Handbook

Policies

Christian Homeschool Fellowship (CHF) desires that all participants will demonstrate Godly character and behavior at all times. In addition, the policies and procedures below will govern our operations and help ensure a safe and enjoyable addition to our individual homeschool efforts.

Absences

If anyone in the household is running a fever of 100 degrees or higher or experiencing symptoms of illness like vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye, or any other contagious symptoms, the whole family must stay home until symptom free for 24 hours rather than attending CHF. In the event of absence for any reason, parents should notify CHF by message to the Day Director and include the reason for the absence.

Since we are a small co-op, we need everyone to pitch in. For this reason, all families may have no more than two voluntary absences each semester. Voluntary absences are defined as non-emergent absences. Emergency absences include, but are not limited to, immediate family illness, a death in the family, transportation issues, or other unforeseen emergencies. Anything outside of these parameters will be counted as a voluntary absence. Please submit any absences to the day coordinator as soon as possible. If you are aware that you will be absent more than the allotted 2 voluntary absences, we ask that you not register for co-op that semester. Families that violate the absence policy during a given semester will be subject to discretionary action as determined by the board. Three unexcused tardies in a semester will count as a voluntary absence. If you have a planned voluntary absence, another adult family member may fill in for the parent at co-op, provided that the adult is approved by the board, is background checked, attends the parent meeting with safety training prior to the
semester, and signs a statement of faith. If the approved family member serves in place of the parent, the voluntary absence will not count towards the family total.

Dress Code

Students are to wear neat, modest attire in good repair. No clothes bearing inappropriate graphics or messages, or revealing clothing may be worn to/in class. Clothing must completely cover the midriff, regular undergarments, and anything resembling undergarments. The board reserves the right to determine dress and style infractions at any time, and may ask a student to immediately correct clothing choices. Parent and student may be required to leave co-op in order to procure appropriate clothing. It is our desire that all students’ appearance will not detract from a Christian testimony.

Facility Usage

Students, teachers, and administration are guests of Houston Northeast Church and are to keep the building clean and in good repair at all times. Students who write on or otherwise damage furniture, walls, fixtures, or any other parts of the building will be held responsible for repairing or replacing damaged property at their own expense. CHF has a contract for the use of certain parts of the building on certain days and at certain times. The areas of the building that may be used by CHF students are the specified classrooms, the kitchen, connecting hallways for passage purposes, and the bathrooms. No other portion of the building may be used by our students without prior permission from the administrator. The elevator is for use by teachers only, unless permission has been given by the administrator due to a medical condition. An adult must never be alone with a student or students in a closed room or classroom, and must have a second adult
with them. Adults must also follow the procedures of the required safety training.

Items Brought to CHF

All electronic equipment in student possession including cell phones are to remain in the OFF position in the student’s bag (backpack) and used during class or lunch only with permission of the teachers or administrators. If a wrist device is worn, it must not be synced to a phone during class time or snack. No weapons, or anything easily used as a weapon, or in any way deemed dangerous, may be brought into the building or on the premises by students. Medicines the student needs to take while on the premises must stay with the parent rather than left in the possession of the student. Taking or using drugs of any sort without assistance of the parent, including prescriptions, over-the-counter, alcohol or nicotine, will be grounds for expulsion without a refund. Vaping is not permitted with or without nicotine and is subject to the same consequence. The only beverage permitted for children at CHF is water (with no additives). Adults may bring a beverage of their choice for their own consumption. Teachers will confiscate forbidden items brought to school or items inappropriately used at school by students—for instance, cell phones seen or heard during class or lunch. Parents may collect confiscated belongings from the teacher.

Snack and Classroom Behavior

Each teacher will explain expected classroom behavior and consequences for misbehavior within his/her classroom. However, disobedient behavior and disrespectful behavior toward another student, the teachers, the administrators, or the parents will not be tolerated. Bullying and other demeaning behaviors towards other students will require a written apology to the individual and/or group to which the offense occurs. Parents will be contacted and the CHF Executive Board will determine if further action is warranted based on the severity of the offense. Students should follow the teachers’ and administrator’s directions the first time given and be respectful at all times. Public displays of affection and/or romantic relationships are not appropriate at CHF.

Teachers should review expected snack-time behavior at the beginning of each year. Students are to remain in the snack area during snack period unless a monitor is available outdoors (weather permitting). The electronic device policy for snack time is the same as for class time, so that phones should not be visible or used during snack period without prior administrator approval. Students must bring their own snacks and water. No liquids other than water are allowed for
students. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify the Day Director and their child’s teachers of any food allergies upon registration.

Arrival and Dismissal

Although certain events outside the student’s control sometimes cause tardiness, out of respect for the time of the teacher and classmates, students need to consistently arrive on campus on time for the starting devotions. It is suggested that the arrival goal should be at least 10-15 minutes before devotion begins at 1:00pm. Preschool children may be dropped off as early as 12:50.

At the end of 2nd period, all teachers’ aides will escort their students (upper and lower elementary) to the same place starting devotions were conducted. Parents are expected to pick kids up at this location. Middle school students are expected to find their parents in a pre-arranged location, but must not linger inside the building.

Consequences

While some consequences have already been stated above, those not stated may follow a pattern similar to this: a warning, parent contact, parent conference with the teacher/Executive Board member/student, suspension, and finally expulsion without a refund. For more serious behavioral infractions, the consequences will be more serious. CHF reserves the right to determine the consequences based on the circumstances. I understand that by participating in CHF, I am signifying that I have read and reviewed the above policies with my student(s) and agree to support the teachers and administration in enforcing them with the students. I understand that these are representative of behavior situations that may arise but that additional policies may need to be adopted or may
not have been specifically expressed on these pages. I will support the teachers and administration in the enforcement of policies as needed.

Financial Information and Registration

An annual budget will be presented, by the treasurer to the Executive Board, that reflects the forecasted income and budgeted expenses of CHF participation fees and funds. Steps for registration and signup are as follows:

1. A family must apply via the application form and be approved by the Executive Board four weeks prior to class signup. Families will be notified at least two weeks prior to class signup time.

2. Upon membership approval, an annual family registration fee of $75 must be paid prior to signing up for any classes. All payments must be completed via the preferred electronic method(s) communicated each year. Checks and cash are not acceptable forms of payment and can only be considered under extreme circumstances. If payment is not completed at the time of class sign up, the member will be notified via email their current signup is being removed from the class roster and the member will need to complete the payment and signup again. Their signup will not be “held” on the class roster.

3. A class materials fee per child will be due at the time of class signup. There will be a standard fee for each child of $15 for the entire semester, and some classes may require additional cost. If additional cost is necessary, this will be communicated in the class description. A 24 hour grace period will be granted before a member’s name is removed from roll for nonpayment of dues.

4. A member may cancel a signup and request a refund on the individual child up to two weeks prior to the first class, but the family registration fee is non-refundable. It is the member’s responsibility to contact the treasurer to request a refund. Once class signups are closed, there is no guarantee a refund will be possible.

Executive Board Roles and Descriptions

All candidates of the Executive Board shall sign the Christian Homeschool Fellowship Statement of Faith Leadership Form, agreeing with Christian Homeschool Fellowship Bylaws Article IV: Doctrinal Statement. The Executive Board will meet at intervals laid out in the CHF bylaws. Responsibilities may vary from year to year as warranted by membership requirements or operations. Some responsibilities held by the entire Executive Board are as follows.
● Approval of new members via the application process
● Oversight of regular co-op functions and setting up of committees to distribute the workload associated with the co-op goals and needs
● Protection of the intent and goals of CHF

President:
The President or an Executive Board member designated by the President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and membership. The President, as servant leader, shall focus the majority of his or her attention on carrying out the General Goals of Christian Homeschool Fellowship, as detailed in Article III of these Bylaws, and will solicit leadership and other members to function likewise.

Vice-President:
The vice president, as a servant leader, shall be the membership liaison and oversee both standing and special committees. Upon the death, absence, removal or resignation of the President, or in the event of his/her inability to act, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions on the President until a new president shall have been duly elected. The Vice President shall audit the
CHF books and financial records on a monthly basis.

Secretary:
The Secretary, as servant leader, is the custodian of all official non-financial CHF records and is responsible for ensuring accurate documentation of all CHF meetings. He or she will act as registered agent with State and Federal authorities.

Treasurer:
The Treasurer, as servant leader, shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for all funds and securities of CHF, giving an account of faithful performance of all duties through budget reports to the Executive Board and general membership. The Treasurer will be responsible for yearly IRS tax submissions per federal requirement.

Communications Liaison:
The Communications Liaison, as servant leader, is responsible for facilitating effective communication electronically or otherwise among CHF members including communication between the general membership and the Executive Board. He or she is responsible for relaying submitted membership proposals and nominations to the Executive Board. He or she is responsible for communicating application acceptances to new members.

Contacting and Communicating With The Executive Board

Any member may contact the Executive Board by sending an email to the Communications Liaison. This person’s contact information may be found at the end of the CHF Handbook. Contacting the Executive Board may be for concerns, questions, recommendations, nominations, proposals, or any other applicable matter.
The Executive Board will communicate to members via email. The Executive Board will have a semiannual planning meeting. At least 4 weeks’ notice of the Executive Board’s semiannual planning meeting must be given to the membership. All membership recommendations for the following semester must be submitted by email to the Communications Liaison at least two weeks prior to the meeting to ensure it is discussed at the meeting.

Membership Roles and Descriptions

Below is the list of roles that shall be filled by the membership. All members will be background checked and take an approved child safety training course every at least every three years. All members are required to fill an assigned role for each class period of co-op. Additionally, each member must choose an extra responsibility beyond Teacher’s Aide for at least one semester per school year, including Lead Teacher or Co-Teacher, Day Coordinator, Snack Monitor, or Clean Up Committee.

Teacher: The teacher is the primary instructor for the class they’re teaching. The teacher must have already been legally homeschooling for at least one semester, except by 2⁄3 vote of the Executive Board. They are responsible for the class syllabus and materials. The syllabus must be submitted to the Executive Board, or appropriate committee. It is the teacher’s responsibility to find a substitute for any planned absences. In the case of an unplanned absence, the teacher
should contact the Day Coordinator asap.

Teacher’s Aide: The teacher’s aide will help in whatever tasks the teacher needs. It may be setting up materials, organizing the students, or any other classroom task. The teacher’s aide should be focused on the class activities and the needs of the students and Teacher throughout the class period. The teacher’s aide may be needed to teach in case of a teacher absence.

Hall Monitor: The hall monitor will keep an eye on their assigned hallway. They make sure students get to where they need to be, run small errands for teachers so they don’t have to leave their classrooms, administer minor first aid, and potentially step into a classroom if a teacher or aid needs to leave.

Day Coordinator: The day coordinator’s main job is to ensure the co-op runs smoothly while in session. They will ensure all teachers and aids are present, and fill last-minute gaps with substitutes. They receive messages of teachers/students who are absent last-minute (if sick – for example), and inform the appropriate people. They will work with the hall monitors to ensure children are safe and where they need to be, and any other miscellaneous tasks that may arise.

Clean-Up Coordinator: The clean-up coordinator’s role is to ensure that clean-up volunteers return all rooms and areas used to the conditions required by the contract with the host church.

Membership Requirements

Statement of Faith: All members must affirm each doctrine of the CHF Statement of Faith as their own. Church Membership: CHF desires that its members prioritize their relationship with Christ for the good and flourishing of the Church, the family unit, and the community in which they exist. Because we believe that
active membership in a local body of believers is essential to the Christian life, we require our members to be actively involved members in a local church. We understand that there are times of searching and going through the church membership process. If you are currently seeking a church for membership but are not an active member, you will be given a grace period of 1 school year. At the time of reapplication, if you have not yet completed the church membership process, we will not be able to offer you membership to CHF at that time.
Each member must sign and abide by the Discipline Protocol and the Conflict Resolution Procedures.