IS LIGHTHOUSE A SCHOOL? WHAT TIME CAN I DROP OFF MY CHILDREN?
Actually, we are primarily a group whose focus is field trips and social activities for students. We also serve as a means for parents to glean information and support from one another. You may find that small groups of families within the larger Lighthouse Family have their own co-ops and study groups. These are all developed and carried out by parents just like you! If you want your middle-school child to study botany this year with a group of peers, set it up and make it happen!
HOW OFTEN DO YOU MEET AS A GROUP?
Our monthly teachers’ meetings are held at a park and include all of your children. They look forward to this special time to meet up with their friends! The meetings are normally the last Thursday of the month, with the exception of November (to avoid Thanksgiving) and January (to avoid conflicting with Polk County Youth Fair). Occasionally, if public school’s Spring Break falls during the last week of the month of March, we will also move the meeting date up one week. Always read your Beacon Newsletter email to see where we are meeting that month!
HOW DO I JOIN LIGHTHOUSE?
Click the JOIN button on the home page. You will be brought to a page where you can fill out a new membership request form.
After filling out the form you will be prompted to pay your member dues via credit card. Once you complete that, you're ready to Submit your application. Your application for membership will be reviewed and approved and you will receive an email telling you that you can login to the members section of our website. This process can take up to one week so please be patient.
WHERE CAN I FIND MY LIGHTHOUSE MEMBER ID CARD?
You can print this yourself once your member registration is approved. Login to the website with the User Name and Password that you created and hover over the My Account menu option above and click on Membership Card.
THE BEACON? WHAT’S THAT?
The Beacon is our monthly newsletter, which you will find on our communication Forum, once you are a member. The Beacon tells you which field trips have payments due each month, explains upcoming trips, announces special activities at the meetings, etc. The Beacon is typically published a week before the teachers’ meetings so that you can be prepared.
WHAT ELSE CAN MY CHILD DO BESIDES ATTENDING THE MEETINGS AND GOING ON FIELD TRIPS?
Lighthouse offers age-specific groups so that your students can benefit from socializing with their peers in activities designed just for them. Currently, we offer Little House for K - 5th grades, Middle House for 6th - 8th grades, and Lighthouse HS Teens for 9th-12th grades.
Of course, most of our field trips are for the general membership and include all ages, but these subgroups have their own park dates or other activities and are a little something extra. Lighthouse also offers various clubs like American Girls, Chess Club, Pokemon Club, Book Club, and Nerf Wars.
WHAT IF I WANT TO START UP A NEW CLUB OR ACTIVITY GROUP, LIKE A SINGING CHOIR OR A SHAKESPEARE CLUB?
That would be fantastic! We are always looking for fresh ideas and want Lighthouse to be representative of the group’s desires. Contact one of the Boards Members for more information about starting up a club or subgroup within Lighthouse.
HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR FIELD TRIPS?
We have two types of trips—general field trips and those that we consider Living Arts (stage performances, concerts, puppet shows, etc.). The Living Arts trips are coordinated far in advance—usually over the summer. To receive the number of seats that a group our size requires, we must have members sign up from the Living Arts Events page for ALL SHOWS at the beginning of the school year.
Each performance has its own arranger and members sign up for the plays that they are interested in. Payment collection is staggered throughout the year as these performances grow near. General field trips hold sign ups and payment collection on a month-by-month basis. We are always adding new trips and those with a limited number of registrations available will be opened up to "ticket" sales on the 1st and 15th of each month.
WHAT IF I SIGN UP FOR SOMETHING BUT HAVE TO CANCEL?
As far as cancellations, we all have things come up at the last minute—an illness, an unexpected emergency…Please use courtesy if you must cancel. If you know in advance that you will not make it, contact your arranger immediately via email or phone as there may be a waiting list. If it is a last-minute cancellation, you still need to call your arranger so that they will not personally miss out on a portion of the trip by waiting for you. No-showing for trips is never acceptable. Refunds will only be given on a limited case-by-case basis with advance notice. There is no way to electronically cancel an event. When you are looking at your event registrations page the the My Account screen, you can click on the event title and leave a comment.
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER LIGHTHOUSE MEMBER?
There’s a saying that any group that allows human beings to be a part of it is eternally flawed. We are all human. Our children are human. Personalities will not always mesh in perfect harmony. If something happens at a meeting or on a field trip that is beyond what you would consider a normal conflict, see a Board Member as soon as possible so that it can be addressed. All members must agree to a standard of behavior as a part of their membership application. Let’s work together for peaceful resolutions should these things occur.
I AM REALLY STRUGGLING. IS THERE A WAY THAT THE GROUP CAN BE IN PRAYER FOR ME AND MY FAMILY?
Absolutely. You may go to the Groups page under the Praise & Prayer topic and post your prayer request. You may also contact the Lighthouse Keepers Prayer Coordinator with a more immediate need.
I HAVE A HOME-BASED BUSINESS. CAN I MENTION IT TO MY FRIENDS WITHIN LIGHTHOUSE?
You sure can! We have a special room on our Group page just for this purpose. If you are a math tutor, sell Tupperware, decorate cakes, or your husband is the best plumber ever, tell us about it! It is a great way for homeschooling families to support other homeschooling families. Please keep your commercials reserved for the Buy-Sell Group, and no more than 1 advertising post per school year though. For more information about becoming a Lighthouse sponsor advertiser, check out our advertiser page.
IS LIGHTHOUSE ON FACEBOOK?
We are! Simply click the little black F on the bottom of our website or follow this link and ask to be a part of the private group “Lighthouse Homeschoolers". Once we have verified your membership, one of our administrators will approve you. While our Facebook page is not a substitute for our website, you can communicate with the group or share field trip photos from time to time. All events/activities are to posted on our website Calendar and Event pages. We also have a Facebook group for buying and selling curriculum. Check it out at Homeschool Curriculum Sale-Hosted by Lighthouse Homeschoolers.
HOW CAN I SERVE LIGHTHOUSE HOMESCHOOLERS?
We’re so glad you asked! There are a number of ways you can help out. A group our size certainly cannot survive on the leadership of a few. You could organize a field trip (contact the Field Trip Coordinator to learn more). You could offer to take over a small project (Scholastic Books, Box Tops, Soda Tabs) when an existing coordinator steps down or needs help. You could greet new members and help them get connected.
You could volunteer during the year at our Thanksgiving and Splash Bash celebrations to lead a game or help with food. You could even use your expertise and offer to lead a co-op or teach a class or just hold a one-time workshop. Contact a Board Member if you have any other ideas on how you can serve! Thank you!