When do you meet?

We meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, September to May.  Your children do not have to attend classes for a full day; you may pick and choose which classes best fit your schedule and children’s needs.  See our Class Dates webpage for more information.

Where do you meet?

We meet at Northlake Christian Church Mondays and at Northshore Baptist Church on Wednesdays.  See our Directions webpage (subsection of About Us) for more information.

Can my family visit to see what Connections is like before registering?

Yes.  Your family may visit one time under the following conditions:
The parents and students stay together.  The facilitator has been contacted in advance.  The facilitator has secured the teacher's approval.  You agree to abide by our organizational rules while on campus.

Who can participate in Homeschool Connections?

Any family, who is homeschooling one or more children, is invited to participate in Homeschool Connections.  You may only register children for whom you are the legal guardian, and you may not bring anyone else's children to Homeschool Connections with you.  This includes day care children, children you might be babysitting, or even homeschoolers who are not in your immediate family.  You may only bring YOUR family to Homeschool Connections.

Is there a minimum age for my kids?

Yes.  On Mondays, your oldest student must be at least age 7 on September 1 of the school year.  Younger students from your family may enroll in a class only if they have an older sibling enrolled in a class.  On Wednesdays, your oldest student must be at least age 11 on September 1 of the school year.  Students under age 11 from your family may only enroll in a class during the same hour their older sibling is enrolled in a class.

How do I add a class during the summer?

Contact the facilitator for the class in which you are interested.  If there is space available, you will be placed in the class.  If not, you may be placed on the waiting list.  Once you have secured a spot in the class, you need to turn in your registration contract and fees.  Please note that until your registration contract is received, you are not officially in the class.  Contracts are due within a week of securing a spot in the class.  Failure to turn in your contract could result in your spot being given away to the next person on the list.  See our Registration webpage for more information.

What are facilitators?

Facilitators perform administrative duties for a class.  They add/drop students to/from classes, collect class tuition/fees, and assist the teacher as necessary.

What is the difference between registration fees, tuition, and copy/material fees?

Registration fees are paid annually to Homeschool Connections to cover the costs of administration, insurance, and facility expenses.  Tuition checks are written to individual teachers (with a few exceptions) every 4 weeks for their expertise, preparation, and instruction.  Copy/material fees are paid to teachers for teaching supplies distributed to the students during the course of the class.

May I drop my child off and run errands while class is in session?

Absolutely not!   Parents must remain on site with their children.  If you are caught dropping off your children, you will jeopardize your participation in Homeschool Connections.

What is the teen policy?

A teen is any student age 13 or older.  If you have only teens on campus, you may partner with one other parent to trade off being responsible for your teens.  If you choose this option, you must fill out a "Sharing Responsibility for Teens Form" and have it on file in your mailbox folder.

Can my younger children observe my older children’s class?

No!  Only children who are enrolled in the class are permitted to be in the classroom.  We provide rooms for students and siblings who are not in classes but are on-site.  They should be registered for a study hall or the Monday playroom.  A Monday nursery is available for moms to nurse/feed/nap their infants.

Can I bring a friend to visit?

No.  Connections’ classes are for registered students only.

Do I have to do a job?

Yes, every family in Homeschool Connections has an organizational job they perform while on-site.  Usually these jobs are setting up and restoring classrooms.

Why do I have to do a job?

To keep our costs down at each church facility we agree to set up each room for class needs at the beginning of the day and put everything back to its original location at the end of the day.  We agree to clean up the entire facility so it is in the same condition (and hopefully better) than when we arrived.  Since no one is paid to run Homeschool Connections and many hands make light work, we detail out job lists and assign them to families in an effort to share the responsibilities equitably.  We also work to make sure your job fits your schedule.  You may be asked to arrive early or stay late in order to complete your family job responsibility.

How do I drop a class?

To drop a class, notify the class facilitator.  Remember when dropping a class after classes have begun, tuition is owed for the next pay period from the date notice of withdrawal is given.

How do I drop all classes?

To drop all classes, notify each class facilitator.  In addition, notify Vicki Boon to let her know your family will no longer be attending Homeschool Connections.

What happens if it snows?

If there is snow in the greater Puget Sound area, check the Homeschool Connections’ website for information on whether classes are on time, running late, or canceled for the day.

Is there an advantage to joining Homeschool Connections between January and March 1 in order to participate in re-enrollment?

Many families are under the misconception that there is a huge advantage in joining Homeschool Connections during the last part of the school year in order to participate in re-enrollment.  While it is true they will be able to participate in re-enrollment, families that join at such a late date are given the lowest level of priority for classes.  This low level of priority only matters on classes that have a waiting list.  If the new family is registering for a high demand class, they will be at the bottom of the waiting list.  It is worth noting this is the same position they would have if they had waited to register during the open registration period.

What is the difference between Homeschool Connections and H.O.M.E.?

Homeschool Connections offers classes to homeschoolers.  H.O.M.E. is a support group that offers monthly children's activity days, informative meetings, and a newsletter.  Other H.O.M.E. sponsored events include a graduation ceremony, annual testing, and a formal dance for homeschooled Senior High students.  See their separate website www.home-wa.org for more information.

If I paid for a H.O.M.E. membership, do I need to pay for Homeschool Connections too?

Yes.  H.O.M.E. is a separate organization from Homeschool Connections.

General Homeschooling Questions

What are the "required subjects" homeschoolers must teach according to state law?

The answer is in RCW 28A.225.010(4): instruction in the basic skills of occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, and the development of an appreciation of art and music.

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling?

Yes, for children age 8 and older.  State law requires you to file a "declaration of intent" with your local school district by September 15, or within two weeks of the beginning of the quarter, semester, or trimester (RCW 28A.200.010(1)).  You can obtain a blank declaration of intent from your school district.

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 8:24:25 PM