Honor Christ

• Agape is a Christ-centered organization.
• We aim to honor Jesus Christ at any Agape event in the form of actions and prayers both collectively and individually.

Golden Rule/Conflict Resolution

• Treat others as you would like to be treated.
• Show respect to each other.
• If you have an issue with someone, take the issue to him or her.
• If they do not listen, take someone as a witness to help.
• If someone comes to you speaking badly about someone, ask him or her if they have gone to that person. If not, speak not.
• If you are unable to resolve the problem, please go to your co-op leadership team. Agape values and expects honesty and integrity. (Matt. 18:15-20)

Waiting List

• There is no limit to Agape’s general membership. However, there are limits to how many members each co-op location can have and limits to individual classrooms.
• Once that limit is reached the class is closed and you will be put on a waiting list based on first come first served.

Parent Participation and Cooperative Support

• Membership in Agape requires the participation of at least one legal guardian.
• Communication for Agape takes place on BAND, as such it is required that one parent have access to BAND and check it regularly.
• If participating in campus days, one parent from each family is required to teach a class, help in a class, help clean the church after Agape functions or serve in another capacity.
• Each campus may have different levels of activity requirements.
• If participating in campus days, and a teacher is absent, you may be asked to fill in for the teacher or become a helper in the class.
• All parents attending and participating in co-op campus days are required to fill out the form for and clear a background check, including spouses.

Class Policies

• Attendance must be taken in each class, every day Agape meets, and on field trips.
• Teachers are required to submit a substitute lesson plan to the campus leadership team prior to the start of the semester should the teacher be unable to attend class for any reason.
• Two adults will be placed in every classroom/group of children.

Parental Absences

• Children may not be left at an Agape campus, or any event, unattended.
• If you must leave for a short time, you must work accordingly with another parent willing to be responsible for your child/children and fill out a form to be given to the campus leadership. Please see the leadership of your campus to get that form.
• The person you leave in charge of your child/children must be at least 18 years of age.
• Leadership reserves the right to remove a family form Campus Days if absences become excessive. The term “excessive” is to be determined by leadership on a case by case basis.

Reimbursements

• Teacher reimbursements for class materials will only occur after receipts supporting the purchase and a completed Reimbursement Form are turned in to the Campus Treasurer.
• Any donated classroom supplies must also be reported to the Treasurer for Agape records.
• Reimbursements will be done once a month unless special arrangements have been made.

Nursery/Tots

• Any adult assigned to the nursery or tots are required to change diapers and/or escort children to the bathroom as necessary.
• Children assigned to the nursery or tots that are still in diapers or potty training are required to have a diaper bag labeled with the child and/or family name.

Visitor Policy

• Visitors should notify a member of campus leadership prior to the visit and are allowed to visit for one class day.
• Visiting students may follow a friend or other students to classes and parents are encouraged to view classes to get a better understanding and “feel” for our group.
• Upon arriving visitors need to check in with campus leadership.
• It is expected that all visitors adhere to Agape’s expectations and general policies for all members.
• If a visitor comes for more than one day there needs to be a background check for that person.

Prayer

• We will pray at campus day more assembly and before all Agape activities and meals.
• Teachers are also encouraged to pray before class.

Language

• No foul or course language will be tolerated.
• No crude jokes will be tolerated.
• Taking the Lord’s name in vain will not be tolerated.
• We value and expect honesty and integrity in conversation and deed.

Respect of Facility Use

• As members of this group individuals are expected to show respect to the buildings and spaces used by Agape.
• Agape is blessed to be able to use various facilities and want to show gratitude by making them look better than when we arrived!

Teen Group

• Teen groups will consist of any student ages 13-18 years of age.
• Adequate supervision is required at all Agape sponsored teen events, with a minimum of two adults.

Media (Movies/Videos/Music/Books/Photos) Should:

• Not contain any reference to drugs/alcohol.
• Not contain any subtle or overt reference to carnality or sexual promiscuity.
• Not contain any profanity or swear words.
• Not condone any unfaithfulness or other ungodly, disobedient lifestyle.
• Be in accord with our Statement of Faith.
• In a spirit of deference, consideration must always be given when determining proper types of music and volume.

Dress Code

• As a Christian group we want to honor God in all that we do. This includes our actions as well as our clothing attire.
• We have many young and impressionable men and women in our group and need to do our best to dress in an appropriate manner.
• Our goal is to teach our children to have respect for themselves and show consideration for others.
• The entire torso of every individual needs to be covered including midriff and cleavage of females.
• We do not want to see bra straps.
• Skirts and shorts must be a reasonable length.
• We should not be able to see high thigh/buttock area.
• If leadership notices a student is not properly clothed, a campus leadership team member will be in contact with the parent of that student and he/she will be asked to change their clothing.

Improper Materials

• No illegal weapons or illegal substances will be allowed at any Agape event.
• Discretion should be used when allowing potentially harmful objects to a campus day (ie: knives for a whittling class) and should be approved by leadership and parents.

Promptness

• Please be prompt to all Agape activities.
• Please arrive 15 minutes early as we will begin or leave on schedule.
• The impression we make on others is a part of our testimony.

Illness

• If you or one of your children have an illness or have had a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea in the 24 hours before an event or co-op classes please stay home.
• Each campus may implement their own illness policy based on the needs of their campus.
• If you are staying home from Campus Day as a teacher, please let leadership know as soon as possible in order to make arrangements for replacements.
• In the rare event that we have 50% of the adult campus day participants call in sick prior to a campus day we will cancel campus day by posting on our social media page, sending out an e-mail, or sending a text alert.

Lice

• If lice is discovered at a campus day, the child will be removed from class immediately, and parents will be notified via e-mail for documentation purposes.
• A child must be free from lice for at least 48 hours prior to returning to campus days.
• An assigned individual will need to do a check of the child once they return.

Cancellations

• If the area schools of a campus day location are closed due to inclement weather we will NOT meet.
• If the area schools of a campus day location are delayed because of inclement weather we will still meet on time.
• There may be other times in which the campus leadership may determine to cancel school.
• If we have an outdoor event planned and you are concerned about the weather, please do what you feel is best for your family.
• If the church you are meeting in has a funeral on a campus day the campus day may be canceled.
• Attempts will be made to let each member know if a campus day needs to be canceled by posting to social media, sending an email, and/or a text alert.

Privacy

• The information in our directory is for use by its member families only, with the possible exception of business information.
• We ask that you respect some members’ desire to keep their personal information private.
• Please do not share any information from the directory with any outside individuals or organizations without permission.

Field Trip/Event Etiquette

As homeschoolers we are looked at with critical eyes. People want to know what we are about and if we are different from the rest of the world.  Homeschoolers are generally associated with devout Christianity.  We aren’t just representing homeschoolers; we are representing Christ.  We make a big impression when we show up late or not at all and when our children are disrespectful during a class or tour.  Let’s make sure we don’t make a bad impression.  We want to shine for Him!

Please read and follow these guidelines:

Fee Payment:

• If there is a cost involved with a field trip or special event, the fee must be paid at the time of your registration, unless otherwise specified by the field trip coordinator.
• Please do not consider yourself registered for a field trip unless you have paid the fees.
• Those first to pay will be the first registered.
• Refunds because of your cancellation are dependent upon your giving proper notice of not being able to attend, the refund policy of the field trip destination, and/or if there is someone on the waiting list who is willing to step into your place.

Promptness:

• Please arrive 15 minutes before a field trip is to begin. This provides us the opportunity to give last minute instructions and to get organized before entering the facility quietly.

Courtesy:

• Please be attentive, courteous, polite, and prepared with good questions for our tour guide.
• Remember to thank the tour guide at the end of the field trip. We encourage all families to follow-up with a thank you letter.  What an added blessing to our host!

Attendance:

• It is a privilege to partake in a field trip.
• We understand that children will misbehave or just have a bad day occasionally; however, this should be corrected and inappropriate behavior addressed.
• Dangerous, belligerent, or blatantly disrespectful behavior may result in immediate expulsion from field trips for a set amount of time deemed appropriate by campus leadership.
• Your field trip coordinators will do their best to provide fun and educational field trips and provide information in a timely manner.
• If there are any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact the coordinators or campus leadership.