Handbook

 

Who We Are

Sheridan (Homeschool) Enrichment Program (referred to as SHEP) is a community outreach and support tool for homeschooling families in Sheridan, WY & surrounding areas. We strive to provide support, field questions, connect resources and provide counsel for homeschool families, anywhere on their journey, early education thru graduation. Hence, SHEP is more than just a group that meets for classes. It is a tool for families—encouraging parents in their God-given roles in training and educating their children, and children in being life-long learners.

Vision

Our vision is to enrich the lives of homeschool families by offering and pooling resources and building a growing community, so that the Lord is glorified in our families and in the community.

Rules and Regulations

  1.  Parents must read the Handbook and sign Commitment and Waiver Forms.

  2. Families should arrive promptly so that classes can start on time, (if not participating in lunch).

  3. Families are expected to make every effort to attend the program every week and, in the event that they can’t, to give notice.

  4. Parents must to go over the Code of Conduct section below with their children and all students are expected to adhere to it.

  5. Parents and Teachers should handle conflict within program as described in Handling Conflict.

  6. We are guests of Cornerstone Community Church. All participants are expected to treat the property of Cornerstone with care and respect. All families will adhere to the Cornerstone Community Church Usage Policy.

  7. Though we wish we could help with special requests for monitoring individual students in group settings at the program, even for educational purposes, we cannot have someone outside of the program to monitor one child out of respect and privacy of the other children and families in the class.

Code of Conduct for Students

  1.  Abide by Christian standards in your actions and in your speech, showing kindness, responsibility, and honesty.

  2. Show respect toward adults, fellow students, and property.

  3. Refrain from disruptive and distracting behavior during class. This includes the use of cell phones, electronic devices, toys or other personal items that are not needed for class. Personal items may be taken by the teacher or parent helper if not put away when asked and will be returned to a parent at the end of the day.

  4. Cooperate with teachers and helpers during class and clean-up.

  5. Stay only in designated rooms.

Classroom Rules

The classroom rules that we will memorize and refer to will be simplified to this list, for ease of reference, but expectations will encompass the student code of conduct.

  1. Eyes on the target

  2. Follow directions quickly

  3. Be a part of the team

Email Policy 

  1. Parents are encouraged to send their announcements to Keri Thorkildsen by Sunday, 6:00 pm, for inclusion in the official weekly email. An announcement can be included in the official weekly SHEP email if

  2. it pertains directly to SHEP, or

  3. it pertains to homeschool matters that are consistent with SHEP policies and vision, or

  4. it pertains to needs of SHEP members.

  5. Announcements that don’t satisfy any of the three conditions above should be sent as a personal message. However, please respect our group’s privacy by not including our email group in your bulk email.

Enrollment

As much as we would like to accommodate all interested families, we will close enrollment when the classes have reached a maximum size.  Priority for enrollment is as follows: (1) returning program families (2) all other families, on a first-come-first-served basis. After enrollment closes, a family may ask to be put on a waiting list.

Handling Conflict

Conflict is inevitable and should be expected. These guidelines for resolving conflict are based on Biblical principles. All member families must agree to them.

  • We should teach our children both compassion and forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22). We need to view our program community as a place where our children can learn to resolve minor conflicts largely by themselves, and where they can learn to practice both compassion and forgiveness.

  • In cases where a conflict pertains to program as a whole (i.e., if the root of the conflict is a pattern of behavior that is characteristic of the program as a whole), the issue should be brought up to the director and should be resolved by the team.

  • In cases that are isolated, that do not characterize program as a whole, and that cannot be resolved by the children themselves, the conflict should be resolved primarily by the parents of the children involved (Matthew 18:15). Conflict should be resolved in a non-confrontational way and in private. Furthermore, the analysis of the issue should be based on first-hand information rather than on third-party accounts.

  • If (3) does not work, then the leaders need to be informed and need to step in (Matthew 18:16-17).

  • The issue should be dealt with quickly. Let’s not let the sun go down on our anger (Ephesians 4:26).

  • The goal of resolving conflict should be reconciliation rather than vindication or punishment.

  • Parents and teachers should regularly remind children of the Code of Conduct that they signed.

Clean-Up Procedures

  • Vacuum classromms. (The vacuum & all cleaning supplies are in the custodial closet by the restrooms in the big fellowship hall.)

  • If food is served, bag up garbage and put in large trash bins in the kitchen.

  • Wipe tables with disinfecting wipes. (A container is in each classroom.)

  • Return tables and chairs to original location or set-up.

Health Policy

If the student has a fever of 100 degrees or higher or has been throwing up in the last 24 hours, they cannot come to class. If they arrive for class and are sick, they will be sent home. If anyone in the student’s house is sick or potentially contagious, the student cannot come to class. We want to maintain a healthy student body & staff through out the year, so adhering to this policy is of the utmost importance. As with all normal illness guidelines: Stay at home if you have a fever, cough, runny nose, throwing up or other stomach issues, or you have a sibling with these symptoms.