Q:

A:

It takes lots of help from parents to make a group like ours run smoothly! Here are a few things we ask from you as a parent:

1. Every family is required to perform a certain number of service hours each semester. Some of the tasks we ask for are: monitoring study hall; child care - watching younger children of teachers and other volunteers; monitoring lunch and recess; etc.
2. Due to the above requirement and the requirements of our archdiocese, every parent that does service hours needs to have gone through the “Safe Parish” program.
3. There are release forms included in the registration paperwork that must be signed. These include a release from the archdiocese since we are using their property), and a photo release giving permission for your child’s photo to be taken during a co-op day (we have a yearbook class).
4. We periodically request donations of cleaning supplies for the building. These donations help to keep our costs down.

Q:

A:

IHC is run entirely by volunteers - mostly moms who have enjoyed the benefits of their children being in co-op. All fees collected either go into running the program, or making improvements to the building that we are so generously allowed to use. There is currently a non-refundable $100 fee per year, as well as tuition for each class paid directly to the instructor. There may also be workbook or supply fees associated with each class. 

Q:

A:

We have many textbooks in our IHC library that we strive to use.  However, there will be some classes that require a purchase.  This will be noted in the class description.

Q:

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Yes. Perhaps a good friend, your husband, or an adult child can do the service hours, as long as they are Safe Parish qualified.

Q:

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No! You are welcome to register a child for one class, or for multiple classes. Come when your class times are, and leave when they’re finished!

Q:

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We have child care available for your younger children while you do your service hours at co-op. If you are uncomfortable leaving your children, then try to sign up for the hours in the child care room. That way you can supervise them while watching the other volenteers and instructors’ kids.

Q:

A:

No. We are a strongly Catholic group that is faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium. We encourage a Catholic culture, and will often pray Catholic prayers. That being said, those from other faiths are welcome to join as long as this does not present a problem for you or your children.

Q:

A:

No, absolutely not! As a homeschooler, you are the primary and ultimate educator for your child, and ultimately responsible for their education - their development, their grades, their transcript. IHC offers services to help you on that path - whether it is one class that you don’t like to do yourself, or a whole host of classes that you think will meet their needs. We make no claim that we will offer every class that your child will need during the course of their education. There are a multitude of resources out there for homeschoolers – we are one of them.

Q:

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There is a plethora of information on our website. Once the schedule for the next year is released, there will also be a Class Catalog, which gives details about each class offered. 

Q:

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Maybe. While we offer some non-academic classes, our academic classes are not “clubs” or “just for fun”. They will require real work and frequent communication during the rest of the week in order to participate. Taking an academic class should be a commitment that both student and parent understand before making it. That being said, there are many opportunities for students to enjoy time talking and hanging out with other students. We have a number of classes that are less academic, and will require a minimum of work outside of class time. There are also a number of non-academic classes that can only be taken by a student registered for an academic class. Check each class description, or contact the teachers for more information on time commitments.

Q:

A:

Some of our class offerings do have prerequisites, while others do not. Please see “Class Descriptions” to determine whether a class you’re interested in has a prerequisite. If this is your first venture outside of teaching at home, we can help! We can discuss where your child would best be placed, often with just a discussion, a writing sample, or math readiness test.

Q:

A:

No. Co-op is intended to be an independent learning experience for the students. Learning to pay attention, take notes, and interact with teachers and other students are skills that are valuable, and co-op is a good safe place to learn these skills. At this point, we also simply don’t have room for parents in classrooms.

Q:

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Maybe. It is your responsibility to understand the curriculum and its requirements. Discuss with the co-op teacher and your program advisor to see if our classes meet your specific program’s requirements.

Q:

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The co-op makes no representation as to the certification of our classes or teachers. While many of our teachers have a background in teaching, there is no standard (certified or otherwise) that we claim to meet regarding state or federal academic requirements. Only the parent can make that determination for their homeschooled student. While we gladly sing the praises of the amazing men and women who work with our kids, we absolutely make no warranties or representations as to their standards as a teacher; official or otherwise. All teachers sign a memo of understanding that they agree not to teach anything contrary to the Faith, because some teachers may not be Catholic.

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IHC does not collect or record grades for any students in any class. Each student that meets with our co-op is a homeschooled student. While the co-op encourages the teachers to submit grades to the parents for academic classes, it is the parents’ sole responsibility to ensure that assignments are completed and that credit is given based on their own standard for the class.

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Your child must be 10 years old to be enrolled in any co-op class.

Q:

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Yes and no. Changing classes after the registration period is over is difficult and time-consuming for our volunteer leadership, so we ask that you deliberate carefully up front so that changes can be kept at a minimum. That being said, we understand that things happen. Our registration process includes a time when changes can be made free of charge. After this, there is a period where changes may or may not be made, depending on the requirements of the teachers. Refunds after this point are not given.