About HOP

WELCOME!

HOP Mission Statement

HOP is a homeschool co-op and support group whose purpose is to provide support and opportunities to enrich the homeschooling experience. We welcome all homeschooling families, regardless of homeschooling method or educational philosophy.  We aim to foster a community that supports tolerance and understanding for people with differing beliefs and experiences.

About HOP

HOP Co-op is an interest-led and student-driven co-op for all homeschool students and families.  Most of our members live in Pinellas County, but homeschoolers from all counties are welcome to join our co-op. HOP is not only a day of enrichment, but also a day where we all look forward to spending time with each other, making new friends, and supporting each other in our homeschooling journey. Please read the following pages carefully before registering: Policies and Procedures at Co-op, How to Register For Classes and Attend Co-op.
Our teachers are comprised of parents, HOP students, and outside educators that we source from the community at large. Our classes are aimed at a variety of ages, generally from age 2 to adult. (Yes, some of our parents are interested in taking classes too!)
There are two semesters per year at HOP (Fall and Spring).  Each semester has 12 weeks worth of classes, and we meet once a week, on WEDNESDAYS. Classes are 55 minutes long.

Our Families

HOP is comprised of a very diverse set of homeschooling families who use a wide variety of educational methods and philosophies to educate their children. We welcome all homeschooling families, regardless of homeschooling method. We welcome all families, regardless of age, political affiliation, religion, race, skin color, national origin, physical ability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
HOP is a secular co-op, which simply means that our co-op is not connected to any religion or faith-based system.  (We do not offer classes that included religious instruction, shared prayer, or faith-based content.)  We welcome people of all faith backgrounds and aim to foster a community that supports tolerance and understanding for people with differing beliefs. We value and appreciate diversity. Please see our Policy on Bullying and Harassment for more information.

Our Classes

Classes at our co-op are meant to serve the purpose of enriching the educational lives of students and family.  Our classes should not be considered to be a complete homeschool curriculum.  Our co-op provides many things, including a community of families and fellow learners along with fun and informative classes that may expose children to new subjects and ideas.
When choosing classes, parents should be aware that classes may vary in style.  While all teachers must adhere to our written classroom policies, teachers will vary in teaching style, teaching processes, and goals.  Some classes are more goal-oriented, with clear learning goals.  Other classes are more flexible, creative and/or open-ended.
We expect parents to carefully read class descriptions and discuss the substance of classes with the teachers at the Meet and Greet, before registering children for classes.  Parents should consider whether a class is working for their child during the first week of classes and be aware of the need to adhere to the procedures and schedule for dropping classes. If a parent has any concerns about a class after their child has attended the first week of classes, please dialogue with the Planning Team and the teacher of the class immediately.

Calendar

There are two semesters per year at HOP – the Fall Semester and the Spring Semester.  Each semester has 12 weeks worth of classes, and we meet once a week, on WEDNESDAYS.

Location

HOP is very excited to have partnered with the North Dunedin Baptist Church where our classes will be held. The Church is located at 1595 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698. Visit their website at http://www.myndbc.com/

Daily Schedule

HOP Co-op meets on WEDNESDAYS.
Each day at HOP we have 5 class periods, plus lunch.  (Students do not have to attend classes every period.  Families are free to pick and choose the classes that interest them, and are encouraged to leave some time for socializing and free play, in the gym or on the playground).

Class Periods

Lunch

HOP orders pizza each week for sale at $1/slice. Options are cheese and pepperoni.  We also offer for our members to sign-up to make soup each week for sale at $4/bowl.  There will be one vegan, gluten free and one anything soup.  Members can also bring their own lunches.
Please bring your soup in a slow cooker with a printout of ingredients we can tack near your soup.  HOP provides everything else: bowls, spoons, ladle and money collection container!
To sign-up to bring soup https://hopfamilies.com/volunteers/

Volunteer Requirements

HOP is a true cooperative. For HOP to run smoothly, it is imperative that all families are involved in running HOP so that the responsibility is shared. Each and every family who registers for co-op is expected to lend a hand by signing up for a volunteer role in order for HOP to run smoothly and to create a thriving cooperative community.  We need you – without the time and energy of actively participating parents, HOP would not be successful.  The benefit of participating is that our children get to see how the helpfulness of all contributions to a community that we can all be proud of! Volunteer jobs take about 4 hours of total time for each family per semester. (Families who already serve in one of the following roles are exempt from further volunteer requirements: teachers, cooperative class coordinators, volunteer coordinators, and the Planning Team.) All families are required to fulfill a volunteer job each semester or will forfeit their priority registration for upcoming semesters. Donations may be made in lieu of volunteering in extenuating circumstances.
https://hopfamilies.com/volunteers/

HOP Scholarship

HOP is now offering a limited amount of scholarship funds to those, who would otherwise, not be able to attend HOP.  For each eligible child, HOP will waive the family registration fee and pay for one class.  
To be eligible, children must be registered as a homeschooler with the county or be a member of an umbrella school at time of registration. Scholarships are on a first come basis.  We ask that only those that are in true need apply.  Your information will be kept private.
How is the scholarship program funded?  50% of all of our snack, drink and pizza sales will be put into a separate fund.  In addition, those that make soup may choose to donate the proceeds (minus cost if they want) to the scholarship fund. We will also accept donations.  If you have a specific class you would like to donate to (i.e. arts, science, etc.), we can earmark that for you as well.
If you would like to be considered for a scholarship, please email us at homeschoolersofpinellas@gmail.com.  Please provide a brief summary of why you would like to be considered, age and birthdate of your child and where they are registered for homeschooling.  List the classes they would like to take.

Don’t forget to join the Facebook Group

Once you register your family for classes, you will be invited to join our registered-only Facebook Group for the current semester. After you register for classes you can add yourself here – https://www.facebook.com/groups/873293732720718/.  It is a secret group used for families that have registered for classes during the current semester.  This group allows us to communicate important information to registered families, such as teacher absences, class cancellations, last minute teacher requests, or issues with the weather.  When you register, you will be emailed to join if you would like. While it is optional, we highly recommend joining and checking the group before HOP day each week. If you choose not to join the current semester’s Facebook Group, you will miss important and timely announcements.

HOP Planning Team

• Jaclyn Young
• Kayla Raddatz

Click here to meet the Planning Team.