE IN CLASSROOMS OR ROAMING THE BUILDING DURING LUNCH. 

If you would like to eat outside, we encourage it. Please do not allow children to play on the tractor, near the street, in the woods or by the surrounding houses. Parents should ensure that all toys/trash are cleaned up at the end of lunch.  WHILE OUTSIDE , ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGHSCHOOL MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PARENT OR MUTUALLY AGREED UPON ADULT.  THOSE ADULTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND MUST BE ATTENTIVE TO THEM.

ONLY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO CLIMB THE TREES.

During inclement weather the nursery will open for indoor recess and the games room will be open to middle and high school students. Coloring sheets/additional activities will be brought to the multi- purpose room. A parent is required to be in each room.


Illness

In order to avoid spreading illnesses, please keep children and adults home for at least 24 hours after a fever (100° or higher) or gastrointestinal illness. If any family member is ill in the household, ALL family members should remain at home until ALL members have been symptom/fever free for 24 hours. 

 

Inclement Weather/Cancellation Policy

Cancellation policy for all Shine events, programs and/or classes is as follows:

All cancellations due to weather or unforeseeable circumstances will be communicated via the email address listed on your family’s Shine profile and on the Shine Facebook page.  Cancellations will be communicated no later than 8am the day of class or event.  Please check to make sure that the email listed in your Shine profile is correct.

Shine will be following the Fort Zumwalt school cancellation schedule meaning if they are closed, we will be closed. There are no refunds for cancellation of part or a whole day. Refunds will be issued for canceled field trips when possible. Canceled classes may be made up at the end of the semester at the board’s discretion.

 

NURSERY and PRE K/ K RULES AND POLICIES

 

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