HFS Guidelines

Holy Family Scholars
2026-2027 Guidelines 

Statement of Faith:
1. Trinitarian Belief: We profess faith in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who for our salvation, was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered, died, and rose again; and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life.
2. Sacred Scripture and Tradition: We uphold Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as the inspired Word of God and the foundation of our teaching, in accordance with the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
3. The Sacraments: We acknowledge the seven sacraments as instituted by Christ, recognizing their importance for our faith journey and encouraging regular participation, especially in the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
4. Dignity of Life: We affirm the inherent dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death, and commit to upholding this truth in our education and community activities.
5. Catholic Social Teaching: We embrace the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, striving to live out the call to love our neighbor, promote justice, and care for creation.
6. Role of Parents: We believe that parents are the primary educators of their children and collaborate to support and enrich the educational and spiritual journey within a Catholic framework. 

Parent Requirements: Parents are expected to serve as volunteer teachers, helpers, coordinators, and substitutes as requested by the HFS Leadership Team. Parents may identify areas in which they would like to serve at the time of application. Although we cannot guarantee that all requests will be met, the HFS Leadership Team will honor as many requests as possible. It should be noted that the HFS Leadership Teams’ vision for this Co-op requires a high commitment on the part of the volunteer teaching parent. Expectations for our children’s classroom experiences include planning and providing hands-on and team-oriented activities and experiments. Some parents will be asked to serve in helping instead of teaching roles although all parents must be willing to teach.

All parent-teachers are required to have VIRTUS Certifications, background checks, as well as have the St. Teresa of Avila Liability Waivers and Activity Center Rules Agreements signed (see enrollment packet).

Parent Helpers: Helpers are assigned to teachers as needed and are expected to attend regularly, arrive on time, and provide support in the classroom. While teachers may have specific requests, helpers should be proactive in offering assistance. Duties may include supervising children during recess and restroom breaks, substituting for the teacher when necessary, and assisting with Co-op events and social activities.

Parent Coordinators: Additional Co-op coordinator positions may include, but are not limited to, Director, Finance, Field Trips, Events, and Yearbook. When a position is needed, the HFS Leadership Team will define the role and responsibilities, which must be agreed upon by the parent filling the position. Coordinators may also assist with other Co-op activities, including events and social gatherings.

Applications Outside the Application Period: When space permits, Holy Family Scholars may accept applications outside the regular application period. The HFS Leadership Team will determine the timeline for acceptance. Upon admission, registration and supply fees will be due.

Attendance: Enrolled families are asked to commit to the full Co-op day throughout the entire nine-month program. While occasional parent absences may be unavoidable and can be accommodated with advance notice, repeated absences place an added burden on other families and disrupt the rhythm of the Co-op.

Our program depends on shared responsibility, consistent participation, and mutual support in order for classes to run smoothly and for a strong sense of community to grow. For this reason, absences are discouraged. Families are asked to make every reasonable effort to attend and fully participate in each meeting whenever possible, for the benefit of the group and the learning environment.

The HFS Leadership Team reserves the right to dismiss a family in cases of ongoing or repeated absences.

Co-op time should be treated as a regular part of the school day for both students and parents. Tardiness disrupts instruction and community activities. Families are expected to arrive on campus by 9:00 a.m. and remain until 12:00 noon. Appointments and extracurricular activities should be scheduled outside of Co-op hours whenever possible.

Absences: A notice of at least 24 hours must be given if you are unable to attend class unless emergency or unexpected illness. If you know in advance that you will be absent on a co-op meeting day, please notify HFS Leadership as soon as possible. Teachers are asked to ensure their class needs are met during their absence by providing plans and materials for a substitute. We also ask that families let their children’s teachers know about any absences so they can plan accordingly.

Sick Policy: If you or your children are experiencing the following, we ask that you not attend co-op:

• Fever within 24 hours prior to co-op or a fever that needs medication to control

• Vomiting or nausea within 48 hours prior to co-op

• Diarrhea within 24 hours prior to co-op

• Flu-like symptoms

• Infected skin, eyes or undiagnosed rash until prescribed treatment is complete or incubation period recommended by doctor has passed.

• Other contagious illnesses

Class size: Our grade groups will be capped at a maximum of 10 students.

Current Class breakdowns:

• Nursery (Ages 0-2/3)

• PreK (Ages 3 and 4)

• Kindergarten/1st Grade

• 2nd/3rd Grade

• 4th/5th Grade

• 6th/7th Grade

• 8th/High School

Dress Code: Students are expected to dress in a manner that reflects modesty, respect, and the dignity of the human person, in keeping with Catholic values. Clothing should be modest, clean, and appropriate for a learning environment. Clothing should be appropriate for a learning and faith-centered environment and allow for active participation in classes. Clothing that is tight, revealing, or displays inappropriate language or images is not permitted. HFS Leadership reserves the right to address attire concerns as needed.

Behavior Expectations: St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church is allowing our group to use their beautiful facilities to bring our homeschool community together. Let us thank them for their generosity by being respectful of the rooms, cleaning up after ourselves, and conducting ourselves in a responsible manner while in the hallways, bathrooms and classrooms. Please remind your class to use indoor voices and walking feet. No playing in the hallways, on the stairs, elevator or bathrooms.

The HFS Leadership Team acknowledges that many homeschooled students may be new to a classroom setting and will need time to learn its academic and behavioral expectations. Reasonable grace will be given as students adjust, while maintaining appropriate accountability for their actions. Teachers will clearly communicate academic and behavioral expectations to students. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior will be addressed promptly with firm and respectful correction. If behavior does not improve, parents will be notified.

Students are expected to function at an age-appropriate level, contribute positively to the classroom, follow classroom rules, and show respect to teachers and peers. Students should arrive prepared for class, having completed assigned readings and work, and with all required materials. This allows teachers to proceed based on an assumed level of readiness and prior learning.

Students who consistently display inappropriate or disruptive behavior may be required to withdraw from the Co-op. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to, classroom disruption, biting, hitting, spitting, kicking, causing physical harm to others, or damaging property.

Academic Expectations: Students who consistently fail to meet class expectations (behavior, participation, etc.) may be asked to withdraw. When working through student expectation issues, we will communicate in the following way:

Teacher/Helper-> Parent -> HFS Leadership Team 

The Holy Family Scholars Leadership Team reserves the right to dismiss a child due to consistent behavioral or academic issues.  

If an issue arises with a child’s teacher, parents will communicate in the following way:

Parent -> Teacher/Helper -> HFS Leadership Team

Parents should first communicate directly with the teacher to address any classroom-related concerns. If the issue persists, parents may then contact a member of the HFS Leadership Team. Following this sequence allows teachers the opportunity to address concerns appropriately and in the best interest of the student. Concerns related to Co-op matters outside the classroom should be communicated directly with the individual(s) involved. If clarification is needed or if it is unclear whom to contact, parents should reach out to the HFS Leadership Team. 

Non-Enrolled Children: Children who are not enrolled in the Co-op may not attend with siblings or parents. Parents are responsible for arranging childcare for non-enrolled children during Co-op sessions, including school breaks or holidays. Admission to the Co-op is not guaranteed for non-enrolled children, though the Co-op will make every effort to accommodate them when possible.

Teachers are expected to arrive early enough to set up their classrooms and begin instruction on time. Classrooms should be cleaned and returned to their original arrangement before teachers depart. Teachers may also be asked to assist with Co-op events and social activities as needed.

Field Trips and Extra-Cooperative Activities: We are excited to incorporate field trips into the co-op as an enriching extension of the learning experience. Specific day and time will be determined based on group availability and scheduling.Through these experiences, students will make real-world connections to their studies and grow together in their Catholic faith.

Withdrawal: Families accepted into the Co-op who choose to withdraw will forfeit their registration and supply fees. Registration and supply fees paid to date are non-refundable. Materials purchased by parents remain the property of the family and may be collected at the time of withdrawal.

After a brief review period following the close of the application window, the HFS Leadership Team will finalize curriculum plans based on enrollment. If a class or curriculum change is necessary, affected families will have a two-week grace period from the announcement to withdraw from the Co-op. Withdrawal during this period must be submitted in writing to the HFS Leadership Team to qualify for a full refund.