This is the CHC registration form for the 2021-22 school year. Please read the Code of Conduct before filling out the form below. If you have questions email the Membership Committee Chair directly at membership@thehomeschoolcouncil.org.
Why do you want to join?
Choose at least three committees you would like to help with. The event coordinator will get back to you with the specific committee you will be a part of.
The Cypress Homeschool Council exists to support the home education of school-age children by their legal parents or guardians. To accomplish that goal, we wish to provide children with an inclusive, respectful, kind and safe environment at every event and field trip organized by CHC.
We hope to build up and encourage one another while also maintaining a reputation that encourages attendance at our events and an environment where everyone feels respected and accepted.
The Cypress Homeschool Council is a Texas domestic non-profit corporation. The board has three voting members: Adam Passey, Nohemi Passey, and Katie Wade. Everyone else who joins is a non-voting member, or participant. While that is our legal status, we view participation in The Cypress Homeschool Council as an alliance among equals in which each participant holds a duty to improve the quality and consistency of events. Hence, The Cypress Homeschool Council is organized in committees to give parents the opportunity to be involved in the strengthening of our community.
The Executive Committee is formed by eight CHC participants who oversee different areas. The Executive Committee monitors the enforcement of the Code of Conduct and directs the dynamics and regulations of CHC. Many decisions are made at the Executive Committee level, however, all decisions are given final approval by the CHC board.
Our Code of Conduct is described below; every family who joins CHC is expected to agree and behave accordingly. Please read each statement below and check to the left of each statement to signify your agreement.
Expected Behavior 1) All participating members of my family will be respectful of the beliefs, lifestyles and choices of other participants. Our actions, our choice in language and our clothing will reflect this respect.
2) As participants of The Cypress Homeschool Council, all participating members of my family will work and have fun in peace with each other and with all members of CHC. I understand that aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. This includes: physical abuse (hitting, pushing, biting, bullying) or verbal abuse (yelling and gossiping).
3) I will be responsible for controlling my children’s behavior at all activities. That requires that I, or my representative, will be present at all events my children attend.
4) I understand that The Cypress Homeschool Council activities are not drop-off activities. When using a representative to bring my children to an event, I will inform the event coordinator so that the group is able to keep all the kids in our community safe.
5) I and my family will be respectful of other members’ property and belongings. I will be responsible to fix or replace any damage caused by me or my children.
6) I understand that when attending a Cypress Homeschool Council event, the event coordinator and The Cypress Homeschool Council are not responsible for any injuries. I must be aware of and responsible for the safety of my own children at all times. I will hold the event coordinators harmless.
7) I understand that weapons (including knives or guns), drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vaping, and profane or vulgar vocabulary are not allowed at any Cypress Homeschool Council function.
8) If any problems arise between my children or myself and other members of The Cypress Homeschool Council, that issue will be handled privately and respectfully. If the issue is not resolved, I will take the matter privately to Membership Chair Charlyn Hohenstein, or Nohemi Passey who is a board member. They will take the matter to the Cypress Homeschool Council Executive Committee where that committee will first attempt to help solve the problem. If the issue cannot be solved, the participant found to be in the wrong may be asked to leave The Cypress Homeschool Council.
9) I understand that if my child is misbehaving and I do not handle it (or do not see it) another parent may bring my child to me, explain the situation, and ask me to handle it. I will not be offended. If the behavior is not resolved by me, a leader may ask my family to leave the event for the sake of others.
10) Neither I, my children, nor my guests will participate in public displays of affection at a function sponsored by The Cypress Homeschool Council.
11) As a Cypress Homeschool Council participant, I am a representative of The Cypress Homeschool Council and the homeschool community in general. I will be on time, courteous, and respectful of the rules of the venues that we visit. Additionally, my family will be respectful of the time and knowledge of any teacher, coordinator or venue guide. My family will leave every facility that we use cleaner than when we arrived and we will ask what we can do to help before leaving.
Attendance 12) I commit to attending at least one event each month. I understand that monthly participation is necessary to help organizers plan appropriate activities, ensure the safety and trust of all members, and build the supportive community for which we are working.
13) If I do not attend one event monthly, I understand I will be reminded of the policy. If my inactivity continues, my membership in CHC will be terminated, and any payments I had made for memberships or activities will be forfeited.
14) I will RSVP to all events I’m attending so organizers will have an accurate headcount of how many attendees are coming. I will follow the RSVP and payment instructions for each event.
15) I understand that many events require a food sign-up or volunteer commitment from each member family attending. Failure to follow through with any commitments I make not only hurts the event being planned, but creates extra work for the event organizer. Therefore, I will follow through with my commitments.
16) I will take my commitment to free events seriously. I understand that even if an event is free, volunteers have donated their time and often CHC has purchased materials. Therefore, last-minute cancelations of free events waste people’s time and our groups’ financial resources. I will not waste fellow CHC members time in this way.
17) I understand that if I sign up for an event with a participant cap, I am taking a spot that another family may be interested in. Therefore, as soon as my plans change, I will update my RSVP to the event. Repeated disregard for other members by taking a spot in a capped event and not attending could result in being barred from attending future events.
18) If my kids are sick or contagious, I will keep them home, especially during the following 24 hours after fever. I understand that absences from events due to illness will be excused, and I will notify the event coordinator as soon as possible that my children will not be attending.
19) I understand habitual cancelations or absences to events I’ve committed to could result in the inability to RSVP to future events.
Payments 20) I understand that The Cypress Homeschool Council only receives payments for events and membership fees through the website. Events that need a headcount, a sign-up, or payment will have a due date to RSVP on a Friday. Specific due dates are listed on the CHC website on each event RSVP page.
21) If for any reason I can’t attend a paid event, The Cypress Homeschool Council will not refund payment or provide event materials. All payments are final. However, if I’m unable to attend an event, I will update my RSVP and inform the coordinator so they can plan accordingly. I will not offer my tickets for sale or donation on Facebook nor the website. Any transfer of tickets must go through the coordinator.
22) If I pay for an event and can’t attend, my payment will be considered a donation to The Cypress Homeschool Council. CHC will use these funds towards materials or lowering the cost of another CHC event.
23) I understand that if CHC or a venue cancels a paid event, I will be refunded when CHC is reimbursed by the venue.
24) The Cypress Homeschool Council is a non-profit organization; therefore, I will make no payments to CHC coordinators or other members for CHC events or materials.
Service Opportunities and Service Events 25) I understand that The Cypress Homeschool Council is a volunteer led organization. I will volunteer to participate in at least one volunteer committee for the 2021-22 school year and help where needed. For more information about committees, I can talk to the calendar/event coordinator Nohemi Passey.
26) I understand that The Cypress Homeschool Council welcomes ideas and input for events and field trips, however, to prevent confusion or overbooking, it is not allowed to post polls for events, or schedule any events on the CHC website or private facebook group unless I have been authorized by Nohemi Passey who is the general calendar/event coordinator.
27) If I want to share an idea for an event, I will first speak to Nohemi Passey. She will direct me on how to start the process. I can then follow through with the event as the event organizer, helping someone else organize or handing off the event to someone else to organize.
28) I understand that events of general interest such as community events (book fairs, festivals, plays, park meet-ups, etc.) can be shared on the CHC website under the forum: Non-CHC Community Events.
CHC Communications 29) I understand that The Cypress Homeschool Council (thehomeschoolcouncil.org/members) communicates events only by using the CHC website. Therefore, I must immediately request membership on the CHC website. All event related information or updates can be found on the event forum.
Personal Information 30) I understand that The Cypress Homeschool Council takes pictures of families at most events, and those pictures are posted only on the private CHC website where I will have access to download my children’s pictures. I will refrain from posting pictures to social media of other CHC members and their children without their permission.
31) I understand that my family’s personal information such as names, date of birth, address, phone number and email address are required for internal organizational purposes of The Cypress Homeschool Council, and some of that information is shared with coordinators as needed.
CHC Membership 32) To maintain my membership with The Cypress Homeschool Council I will: 1) Attend at least one event every month. 2) Serve in at least one committee for the year. 3) Attend one new member orientation within the first three months of joining CHC.
33) I will pay a yearly membership fee to participate in The Cypress Homeschool Council. I understand that the required yearly membership fee for the school year 2021-2022 is $45 per family, which is due at the time I sign and complete this application, which includes this Code of Conduct. I understand that the membership fee is valid until July 31, 2022. CHC’s yearly cycle runs from August 1 to July 31 of the following year.
34) I am homeschooling at least one child in grade Pre-Kindergarten to High School, and between the ages four to eighteen years old. I understand this is mandatory to become a member of The Cypress Homeschool Council.
35) My children participating in CHC are not enrolled in an online public or private school, or any full-time in-person private or public school. I understand that being enrolled in a private or public school would mean my family does not fall in the category of homeschooling, therefore I cannot be accepted to be a participant of The Cypress Homeschool Council. However, I understand that if some of my children attend a public or private school, they can participate in CHC group activities, but priority will be given to homeschool students for the event.
36) My family will follow the Code of Conduct. If I, or my family, violate the Code of Conduct, the Executive Committee will make every effort to verbally warn me of this violation. However, failure to follow the Code of Conduct could lead to immediate dismissal from the group, and will forfeit the membership fee and all the monies paid to The Cypress Homeschool Council.
37) I consent to being background checked and/or have already been background checked for my job.
I understand that after I sign this membership package and pay the membership fee, my application to join The Cypress Homeschool Council will be reviewed in the following 72 hours. I am aware that CHC reserves the right to deny my application. If my application is denied, CHC will refund me the yearly membership. I understand that my application to CHC will not be completed until I attend a new member orientation, which generally takes place on the last Thursday of every month.
I certify that I am homeschooling my children, and one of them is at least five years old. I understand that if I enroll my children in public or private school, either in person or online, I will immediately notify the CHC membership chair that I am not homeschooling any longer. Failure to notify CHC that my children are enrolled in public or private school will cause my participation in CHC to be terminated immediately.
I certify that I have read and understand the Code of Conduct.
LIABILITY: Hereby members fully and completely release, waive, any and all rights and claims that they, members, devisees, guardians, legal representatives, subrogees, and assign might have against The Cypress Homeschool Council for any damage to member’s and their children for personal injuries, damages including death, and property damage. Members hold voting members and non-voting members of The Cypress Homeschool Council harmless as consequence of any damage to their family members that may happen while participating in events hosted by The Cypress Homeschool Council. Members are solely, fully and exclusively responsible for their own children attending any and all events hosted by The Cypress Homeschool Council, this includes friends and relatives invited that are not currently members of The Cypress Homeschool Council.
Go to check out to pay the $45 registration fee.
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