Homeschool House Learning Lab
2024-2025 Student and Parent Handbook
Our Mission: Homeschool House LAB partners with parents to provide a hands-on engaging learning environment where history, science, math, English language arts, and critical thinking are all integrated.
Core Beliefs: Homeschool House bases classes on the belief that children learn best through hands-on activities, play, and experiments both independently and in small groups. Parents are the true guide to their child’s education and should be involved in every aspect of their child’s education. It is more important for children to hear what their own parents believe about world views than to hear what we believe. Our classes are neutral and do not endorse, add in, or exclude any particular religions (or lack of religion.)
Parent and Child Agreement: Parents are the facilitators of their child’s education and are responsible for issuing grades if they feel grades are necessary. While at LAB, parents and children are expected to treat everyone with respect and courtesy.
Technology at LAB: Technology is an important part of our society, however our classes utilize hands-on materials over technology whenever possible. Technology may be used for independent research to assist students in completing their projects.
Lunch and Snacks: Each student is asked to bring one large shelf stable snack at the beginning of each quarter to share. Each student needs to bring their lunch everyday. We will have some fridge space available for food storage as well as a microwave. A water cooler is available to refill water bottles. Water bottles are provided.
Daily Routine
8:15 to 8:30: Student drop off: Wash hands, fill water bottle, prepare for class & social time.
8:30 to 9:00: Morning Meetings. Engage students in Socratic conversation on a variety of topics; use a planner to keep track of daily lessons. Morning tea & snack time. As a collective, students are presented with the day’s big topic and discuss what they’ll learn that day.
9:00 to 10:00: Small group learning on Monday & Wednesday and big topic group learning on Tuesday & Thursday.
10:00 to 10:30: Group game focused physical education
10:30 to 11:30: Small group learning on Monday & Wednesday and differentiated group projects or lessons on Tuesday & Thursday.
11:30 to 12:00: Lunch and Reading time. Students will get to socialize in groups while enjoying their lunch, early finishers get to read in the library. Everyone gets silent reading time until 12 or 12:05. On Tuesday & Thursday we have after lunch story time for our younger students and any student who would enjoy listening to a story.
12:00 to 12:50: Outdoor playtime (as weather permits). This is prime social time where students can play independently or collaborate on imaginative play.
12:50 to 1: Afternoon check in to discuss the day’s happenings. Students have a short rest time before dividing into their afternoon elective.
1 to 2: Elective. Students not attending the full day Learning Lab program will be welcome to join during elective time of 1 to 3:30.
2:00 to 2:30: Game Time Unplugged. Students are engaged in education based friendship building play activities like outdoor, movement, or card games as directed by a teacher.
2:30 to 3:30: Elective.
3:30 to 3:45: Pick Up Time
This schedule is subject to change if that change benefits the children’s learning and development.
Required Supplies List: Tuition includes all group supplies with the exception of once per quarter large shelf stable shareable snacks. If individual supplies are needed that parent is responsible for providing them for their student. Example: Each child chooses a reading book from a list of options, the parent is responsible for checking it out from the library or purchasing it.
Dress Code: The wilderness outside will require students to either bring or wear closed toe shoes. Otherwise children should dress comfortably in clothes suitable for outside weather. Please bring a change of clothes labeled with your student’s name at the beginning of the semester in case we get extra messy!
Illness Policy: Keep children home if they have:
Fever over 100.5 F, vomited in the last 24 hours, rash, lice, or nits, diarrhea, eye infection, sore throat, OR they’re not feeling very good (unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, confused or cranky).
Children must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.
Behavior Policy: Every student is expected to extend courtesy and respect to everyone in class and the facility. Everyone is expected to behave in a manner to keep themselves and others safe, ie no running indoors or throwing sharp items. Students should not bring anything to class that could be dangerous to others.
Students are expected to participate in class. If a student’s behavior or lack of participation is distracting or disruptive to other students, they may be removed temporarily from the class. If the behavior continues, the parent and teacher will meet to create a behavior plan to help their student have a positive experience in class with their peers. Behavior plans often include the parent shadowing their student for a day. If the parent doesn’t want to create a behavior plan or if the behavior continues, the child’s space may be forfeited.
Inclement Weather: In the event that Homeschool House LAB is closed due to inclement weather, you will be notified via email, Band, and we will post on Homeschool House’s Facebook page. We will try to make up bad weather days whenever possible.
Family Investment:
Registration: A non-refundable and non-transferable registration and supply fee based on the number of days the student is attending is due at the time of registration to reserve your child’s space in the Homeschool House LAB.
Tuition: Tuition is due on the first of each month August through May. We will send an invoice through Square prior to the first of the month.
Supplies: One shelf stable snack per quarter per student.
Late Payment Policy: Homeschool House relies on tuition payments to provide an excellent educational program. If something has happened to affect your ability to pay, please contact Allison Wilson as soon as possible.
Tuition is due the first day of the month and everyone is given a 5 day grace period for payment. After 5 days a late fee will be added to tuition of $35. If payment is one month late, the student cannot attend class until payment is received. If payment is 45 days late, a student’s space will be forfeited and the next student on the waitlist will be contacted.
Tuition will not be reduced in any part for any absence or due to scheduled breaks. Example, if a student goes on vacation for two weeks, the parent is still expected to pay tuition for that time.
Early Drop off / Aftercare: Early Drop or aftercare is available. If it is a one time occurrence, please call Allison at 254-831-3070 to schedule. If this is an everyday need, aftercare can be arranged from 3:45 to 5:30. Aftercare students must be picked up by 5:30.
Late Pick Up: Pick up for the core classes is 12:45 to 1. Pickup after enrichment is 3:30 to 3:45. If you are going to be late, please message your student’s teacher through Band to let them know. Everyone needs grace sometimes but if late pick up becomes habitual, your invoice may be updated to reflect a one dollar per minute late fee.
Early Withdrawal: 30-day written notice is required for early withdrawal. Failure to provide a 30-day notice will result in a charge for the monthly tuition fee. In the event that a student is expelled, the monthly tuition fee will not be refunded or prorated. Once enrolled, the first tuition payment (due by Aug. 1st) is non-refundable unless a 30-day written notice for early withdrawal is received.
Signing up for Learning Lab indicates agreement to follow these policies.