Purpose and Policies of HFC
HOMESCHOOLERS FOR CHRIST
PURPOSES AND POLICIES
Homeschoolers for Christ is a weekly support and fellowship group
for homeschooling families.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Homeschoolers for Christ’s purpose is to spend time together building relationships, so that we can support our members in raising and educating godly children according to Biblical principles.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NASB)
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, …
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We Believe:
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In one God manifest in three Persons – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. 2 Cor.13:14
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In the inspiration of all the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit, and that they are the final authority for our faith and practice. 2 Tim. 3:16
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In the creation of the human race in God’s image as immortal, morally responsible beings whose purpose is to serve and glorify God. Mankind chose rather to serve self-interest and thus all have sinned, creating the need for individual reconciliation to God. Gen. 1:27; Rom. 3:23
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In the Incarnation and virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ who, by His shed blood, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection, paid the redemptive price for our sins. Matt. 1:18-25; 1 Cor. 15:3-4
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In the salvation of all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ and the just condemnation of all who reject Him. John 5:24
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In the work of God’s spirit in the new birth, indwelling the believer, enabling him to grow in the likeness of Christ, and filling him with power to live a life committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6
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In the union of all believers as one body in Christ. Eph. 4:4-6
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In the bodily second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to claim His own people and to set all things in order. John 14:3; Rev. 1:7
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Marriage is a God-ordained institution between one man and one woman. Gen. 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6
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Biological sex is an immutable characteristic given by God. Ps. 139:13-16
HFC POLICIES
1 Corinthians 14:40 (NKJ)
Let all things be done decently and in order.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Membership Expectations
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Members including all leadership are required to agree with and sign the HFC Statement of Faith.
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Members must agree with and sign the HFC Policies Statement and liability waiver each year.
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Members will strive to raise their children in accordance with biblical principles.
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Members will commit to share Christ’s love with one another according to John 13:34-35: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
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Members are expected to be respectful and courteous to others both in the group and outside of the group. Remember, we are representatives of Christ.
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Members will ensure that all family members are dressed modestly and appropriately.
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Members are expected to sign up for events in a timely manner, make payments for events promptly, and be punctual.
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Members are expected to make attendance a priority. The HFC website serves as the primary means of communication regarding who is attending and who is not able to attend HFC events. Members should let the leadership team know if their family is sick or out of town or will not be attending a HFC event for other reasons. The leadership team will contact families who miss more than two HFC events without making them aware of the reasons.
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Members are required to help serve the group in two areas:
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Members are required to coordinate two (2) field trips or special events per year. Members will sign up to coordinate trips or events at the planning meeting in August prior to the start of the school year.
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Members are required to fill a role on the monthly chapel days.
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Conflicts between members and failure to adhere to policies will be handled according to Matthew 18:15-20.
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Members who decide to leave HFC should notify the leadership team as soon as possible so that a family on the wait list can be notified.
Wait List
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HFC is limited to 20 families in order to encourage deeper relationships between members and to keep field trip logistics manageable. The intention is not to be exclusive, but to serve the needs of current members with excellence.
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If the 20 family limit has been reached, interested families can place their name on a wait list. In consideration of the families on the wait list, we encourage HFC members to participate fully every week.
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While acceptance into the group is generally done on a first-come, first-served basis, families on the wait list whose oldest child is school age (5 years old by September 30th of current school year) will be given priority over those families whose oldest child is a preschooler.
Meeting and Event Guidelines
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The use of electronic devices (phones, tablets, etc.) by children should be kept to a minimum during HFC field trip events and chapel day meetings. Since the leadership team does not have the ability to control what is shown or viewed on devices that are brought to HFC events or meetings, only those devices required to keep in contact with a parent or to take pictures should be brought.
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If any HFC member has a fever or has active symptoms of an illness that could be contagious (ie: coughing, vomiting, runny nose or sneezing not attributed to allergies), the entire family shall stay home from any scheduled HFC events. The family can join HFC events again once they have been fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
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Information in the Members’ Directory is confidential, and should not be given to anyone who is not a member of this group. The information is not to be used for soliciting business.
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Members are encouraged to bring friends who are interested in HFC to one chapel day to see what the group is like; out of town guests are always welcome. While these guests are welcome, members should notify the leadership team prior to bringing a guest.
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Past HFC members and those on the wait list are free to join the group on park days.
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All children under 3 years of age on September 30th must stay with their parents during activities at the Chapel.
HFC Fees
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An annual fee per child is collected at the beginning of each school year to cover miscellaneous group expenses such as recreation, holiday crafts, snacks and field day. This fee is $12.00 per child.
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An annual fee per family is collected at the beginning of the school year to cover fees associated with our website and Spring Festival. This fee is $18.00 per family. Fees should be paid by September 15th of each year.
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There will be field trips that have costs associated with them. These costs will fluctuate from year to year and are completely dependent on individual field trips. Most organizations give our group school rates. The rates are researched and negotiated by the families running each trip. The average cost per child per year is approximately $50-70
HFC Activities
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HFC meets each Thursday from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Occasionally, a field trip may require our group to meet at a different time.
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HFC meets at the Williamsburg Community Chapel one Thursday of each month for Chapel Day.
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Other Thursdays may include:
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Field trips
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Park days
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Service projects
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HFC moms meet in August to plan the activity calendar for the year. Each mom has the opportunity to propose trips or other activities for Thursdays leading up to this meeting. Each mom should bring information regarding the trips or activities they have proposed to this meeting including any and all costs. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory.
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Evening activities may include:
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Mom's Nights Out
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Family Nights
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Spring Festival in May at the end of the school year
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Chapel Days
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HFC meets at the Williamsburg Community Chapel one Thursday of each month.
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Chapel Days typically include:
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30 minutes of Music & Drama
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30 minutes of Bible lesson
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30 minutes of Recitation time
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30 minutes of Recreation
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Children who are not three years old by the September 30th cut off, must stay with their mom or dad for the entire school year regardless of when they turn three during the year.
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During Music time, Pre-K to 5th grade students work on learning songs that will be presented to friends and family at the end of the year at the Spring Festival. Children 3 and up will be allowed to participate in this as long as they are old enough to follow directions and are not distracting to others. Middle and High school students will spend this time rehearsing a drama presentation for the Spring Festival.
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During Bible time, students are divided into age groups based on what grade they would be in if they went to public school. (Kindergarteners must be 5 by September 30th.) The classes are typically divided as follows:
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3 years old (as of Sept 30th of that year)-K
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1st - 5th grade
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6th- 8th grade
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9th – 12th grade
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During recitation time, any age child can recite a poem, song or Bible verse from memory or play a musical instrument. Recitations should be 1 minute or less. Toddlers and infants are welcome to stay in the room if they can sit quietly with a parent. If the little ones get disruptive, we ask that they be taken out of the room so that the children who are reciting will not get distracted.
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During recreation time, children will be divided by age to participate in group games and activities.
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Parents are responsible for making sure their children behave properly before and after Chapel activities. Children should not use items from the HFC closet in Ross Hall without permission. We want to be respectful to those who work at the Chapel by not allowing our children to run or scream inside the building. Children are not permitted to use the Chapel soda machine in the downstairs lobby, unless accompanied by an adult. We have our own supplies for our activities, so we also want to be careful not to use the Chapel’s consumable Sunday School supplies stored in the classrooms. We may use the Bibles that are provided for our Bible classes.
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The use of electronic devices (phones, tablets, etc.) by children is not permitted during HFC Chapel Days. Leadership does not have the ability to control what is shown or viewed on devices that are brought to HFC events. Children should be in their assigned groups from 2p-4p so mothers know where their child is located at all times.
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All parents will be required to lead at least one activity during Chapel day. Examples include monitoring the kids on the playground, teaching a class, or leading recreation, drama or music. A sign-up will be done at the beginning of the year so that parents can submit an area of preference where they would like to contribute. Every effort will be made to plug people into an area that they prefer, but this is not guaranteed. If a parent is unable to attend Chapel Day, it is their responsibility to find someone to take their place and fill their role.
Spring Festival
- Spring Festival takes place in May and is a time when we invite our family and friends to join us in celebrating all that God has done in our home schools throughout the year. It is expected that all families prioritize this evening by attending and participating.
- An example agenda for the evening is as follows:
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The children perform the 2-3 songs and drama that they have worked on during chapel days.
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Every child, Kindergarten and above (based on the public school age guidelines), is given the chance to do an individual performance. They may sing, dance, recite a poem or Bible verse, or play an instrument. The time limit is 2 minutes per child.
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There is a slide-show presentation of the field trips and activities we have done throughout the year.
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There is a time of recognition and prayer for the graduates.
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Refreshments are provided after the program and everyone is invited to look at projects that the kids have done during the school year. Each child (any age) is given a small space (approximately 2 ft or 3 ft) on a table to display projects such as lap books, art work, notebooks, stories, journals, etc.
Leadership Team
Leadership Positions:
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Team Lead - Dawn Jester
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Team Member - Maggie Walker
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Team Member - Nayda Tua
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Board Member - Lyn Briscoe
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Board Member - Joan Mills
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Board Member -
Leadership Team Responsibilities
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Oversee the planning and activities of the group.
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Focus the group on the purpose of supporting each other to raise and educate godly children according to Biblical principles.
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Base decisions on Biblical principles.
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Resolve conflicts when necessary.
Board Member Responsibilities
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Support HFC through prayer.
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Support HFC through Godly wisdom and Biblical guidance in any situation the Leadership Team may need assistance with.
Requirements of Leadership
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Desire to do God’s will in accordance with His Word.
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Be committed to the group and its purpose.
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Agree with and sign the HFC Statement of Faith and liability waiver.
Appointing Leadership
Acts 6:3 “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.”
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New leadership will be appointed by the current leadership as needed.
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Current leaders will pray and seek God together for His leadership until they reach an agreement.
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The candidate for a leadership position will be contacted to discuss possible roles for leadership.
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The candidate will assume their new leadership role upon acceptance.
HOMESCHOOLERS FOR CHRIST LIABILITY WAIVER AND RELEASE FORM
Participant Information:
Name of Parent/Guardian: ________________________________
Name(s) of Child(ren): ___________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________
Phone: ____________________ Email: ______________________
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
I, the undersigned, as the parent or legal guardian of the above-named child(ren), hereby acknowledge and agree to the following:
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Voluntary Participation:
I understand that participation in Homeschoolers For Christ activities is entirely voluntary.
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Assumption of Risk:
I acknowledge that participation in group activities, including but not limited to field trips, physical activities, and educational events, involves inherent risks of injury, illness, or property damage. I voluntarily assume all such risks on behalf of myself and my child(ren).
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Release of Liability:
I hereby release, waive, discharge, and hold harmless Homeschoolers For Christ, its leaders, volunteers, participants, and associated facilities from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, and causes of action arising out of or related to any loss, damage, or accidental injury that may be sustained while participating in any group activities.
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Medical Emergencies:
In the event of a medical emergency, I give permission for emergency medical treatment to be administered to my child(ren). I understand that I will be responsible for any resulting medical expenses.
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Code of Conduct:
I agree to ensure that my child(ren) and I abide by the rules and guidelines set forth by the group. I understand that failure to follow these rules may result in dismissal from the activity or group.
Christian Behavioral Expectations:
As a Christian homeschool group, we hold ourselves to the principles of love, respect, and kindness, as taught in the Bible. Maintaining a safe, respectful, and family- appropriate environment is a shared responsibility. All participants are expected to:
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Respect others: Treat everyone with love, kindness, and respect (Eph. 4:32).
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Uphold Christian values: Refrain from behaviors inconsistent with the teachings of Christ, including bullying, dishonesty, disrespect, or any form of hate or division.
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Abstain from inappropriate content: The possession or use of illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, or any material that contradicts Christian morals is strictly prohibited.
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Honor authority: Respect and obey group leaders, volunteers, and parents in positions of responsibility.
Course of Action for Violations:
In the event of any violation of the above behavioral expectations, the following course of action will be taken:
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Initial Discussion: The child(ren) and parent(s) will be approached privately by a group leader to discuss the behavior.
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Warning: A formal warning will be issued, and the child(ren) will be reminded of the group’s Christian values and the importance of maintaining respect and love for others.
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Temporary Suspension: If the behavior persists, the child(ren) may be temporarily suspended from a group activity for a set period to reflect on their actions.
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Permanent Dismissal: In cases of serious or continued violations, the child(ren) may be permanently removed from the group. This decision will be made in consultation with group leadership, and parents will be notified. Bullying, harassment, possession or use of illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or exposure to or distribution of pornographic material are strictly prohibited during any group activity or event. Any violation may result in immediate dismissal from the group at the discretion of group leadership.
SIGNATURES
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Parent/Guardian Name (Print): ____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________ Date: ___________
Membership Commitment and Signature Page for the 2025-2026 HFC year
I have read and agree to abide by the HFC:
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Purpose
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Policies
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Liability Waiver
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Statement of Faith
I understand and accept the following HFC member responsibilities:
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Pay HFC member fees by September 11th _______
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Attend and be an active participant in all regularly scheduled HFC events and activities _______
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Ensure that parents and children are courteous and respectful to others in the group _______
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Fulfill responsibilities when planning a field trip or moms night out event in a thorough and timely manner _______
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Adequately fulfill my assigned role at each Chapel Day and make sure that I find a replacement when I am absent _______
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Attendance and participation at Spring Festival will be a priority for my family _______
All of this information can be found on the HFC website.
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I will keep family Information on the HFC website updated.
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I understand that current membership information is secure and for member use only.
Signature:______________________________________Date:________________
Print Name:_________________________________________________________