Two Thumbs Up!

Well, the OPEN HOUSE was a huge success!  Two thumbs up to all those who came out to meet other Mindful members, tour the facility, ask questions, apply for membership, and eat chocolate!  Wow, did we put away some chocolate that day...

Ok, so, many of you had some great questions at the OPEN HOUSE!  We have decided to share some of those questions in this post.  If one person is thinking something, chances are more of you have the same question.  So, here goes...

Do I have to teach a class?
The short answer is no, this year is 'taken care of.'  If you are joining us NOW, you will not be asked to teach a class for this year.  We plan to have classes and teachers lined up by mid-summer of each year.  We plan to recruit teachers for next year from this year's membership.  Now, you could be asked to substitute teach if a circumstance arises.  (If substituting, you would only have to teach something you are comfortable with, and if you prefer to play board games instead, we are fine with that.  Life happens, right?!)

So, if I don't have to teach, what do I have to do?
Great question.  Ideally, all parents will be helping in a classroom, the nursery or the gym during class times.  Each class needs a minimum of two adults, including the teacher.  Younger students and/or larger class sizes may need three or more.

How do I sign up to help?
Signing up in advance is not necessary.  Each morning of the co-op classes, we will meet for announcements.  After the children are dispersed to their classes, the parents will be left in the fellowship hall.  At this time, we will announce the places where helpers are needed and members will volunteer for those positions.  Why do it this way? Maybe Jane Doe's baby boy is particularly fussy today and she'd rather stay in the nursery with him this week, but next week she wants to help in the 2nd grade class, and the following week she is on vacation.  We realize there might be more 'helpers' than needed in a week.  So, when this occurs, you are free to mingle with other members in the fellowship hall where we will serve coffee (maybe some more chocolate) and occasionally have a 'Swap Shop', etc.

Do we have to help clean up?
Yes and No.  We want to leave the facility as we found it.  It's that simple.  We do not have to do any deep cleaning of restrooms or the like.  The trash doesn't need to be emptied if it's just dry trash.  We have allowed ten minutes at the end of each class hour to clean up.  We would like students to clean their own areas.  Teachers will then do minimal straightening and we should be good.  If we find that more help is needed in this area, we will simply ask for more help from members.

There were so many more questions.  We are hoping to have an FAQ page soon!

Again, thank you to all those who came to the OPEN HOUSE.  As a cooperative, it is our hope that all members will want to help ensure the success of this great group of people.  We are super excited about  this year! More to come...