When should I keep my child home sick?
Fever, cough, a green or yellow runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, pink eye, or an unexplained rash — if your child has any of these, please keep them home.
How do tuition and fees work?
Tuition is paid monthly and due on the first of each month. A non-refundable registration fee and a materials fee are also collected per child.
How does drop-off and pick-up work?
Drop-off and pick-up happen directly in the classroom, with each age group assigned a parking lot. Every family gets a pink car sign for their dashboard.
What should my child wear, and what do I need to send in?
Sneakers and play clothes are preferred for daily playground time. Every student also needs a complete change of clothes in a ziploc-type bag — shorts, shirt, socks and underwear — which we keep at school.
Dear Cooperative School Families,
Welcome to the Cooperative School at Northland! It is my joy and privilege to welcome you to a new school year. Whether your family is joining us for the very first time or returning for another year, we are so grateful you have chosen to be part of our school community.
At the Cooperative School, we believe that children learn best when families and teachers work together. Our goal is to provide a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered environment where every child feels known, loved, and encouraged to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
As your Director, I want you to know that my door is always open. I value open communication and believe that strong partnerships with families help children thrive. Please answer any questions, ideas, or concerns. We are honored to partner with you during these important early years of your child's education.
Thank you for trusting us with your child. I look forward to getting to know your family and working together to make this a joyful, meaningful, and memorable school year.
May God richly bless your family as we learn, grow, and celebrate together.
Warmly,
Staci Smith
The Cooperative School at Northland admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin.
If you are looking for a church home, we would be pleased to have you join us for worship at Northland.
- Saturdays at 5 p.m. — Online / On Campus
- Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m. — Online / On Campus
- Monday at 5 p.m. — Online / On Campus
Partnering with parents to educate young children in a Christ focused, community centered cooperative learning environment.
The Cooperative School at Northland strives to lay a foundation that allows children to grow and develop in "wisdom, stature and favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52) acting as a resource for parents as they "train up a child in the way he should go." (Proverbs 22:6)
Working from the basic premise that children are active learners who are constantly making discoveries in their environment, we believe in providing opportunities that will instill in children a lifelong love of learning. All children are made in the image and likeness of God and are precious gifts. All children can learn and have unique learning styles and personal gifts. On a developmental continuum, all children are at different places and will grow and develop as they interact with teachers, peers and a curriculum that provides opportunities to make learning meaningful to their lives and enables them to reach their fullest potential.
Parents are children's first and most important teachers. At the Cooperative School at Northland, parent participation and partnership is encouraged. One of the primary goals of the entire program is to equip families for a life of worship and service in their homes, communities and beyond.
Building trust, security and a healthy sense of respect for self and others is critical in the global environment in which we now live. The classroom must be a safe place where children can take risks and explore in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement. In learning to work together, children discover that others are precious to God and that they are empowered to do for themselves while serving those around them. Making friends, cooperating in groups and learning personal responsibility are all essential components of early childhood education.
The Cooperative School at Northland will enroll children who have reached the age of 2, 3, or 4 by September 1 into the 2-, 3, and 4-year-old classes respectively. Voluntary Pre Kindergarten (VPK) and kindergarten students must comply with age requirements established by the state of Florida. Children will be enrolled without regard to race, sex, religion or national origin. Returning students and their siblings will be given registration priority. Open registration for the community will be held once current registration is complete. As classes fill up, children will be placed on a waiting list and put in a class on a first-come first-served basis.
All families who wish to enroll at the Cooperative School at Northland are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee per child. Payment of this fee ensures that a spot is held for the child. If the family decides they no longer wish to enroll the child for any reason, this fee is not refundable. Due to the competitive nature of school enrollments the registration fee is a good faith commitment by our families, to help us make sure that our classrooms will be properly staffed and enrollment levels will remain manageable. The registration fee remains constant regardless of when the child is enrolled.
A materials fee per child is collected from every family. The materials fee covers the costs of the consumable products used daily in the classroom. These products include items like construction paper, paints, arts and crafts supplies, paper bags, paper plates, etc. Should a family drop out of the preschool before the first day of school, the materials fee can be refunded. No fees are refundable after the first day of school.
Tuition is paid monthly and due on the first of each month Families are expected to be current with their tuition. Should a family have a financial hardship in any given month, they should contact the director immediately and make a plan to keep their account current. Failure to do so may result in the child being removed from the program.
Children will not be permitted to register for the new school year if tuition and fees are delinquent at the time of registration Additionally, the Cooperative School at Northland reserves the right to withhold report cards and academic records should tuition not be paid in full by year end Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) students have no financial obligations to our school however, in order to be registered a VPK voucher must be completed and on file Families must comply with Northland Cooperative School's VPK (found at the end of the handbook) or forfeit their VPK funding and be obligated to full tuition payments.
Our school community uses a safe and secure social media platform called Bloomz. Each parent will be invited to join the Cooperative School's Bloomz page. Our Bloomz account allows for private sharing of news, updates and classroom activities. It also acts as a communication tool between parent and teacher, parent and school and parent to parent. Bloomz provides the security that other forms of social media do not. Therefore, we ask that if you post pictures to social media (facebook, instagram, etc.) they would be of your child only. A school wide calendar is also available on the school's website. Our classroom teachers also send out a monthly newsletter that highlights themes and activities that happen in the classroom.
All children will have lunch every day. Please send in a nutritious and balanced lunch for your child to eat in class each day. Lunch boxes and all food containers should be labeled clearly with your child's first and last name. Please only send in food items that your child can manage for themselves.
This year we are also asking that each child brings in a filled "Thermos" style water bottle that is also clearly labeled with first and last name.
Birthdays are special occasions for young children. This year we are allowing families to send in a special birthday treat for your child to share with his or her class. Please let the teacher know that you plan to send these items in so she can make arrangements for children with specific food allergies.
In compliance with the Florida Department of Children and Families and to ensure the health and safety of each child, the following must be on file:
- Student Information Form with two emergency contacts
- HRS Student Health Examination Certificate - Form # 3040
- Florida Certificate of Immunizations - Form #680
These forms must be on file by the first day of school.
A complete list of school supplies is available on our website. Each teacher may also request classroom specific items and will let you know as consumable items need to be replaced.
It is very important that all students bring a complete change of clothes in a ziploc type bag, including shorts, shirt, socks and underwear. We will keep these items at school. Sneakers and play clothes are preferred as the children have daily playground time. Please provide jackets or sweaters on colder days.
Security and safety are a primary concern at the Cooperative School at Northland. Only the main doors in the church lobby will remain open during the school day. This lobby is always monitored. Our school doors will open for a brief interval during drop off and pick up. If you are late to school, please come through the front entrance or call the office to have someone let you in. Our classroom hallways are equipped with automatic locking doors to insure that only authorized individuals are allowed into the children's areas. Should you choose to volunteer in a classroom, you must stop by the school office to get a security badge before going into the children's areas. Additionally, our classroom doors are now equipped with locks to better secure the children in case of an emergency. We will only release your child to the individuals listed on your school paperwork. When sending in an authorized person to pick up your child, please have them bring in a form of identification. Please update the office whenever you have an addition or deletion to your list of authorized individuals.
This year our drop off and pick up will be directly in the classroom. Each age group is assigned a parking lot. Please park in the assigned lot to ensure parking for all. Should you arrive late, please check in at the school office. Should you be running late for after school pick up, please let the office know as soon as possible. Your child will be waiting for you in the school office. Each family will be given a pink car sign to keep on your dashboard. The pink sign will help our security recognize you as part of our Cooperative School family.
Fire drills are conducted according to state law and our staff is trained on policy and procedure. Every attempt is made to ensure a smooth and safe drill with minimal disruption to daily classroom activities.
If an emergency like severe weather or other unforeseen event were to occur on our campus, information to families will be communicated in as many ways as possible - text, social media, internet. The first priority at the Cooperative School is the safety of the children and staff. The second priority is to communicate with parents how to best reunite with their children.
If the school needs to be closed due to weather or other unforeseen events, the Cooperative School will follow the lead of Seminole County Public Schools. If SCPS has canceled school, we will cancel school as well. All emergency information will be posted directly to our Bloomz platform. It is the easiest way to get information out quickly.
Should our main building need to be evacuated for any reason, the children will be relocated to the Rink Auditorium. All reasonable attempts will be made to notify parents and dismissal would begin.
Our kindergarten teachers schedule two conferences each year. One in November and one in March. Additional conferences can certainly be scheduled at your request. Our kindergarten program operates on a trimester basis; report cards will be sent home at the end of each trimester.
An annual conference is scheduled mid-year for all children in our VPK. Conference time is set aside to discuss the progress your child is making physically, socially, emotionally and academically. Your presence at a conference is not required but is recommended for the benefit of your child. Additionally, in accordance with VPK requirements, all VPK students will take the STAR Early Literacy assessment three times per school year. A letter detailing your child's progress will be sent home after each assessment.
Should other concerns arise that require the attention of the teacher, please ask her to set aside time as soon as you realize there is an issue of any size. We prefer to handle your concerns right away in accordance with the principles set out in Matthew 18. The teacher can then assess the situation and determine the best way to handle it. Please remember to go directly to your teacher with your concerns. She understands not only your child but the needs and dynamics of the whole class.
Please judge not only your child's general health and behavior each school day, but also the health of your entire family. Illnesses can spread quickly among family members, please be extra cautious sending your child to school if someone in your household is sick.
If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep them home:
- Fever (cannot return until fever free for 24 hours without medication)
- Cough
- Green or Yellow Runny Nose
- Vomiting (cannot return until no vomiting for 24 hours)
- Diarrhea (cannot return for 24 hours symptom free)
- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
- Unexplained Rash
If anyone in your household has a contagious disease, including Covid-19, please keep your child home and contact the school office. If your child contracts head lice, he/she must be checked before returning to the classroom. Please contact the office.
Should your child become ill or sustain any significant injury while at school, we will make every attempt to first contact the parents. If neither parent can be reached, we will contact the individuals listed on the emergency contact list provided to the school. Minor scratches and bumps will be brought to your attention when you arrive at the end of the school day.
For reasons of safety and liability, the school staff is unable to administer any medication without a medical release form. You may obtain this form from the school office.
All children reach the age of potty training at differing times. At the Cooperative School, we work together with our parents to ensure a smooth transition out of diapers. It has been our general experience that most children are trained by age 3 and therefore it is our policy that all children entering a 3 year old class should be potty trained.
By potty trained we mean:
- The child can inform the teacher of the need to use the restroom
- The child stays dry throughout the school day
- The child can use the restroom with some help
While we understand that accidents can occur from time to time - they should be the exception rather than the rule. Our 3 year old classroom teachers do not make time in their schedule and do not have the proper equipment to effectively diaper change or potty train.
At the Cooperative School at Northland, we believe that children live and learn best in a supportive, nurturing, well structured environment. Our goal is to follow Christ's teaching of treating others the way we would like to be treated. In all interactions with any child at our school, our focus will be to reflect Christ's love and care to the children. We respect children as precious gifts from God and allow them to grow with positive guidance, encouragement and reinforcement. The use of corporal punishment including verbal abuse is strictly prohibited by teachers, helper parents or staff.
Our mission in regard to a discipline plan is simple. We strive to promote healthy social and emotional growth so that children will become responsible, productive adults.
In order to effectively adhere to the mission and vision of the Cooperative School, we must have guidelines and procedures in regard to behavioral guidance at our school. To that end we have developed the following policies and procedures regarding school wide discipline, behavior guidance and social/emotional learning.
We believe that children grow and mature on a developmental continuum and that no two children are at the same place on that continuum. Therefore, the foundation of our discipline plan seeks to intentionally help each individual child learn to live, grow and interact in a classroom environment that is based on nurturing and responsive relationships. Intentional teaching of social and emotional skills includes teaching acceptable social norms, desired behaviors and creating a classroom community where care and concern for one another is the paramount objective. We believe that supportive responsive relationships among adults and children are an essential component to promote healthy social and emotional development.
We have implemented school wide rules and standards for behaviors that are intentionally taught, modeled and practiced every day that school is in session. These simple rules are quick and easy to understand even for our youngest students. These rules are:
- We are safe.
- We are kind.
- We are helpful.
- We are brave.
- We are friendly.
We believe that all socially acceptable behaviors are encompassed in these five simple rules. Teachers are provided with a curriculum to help them intentionally teach these rules and these rules must be consistently followed and adhered to wherever and whenever the students are on our campus. That means that in the classroom, on the playground, in the hallways, in the restrooms, in our after care (Stay and Play), in our school lobby and on church property, these rules are consistently modeled by all staff members. We encourage our cooperative community to follow these guidelines while on campus as well. We understand that the words safe, kind, friendly, brave and helpful can mean different things to different people. Therefore, we have general guidelines for what these words mean at our school so that consistent discipline can be practiced and no one is confused.
- Safe behavior means that we act in ways that keep ourselves and others free from harm.
- Kind behavior means that we treat one another with respect using kind words and actions.
- Helpful behavior means we follow directions and listen to one another.
- Brave behavior means we learn from our mistakes and say we are sorry.
- Friendly behavior means we include others, share and take turns.
Our discipline plan focuses on promoting positive behavior through a supportive learning environment. Significant behavior concerns tell us that a child needs more time, support and practice to develop their social and emotional skills. Sometimes, serious concerns arise, for example, behaviors which jeopardize the safety of the teacher or other children in the class. When these types of situations occur, we will partner with parents and professionals who specialize in young children's social and emotional health. On rare occasions, we may work with families to seek a better environment for their child if we agree that our program can no longer meet the needs of that individual child.
Parents of children enrolled in a VPK class must comply with our attendance policy.
We will have 5 Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK) classes:
- 2 Classes from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Thursday for 135 days
- 1 Class from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Thursday (with wrap around care until 2:30 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays: Extra charge applies)
- 2 Classes from 8:50 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays; Wednesdays 8:55 a.m.-1 p.m. for 105 days
All enrolled families have received a calendar showing the scheduled days during the operational period of August 17, 2026 through May 20, 2027.
Attendance during the scheduled instructional days is of utmost importance to remain in the VPK program. Not only is the Northland Early Learning Center's funding from the state of Florida linked to attendance, but also the child's success upon entrance to Kindergarten.
Prompt arrival for our VPK program is essential and the children will be signed in by school staff. Attendance will need to be verified at the end of each month by the parents. Please take extra care to ensure that your child is on time to school. Daily attendance in the VPK program is necessary for optimal learning. We ask that you think ahead when planning family vacations and appointments as the state of Florida requires 80% attendance for each VPK student. Should your child miss more than 20% of our established school days, you may be dismissed from the funded VPK program. You may re-enroll as a private pay family.
Verifying your child's attendance and absences
You will be given a VPK Long Form to review and confirm your child's recorded attendance at the end of each month. Your signature on this form will not only verify the attendance, but also will direct the payment for the month's VPK program for your child to this school. It is essential that these forms are signed in a timely manner every month.
What are school hours, and when is drop-off?
School runs 8:45 a.m.–2:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 8:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. Students are dropped off in the school lobby at 8:45 and are marked tardy after 8:55.
What is the Friday homeschool day?
Friday is our homeschool day — a school day, not a day off. Work is sent home on Thursday and turned in the following Monday.
What is the uniform?
A polo shirt with khaki or navy shorts or pants (girls may also wear a polo dress, or skorts), plus tennis shoes each day. Uniforms are purchased through Lands End; sandals and crocs are not appropriate school shoes.
When should I keep my child home sick?
Please keep your student home with a fever over the past 24 hours, vomiting or diarrhea within 12–24 hours, two cold symptoms, conjunctivitis, or an unexplained rash.
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! We are excited to begin our second year as a home education provider at the Cooperative School at Northland. Our small class size, individualized instruction and focus on the core subjects of reading, writing and math set us apart as the best of both worlds for our students and their families.
We look forward to working with your family and are so glad you are joining us on your child's educational journey.
We have an open door policy around here. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions - no question is too big or small. Cooperation is the cornerstone of our program and we are here to help!
Warmly,
Pam Anderson
- Staci Smith, Northland Early Learning Center Director 407-937-1778 — staci.smith@northlandcoop.net
- Pam Anderson, Grade School Administrator 407-949-7179 — pam.anderson@northlandcoop.net
- Melissa Menzies, 1st grade teacher — melissa.menzies@northlandcoop.net
- Jenny Metzdorf, 2nd grade teacher — jenny.metzdorf@northlandcoop.net
- Kaley Shiles, 3rd grade teacher — kaley.shiles@northlandcoop.net
The Cooperative School at Northland operates from 8:45am - 2:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8:45a - 1:15p on Wednesdays.
Students will be dropped off in the school lobby each morning at 8:45a. Students will proceed to their classrooms and begin preparation for the school day. Teachers will be ready to greet the students in their classrooms at 8:45. Children will be marked tardy if they arrive after 8:55. Pick up can be done at the classroom door. Late pick up will be done in the administrator's office.
If a student arrives late, the family must check in at the school office before being admitted to the classroom. The student will be marked tardy for that day.
All children are expected at school on time, every day that school is in session. Daily attendance insures that the children are receiving the best education possible. Parents should let the teacher know (email) if a student will not be in attendance for any reason. Excessive absences (more than 8 days per semester) will result in a family conference - obvious exceptions apply (serious illness, family concerns). Please contact the school office if there are attendance exceptions.
The core academic thrust of the Cooperative School at Northland is reading, phonics, writing and math. Science and social studies will be incorporated into this core curriculum model and will be expanded upon during home instruction. The children will have a daily devotion or Bible study as well.
Specials will include weekly music, physical education and art.
All students will receive three report cards each school year. The first trimester ends at the end of October, the second in late February and the final one will be sent home on the last day of school. Students in Grade 1 will be given "progress style" grades, while students in Grades 2 & 3 will begin to receive letter grades. Two parent/teacher conferences are scheduled - one after each of the first two trimesters.
Because we are a homeschool cooperative, Friday is designated as our home school day. The homeschool day is a school day not a "day off" and should be treated with serious consideration by the family. Each week on Thursday work will be sent home with your student. These assignments should be completed and turned in on the following Monday. The homeschool day is designed for families to engage with their student according to individual needs and interests. The homeschool day is meant to assist students in areas they may be struggling, to provide students with needed repetition of core skills and/or to allow the student to dig deeper into subject areas of interest. Some weeks there may be projects; some weeks there may be other types of assignments.
The Cooperative School at Northland provides STAR Literacy and Math standardized testing throughout the school year. A standardized test assists teachers as they evaluate their students' progress and helps families to be sure that their child is falling within the standard norms for their particular grade level. The school will provide the parents with the test results as tests are taken and additionally, will provide a copy of scores to be submitted to Step Up for Students as per PEP scholarship guidelines.
The Cooperative School at Northland expects students to take personal responsibility for their behavior, respect the learning environment, and honor the guidance of their teachers. Whether on-site or during home-study days, students must maintain a focused, cooperative attitude, respect the personal space and property of others, and use all educational materials responsibly. Active listening, constructive communication, and accountability for one's actions are core components of our community standards. When behavioral expectations are not met, students are expected to constructively reflect on their actions, accept guidance, and actively work to restore a positive learning environment.
- Direct Redirection. The instructor addresses the behavior immediately and clarifies the expectation.
- Guided Reflection. The student completes a brief, age-appropriate reflection to identify how their choice impacted the community.
- Parent Consultation. The instructor contacts the home educator to align campus and home behavioral strategies.
- Collaborative Intervention. A formal meeting is held with the administration, teacher, and parents to create a behavioral success plan.
- Status Review. Continued non-compliance results in a review of the student's enrollment status and alignment with the program.
Each student is required to wear the school uniform - a polo shirt and khaki or navy shorts or pants for boys, a polo dress or polo shirt with khaki or navy shorts or skorts or pants for girls. Uniforms can be purchased through Lands End online clothing company. Students should wear tennis shoes each day. Sandals or crocs are not appropriate school shoes.
Chapel happens monthly on the 3rd Wednesday. Parents are welcome to attend the monthly chapel services. The children's ministry staff at Northland Church will work with our grade school teachers to plan and implement a 20 minute chapel time that focuses on basic elements of spiritual life, worship and church tradition.
Students are not allowed to have personal cell phones, smart watches or tablets while at school.
Please keep your student home if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:
- Fever over the past 24 hours
- Vomiting or diarrhea within 12 - 24 hours
- Two cold symptoms (i.e. runny nose and cough, runny nose and lethargy)
- Conjunctivitis
- Unexplained rash
- If your child has allergies, please alert your teacher
If your child contracts a contagious disease or condition such as chicken pox or head lice, please notify the school office as soon as possible. In the case of head lice, your child must be checked by the school prior to re-admittance to a classroom
All children must have a copy of their immunization records or a religious exemption on file.
All allergies should be noted with the allergen and the necessary precautions and/or prescribed medications on the student's enrollment application. Severe allergies must be reported to the teacher and an emergency allergy plan should be in place for that student.
If medication is to be administered for any reason while the student is at school, there must be a medical authorization form completed and signed by the parents.
Northland Church employs security officers who monitor our lobby and perform safety checks daily.
All students have an emergency contact list on file. While the school makes every effort to contact parents first, in case of emergency, we will start with the parents and go down the list.
Additionally, anyone coming to pick up your student must be on our authorized list. Please update this list as needed.
A lockdown would occur if there was a situation on property or in the nearby vicinity that would threaten the safety of the children at the school. Northland security would advise the school director if a lockdown situation should occur.
If the threatening situation is in the vicinity of the school but not on campus, the teachers will be notified of the lock down status via Northland's public address intercom and will remain in their classrooms until the lockdown situation is resolved. All classes on the playground must come inside immediately and go directly to their classrooms until further notice. The director will notify security once all children are inside the building in a safe location (their classrooms). Northland security will then lock all entrances and exits of the building. No one will be allowed to enter or exit the building without permission from Northland security in a lockdown situation. Once the situation is cleared, the Northland public address intercom will issue an all clear and all doors will again resume their regular operation.
If the situation which caused the lockdown is on property, children will remain secure in their classrooms. The school director or designee will use the public address intercom to alert staff of the emergency. The children will remain in their rooms until an all clear is sounded. During the lockdown teachers should quiet the children and quickly direct them to a safe area of the classroom which allows for minimal visibility from either the doorway or outside window. Classroom lights should be turned off. Should a class be on the playground during a lockdown on property, teachers should follow the directions given on the walkie talkies. Parents will be notified when it is safe to come onto campus to pick up their students, if applicable.
The school practices the lock down procedure annually.
Fire drills are practiced monthly.
A severe weather drill is practiced monthly. In case of severe weather, all students will move to rooms without windows and shelter in place until the weather has passed. Parents will be notified when it is safe to come onto campus to pick up their students, if applicable.
If your child has any food allergies, it should be noted on their enrollment application. Please discuss the allergies with your teacher as well to go over symptoms and treatment plans in case a food is accidentally ingested.
Northland Church Cafe has lunch available that families can pre-order. Otherwise, please pack a healthy lunch every day with an ice pack as no refrigeration is available.
The school will communicate via our secure application called Bloomz. Please accept your teacher's invitation to join her Bloomz page and monitor it weekly as we will send updates, photos and reminders regularly.
A monthly newsletter will be sent home detailing upcoming events, field trips, curriculum updates and more.
Teachers are best reached via email and will have Bloomz notifications activated to make them aware of your communication.
We welcome and appreciate parent volunteers in the classroom. Each family is expected to volunteer 25 hours per school year in some capacity at our school. We do have a background screening protocol for any family member who volunteers. The fee is $25 and the screening is valid for three years. Please stop by the school office for detailed instructions on how to obtain the security clearance.