LAF Junior Co-op is open to Pre-K through 5th grade students and their younger siblings. It meets on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 8:45am – 12:30pm, September through April.
- Babies
- Crawlers and Toddlers
- Preschoolers
- Kindergarteners
- Elementary Aged Students (K – 5)
LAF Junior Co-op is a cooperative learning opportunity that requires parents of all students to remain on campus throughout the Junior Co-op program and serve in their assigned Service Roles. Parents will not be asked to prepare lesson plans or lead classes. Our paid facilitators do all of that! But parents do help in the classrooms, hallways, gym, concession stand, coffee shop, welcome table, and wherever else is needed.
At least one parent or adult family representative from each family enrolled in LAF Junior Co-op is required to remain on campus serving in their assigned area during all of Junior Co-op. That means parents cannot send their child to Co-op under the guardianship of another Junior Co-op parent or guardian or family already in attendance. If a parent or guardian is not present with a child, the child will not be permitted to attend Co-op that day.
Junior Co-op is a supplemental educational opportunity for families. Families are welcome to participate at whatever level works best for their family. There are no attendance requirements or required homework. All assignments are optional and can be done at the discretion of each individual family.
At least one parent is required to attend the LAF Co-op orientation. What to expect at orientation:
- Meet the leadership of Learning and Families
- Hand in important paperwork
- Pay any remaining balances
- Get set up with our Brightwheel security system
- Meet your child’s class Facilitators
- Get a copy of the syllabus for each class
- Hand in your community supplies
- Learn what you can expect in the coming year
- Receive training for your assigned Service Role
You will receive an email prior to the orientation with any paperwork that needs to be filled out and submitted, along with detailed instructions on how to prepare for orientation and what to expect.
Date: Sunday, August 11, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Renewal Church, 7221 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota
It’s important to know that Learning and Families teaches from a Young-Earth-Creationist and Protestant perspective. To view our Statement of Faith, click on the link below to ensure that we can serve your family well.
Nursery through 5th-grade students attend Junior Co-op, which meets either Tuesdays or Thursdays, 8:45 am -12:30 pm.
Families begin to arrive about 8:30 am. Parents drop children off in the gym at the sign that corresponds with their group, and then parents sign in at the Support Table for their service role. At 8:45 am, students begin reciting their memory verses for the Pod Parents, and just before 9:00 am, we have a brief morning assembly, which includes prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and announcements. After this, students are released to their first class, one group at a time.
Parents walk younger siblings directly to their nursery class before going to their volunteer position. Pre-K through 5th-grade students are escorted to class by their respective pod parents.
Each class is organized by students’ age. Within the class, there are smaller groups called pods. Each pod of four to five students has a specific pod parent responsible for helping them, managing behavior, and escorting them to bathroom breaks. Pod parents are responsible for their individual pod but also work together to take care of the entire class. Between each class in the k-5 program, students have a short snack/play break. Pre-K and Kindergarten classes have snack time in the classroom.
At 12:30, when Co-op is finished for the day, parents pick up their students from their classrooms. We do offer the opportunity for families to purchase pizza for lunch if they would like, and families are welcome to join others at Rothenbach Park (on the east end of Bee Ridge Rd) every Tuesday and Thursday, immediately following co-op, if they wish.
Beginning in the 2024/25 school year, we are adding an annual registration fee of $25 for each student in all age/grade levels. The fee will help offset the cost of the security measures we are putting in place in 2024/25. At Orientation this year, you will be onboarded to our new Brightwheel check-in system, and every family member (junior kiddos ages 5 and up included) will also receive a new ID card.
Below is our list of Junior Co-op programs for the 2024/2025 school year, along with a description of what is offered in each program and the costs for each.
Please note that our K – 3 Program and our 3 – 5 Program are not a la cart programs. Classes included in each program are listed below the general program information, including information about the facilitators and materials/curriculum to be used.
Click here to meet our 2024/2025 Junior Co-op Facilitators.
- Science — Apologia Swimming Creatures
- Countries and Culture
- Art
- Science — Apologia Swimming Creatures
- Literature
- Art
Tuesday Facilitator: TBA
Thursday Facilitator: Kristin Henry
Tuesday Facilitator: Crystal Yannucciello
Explore Art through weekly Artist study and art technique in a fun and fresh hands-on atmosphere.
Projects include a wide range of techniques, media, tools and inspirations!
This year the 3-5 graders will embark upon an adventure of epic proportions as they study the swimming creatures of the fifth day. The journey begins with an investigation of the watery environments in which they live, followed by a look at all the aquatic species from A to Z. Several dissections will be offered to marvel at God’s design of the anatomy of these unique species. Students will also work weekly to form models their favorite aquatic species for an ocean diorama as their Year End Project. Students will also have the opportunity with each lesson to give an oral presentation on an animal of the deep. So grab your snorkel and lets go explore!
The Swimming Creatures Notebooking Journal will be utilized in weekly homework assignments and subject matter reinforcement.
3 – 5 Literature
Facilitator: Jessica Falde
Exciting literature study of Award-winning books in a book club-style setting with a monthly book to read, discussions, and presentation opportunities. Explore different writing styles with some writing instruction each month.
September: Beezus and Romona by Beverly Cleary
October: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
November: Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
December: Biography of Choice
January: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
February: My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
March: The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
April: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Explore Art through weekly Artist study and art technique in a fun and fresh hands-on atmosphere.
Projects include a wide range of techniques, media, tools and inspirations!
NOTE — The Junior Theatre program begins earlier than the Junior Co-op Program. Junior Theatre will begin on August 20, 2024.
Jr. Theatre fosters a love of acting with speaking roles and select ensembles. Work together with your fellow classmates as we put on a fun and engaging production!
Fall Play: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is adapted from the 1972 children’s novel by the same name written by Barbara Robinson. It tells the story of six misfit children who volunteer to star in their town’s Sunday school Christmas pageant and end up teaching the town the true meaning of Christmas.
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Although it is officially a Junior Co-op A La Cart Class, Spanish for Kids will operate like a Spanish Club for kids grades 3rd – 5th who want to learn Spanish! During class, we will listen to music and songs from Latin America, learn and practice new vocabulary using a spiral teaching method and comprehensible input, engage with games and activities, discover the geography and culture of various Spanish-speaking countries, and make crafts that relate to the country we are learning about.
This class is intended to be an introduction to the Spanish language in a fun and exciting way.
The homework for each week will consist of online video lessons, Quizlet flashcards, printable worksheets, optional home activities (recipes, crafts, games, etc), and preparing for presentations/show-and-tells en español.
The course will cover the following topics:
- greetings
- alphabet
- numbers 0 – 100
- family
- simple grammatical concepts
- colors
- clothing
- action words
- common phrases
- days of the week
- months
- weather
- talking about time
- home
- shapes
- foods
- question words
Required Materials:
Subscription to Spanish for Kids (Level 1) — $55 for the year. Can be used by the whole family.
ALL SPORTS PHYSICAL EDUCATION WITH FCA
Coach Phil
Tuesdays, 1:00 pm – 1:50 pm (Junior Co-op)
Tuesdays, 1:55 – 2:45 (Middle Schoolers)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) is dedicated to making disciples through a strategy of engaging, equipping, and empowering coaches and athletes to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same.
This Physical Education program focuses on Fitness, Fun, and Friendship to build strong Character and Teamwork in youth.
There will be a 10-minute FCA Huddle at the end of each class with a fun mixer game and short devotional. Parents are invited to come and participate in this time.
Three Class Options
If you want to try it out for a semester, you are welcome to register for the Fall only. If you join LAF after the holidays, you can enroll in the Spring class.
Full Year Class — $250/year with $15 supply fee per student
Fall Only Class — $150 with $10 supply fee
Spring Only Class — $150 with $10 supply fee
Junior Jazz Dance
Future of Dance
Tuition: $195
Three Class Options
If you want to try it out for a semester, you are welcome to register for the Fall only. If you join LAF after the holidays, you can enroll in the Spring class.
Full Year Class — $250/year with $20 supply fee per student
Fall Only Class — $150 with $10 supply fee
Spring Only Class — $150 with $10 supply fee
Below are two supply lists for you for 2024/25 school year. The first is the COMMUNITY SUPPLY LIST. To figure out what you are responsible for purchasing and contributing to the LAF community, find the grade level for each of your children who are registered for Junior Co-op. If you’re unsure what grade level to choose, go by where he/she would be placed in public school.
Bring these supplies to the LAF Co-op Orientation on either Sunday, July 28 or Monday, July 29, 2024 (depending on which night your family attends) at Renewal Church, 7221 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota.
The second list is the PERSONAL SUPPLIES that your student will need to bring on the first day of Co-op. Be sure personal supplies are clearly labeled with your child’s name.
| Grade (age) Level | Supplies To Bring |
|---|---|
| Nursery: Birth -- Age 3 (not in pre-K class) |
|
| Pre K |
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| Kindergarteners (in K - 3 Program & Self contained) |
|
| 1st Grade |
|
| 2nd Grade |
|
| 3rd Grade |
|
| 4th Grade |
|
| 5th Grade |
|
| Grade (age) Level | Supplies To Bring |
|---|---|
| EVERY STUDENT |
|
| Pre-K Students |
|
| Self-Contained Kindergarten Students |
|
| Countries and Cultures |
|
| Literature 3 - 5 Students |
|
| Science (K - 3) Students |
|
| Science (3 - 5) Students |
|
| Art (K - 5) Students |
|
