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What is the purpose of your co-op?

The best way to answer this question is to provide you with our co-op’s mission statement and Bible verse.

MISSION STATEMENT: Christian Military Homeschoolers (CMH) seeks to encourage a close knit, active group by offering weekly co-op classes, regular field tips, and various opportunities for fellowship. CMH strives to make all of the activities, as well as the weekly classes, as affordable as possible. CMH wishes to encourage fellow military homeschoolers by offering a place to gather with others who uniquely understand the challenges of trying to homeschool while being part of a military family. Lastly and most importantly, CMH hopes to glorify God in all of our activities and in all of our gatherings.

VERSE: Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

What type of co-op is CMH?

CMH co-op is a group of homeschooling families that cooperate together, meeting weekly for educational enrichment classes and attending many activities in the Hampton Roads area. Our classes are thought up, organized, and planned by CMH parents each semester and are based on the interests of the children and parents. These classes are used by families to enrich and enhance the main educational subjects they are doing at home with their children. For example, in the fall of 2013 (as with almost every semester) we had a large group of children who loved Legos. Two parents came together to create a class called Lego Engineering. In this class, children were tasked with all sorts of opportunities to use their mad love of Legos to solve specific problems. One of the many tasks was to build complex mazes that would allow a ball of a certain size to travel through it. The children in this class rose to the challenge by using higher order thinking and planning skills which will enhance any subject studied at home. And speaking of that enhancement, that same semester, one of our parents offered a class in homesteading. Wowza the enhancement of educational subjects that class provided! I’ll give you a hint: think of everything from Environmental Science (i.e., worm farms) to Disaster Preparedness (i.e., Crisco candles). The opportunities for study are as individual and as unique and creative as the co-op families themselves, because it is they who decide what classes we will have each semester!

Are classes offered for all ages?

Yes! We offer classes for children from preschool through high school. We also have a nursery available for parents who are teaching classes. At least one child in the family must be in kindergarten or older in order to enroll siblings in nursery and preschool classes.

Do I have to use a certain curriculum or method of homeschooling if I join CMH?

Absolutely not. All of the classes we teach follow the guidelines in our statement of faith. Otherwise it is left to the parents to decide what type of class they want to create at CMH or what method they would like to use to teach it. Again, our classes are meant to enhance and enrich the main educational subjects you are already teaching your child at home, not to replace them. As a general rule, classes at our co-op are presented in a hands-on, multisensory way to the students. Frequently there are end of semester performances and presentations by the students of what they have learned in their classes. And a big bonus is there are usually a ton of really cool snacks throughout the semester to go with the lessons. We’ve had teachers bring everything from Virginia shaped cookies in states class to escargot in French class to help make the classes unforgettable to the children!

I have never been in a co-op before, what is expected of me?

Every CMH family is required to teach or assist during all three classes each week. Each family is expected to pitch in to help with setting up and cleaning up during the co-op as needed. Usually there will be set days during the semester when your family along with a few others will be the ones tasked with the overall set up or clean up tasks, but we always encourage people to do anything that they see that needs to be done. Each family is expected to pay any monies due in a timely manner and to pay for any field trips or events by the due date. There are also many opportunities to get involved with planning field trips or service projects and to add your own special talents to the group.

What are the advantages of joining CMH co-op?

Co-ops provide, and CMH is no exception, the opportunity for group learning and for interaction with peers, the chance to make lifelong friends, the ability to share in the skills and talents of other homeschooling parents, and the place to swap encouragement and resources. CMH is unique though because we understand military life. Our semesters are set up with PCS season in mind. We understand separations, deployments, and frequent moves. We also do our very best to make classes extremely affordable, usually no more that $5-15 per class for the entire semester. Some of our classes are even free!

Do my children have to take all of the classes or can they pick and choose?

We find that signing up for the whole day helps children get to know the other children better as well as letting the parent get to know the other parents. One of the best things about co-ops is the connection and interaction with other families. To support this, we keep our classes priced affordably.

What if my child works above or below grade level? How do I pick which classes are right for my child?

All of the classes we provide are in age ranges. Preschool is geared towards 3 & 4 year olds. We then offer K4/K5 for kindergartners and 4 year olds who are ready for more structured learning. Our other class breakdowns are 1st through 3rd, 4th through 6th, and 7th through 12th. You know your child best so please use your best judgement when placing them in classes. If you have a 3rd grader who needs more of a challenge or whose interest lies in a 4th through 6th grade class then you are able to register them for that class. You may also class your child down if their needs or interest lie in that age range. There is no obligation to register your kid across the board in the same grade range, you may choose two 1st through 3rd grade classes for your child and one 4th through 6th if you feel that is what best suits them. Feel free to contact the teacher or a member of the board to discuss any concerns you may have prior to registering for a class. We will be happy to work with you to find a good fit for your child!

Can I drop off my child and pick them up later? Can I leave, if I am not teaching during that time period but my children are in class?

We cannot allow parents to drop off their children or to leave during co-op hours, if their child is still in class. Our co-op is parent run and you as a parent are responsible for your child at all times. The only exception to this rule is if you have made arrangements for another CMH parent to watch your children for some reason or if you have designated another responsible adult to be onsite for you. The board must be notified of this arrangement and if the person designated is a non-CMH parent, a background check will be required in advance.

When are your semesters? When do you meet?

Our fall semester runs from September to the middle of December and our spring semester runs from early February to the first part of May. We have semester breaks for Thanksgiving week and Easter week. We meet on Mondays from 10am-1:45pm in Virginia Beach, VA. Registration opens for returning members roughly four to six weeks before the start of each semester and opens for new members at the open house about three weeks before the semester.

How do I sign up?

This question is music to our ears! We LOVE adding new families to our roster! Please contact us at christianmilitaryhomeschoolers@gmail.com or view our "Register" Tab at the top during semester enrollment periods.