10/23/2021
Grace is Back! Is your family looking to join a new cooperative? Willing to volunteer your time to give you kids the best fun educational and social opportunities? Check out our FAQ and see if we are the right fit for you. Grace is a true cooperative and we hope we can grow our community a little larger with the right new families.
*If you contacted us during Covid please contact us again, we were helping our families navigate ever changing challenges. Happy to be back to serve you again!
What is Grace Homeschool Cooperative?
Grace Homeschool Cooperative is a true cooperative. Meaning all families join together and volunteer to run classes, field trips, and events. Run by passionate volunteers, Grace fosters a community like no other. The offerings reflect the needs of the group. Including academic and enrichment classes, clubs, and special events.
What does this mean for your family? It means if you are looking for academia? Great! We have families who want that, too. Your contribution can be to offer academic type classes. You say you’ve got that covered, and want enrichment classes for your kiddos? Awesome! Many of us feel similarly, and would love to participate in an enrichment type class that you want to teach. Not that either? Are you really just looking for social opportunities for your crew? Whew! We love clubs and themed hangouts, too! We can’t wait to be a part of your group.
Where and when do you meet?
We Meet at Bayside Church of Christ, 5025 Shell Road Virginia Beach. Very close to many highways, central for many families in Hampton Roads. We meet Tuesdays 930 am to 200 pm. We typically begin the first or second Tuesday in February and end the first or second Tuesday in May.
How much does it cost?
Our family registration fee for the semester is $40. Each class is priced by the teacher. As a true cooperative, our families are our teachers. We do not have outside instructors, and as such, our class fees are to only cover supplies and materials used for the class, not to pay teachers or for profit. Classes range from $0 - $100 for the semester. Historically, classes average around $15-$40 per semester. This makes us the least expensive cooperative in town.
What does it mean to be a true cooperative?
It means Grace is what YOU make it. There are no “for hire” teachers providing instruction. We (the families at Grace) bring our ideas for classes, the wants and needs for and of our children, and work together to offer classes to fill those wants and needs. Your ideas are welcome! Never taught anyone other than your own kids, and the idea of being responsible for teaching other kids fills you with terror? You’re not alone. Literally and figuratively. We have all been in that position. You WILL NOT be alone. We’ll be sure you have assistance in your classroom. We can help you plan your semester. We love to share ideas, brainstorm, and help you make your class dreams a reality.
How many Families typically participate?
30-50 Usually serving 100 to 150 students. The hallways are busy and it gives Grace a true “school” vibe (the good parts of school). Lunch with your friends, switching classes each bell, valentine exchanges ect. Come help your kids “find their tribe” with us.
What are the volunteer commitments?
Each family must be willing to teach in at least one (1) of our four (4) class periods for the semester or volunteer to be an assistant for 2. Additionally, you are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the spaces you and your family occupy during co-op hours. This means tidying the classroom/s you use, cleaning up after yourselves and your children throughout the day, signing up for and participating in end of day clean-up duties (an additional 15-30 minutes at the end of the day) a couple of times during the semester. Finally, we welcome the fun! Want to volunteer to arrange a crazy sock day? Pajama day? Valentine’s Day card exchange? Woohoo! We’re in!
What makes Grace so unique?
You! Grace is a collective of like-minded families. That sounds hokey and unrealistic, but truly, we all share a passion for doing it ourselves. That’s part of why we homeschool. That’s why you’re interested in a cooperative and not a school. Grace is unique because you, your family, your goals, dreams, plans, wants, and needs are unique. Like a great potluck buffet- bring something delicious, take what you want, and leave the rest. I will say we get consistent feedback that moms and children were really able to “find their people” at Grace in a way not always found at other groups. I think that makes Grace really unique, the social opportunities.
Is Grace Drop off?
Grace is not Drop off, but reach out if you can only partially participate. We are a community and can find a spot for everyone.
Is a statement of faith required to join?
Grace is housed at a church, so it is Christian but inclusive. We ask our members to try to respect the beliefs of others and do not require a specific faith to join. Individual classes may be more religiously oriented or trend more secular. We ask our families to read individual class descriptions carefully before signing up.
Are the classes more academic or enrichment?
Depends on the semester. But traditionally there have been educational classes that also have fun social activities included. But if you are looking for academia? Great! We have families who want that, too. Your contribution can be to offer academic type classes. You say you’ve got that covered, and want enrichment classes for your kiddos? Awesome! Many of us feel similarly, and would love to participate in an enrichment type class that you want to teach. Not that either? Are you really just looking for social opportunities for your crew? Whew! We love clubs and themed hangouts, too! We can’t wait to be a part of your group
I want to teach a class, but I’m not sure how?
You are 95% there! We will host a planning get together in advance of the semester to help you plan and prepare for your class. We also have plenty of seasoned mentors available to help guide you. Having an idea and the willingness to volunteer is where we all started, and we don’t want anyone to be deterred by inexperience. Also, you won’t be alone. We always provide classroom teaching assistants for teachers. Please, share your idea, your time, and see how great it is to see it come to life!
I don’t want to teach a class, what are my options?
Bummer, but ok. Most of us started out assisting in other teacher’s classes. We need you, too! There are a few permanent substitute positions available. (Teacher’s leave substitute class plans in the event of an absence.) There are likely some administrative duties that can be shared, too. Where do your talents lie? Homeschoolers are self-starters, so tell us how you see yourself contributing to the cooperative, and we’ll work to find you a role to fill.
Where is the schedule for next semester?
Still being created! The 2 year break from Covid reduced our numbers as families moved away or their needs changed. We are aiming to have the schedule out by Thanksgiving, we create it as committed new members volunteer to teach classes. Those who want to wait and see the schedule, no problem, however; priority registration will be given to those committing to the Spring semester now. I have attached several former schedules to give an idea of what Grace is all about.
What are the plans with regard to Covid?
With rules becoming more consistent and cases dropping we are very hopeful for the Spring and strongly feel it will happen, but we are at the mercy of changing restrictions for the community and the church like any other organization. In the event that things change and we cannot meet. Preference will be given to have a shorter semester or extend the semester till mid June instead of canceling the whole semester. We also have transitioned some classes to zoom during pandemic and have mentors to assist with that in the unlikely circumstance that things worsen. No teacher would be required to transition to zoom.
I wanted to sign up for a class but it is full, what can I do?
We have a priority registration system based on points, the longer you are at Grace and the more things you volunteer for the more points you have. We don’t register first come, we register highest points first. Rewarding seniority and volunteerism. So if you wanted a class and it was full, worry not, second choices are on our registration form! In subsequent semesters you will have more points and be more likely to get first choices. We have never had a student have no choices for a bell, and all our options are taught by passionate teacher volunteers, so take a risk, make new friends!
I’m specifically interested in the Grace Teen Leadership Program, how is this different?
Remember after school clubs and activities, service projects, field trips, ski trips, movie parties, mall hangouts, “my mom will take if your mom will pick up” gigs when you were a kid? It’s that and more. Teen led initiatives with grown-up mentors to help their plans become a reality. This is separate from Grace Homeschool Cooperative and open to teens that don’t attend grace. Please email [email protected] and specify that you are interested in the Teen Leadership Program. The coordinator will be in contact with you.
Where do I sign up?
Email [email protected] and a member of our admin team will contact you and answer your questions and provide you more information on available classes.
