Sligo Creek Homeschool Co-op

Sligo Creek Cooperative is excited to announce that we will be offering fully in-person learning for the 2022-2023 school year!

We are a secular and inclusive family led coop designed to create engaging opportunities for learning and a warm community of fellow homeschoolers. We have rich and varied class options for children aged 5-18. These classes include: Chemistry and Creative Writing for our high school students, Writing and Geology for our middle schoolers, and Fiber Arts and Dungeons and Dragons for our elementary students. Some of the offerings for our youngest students include Show and Tell, Nature Math, and Music. These are just a few of the things we have in store for the fall.

At Sligo Creek Cooperative we build community by creating plenty opportunities for families to get to know each other and participate in a variety of ways, including pot-lucks and community service.

You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.sligocreekcoop.com, or by emailing [email protected].

Sligo Creek Co-op Sligo Creek Co-op is a group of families who come together to support one another and share in homeschooling their children. We offer ...

Although we wish that it could be different, SCC has decided to postpone the start of in-person classes this semester. We will begin offering some in-person classes on Thursday, February 3, with other classes remaining virtual for now. We expect and hope that we'll soon be able to transition to fully in-person meetings.

As the old year ends, we wish everyone a happy, HEALTHY, New Year. May 2022 be the year we can finally breathe easy.

Many of you have been asking about the plans for SCC to return to in-person learning in light of the Omicron variant, and the resulting rise in infections in our area. I know several of your families have been personally affected by this latest wave, and please know that our community is there for you - just reach out and let us know if there's anything we can do.

Although we wish that it could be different, the board has decided to postpone the start of in-person classes this semester for a few weeks, until Tuesday, February 1, 2022. We will have virtual classes as before from January 4 through January 27, 2022. If you are teaching a class that cannot be held virtually, or if you would like to try teaching virtually during January but need some technical assistance, please contact [email protected].

I'm sorry the news isn't better. I'm heartbroken that once again, our reunion must be postponed. But even though it feels as if we're reliving the whole sad situation we went through in the fall, it's good to remember that we're in a much better place now. Now we have vaccines for all kids 5 and up. And this variant, though extremely contagious, appears gentler than its predecessor, and those fully immunized are still protected from its most serious effects.

As the old year ends, I wish everyone a happy, HEALTHY, New Year. May 2022 be the year we can finally breathe easy.

Take care,
The Board at Sligo Creek Co-op
Erika Sparks, President
Emily Ellerbe, Treasurer
Deborah Helzer, Secretary
Sara Padrusch, Membership
Katie McGervey, Facilities

Sligo Creek Coop registration is OPEN for the Spring Semester! SCC is a secular, inclusive homeschool coop located just outside of downtown Silver Spring. We offer a broad array of classes for students age 5-18. You can see our class schedule and register for classes at https://www.sligocreekcoop.com and feel free to private message me with any questions.

Sligo Creek Co-op Sligo Creek Co-op is a group of families who come together to support one another and share in homeschooling their children. We offer ...

Exciting news from Sligo Creek Coop!

Our draft schedule for the Spring 2022 semester is now up at www.sligocreekcoop.com. Go and check out our class offerings, including a number of new classes!

We are thrilled to finally be able to
meet in person. Keeping everyone healthy is key to finally being able to open the doors and welcome our students and families in person. In order to achieve this we have put a number of covid related policies in place. All members age five and up are required to be fully vaccinated, including booster shots. Everyone over the age of two must be masked indoors.

On behalf of the board of directors I can tell you that we are over the moon to meet in person again. Registration opens soon, so take a look at the calendar and see what looks good for your family!

See you soon!

EXCITING NEWS!

Sligo Creek in returning to in-person learning for the Spring 2022 semester!

All classes will be held indoors, and eligible students and adults MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED. All persons aged two and older be masked to attend. These protocols may change if the incidence of infections falls or rises.

If your family has been waiting for in-person learning to resume before joining, we invite you to register for the spring semester. There were some classes that we just couldn’t run virtually, so expect to see more added soon!

You can register here at https://www.sligocreekcoop.com.

We hope to see you soon!

Sligo Creek Co-op Sligo Creek Co-op is a group of families who come together to support one another and share in homeschooling their children. We offer ...

Dear Sligo Creek Members,

For the last month, the Board of Directors at SCC has been closely following the current Covid-19 Delta variant. We discussed every possibility to facilitate safe indoor learning, but in the end we decided that classes must be held virtually this semester.

What this means for classes for 5-8 years old
Our classes for 5-8 year olds will be conducted virtually for an age-appropriate length of screen time. Teachers will be encouraged to run these classes for 30-40 minutes, rather than one hour.

What this means for Elementary through High School Classes
Classes for 9-18 year olds will be conducted virtually via Zoom.

What this means for OWL
Because OWL cannot be taught virtually, both of the scheduled courses for this year have been pushed back to next semester when we are more likely to meet in person for classes.

The good news is that SCC has successfully taught virtually before and we know that we can do it again for a few months. However, there will be some BIG changes this year.
We will still be gathering in person!

We will have access to the grounds of Ascension for outdoor activities and gatherings on non-class days.

Each age cohort can expect to receive an email from our Membership Chair, Sara Padrusch requesting a zoom call to discuss field trips, outdoor adventures and activities, movie nights, camping trips, park play dates, Halloween get-togethers, and anything else that members can think of which will provide safe social experiences for our groups. Some activities will be specific to age cohorts, and some will be co-op wide. Each group will choose a lead coordinator who will be in charge of making sure that turn-out is robust and organized. We will also need an Events Coordinator to help each cohort and to work with them on co-op wide events.

We can continue our community service opportunities, in particular Tommy’s Pantry, a food bank located in Church of the Ascension where we usually meet. A Community Service Coordinator will organize this important part of fulfilling one of the founding goals of SCC.

Why virtual?
Some families may wonder, why we won’t have in-person classes if we’re planning in person social gatherings. The logistics of organizing classes outdoors is far more complicated than gatherings. Each class requires two adults who have not been exposed to Covid and are 100% healthy. Any outbreaks within our community will require absences and quarantines that will likely impact the number of teachers and parents available to keep outdoor classes running. Most classes will require overhead projectors, computers, and other electronic devices that are difficult, if not impossible to use outside. Classes cancelled by weather events will hinder academic progress. In addition, the expenses for creating appropriate outdoor learning spaces are significant. Should the church close due to Covid, we will not be able to recover those costs.

The mission of Sligo Creek Cooperative has always been to create strong social and community bonds for homeschooling families. These bonds are the heart and soul of SCC, and this year we need these bonds more than ever. SCC families will continue to come together in our dedication to our mission and to our dedication to each other.

Sincerely,

SCC Board of Directors

President, Erika Sparks
Classes Committee Chair, Alice Gambino
Treasurer, Emily Ellerbe
Membership Chair, Sara Padrusch
Facilities Chair, Katie McGervey
Secretary, Deborah Helzer

It’s here! It’s here! Today’s the day!

Registration is open for all of our new members! Head over to www.sligocreekcoop.com and register for our classes. We’ve got something for everyone.

We’ve got some of those pesky upper level classes like physics and pre-calculus, as well as book clubs and poetry and show and tell for our littles. We also have social events like potlucks and picnics, as well as community service opportunities. There’s something for everyone!

We hope to see you and your families in the Fall!

Sligo Creek Co-op Sligo Creek Co-op is a group of families who come together to support one another and share in homeschooling their children. We offer ...

"I'm not qualified to teach!"

This is a source of great anxiety for people who are considering joining SCC.

First of all, you can! Not a helpful answer, but true. Many people walk into the co-op having no idea what they could possibly teach. The registrar and I will help you through the process, matching you with someone or subject that seems like a good fit. The first year people generally co-teach, though there are always exceptions. By year two you'll have a much better idea of how SCC works, and a subject you might like to teach. Remember, we are a homeschool co-op, so we have the freedom to offer an eclectic mix of classes! And remember, we'll be with you every step of the way making sure that you feel supported and comfortable.

"What about younger siblings?" This is a question I hear a lot from people who are considering attending Sligo Creek Coop. People can be especially anxiety about how they will handle fulfilling their co-worker teaching and job requirements.

There are many ways that members can fulfill their roles in the co-op. One is to sign-up for jobs that can be done with a younger child along. A few that come to mind are door monitor (since we keep the door locked we station a member there to let people in and sign the check-in sheet). There's plenty of space for playing and socializing. Another job is hall monitor which is exactly what it sounds like. Keep the hallway quiet and discourage running down the hall.

Co-teaching can be a little trickier, but most parents figure out a way to make it work. My favorite way is to trade "grown-up in charge" duty with another parent or guardian. This gives the littles play time together and their grown-up is close by if needed.

Please reach out to me with any questions!

Sara Padrusch
Membership Coordinator
Sligo Creek Cooperative
[email protected]

Great news! Registration for the 2021-2022 School year is now open. Teachers are eligible to register on June 14th, at 8:00 AM. Current members may register on June 14th, at 5:00 PM. Registration is open to all new members at June 15th, 8:00 AM. Classes often fill quickly so join now! We are happy to answer any questions via the Messanger app, or through our website.

Sligo Creek Co-op Sligo Creek Co-op is a group of families who come together to support one another and share in homeschooling their children. We offer ...