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FAQs



Classes

Q:

What if all the classes my child wants are already full?

A:

We do maintain waitlists, and class rosters may shift in the first few weeks of class. We would encourage you to try out another class option. Returning members have priority in class registration. You may not get all the classes you want in your first year, but your odds are much better as a returning member.

Q:

Can I take classes as an adult?

A:

Absolutely! Passport offers several classes each year specifically targeted to adults which generally include, among others, Belly Dancing, Book Club, and Knitting.

General

Q:

Give me the short answer! What are the requirements for membership in Passport to Learning and how much will it cost?

A:

  • Each family must have at least one child age 5 or greater.
  • There is a membership fee of $75 per year.
  • Each class has a materials fee of $0-$50 per semester.
  • Parents are required to remain on site.
  • Each family must teach one class per semester or co-teach at least two classes per semester unless the family is only attending for one class period.
  • Each family is required to adopt one weekly setup or cleaning job.
  • Each family is required to assist with one special event per year.
  • We have two required annual meetings which take place in February and May.

Q:

What do you mean by secular and inclusive?

A:

That means we do not require our members to be of any particular faith. We have or have had members who are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, Atheist, Agnostic, and everything in between! We welcome members of all abilities and will do our best to make accommodations whenever possible. All we ask of our members is that they come with an open mind, make no attempts to proselytize other members with their beliefs,  and do not demean anyone's beliefs. 

Passport is committed to being an inclusive co-op. As such, we have the opportunity to welcome families with diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and gender identities. We recognize and value both similarities and differences. Although we are unlikely to all agree on everything, we strive to demonstrate kindness and respect as we learn together.

 

Q:

Do I have to stay with my child?

A:

You do not need to stay in the classroom with your child, however you are always welcome to do so. In some cases we will ask that a parent remain in the classroom with their child either due to age or special circumstances. It is expected that your child either be in class or with you while you are at Passport.

Q:

Can I drop off my child?

A:

Passport is not a drop off program. A parent is expected to remain on campus the full time you or your children are taking classes. 

Q:

Why do we have both a teacher and one or more co-teachers for each class?

A:

Several reasons actually! They are as follows:

Having two or more adults in the classroom is super handy when you have a bunch of little kids. Someone inevitably needs an escort to the potty and someone needs to stay with the rest!

Our insurance requires it. 

It's just a good idea!

Q:

Is there a minimum age to attend Passport?

A:

At this time you must have at least one child five years of age or older. 

Q:

When do you meet?

A:

We meet on Thursdays from September to May. Our class day starts at 9:20am and runs until 3:15pm. (though you will likely need to either come earlier or stay later, depending on your weekly job duty.) There are two 15-week semesters and a built-in snow day. We take two weeks in Decemver and all of January off for Winter Break and one week off for Spring Break.

Q:

Is Passport to Learning a nut free organization?

A:

Passport is a nut free organization!

What does this mean? It means any and all activities that Passport hosts, sponsors, or facilitates will be nut free. Tree nuts as well as peanuts. Any member who knowingly brings nuts to an event will be asked to remove the nut containing item or items immediately. This is a two strike policy. In the event that a member knowingly brings items containing nuts a second time they may be asked to leave the co-op. For clarification of what exactly a “tree nut” is please see this link to the FDA. Peanuts are defined as any peanut containing product including, but not limited to, peanut butter, anything with peanut oil, and candies containing peanuts such as Snickers. Passport to Learning is dedicated to keeping our members safe. Any behavior that places other members in danger will not be tolerated. 

 

 

Q:

Is there a dress code?

A:

We are pretty laid back when it comes to the dress code as long as you stick to the following guidelines:

We don't want to see your underwear or your privates. If you can't stretch over the table for a pencil without holding your skirt down, tights or leggings would be a good addition. Likewise, cleavage should be covered. Pants and shirts should cover underwear, and pants should be free of holes that expose underwear. 

Shirts are required for all members. There shouldn't be anything offensive on your clothing. That includes profanity! If you're unsure pick a different shirt. 

Other than that we are pretty flexible. 

Q:

Is there a minimum number of classes my family has to attend?

A:

The short answer is no.  You can come for just one class.

However, we want to encourage families to become part of the community, and that is hard to do if you are only coming for one period, and especially if you are not staying for breakfast or lunch for social time. If you are only attending one class, we hope you will stay for a meal and/or social activities.

Q:

What do I do if my kid has a free period?

A:

Panic! No wait, that's not it. Free periods can be very useful both for kids and for parents. They allow time to work one on one with that child on a subject, prep for or complete homework for a class, or just hang out and, dare I say it, socialize! This year we are trying something new, where each class period has a Community Space option that your child can register for, if there isn't a class that fits or if they need downtime in their schedule, which is a supervised free period, which can be used as a study hall, or just a place to chill and socialize. We do expect children to be supervised at all times, so they must be in the class or community space period they registered for, or with you, the parent. They may not run off to the playground unless you or their teacher are accompanying them. While you are teaching a class, your children should be in class or supervised by a designated adult.

Q:

Is my special needs child welcome?

A:

Yes.  We are an inclusive co-operative.  You will need to work with your child's teachers to accomodate their needs, and may need to attend class with them.  

Responsibilities

Q:

What are my parent responsibilities?

A:

Passport 2 Learning is a true co-op. By that we mean that every family has a responsibility to help the co-op function smoothly. As part of that we ask each family to teach or co-teach at least one class, adopt one weekly setup or cleanup job, and assist at one event. New families generally co-teach, although occasionally we make exceptions to that rule. A weekly job might be setting up chairs and tables in a classroom, sweeping the floors or cleaning a bathroom at the end of the day. Assisting at an event is a more varied job and could range from as complicated as organizing and running our Not Back to School Picnic or as simple as dropping off snacks for a New Member Information Night.

Q:

What do you mean by co-op jobs?

A:

Jobs are weekly commitments and are the same every week. A job might be setting up one classroom with the tables and chairs it needs, or putting those same tables and chairs away at the end of the day. It might mean making the coffee, cleaning a bathroom, or taking out the trash. Each job is adopted by an entire family (sometimes two, if the job is large) and the students are expected to help alongside the parents if they are able. If you have signed up for a job and find you are unable to complete it for whatever reason you are responsible for finding a substitute for that day. In the event you do not complete your assigned job you will be reassigned to a new job. If this is a repeated issue for your family you may be asked to leave the co-op.

Q:

What does it mean to co-teach a class?

A:

Co-teacher responsibilities vary some based on what the teacher needs for that class. Generally co-teachers are not expected to plan any classes or do much prep, however they are expected to be present and helpful in class. Helpful might mean checking homework and returning it to students, making sure the teacher doesn't run over time, working one on one with a student who is having difficulty, helping littles cut or write, supervising game play, and assisting with clean up. Co-teachers MUST BE ON TIME to class.